Winter 2004 Workshops at Writers & Books

Youth Workshops

Encouraging Young Writers:
A Workshop for Parents & Educators of Children in K–6th Grade

• One Monday, January 26, 6:30–9 pm
• $17 W&B members / $19 general public
• Instructors: Wendy Low [ bio ] & Naomi Erdman [ bio ]
• Limit: 14

For parents and teachers who want to encourage their elementary school writer(s), this workshop promises to be fun and informative. Discussion will revolve around:

• motivating writers at various ages,
• internal and external obstacles children face to becoming writers,
• recognizing how encouragement differs from pushing,
• respecting the author’s ownership of his/her text,
• creating opportunities for end-product pride,
• recognizing stages in learning to write well,
• recognizing various purposes for writing,
• breaking down the task and setting up processes that ease a writer’s task,
• making sure your child masters “the basics” while not losing creativity, and
• providing opportunities for writers to gain support and experience.

Handouts and a bibliography will be supplied. Hands-on activities will give participants some perspective on what children experience while learning to write. Questions welcome!

The Wizard of Writing: J.K. Rowling’s Secrets

• Ages 8–13
• One Saturday, February 21, 10 am–2 pm
• $43 W&B members / $48 general public
• Instructor: Jonathan Rich [ bio ]
• Limit: 14

Come unlock the secrets that went into the writing of Harry Potter.

This class will take young people inside the creative process and explore the writing techniques J.K. Rowling used to create the wonderful Harry Potter series. Investigate how detailed description, accurate dialogue, plot-driving characters, vivid scenes, the right point of view and the right tone add up to a great read.

Enjoy the magic! Bring a lunch, and we will provide the Many-Flavored Beans!

Poetry Planet

• Ages 8–12
• One Saturday, March 6, 9:30 am–Noon
• $35 W&B members / $39 general public
• Instructor: Todd Beers [ bio ]
• Limit: 14

Find out where your poetry comes from inside and outside. Hear examples of intriguing poems by adults and children. Use the magic of “poetry chips” to generate poetic surprises.

Poet Todd Beers will lead students on an exploration of new territory in their use of words, images, and the creative spirit.

Teen Slam Team

• Ages: 14–18
• Five alternating Mondays, 6:30–8:30 pm
• March 22, April 5 & 19, May 3,
  Performance May 6, 7:30 p.m. at Daily Perks, 389 Gregory St [ map ]
• $89 W&B members / $98 general public
• Instructor: Reenah Golden [ bio ]
• Limit: 14

Slam poetry is poetry spoken and performed in a variety of crowd-pleasing formats.

Participants will be introduced to and study the art of the spoken word and “slam” through a series of pieces shared by the instructor and video excerpts from professional slam poets from the famous Nuyorican Café and Def Poetry Slam.

During this workshop each student will develop an original piece or a personal adaptation of an existing text using feedback and encouragement from the group, and perform together as a “team.” The slam team will then lead off a performance and open mike at a community venue!

Student performances will be taped for the purposes of feedback.

Let’s Write

• Ages 8–12
• Six Wednesdays, January 14 – February 25, 1–3 pm
• No class February 18
• $71 W&B members / $79 general public
• Instructor: Wendy Low [ bio ]
• Limit: 12

In this enrichment class students will approach writing as an amazing tool for exploring their worldviews and developing their own minds. Each session is designed to nurture and add to the strengths of each young writer by experimenting with a variety of methods used by adult authors.

Participants will learn to keep various types of journal entries to support the writerly habits of noting interesting observations, using clear, vivid language, and thinking deeply, and will develop an individual writing project and edit it for a final celebration.

The rich writing experiences offered in this course will give students the confidence to write on their own and the tools they need to succeed.

Young Writers’ Fiction Club

• Ages 9–13
• Eleven Saturdays, January 10 – April 3, 10 –11:45 am
• No class February 21 & March 6
• $162 W&B members / $180 general public
• Instructor: Donna Marbach [ bio ]
• Limit: 12

Do you identify with Harriet the Spy? Are you the next Judy Blume, Faith Ringgold, or J.K. Rowling?

If you’re a young writer developing all the skills that make your favorite writers great, you can now get support and encouragement in the Young Writers’ Club. Have fun with observing the world closely using all the senses. Hear the way people really talk. Play with language, sound, and rhythm.

Participants will be encouraged to exercise their imaginations. Learn how to hook readers from the beginning, create reader interest, write satisfying endings. Revise and edit your best work for contests or publication!

You are here > Home > Winter 2004 Seminars, Courses & Workshops > Youth Workshops