Overview

Attention all writers. Do you love kids? Are you excited by the idea of helping kids express themselves and explore their world through creative writing? Writopia Lab, an award-winning 501(c)3 nonprofit that runs writing workshops for kids ages 6 to 18, is looking for creative writing workshop instructors for our location in Hartsdale, Westchester County.

Since its formation in New York City in 2007, Writopia Lab has grown into a nationwide community of young writers. Our mission is to foster joy, literacy, and critical thinking in children and teens from all backgrounds through creative writing. We create a safe and engaging space for kids and teens at all stages of the writing process, and we aim to provide the creative inspiration, individual attention, and intellectual environment that may not be available to them at school.

What Writing Instructors Do

We are hiring instructors for our summer programs, with the option of continuing into the school year. During the summer, workshops meet Mondays to Fridays for three hour sessions in the mornings or afternoons. Our workshops are age-based, small groups of kids and teens who are challenged to set and achieve writing goals in a fun and engaging way. A balance between fun literary games, focused writing time, and constant feedback from the instructor, our workshops aim to engage young writers from all backgrounds and help them tell the stories that matter to them most. We train instructors extensively in our method and are looking for instructors with publication experience or produced plays.

During the school year, instructors lead after-school and weekend workshops and private sessions for kids and teens ages 6 to 18. Workshops are semester-long and meet after school and on weekends for 90 minute sessions.

Private sessions are scheduled times where instructors engage with kids and teens individually.

Requirements & Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree; Master’s preferred
• Published fiction and/or nonfiction and/or produced plays preferred
• Enthusiasm for and experience working with youth
• Ability to reliably and consistently commute to the workshop location
• Flexibility instructing in various environments

Schedule, Location, and Pay

Schedule: During the summer from late June to mid-August, instructors generally work about 15 hours per week. Summer workshops run Mondays-Fridays from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM or 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Instructors will lead either morning or afternoon sessions.

During the school year, instructors generally work 3 to 8 hours per week. School year workshops run Mondays to Fridays from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM and/or 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. They run Saturdays 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM, 11:15 AM to 12:45 PM, and 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

Location: Instructors work in-person at our Hartsdale, New York location.

Hourly Pay: $25-$40 per hour for instructing, commensurate with experience; $16.50 per hour for administrative tasks. Most hours will be paid at the instructing rate.

How to Apply

If you are excited by the idea of joining a community of writers and helping children and teens learn to strengthen their writing skills, please apply! Please attach your resume, cover letter, and answer the question “Why do you want to work at Writopia?” Please do not submit cover letters or other application materials generated by AI.

To find out more information regarding who we are and what we do here at Writopia Lab, please visit our website at www.writopialab.org.

As of January 1, 2025 we prefer candidates to be fully vaccinated against COVID 19 including at least one booster, but documentation will not be required.

Writopia Lab uses E-Verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.

Writopia Lab is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Writopia Lab does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or on any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

No phone calls, emails, or drop ins, please.