Second Sentence

A group of children and teenagers outdoors near a large bush and a brick wall, some wearing name tags. They are smiling and posing for a photo.

Every story deserves a Second Sentence.

Helping young writers discover confidence, creativity, and the power of their own voice through free creative writing workshops.

Every story begins with a single sentence.

Every great story starts with a single sentence. But it doesn’t end there. At Second Sentence, we believe every child has ideas worth sharing with the world. Through free creative writing workshops, we help elementary students strengthen their writing skills, build confidence in English, and discover the joy of storytelling in a welcoming, supportive community. Whether students are learning English, exploring their creativity, or writing their very first story, we believe every voice deserves the chance to be heard. We strive to help students give their palabras proposito.

Children sitting on a bench inside a building, holding stuffed dogs, with large windows showing trees and a blue sky outside.

Every story makes a difference.

240

young writers served

3

school
districts

13,000

indirectly
impacted

60

dedicated
volunteers

100%

free for
students

Why Second Sentence?

Every writer knows the hardest part isn't the first sentence - it's finding the confidence to write the second one. For young English Language Learners, that moment of doubt can stop a story before it ever gets started. Research shows that writing a complete, cohesive paragraph is one of the most challenging skills for developing writers, and for ELL students navigating a new language, that challenge can feel even bigger.

Second Sentence exists to change that. We are a free summer writing camp in Mar Vista built specifically for elementary school Spanish-speaking ELL students and bilingual students - kids who have so much to say and just need the right space to say it. Through expert lessons, joyful games, and a community that cheers them on every step of the way, we help kids push past that moment of doubt, find their voice, and keep writing. Because once a child writes that second sentence, there's no stopping them.

A group of children and two adults posing outside in front of a sign that says 'Welcome to Second Sentence' with some drawings. The children are smiling, and the adults are standing behind them.

Explore our student work:

For Families:

Our workshops are designed for elementary students who love to imagine, create, and tell stories. Students will learn creative writing skills, build foundational English skills, meet other young writers, create original stories, and grow their confidence.

Online workshops available nationwide. Fill out the form to register your child today.

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For Schools and Organizations:

Bring Second Sentence to your community.

We partner with schools, libraries, nonprofits, and community organizations to provide engaging creative writing workshops at no cost to students. Whether you’re looking for a one day workshop, a multi-week series, virtual session, or speaker celebration, we’d love to collaborate.

Be a part of Second Sentence

Whether you’re a parent, educator, volunteer, or simply someone who believes in the power of storytelling, we’d love to welcome you to the Second Sentence community.

Join Our Online Community

Two young women standing side by side in front of a colorful, artistic mural with abstract and tribal designs. The women are smiling, one with a beige sweater and gray pants, the other with a white top and gray jeans.
Four people standing outdoors in front of trees and a recreational vehicle, posing for a photo. The group includes two women and two men, one of whom is wearing a suit and glasses, and the others are dressed casually with black T-shirts that have the number 10 on them.
Four people are outside near a brick building with large windows under a blue sky with some branches and leaves overhead. Two people are standing and two are sitting on a bench, engaged in conversation.
Two girls standing in front of a bulletin board, smiling at the camera. One girl on the left wears a navy blue sweatshirt and has long dark hair; she holds a phone and a white purse. The girl on the right wears a gray and red striped sweater and has long dark hair, holding a brown shopping bag and a small clear plastic container.