The staff of the Literary Magazine at CHS worked on taking their writing to the next level at a workshop led by Project Write Now on Feb. 21 said Lit Mag board member Vivian DeRosa of Ocean.

Seven CHS students met after school to take part in the workshop, which was centered around the theme of emotion and love, Lit Mag editor Karoline Winzer of Aberdeen said.

Project Write Now is a non-profit organization in Red Bank with the goal of creating a writing community that supports, motivates and inspires each other according to the Project Write Now website.

At the workshop, students read a short story entitled, “I Am A Zombie Filled with Love” by Isaac Marion. Winzer said they responded to writing prompts dealing with emotion.

“You could do a poem or short story,” DeRosa said in regards to the writing prompts.

Lit Mag editor in chief Angel Chasco of Middletown said the goal of the workshop was to get fresh and interesting prompts to write about.

“We have a writing prompt every single week, but how many interesting prompts can one person come up with?” Chasco said.

DeRosa, Winsor, Gesin and Chasco said they enjoyed the workshop.

“I thought it was a great experience, I would love to have them again,” DeRosa said.

“It was a really great way to spend a few hours after school just writing and having fun,” Winsor said.

Lit Mag advisor and technology teacher Laura Gesin said that the club did have to pay for Project Write Now to come for the workshop.

“They gave us a discount because I was honest and said that we’re a school organization and we have to pay for our own activities,” Gesin said.

Lit Mag became associated with Project Write Now through DeRosa, who volunteers at Project Write Now. However, DeRosa is not the only Lit Mag member who has worked with Project Write Now before.

“We went to teen arts last year, and Project Write Now did a demonstration,” Winzer said.

Lit Mag has hosted other after school writing workshops in the past.

“Last year we had an alumni come in,” Chasco said.

DeRosa said she thought the attendance at the workshop would have been greater if it were on a different day.

“I think it was hard because it came right after Presidents day,” DeRosa said. “So I think if it was on a day where everybody knows about it, people would really love to come.”