Wall of Love 💕

“I have really loved participating in Prose Train projects! It’s a really fun and easy way to write fiction without any pressure. Also, I love reading all of the different ideas everyone suggests and how the plot of the story can change vastly with every writer.”

Eman Hussain, Castilleja, 3x Prosetrainer

“The Prose Train has been a really great space for me when it comes to collaboration and creativity while not being too stressful. Writing with so many people has been a really great way to learn about new ideas, unique perspectives and to develop my literary skills. On top of that, the end products are always such a blast to read and something I continue to want to be a part of. So if you are looking for a place to write and have some fun, I would highly suggest joining The Prose Train!”

Langston Wu, Gunn HS, 5x Prosetrainer

“The Prose Train is a super simple and rewarding experience! It’s cool to see how a bunch of different people, all with their own ideas, can come together to form one cohesive story.”

Sawyer McKenna, Gunn HS, 3x Prosetrainer

“I loved the collaboration I was able to experience in writing the short stories, and because of the collaboration involved, I was able to learn about other writers’ writing styles and compare mine to theirs.”

Sophie Hahn, Gunn HS, 4x Prosetrainer

“I really enjoyed it!! It was a challenge and way different for me but it was enjoyable.”

Savannah, Gunn HS, 2x Prosetrainer

“I absolutely love this project and I think it’s so creative and fun. Everyone should participate!”

Maya Ma, Gunn HS, 1x Prosetrainer

“I’ve been with working with The Prose Train since pretty much the start, and it’s been really great to watch it grow with larger projects, more people, etc. I really enjoy writing in a variety of genres I normally wouldn’t undertake, with protagonists I normally wouldn’t choose, and sometimes halfway through (or even at the end) of a story I’m not at all familiar with. It’s quite a bit like improv—instead of trying to force everything to go in a certain direction, it’s a matter of going with the flow and introducing new ideas in the moment to keep the energy up. It’s a very low time commitment, and always a good time.”

Eileen Hung, Gunn HS, 8x Prosetrainer

“I think this is a great project for people who want to start writing. Everyone is inclusive and goes with the flow of the story and there is no hate for anybody’s writing style. It’s a fun project and I’ve always felt heard, ever since the beginning.”

Helena Surwillo, Gunn HS, 4x Prosetrainer

“In the hypercompetitive STEM-centric environment of Silicon Valley—and Gunn High School—The Prose Train helped me get back into creative writing; the girl who’d sit on her stomach and scrawl out stories about magic ribbons and pieces of gum emerged once more. I’ve loved the collaborative nature of The Prose Train, which has enabled me to learn from others’ writing techniques. It also adds a layer of suspense to the writing process (you don’t know how the story’s going to end!).”

Amann Mahajan, Gunn HS, 5x Prosetrainer

“I like seeing the direction the story goes in. It’s especially interesting when I write early in the story and it takes an unexpected turn. If you enjoy creative writing, this is a cool way to do it.”

Fiona Li, Gunn HS, 6x Prosetrainer

“It’s been amazing to see the magic that happens in writing when writers from different backgrounds come together to combine unique ideas that in the end create a masterpiece!”

Andrea Esparza, Gunn HS, 3x Prosetrainer

“The Prose Train gave me an opportunity to improve my writing skills and be creative. I enjoyed reading the completed stories because each person added their own ideas and twists to the story to make it interesting and unique.”

Lucy Zhao, Paly HS, 4x Prosetrainer

“This was my first time being part of a ‘story chain,’ and it was interesting to write without planning out the plot and simply seeing where the story would go.”

Grace Gao, Gunn HS, 1x Prosetrainer

“Awesome writing group. I really enjoyed the projects I participated in. Low effort and high reward.”

Janus, Gunn HS, 4x Prosetrainer

“I love creative writing, but I no longer have time to practice it in my free time, or when I do, I’m never sure what to write. The Prose Train was a great way for me to ease back into writing and rediscover my love for it. I look forward to when it is my turn to write, and I can see what other people have come up with and how I can enhance their story. It’s not a huge time commitment, but it’s very rewarding, and I come out with more experience than I have before.”

Alyssa Tang, Gunn HS, 3x Prosetrainer

“I enjoyed this experience a lot! I’ve never written something like this, and it was really cool watching everything come together.”

Alisa, Gunn HS, 1x Prosetrainer

“It’s always fun and exiting to see what everyone else brings to the table. The end result is totally different from what I would have written alone. The Prose Train encourages me to think fast and build on top of the work of others.”

Nina Li, Gunn HS, 4x Prosetrainer

Tips for New Writers

“It’s very important to know which day you are writing, and I find it helpful to follow the story as others are writing it before you, in order to have a sense of what you'd like to contribute.”

Kaitlyn Chen, Gunn HS, Project Manager and 2x Prosetrainer

“Don’t overthink it. Writing is supposed to be fun and creative so let yourself be free!”

Emily Zhou, Gunn HS, Project Manager and 3x Prosetrainer

“Writing (especially with others) has no wrong answers. It’s not ‘incorrect’ to jump into the action or take a step back and write some more peaceful scenes. So just write what you want to write, and don’t worry about it not being your best work.”

Keiss Chan, Gunn HS, Project Manager and 6x Prosetrainer

“You don’t have to write a lot: There is no pressure to write a lot. Maybe it’s just an idea or a simple sentence to change the story but that alone is awesome.

Read the story and other’s comments: Try to understand what’s happening in the story so you can add on to the action. Other writers also comment on how they think the story should progress and their ideas are definitely worth considering too.

Have fun!!: Don’t be shy. Take it as an opportunity to learn and have fun rather than criticize your writing skills. It’s not meant to be stressful, so just write!”

Langston Wu, Gunn HS, 5x Prosetrainer

“Collaborative writing is very different from individual writing because you can see the directions other people might write in or handle a scenario, so be to be prepared for surprises! If you ever feel uncomfortable or unsure how to continue something, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask—this is a group effort, and everyone is willing to help! A successful project comes with communication and understanding, where everyone can learn from each other. Don’t be afraid to initiate the main action of the story, write a plot twist, or drive forward the climax of the story.”

Cherice, Gunn HS, 3x Prosetrainer

“In a collaborative writing, reading the previous text carefully is very important, since you have to base your writing off of it. I would suggest that you look for details from previous text to use them again for your own part to make the whole story/plot seem connected.”

Irene Hong, Gunn HS, Visualization Manager and 4x Prosetrainer

“Writers are generally solitary creatures, so you might find it hard to adapt to the collaborative process at first. I’d advise you to just give it time! Yes, it’ll be difficult adjusting to the idea that others might not take the story in the direction you’re thinking of, but that’s part of the beauty of The Prose Train. :)”

Amann Mahajan, Gunn HS, 5x Prosetrainer

“When adding your part to the story, you may see a very clear way for the story to go, but because it is collaborative you can only make suggestions about that, so try to come at the story with an open mind. And, if the writer before you had a suggestion, it’s okay if you don't choose to continue with that as long as you keep the story flowing well because every writer will imagine the story in a different way.”

Eman Hussain, Castilleja, 3x Prosetrainer

“Don’t be daunted—in fact, take risks! The Prose Train is judgment-free and practice-focused, so don’t worry about making your writing look perfect. If there is one thing I would recommend, that would be to not be afraid of communicating with your fellow writers using comments on the story doc. (You could explain what you were thinking of doing next, or talk through any ideas you have for the whole story.) This helps the final product be more connected.”

Emily Hwang, Gunn HS, Project Manager and 2x Prosetrainer

“Don’t be afraid to jump straight into action, especially if you’re one of the first writers! Collaborative stories can sometimes start a little slow because writers are reluctant to set a direction for the story, but stories often turn out better if there’s action at the beginning.

Expect a story bursting with creativity and inspiration even if it’s not flawless.”

Irene Tsen, Gunn HS, Executive Director and 12x Prosetrainer

“Make sure to stay on top of your writing day to make sure you don’t miss it!

Have fun and don’t worry—don’t take it so seriously that it’s stressful!”

Eddy Fearon, Crystal Springs Uplands School, 2x Prosetrainer

“Leave comments!! Even if future writers don’t take it, it’s always nice to know what you were thinking, and it makes the whole thing feel more collaborative! Plus, it’s funny. Leaving a suggestion isn’t forcing everybody to follow your scheme—it’s just giving them more insight.”

Eileen Hung, Gunn HS, 8x Prosetrainer

“In collaborative writing, I would say keep an open mind and be flexible. Other writers may change the story’s direction completely, ruining what may have been your vision for the story. Additionally, when writing I would say to not develop the characters, storylines, relationships, etc, too much. You want to leave space for other writers to add their visions.”

Sophie Hahn, Gunn HS, 4x Prosetrainer

“It’s super chill! Don't stress about it :) just do your best writing, let your personal voice come out and blend into the story, and have fun!”

Emma Kochenderfer, Gunn HS, Marketing Manager and 4x Prosetrainer

“Always keep an open mind! You can build your writing on top of previous passages or create new plot points. There is no right thing to write!”

Nina Li, Gunn HS, 4x Prosetrainer

“If you have an idea for how the story should continue, leave a comment! But even still, you have to be prepared for it to go in any direction and not follow your original plan—and that’s part of what makes collaborative writing fun.”

Sawyer McKenna, Gunn HS, 3x Prosetrainer

“1. Don’t be nervous of having your writing judged by other writers. Everyone’s here for the same thing—to practice their writing and have fun.

2. If you’re writing near the beginning, it’s important to have a strong foundation to build the plot off of. Add motifs or any recurring symbols that the other writers can incorporate into their writing for a more cohesive overall story.

3. There’s no need to suppress your original creative style for the sake of blending into the rest of the story. Other writers can take inspiration from how you write, and it makes for a more interesting story if people’s distinct styles are shown.”

Alyssa Tang, Gunn HS, 3x Prosetrainer

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“Writers live twice.” — Natalie Goldberg