Imaginative Storm for Educators

For college, community college, high school, and homeschool

Teach the power of creative expression

Because creativity changes lives. Yours included.

Whether you’re a teacher, community leader, parent, or lifelong learner, you can use the Imaginative Storm method to help others write with confidence, authenticity, and emotional depth.

Whatever path your students follow in life, they’ll need to express their vision in writing. That’s where you come in.

We’ll give you everything you need to start leading writing sessions in your school, home, or community. You’ll expand your own creative energy while helping others discover theirs.

Two Flexible Creative Writing Curricula

Aligned with standards. Designed for transformation.

Write What You Don’t Know

A semester-long writing journey for older students, emerging writers, and homeschoolers who want to go deep. This course offers a complete “writer training” experience, covering storytelling, voice, character, and form — all through discovery and imagination.

  • Great for high school, community college, and adult learning

  • Instructor’s Guide & Audio Course included

  • Homeschool video series guided by Allegra Huston and James Navé

  • Aligned with New Mexico ELA standards (other states on request)

Creative Writing the Imaginative Storm Way

An accessible, stand-alone workshop format — ideal for younger high school students, after-school programs, libraries, and community groups.

  • 12 flexible sessions, each with two prompts (verbal + visual)

  • No prior experience required to lead

  • Aligned with New Mexico ELA standards (other states on request)

Acclaimed by Educators

  • Kate Christensen

    “BRILLIANT! Not only are your exercises both common-sensical and revolutionary., the writing is so calm, intelligent, friendly, unpretentious, precise, loving, funny, and warm, and so moving as I think about aspects of writing I haven't seen put into words before. I love this book. It's so true and so excellent and kick-ass.”

    — Kate Christensen, PEN/Faulkner award-wining novelist and visiting professor, Iowa Writers’ Workshop

  • “Write What You Don't Know is a challenging and fun read, pulling and pushing you to the pen. I felt encouraged to play with my writing, try new things, and overall just bring joy back to my writing process. Insightful, interesting, and innovative.”

    — Jahman Hill, poet, author of the award-winning one-man show Black Enough, and professor, University of Alabama

  • “Extraordinary in the way it turned my mind inside-out. I taught a generative workshop and I quoted your words and exercise for one of our assignments . . . the writing turned out more original, more surprising, than what they'd been working on previously.”

    — Lan Samantha Chang, novelist and director, Iowa Writers’ Workshop

  • "A valuable, engaging, and accessible resource that is super FUN to work with to broaden ALL writing abilities.It helped me unlock and unleash my creative writing abilities and I am recommending it to my students. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!”

    — Judy Walgren, Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, professor of journalism, Foothill College, San Francisco

Become an Imaginative Storm facilitator

You don’t need a degree. Just a desire to make a difference.

  • You don’t need formal training

  • You don’t need expensive materials

  • You don’t need an advanced degree – or even a high school diploma

    What you do need is the curiosity to explore the unknown, and the willingness to open that door for someone else. In one session, your group will write something that surprises them. They’ll say: “I had no idea I could write like this!”

And so will you.

Read Sandi Dittmer’s account of teaching her first Imaginative Storm workshop here.

Start your own workshop, step by step

Step 1: Join a free demo session — our Writing Prompt of the Week on Zoom, Thursday or Saturday

Step 2: Download the Facilitator’s Guide + resources from our member area

Step 3: Pick your place: library, arts center, classroom, bookstore, senior center

Step 4: Choose your dates, spread the word, and begin!

Ready to Make a Difference?

You already have what it takes. Let us show you the rest.

The Imaginative Storm method has been called one of the most effective creative writing tools available — by everyone from high school educators to professors at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. It fosters imaginative and emotional intelligence. It encourages originality and reflection. And it helps people tell stories they didn’t know they had in them.

If you’re ready to empower students, elders, artists, innovators, and visionaries — we’re ready to empower you.

Contact us to join a training or start your pilot workshop.