Writing Club
This club is part of the Excelsior Classes clubs community, where homeschool students in grades 5–12 connect, collaborate, and grow.
Date & Time
Instructor
Grade Level
Are you an aspiring author? Do you love to write stories, poems, plays, songs, or (gasp!) even essays? The Excelsior Classes Writing Club (aka “Inklings of Excelsior”) is the place for you! We gather about twice a month to share writing (optional), to learn exciting and useful writing tricks and techniques, to encourage each other, to meet with professional authors (most recently Andrew Peterson and S. D. Smith!), and even to play games and win prizes. Between meetings, members engage with each other through active discussion boards and have the opportunity to complete optional writing challenges. Our club also publishes collections of stories, essays, and poetry each year, including the literary magazine Excelsior’s Bookshelf. The club is fun, inspirational, and enriching! (And let’s be honest: It will look good on your college application someday and provide you with opportunities for leadership roles.)
Since this is a club, there are no grades or required assignments, but the more you put in, the more you get out!
Our regular meetings/activities are from 4-5 p.m. ET on the following Fridays for 2026-27:
- August 28
- September 11, 25
- October 16, 23
- November 6, 13
- December 4
- January 15, 29
- February 12, 19
- March 12
- April 2, 16, 30
SPECIAL NOTE #1: Please be advised: There are no refunds for clubs. If club attendance dwindles during the course of the year making the club unviable, there are no prorated refunds of club membership(s).
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Dawn Burnette is truly excited to be part of the Excelsior family as an English teacher! Dawn holds a B.A. in English Education/Journalism from Lenoir-Rhyne University and an M.A. in English Education from Georgia State University. She has also earned National Board Certification and gifted endorsement. While teaching English at a public high school for 15 years, Dawn served as English department chair, coached a nationally ranked dance team, and won a few local, state, and national teaching awards. Dawn loves sharing her passion for reading and writing, and she works tirelessly to help students reach their academic potential and to glorify God in all pursuits. Soli Deo Gloria!
When it was time for their children to start school, Dawn and her husband Rod moved the family from an Atlanta suburb to the North Georgia mountains, acquired way too many animals, and spent the next 12 years homeschooling. Their daughter Ansley graduated from Samford University in 2022 and works at Sight & Sound Theater in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and their son Beck graduated from and played collegiate golf at Lee University and the University of Georgia and began playing professional golf in 2024.
Kara –
I am a student who graduated with the club as one of my extracurricular activities. I cannot express just how much this club impacted me. Ms. B is one of the most loving, caring, and talented teachers I have met and she works so hard to make each meeting worth it! I met some of my best friends through this club and even chose to pursue a career in writing. If I had to go back I would have chosen this club every single time. Definitely give it a chance if your kid likes to tell stories!
(ps. if I could, I’d give this course 10 stars)
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I’ve only been in this club for a year, but I truly love it. Everyone I met was so welcoming and are also amazing writers. I’ve always loved writing but now I love it more than ever. This club was so immersive and interactive. What really made this club awesome was not just the lessons but also my classmates — and of course Mrs. B, for being an awesome teacher. everything about this class was amazing, from the fictional character dating profiles to meet-&-greets with S.D. Smith, and I can’t wait for the school year to start again.
Mindy –
My daughter joined the writing club last year and loved it! She loved it when Ms. B had authors come to meetings! She enrolled again for the upcoming year. It is a wonderful club that provides great information to aspiring writers!
Kourtney Lorenz –
I took Mrs. Burnette’s writing class last school year and I loved every second of it! She is such an amazing teacher and I have learned so much from her. She knows how to take an informational class and make it fun. The other students who were in the class with me were also so sweet and welcoming!
Christy P –
Both of my daughters are in writing club, and both love it. I have seen my oldest daughter continue to improve not only her writing but her leadership skills as well. My youngest has improved her writing skills tremendously. In addition, she was able to do a speaking introduction one of her favorite authors that had spoken to the club last year. I highly recommend this club.
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This club is incredibly enjoyable and highly informative. Not only have I learned a great amount about the wonderful craft of writing, I have also made lasting friendships with my fellow club members. Mrs. Brunette is a wonderful and very personal and kind teacher. She truly cares about every club member and goes above and beyond to make this club one of the most fun I have been in. If you are considering joining, I will definitely say you should do it. Not only will you learn more about writing, you will find fellow authors who will become supportive beta readers and friends (as well as free editors). The members of writing club would love to have you. I know the term “community” is a rather campy one, but I truly can say that this club is a very safe and supportive community.
Student C. –
I have been in Writing Club for two years now and I have loved every moment. Inside the meetings we are taught different writing skills and the humor and warmth is there where the writers are in their comfort zone. I have met many aspiring authors through this club and we encourage each other and even beta read each other’s work. I cannot recommend this club enough and I can only say thank you fellow writers, and thank you, Mrs. B!
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Mrs. Burnette is an amazing teacher. I learned so much and met other people who are just as passionate about writing as I am.
I definitely recommend joining the club if you are interested in writing and reading and want encouragement, help, or simply a new experience to encourage growth.
I love this club and will hopefully be joining in the years to come. Thank you, Mrs. B!
Cara Fay –
My daughter has been in the writing club for two years now, and she has absolutely loved it. She has made great connections with other students and learned a lot from Mrs. Burnette. She has been both inspired and encouraged to write more. It has also provided leadership opportunities this year as they put together a literary magazine!
Sally R. –
Writing Club is an amazing club!! It definitely helped my daughter connect to other students at Excelsior, and it grew her in her writing skills so much. She has always been passionate about writing, but this club really lit a fire underneath her skills. Mrs. Burnette is an amazing instructor who taught my daughter soo much about writing!! She now writes much more often than she did and she loves using all of the tips that she learned. We have greatly benefited from this amazing club. Thank you so much, Excelsior Classes and Mrs. B for such an amazing club!!!