The Virtual Voice

Creative Writing Club

My Path to Becoming a Published Teen Writer

By on November 7th, 2023

A National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) Experience

This blog was written by Joi T., 12th grade Florida Virtual School Flex student in Miami

“You can make anything by writing.” – C.S. Lewis

As I began my journey to become a teen author, I imagined new worlds, exciting adventures, and a story my peers could relate to. I loved seeing myself in the characters I read and watching how they could overcome any conflict that arose in their lives. However, I felt like I was not always represented by those characters. So, when I was invited to participate last year in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) by my Florida Virtual School (FLVS) English teacher, I was ecstatic.

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Connecting through Creative Writing Club

By on May 13th, 2019

This post was written by Lia, a student in the FLVS Creative Writing Club.

The Creative Writing Club is a place where students of Florida Virtual School (FLVS) can come together and appreciate the joys of writing. Being in virtual school, it can be hard to connect with other students, let alone find anyone who is interested in the same things as yourself.

This is where clubs have a huge role. They allow for students to connect in ways that would have been impossible on their own. The Creative Writing Club is only one of the FLVS clubs that do this. With more than 300 students, the Creative Writing Club is a popular choice for many students looking for a club. Continue reading

NaNoWriMo: What’s it All About?

By on November 1st, 2017

This post was written by FLVS student and Creative Writing Club board member Grace Robbins.

November. A time of changing leaves, crisp air that brings out jackets and scarves (well, except for all of us who live in Florida), and a warm sense of nostalgia. But it’s also a time to bathe your face in the glow from your laptop screen as you near the early hours of the morning doubled over typing furiously to reach your word count.

You guessed it: it’s NaNo time.

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. Continue reading

FLVS Corkboard: October Highlights

By on October 24th, 2017

October is full of outstanding events, and there are many spectacular (and some spooktacular) ones you can be a part of with FLVS. First, October is National Bullying Prevention month which unites communities around the world to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention. Standing up against bullying is something FLVS takes very seriously. Join FLVS and the FLVS Full Time Middle School and wear orange on Wednesday, Oct. 25, to show unity against bullying.

Here are other notable activities happening this month. Continue reading

Embracing Nostalgia: The Good and The Bad

By on July 5th, 2017

This post was written by Charissa, a student in the FLVS Creative Writing Club. 

Have you ever passed by a place you used to visit when you were young and a nostalgic feeling started to resonate in your chest?

The feeling blew you back in time a bit, and sparked that good memory concealed in your mind to come and revisit. It was probably a joyous occasion, and that feeling of ancient and special happiness surfaces again.

Well, what if something bad happened to you? Would the nostalgic feeling be the same? I highly doubt it would. If I visited a place that held a bad memory, I would feel suffocated by air tainted with unhappiness and regret. I wouldn’t have a happy and elated feeling in my chest. I would feel empty and alone.

Something I have realized in this society is this:

We all have our good places reminding us of the joy and happiness life can bring you, but we also have our bad places that are a reminder of how the world can be messed up sometimes. Some people have one more than the other. Continue reading

The Close of a Chapter: Plugging into the Virtual Community

By on May 19th, 2017

This post was written by Olivia, a student in the FLVS Creative Writing Club.

FLVS ClubsAs I near the end of my high school career, I can’t help but think about all of the wonderful memories and lifelong friends that I have made through FLVS.

As a writer, I have been able to thrive in clubs like Creative Writing Club, News in a Click and NEHS. I have participated in Poetry Read-Ins, Shakespeare Festivals and Celebrate Literacy Month. I have also had the invaluable opportunity to collaborate with immensely talented writers and highlight student work through Open Mics. These experiences have greatly enriched my writing and provided inspiration that I will carry with me when I go to college.

In my final [Creative Writing Club] blog post, I wanted to remind you of the power of plugging into our virtual community. By getting involved in FLVS clubs and activities, you are introduced to a world of inspiration. Continue reading

Be Careful With Your Words

By on April 27th, 2017

This poem was written by Mary-Kelly, a student in the FLVS Creative Writing Club.

Words have power

Creative Writing Club students have been scribbling away all month for National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo).

With a goal of writing 30 poems in 30 days, the club aims to get students’ creative juices flowing through frequent writing exercises. As club sponsor Mrs. Emery says, “Some prompts will speak to you, and some will not. Some poems will be keepers, but most will not.”

In the spirit of sharing and a love of poetry, students have been responding to writing prompts and supporting each other’s work. Continue reading

My Writing Timeline

By on March 8th, 2017

This post was written by Natalie, a student in the FLVS Creative Writing Club.

Blog_Creative_WritingWhen I was much, much younger, I saw writing as a chore. There’s not a lot a 7-year-old girl being homeschooled in southwest Florida had to write about, and I certainly didn’t do much of it.

As I grew older, the process of writing morphed from a chore into a helpful emotional outlet and then into a hobby. Although I’ve never been a serious, hardcore dedicated writer, I can say that writing definitely should be credited for its impact in my life.

The earliest I can remember writing would be in my tween years. As most people behave when going through that time in their lives, I could get quite emotional and crave an outlet to vent my frustrations or just write a poem expressing my honest feelings.

I read a ton of books back then and can attribute a lot of my literacy skills to my reading. I kept diary after diary for a few years and grew my writing skills without even realizing it. Writing about anything going on in my life made me think about events and interactions more deeply than I ever had before. Continue reading

Smell the Roses

By on February 1st, 2017

This post was written by Cheyenne, a student in the FLVS Creative Writing Club, for her peers with a passion for writing. 

Smell the RosesI can say, more often than not, that I prefer to schedule as much of my day as I possibly can.

There have been instances when I throw organization to the wind and let the day lead me as it pleases, without so much as a pause to think about how little I completed during my waking hours.

Eventually, it began to wear on me how much time I seem to waste, but how little time I have to be productive. I have become accustomed to writing down my itinerary – scheduling my day minute by minute – simply because I can no longer stand the thought of letting a minute go by, unnamed and unused, in my day without purpose.

I discovered quickly, though, how easy it is to make a schedule but fall out of pace with it. I cannot give inspiration a time slot; like the butterflies in spring or the cool breath of winter, inspiration will come and go as it pleases. It may not visit me at all on some days, and therefore, the time I reserved for writing goes unused. Continue reading