According to a study by the National Literacy Trust, only one in three children (34.6 percent) enjoy writing in their spare time and though 72 percent of children enjoy writing when they begin school, this percentage drops to 26.4 percent by age 16. These disheartening percentages have caused worry about the next generation’s literacy rates and ability to communicate through writing. One local organization has taken it upon themselves to increase youth interest in writing and provide outlets for creativity to flourish across the metro area.
Denver Writes, founded in 2007, is a nonprofit organization that focuses on engaging Colorado youth in the art of creative writing. Denver Writes has encouraged countless kids to pursue the craft, sharpen skills, and join a community of peers with similar interests. The organization offers three types of programming: summer camps, monthly themed workshops, and weekly afternoon writing clubs. By partnering with local businesses and libraries to provide writing spaces, the organization is able to host their events across the metro area, making the programming more accessible to children in different suburbs.
Denver Writes’ programming is designed for kids ages 7–16, and the events are led by volunteers; local authors, teachers, and community members invested in encouraging the arts. Kevin Peterson, Program Director for Denver Writes, says that one of his favorite parts of the job is seeing the kids grow up throughout the years and become skilled writers. “They start out and write really short fantasy stories about dragons or whatever they’re interested in, and over the years they develop into authors who are creating very deep, complex works.”
Through Denver Writes’ programming, children not only discover the joy of writing but also develop confidence, critical thinking skills, and a sense of self-expression. Peterson highlighted the community aspect of the program, saying, “The clubs are broken down by age group, but our workshops are for our full age range, so you get to see the young ones look up to others who are only a couple of years older than them. And the older kids take that on and become mentors. It’s great to watch.”
At the heart of Denver Writes is a simple yet powerful truth: every child has a story to share. Peterson’s goal for 2025 is to expand the program further and bring it to new neighborhoods so that children across the state can access writing groups. Stay up-to-date on the organization by checking out denverwrites.org
