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I am a
writer ✏️
director 🎬
teacher 📚
& public health nerd
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Try Anyway Creative Writing Workshop - Spring 2026 (Grades 4-7)
🩵 SUNDAYS from 2-3:30pm; In-Person (New Canaan Racquet Club)
💜 March 1-May 17 (10 Sessions; No class April 5 or May 10)
💛 Program Fee: $450 $350 ($35/class)
💚 Financial Need Option: $300 $200 ($20/class) - Payment Plans Available
Capped at 16 students, this hands-on writing workshop is designed to spark kids' imaginations, challenge them to explore different avenues into their own creative process, and build confidence (and public speaking skills!) by sharing works in progress with peers in a safe and accepting space.
Led by award-winning filmmaker and writer Claire Ayoub (Empire Waist, The GynoKid, Amy Poehler's Smart Girls), this 10-session workshop combines Claire's 20-year experience working with kids and her joyful and empowering teaching style to energize students' creative writing and build their sense of community with other young writers in the area.
Each workshop, students will:
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Receive a creative challenge for the day inspired by movies, music, art, and more!
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Put that creative challenge into practice by writing solo or in small groups
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Share their work in progress with their peers, even if it's not "ready"
Fun with purpose
Specifically designed to support tweens and teens battling perfectionism and self-doubt, Claire encourages students to take big creative swings, support each other by sharing their works in progress, and — when perfectionism comes calling — try anyway.
About Claire
Claire Ayoub (she/her) is an award-winning filmmaker, playwright, and writer based in Norwalk, CT.
A proud CT kid and product of New Canaan Public Schools (East, Saxe, and NCHS), Claire attended Wellesley College and began her comedy career with Amy Poehler's Smart Girls and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in NYC. She is the founder of Try Anyway Productions, a CT-based production company dedicated to telling stories that combine comedy, education, and heart.
Her feature film debut EMPIRE WAIST won Best FutureWave Feature (Youth Jury Vote) at the Seattle International Film Festival, Best Social Impact and Best Empowerment Film at Sedona International Film Festival, and Best Feature at Coney Island Film Festival. The film is now streaming and on-demand worldwide through Blue Fox Entertainment, along with a free and vetted education curriculum on body image and self-confidence that Claire co-created alongside health and child psychology experts.
Teaching and mentoring have always been core to Claire's creative work. In addition to screening her feature debut EMPIRE WAIST around the world, she has taught and guest-lectured at educational non-profits, colleges, and libraries including Girls Inc., LiveGirl, Wellesley College, New York Film Academy, The New School, FIT, Stony Brook University, Love Your Labels, the New Canaan Library, Westport Library, and Danbury Library.
Claire is currently getting her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and loves using comedy to help kids (and adults!) talk about the tough stuff.
Questions? Email Claire at tryanywayproductions@gmail.com
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