Our term courses run as ongoing weekly classes at our Pokfulam Studio, guiding young writers from the spark of an idea through to finished, shareable work over the course of a term.
Wonder Words (Ages 6–8) — Group
Duration
13–14 weeks of class
Location
Pokfulam Studio
Schedule
September 3 – December 10 · Thursdays 5–6pm
Price
Launch price: HKD 400 / class
Wonder Words is where young writers take their very first steps into a real author's process — from the spark of an idea, through drafting and editing, all the way to seeing their work published. Each project begins with a “hook”: a brand-new picture book or story that opens the door to fresh genres and story conventions, while quietly building vocabulary, grammar basics, and the confidence to share and create ideas out loud. Along the way, our youngest writers discover how stories are structured, how whole worlds are made, and how to tap into their own imagination rather than only imitating the stories they've read. The goal is simple and powerful: every child comes away not just with published work of their own, but with a genuine love of writing and learning.
Portal Makers is where young writers step through the doorway into bigger stories — building on the foundations of Wonder Words and preparing them for the long-form work ahead. Writers at this stage move beyond single scenes into complete stories with real architecture: developing characters who change, worlds with their own rules, and plots that build toward a satisfying ending. Each project still begins with a “hook” book that opens up new genres and story conventions, while craft work advances to complex sentences, dialogue mechanics, pacing, and the art of “show, don't tell.” Just as importantly, writers learn to give and receive feedback with respect — reading one another's drafts the way real writers' groups do. Growing young writers with independence and confidence. Every child finishes with polished, published work of their own.
For ambitious young authors ready to think like professionals, Page Zero's flagship long-form writing immersion is where a spark becomes a mini novelette, maxing 7500 words. Running January to June, a select cohort of writers aged 13–15 will move beyond the short story to draft, edit, and publish their very own novelette manuscript under the mentorship of published authors — inspired by the craft standards of the world's leading curricula — from the IB Middle Years Program to the US Common Core, UK National Curriculum, and Australian Curriculum — with exposure to age-appropriate texts both classical and modern that give context and ambition to their own voice. Places are strictly limited to ensure every writer receives personal editorial mentorship, and our approach treats students the way professional writers are treated: learning to edit and analyze their own writing — and one another's, with respect — rather than relying on rigid formulas or over-regulated templates. Spots for this cohort are extremely limited.
For young writers who are serious about taking their passion further, the Young Novelists Group is Page Zero's most advanced program — a direct bridge to formal university training in creative writing. Group sessions combine generative writing with rigorous craft work: critical and structural revision, line editing, and the finessing of each manuscript, all inspired by the Iowa Workshop method of constructive critique, where students give and receive feedback the way writers do in graduate programs. Writers also broaden their range through exposure to multiple genres — poetry, short fiction, and creative non-fiction — as well as blended and emerging forms such as visual texts, experimental fiction, and climate fiction (cli-fi). Ideal for students preparing portfolios, applications, or simply the discipline of a writer's life, this cohort is where committed young authors find their people, their process, and their voice.
For young writers who already carry the first 1,000 words of an idea, the Young Novelist Mentorship Program turns a beginning into a finished, submission-ready work of up to 7,500 words — one that can stand as part of a university application portfolio, or be expanded into the first 10,000 words of a full manuscript. This is Page Zero's most selective offering: entry is by formal submission only, so every writer in the program arrives with a genuine work in progress and the commitment to see it through. Once accepted, each student is matched with a dedicated mentor — a published author who works with them one-to-one through drafting, structural revision, line editing, and the final polish, exactly as a professional author works with an editor. It's a rare experience for a young writer: not a class, but a real editorial partnership, built around their manuscript and their voice.