Stop Summarizing.

Start Thinking.

Whether your student is writing literary analysis, essays, or preparing for advanced English courses, this workshop helps them move beyond simply completing assignments and learn how to think, analyze, and write with confidence.

Where Stronger Thinking Becomes Stronger Writing

This workshop is for students who are tired of hearing “explain more” but aren’t sure what that actually means. Students will learn how to move beyond summary, strengthen their thinking, and explain their ideas with more confidence. Whether they’re writing literary analysis paragraphs, essays, or preparing for advanced English classes, they’ll learn the skills strong writers use to make their ideas matter.

This is a great fit for:

High school students (including AP courses)
College students working on essays and papers
Writers who want to improve, not just submit

What They'll Learn

This workshop helps students understand the difference between writing more and thinking deeper. Through guided lessons and practice activities, students learn the strategies strong writers use to develop ideas, analyze evidence, and explain why their thinking matters.

Summary vs. Analysis

Students learn the difference between explaining what happened and exploring why it matters so they can move beyond retelling and into deeper thinking.

The “So What?” Method

Students practice the simple questions strong writers use to develop ideas, explain evidence, and create meaningful analysis.

Evidence that Works

Students learn how to choose stronger examples, connect evidence to their ideas, and avoid dropping quotes without explanation.

Stronger Paragraphs

Students learn how to build thoughtful responses with clear ideas, meaningful explanations, and stronger connections.

How It Works

Strong writing skills are built through practice. This live workshop breaks analysis into clear, manageable steps so students understand how to move beyond summary and develop stronger ideas.

Join the Live Workshop: Meet with Diana for a guided writing session where you’ll learn why students get stuck summarizing and how stronger writers approach analysis.
Learn the Strategy: Practice the “So What?” Method and discover how to develop ideas, explain evidence, and write with more depth and confidence.
Write & Practice Together: Apply the strategies through examples, writing exercises, and guided practice so you know exactly how to use them in your own assignments.
Keep Building Your Skills: Leave with practical tools, resources, and strategies you can return to whenever you need help strengthening your writing.

Be The First To Know When Enrollment Opens

Stop Summarizing. Start Thinking is a live writing workshop designed to help students move beyond retelling information and learn how to develop stronger ideas, deeper analysis, and more confident writing. Join the interest list to receive:

This is a great fit for:

early registration access
workshop dates + details
special founding student pricing
writing tips and resources before enrollment opens
Spots will be limited to keep the workshop interactive and focused on student growth

Join the Interest List →

From Stuck to Confident Writers

Over the years, I’ve worked with students at every level—from reluctant writers to AP and college students. Here’s what that growth looks like.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My daughter loved this class, and the teacher had great communication!

Jennie W.

Middle School Parent

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Both my daughters enjoyed this class. When my 13-year-old had the opportunity to hang out with friends or take the class, she was adamant that her friends could wait until class was over! The girls both learned new ways to improve their writing over the course of a week.

Kathleen C.

Middle School Parent

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Writing used to be a constant struggle for my child. Diana helped them feel calmer, more confident, and more capable—without taking over their work. The support felt thoughtful and encouraging, and we finally saw real progress in both their writing and their confidence.

Emily P.

High School Parent

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

My daughter loved this class. While she already feels comfortable writing essays, her biggest concern as she preps for the AP tests is writing under a time limit. Because of this class, she's already feeling much more confident in her ability to write her AP essays. As her mom, I can also see how this class has helped prepare her for university next year, where she will likely face more written assignments. Before, my daughter liked to spend a lot of time planning and plotting what she would write, before typing out what she felt was a nearly-final essay. Now, she's much more comfortable getting words quickly onto the page and going back in to edit. She also really enjoyed her interactions and time spent with her teacher. I would highly recommend this class.

Lindsey

AP Language Parent

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Another incredible class from Diana Firestone. This was the second time my daughter took classes with this instructor (this and another essay-practice class), and we're so happy with the outcome. With each essay, my daughter is feeling stronger and better prepared for the AP exams this spring. I highly recommend this course and instructor; she's been great with my daughter, who was a confident writer but needed help with the timed aspect of the AP exams and with hitting the exact requirements for the best score possible.

Anna

AP Literature Parent

Frequently Asked Question

General Questions

What grade levels is this workshop designed for?

Stop Summarizing. Start Thinking is designed for middle school, high school, AP English, and early college writers who want to strengthen their writing skills. The strategies can be adapted for students who are building foundations or preparing for more advanced writing.

Is this only for students who struggle with writing?

Not at all. This workshop supports students at different levels. Some students need help understanding how to develop ideas, while others are strong writers who want to make their analysis, essays, and explanations more advanced.

Will students actually write during the workshop?

Yes! This is not just a lecture. Students will work through examples, practice strategies, and learn how to apply the skills to their own writing.

What if my student needs more support after the workshop?

Students who want continued writing practice can join The Writer’s Studio for self-paced lessons and resources or continue with personalized support through Writing Mentorship.