Meet Kristin Marciniak of The Wordshop

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Marciniak.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I opened The Wordshop in June 2023. I had spent the previous 14 years working as a freelance writer who specialized in educational publishing (primarily ELA and social studies). I worked on text books, study guides, school library books, and miles of test questions. When my son was in first grade, I started leading the fifth grade book club at his elementary school. When he moved up to middle school, I did, too. I also started a writer’s club at the middle school.

That’s where the idea for The Wordshop came from. I loved writing with the kids. A lot of my professional work was teaching teachers how to teach kids to write academic texts, and I saw how hungry the kids were to write fiction. I’d long wondered if parents would pay for kids’ book clubs; writing classes seemed like a natural pairing.

I was newly diagnosed with a chronic disease at the end of 2022. The stress of freelancing was making my condition worse. I needed a change, something that would get me excited to get up in the morning. I started planning The Wordshop. My first test cohort was in April, flyers went out that same month, and we slowly but surely started booking students.

That first summer was mostly book clubs. I had two writing classes: one for rising fifth and sixth graders, and one for middle schoolers, plus bi-weekly prompt nights. Since then, the number of writing classes has grown. I mostly offer creative writing classes (because that’s what kids like best), but I also offer college essay writing, five-paragraph essay help, punctuation, and cursive classes. My prompt nights are big favorites, and I have a group that meets every Monday to work on their own projects.

We’re also working on Wordshop-published products, including a choose-your-own-story novel (written by middle schoolers and currently undergoing copy editing by high schoolers) and a tarot card deck (created by middle schoolers). This school year, I’m hoping to start collecting our favorite prompt night stories for publication.

The Wordshop is the best thing I’ve ever done. I don’t make a ton of money — I still need to freelance — but the community we’re building and the laughter around my table is more than worth the hours I spend preparing for class, editing college essays, and baking prompt night treats. I love hearing these kids’ stories, both on the page and off. They’re so immensely talented. I think they just needed someone to listen.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I’m not a teacher by trade (I have a degree in journalism), and I’m quick to tell the kids that. I have the highest respect for their teachers, who are experts in classroom management and how to work with different learning styles. I’ve had to learn that as I go along and ask advice of my friends who work in education. The necessity of being friendly while keeping a professional distance was also a very hard lesson to learn.

Advertising is a constant struggle. My audience is super niche, and the media landscape for it is either cheap and ineffective or too broad and expensive. I was a media planner before I freelanced, which is helpful. I think being a graphic designer would be even more helpful.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
* The Wordshop is a writing community for tweens and teens. We offer classes from the remedial to the recreational: college essays, punctuation, and cursive live alongside fractured fairy tales, epic fantasies, and eerie thrillers.
* Mrs. Kristin’s table seats seven kids, so classes are small and instruction is personalized. Feedback is based on each student’s writing level and goals.
* Writers share their work only if they want; if asked, Mrs. Kristin tells adults how their students are writing, not what they’re writing.
* My ultimate goal for these kids is that they grow up, (maybe) move away from Kansas City, but still keep in touch with the friends they made at The Wordshop. One day, when they’re in their 30s, they can text one of those friends and say, “Hey, can you read this? I’m thinking about publishing it…” I want them to have a built-in writing community they can trust. I don’t have that, which is why I hang out with middle schoolers a few nights a week. 😉

What was your favorite childhood memory?
My parents sent me on a treasure hunt around the house to find my birthday presents every year. My mom wrote these poems for every clue, and I’d get up ridiculously early because I was so excited. We continued the tradition with my son. I’m always writing the poems at the very last minute.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.opwordshop.com
• Instagram: opwordshop
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091844145620