Join A Community Of Writers
Gifted Writers Academy is an asynchronous online program featuring creative writing and academic writing classes. Writers may sign up for classes at any time of the year.
Gifted Writers Academy is a place to learn, give and receive feedback, make friends, and become a better writer.
We're a tight-knit group of story writers, poets, playwrights, and documentarians.
Become A Better Writer
Writers gain confidence and technical skill in friendly, supportive, and challenging courses.
Share Work with Writing Peers
Students interact and share work with their writing peers for feedback with additional guidance from mentor-insttructors.
Build Lasting Relationships
Students have the opportunity to create lasting and deep friendships with their course-mates and instructors.
Our Courses
Whether you're a rising poet, story writer, documentarian, or playwright, The Gifted Writers Academy is the perfect place to delve into creative or academic writing. We offer the Writing Essentials course, a creative writing program that exposes writers to a diverse array of genres: fiction, poetry, drama, and creative nonfiction through videos and written lessons. Foundations in Academic Writing sets up learners for success in high school, college, and beyond. With a variety of examples, video tutorials, and hands-on lessons, the writing styles we provide instruction on include essays, literature reviews, research papers, and annotated bibliographies. The Writing Prompts Challenge provides one engaging prompt per day for a month or as long as six months with writing tips and mentor texts in one of four genres. If you are passionate about writing and want to connect with other writers from around the world who share your dedication and joy for the process of creating and learning while working at your own pace—this is the right place for you!
90-Prompts Challenge: Grades 6-8
30-Prompts Challenge: Grades 9-Adult
60-Prompts Challenge: Grades 9-Adult
90-Prompts Challenge: Grades 9-Adult
120-Prompts Challenge: Grades 9-Adult
60-Prompts Challenge: Grades 6-8
Foundations in Academic Writing: Grades 9-College
The Prompts Challenge: Grades 9-Adult
The Prompts Challenge: Grades 6-8
Middle School Creative Writing Essentials
High School Creative Writing Essentials
Meet The Gifted Writers Team
With more than 30 years of working as an educator, program founder/director, Ted Ibur, has had the good fortune to be an English teacher and administrator at the middle school, high school, and college levels. At Saint Louis University, Ibur is the Executive Director of the St. Louis Literary Award series of programs and also works as an English liaison for the 1818 Dual Enrollment Program. He received a BA in both English and Sociology with a minor in Journalism and Creative Writing from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and earned an MA in Education from Washington University in St. Louis. For the first ten years of his teaching career, Ibur was also a full-time musician playing drums in several bands. His 2012 debut novel written under his full name, Edward Scott Ibur, is called Teacher of the Year, a satirical comedy set in a middle school. He is currently working on a collection of short stories and is the drummer for Flying House.