Winter 2007 Workshops at Writers & Books

For Children and Teens

Young Writers’ Club

• WY7-M1
• Instructor: Sally Bittner Bonn
• 11 Wednesdays, 3:45–5 p.m.
• January 24 through April 18 (no class February 21 or April 11)
  $111 W&B members / $121 general public •
• Limit: 12
• Grades 3 - 6

You know that you are a writer. You could use the inspiration and support of a good writing instructor, a time and place to focus on your writing, and a group of friends who are also writers. In Young Writer’s Club, we will play with many creative forms, including different styles of poetry, fiction, and journal writing. We will get acquainted with techniques used by great authors, try in-class exercises to get our writing minds purring, and learn how to give each other feedback that is helpful for revising and finishing our pieces. And, finally, we will publish a small book of our work and look at other places where we can send our pieces to be published. All young writers are welcome, even those who have previously attended this class, as each session offers new and fresh ideas.

How to register

Take a Hike: Poetry at Durand Park

• WY7-P3
• Instructor: Sally Bittner Bonn
• Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
• April 28
• $49 W&B members / $53 general public •Limit: 9
• Grades 4–6

A day in the woods with poetry—what could be better? Our environment is a powerful tool that can inspire and stretch us as writers. Look. Listen. Feel. Smell. We will make the most of our surroundings, soaking up the natural world and recording our observations and experiences by writing poems. We will read poets known for their writing about nature, such as Robert Frost and Mary Oliver, as well as haiku poets. As spring approaches, come, take a break from your regular Saturday routine and open your senses to the natural world. Please bring writing supplies and a lunch, wear good hiking shoes, and dress appropriately for the weather. A map to a meeting shelter will be mailed to you after you register.

How to register

Animal Haiku and Qigong

• WY7-P6
• Instructor: Marna Rossi
• 3 Saturdays, 9:30–11:30 a.m.
• January 27 through February 10
• $59 W&B Members / $63 General Public
• Limit: 12
• Grades 4–6

Learn the art of writing haiku through writing about animals. Read the story and writings of the great poet, Matsuo Basho—and learn that the shortest poetry can be the greatest! You will be shown ways to create your own haiku. (No syllable-counting will be required; however, we will still follow the rule that haiku is short—just a breath long.) Our second meeting will be a trip to the zoo! See in a new way that helps you learn more about the animals. As well as animal haiku, learn about haibun (haiku with a short story); haiga (haiku with drawing); and renga (linked poetry created with friends). To help you create poetry, special guest Wendy Smith, a qigong instructor and haiku poet, will help you learn “animal frolics” and other qigong practices. Qigong (like Tai Chi) is an ancient healing art that uses focused movement to help us be alert and aware of our surroundings. Animal frolics teaches us to be peaceful through the power of animals. Make your haiku come alive in a recital that combines movement with poetry for your family and friends.

How to register

Wordplay Workshop

• WY7-L1
• Instructor: Donna M. Marbach
• Saturday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
• March 31
• $39 W&B members / $44 general public

Prepare for April Fool’s day with a day of word play! All work and no play makes for a dull writer. We will uncover magic in words (did you know the word “four” counts its own letters: 4?), learn to write anagrams and palindromes, and find many words within one word. We might pencil our way through some word puzzles or games. We will learn some new words and adopt one or two “endangered” words. We will stretch our vocabulary and play with words by writing special kinds of poems, sketches, riddles, jokes, tongue twisters, or other exercises. We will walk away with puzzles and facts we can use to amaze our friends and families. Most of all, we will learn that words are the key building blocks in all good writing, and have some “wordwhile” fun along the way. Please bring a bag lunch.

How to register

Let's Write

• WY6–M9
• Instructor: Wendy Low and/or selected W&B Writers
• Dates and rates to be determined with group leaders.
• Ages 7–12 (for home-school groups, scouts, or other clubs)

Let’s approach writing as an amazing tool for exploring our view of the world and developing our minds. This program is designed to nurture and add to writers’ strengths by guiding you through a variety of methods used by adult authors. Participants will learn to work with various types of journal to support the writerly habits of noting interesting observations, using clear, vivid language, and thinking deeply. They will then develop a piece of writing and edit it for publication, or performance, or both. The rich writing experiences offered will give you many tools to adapt for writing to your own purposes.
Can be adapted to specific goals and needs.

How to register

Valentine Card Workshop

• WY6-A1
• Instructors: Wendy Low and Lezli Akua Hope
• Saturday, 10 a.m.–Noon
• February 10
• $8 and up (see description, below). Includes materials.

The old-fashioned Valentine card was a complex and enjoyable combination of verbal and visual arts and crafts. Is your technique rusty? Or have you never had the pleasure of trying your hand at home-made Valentine cards? Why give store-bought cards this year, when you can design and write your own, using our assortment of special papers, paints, metallic markers, ribbon, stickers, lace, velvet, etc., and our help in making your feelings sound swell in rhyme! We will show you classic examples and simple pop-up card techniques as well. Make big ones for special sweethearts ($8 each), or two dozen small ones for the whole elementary school class ($15 dozen)! You will learn techniques that you can use to make personalized cards all year round.

How to register

To Be a Poet: Teen Poets Speak

• WY7-P7
• Instructor: Sally Bittner Bonn
• 4 Saturdays, 9:30–11:30 a.m.
• March 3 through March 24
• $79 General Public/ $75 W&B Members •Limit: 11
• Ages: 13 & Up

To be a poet is a condition rather than a profession.
—Robert Graves

Most poets got started by their teen years. Are you a poet? You may have written a few poems and felt drawn to poetry, yet not known where to go next with this calling. You may write poems frequently but feel shy about showing them or unsure how to discuss poetry. Or you may be an established poet and wonder where your peers are. In this gathering, you will meet other young poets like yourself, read classic and contemporary poetry, and try poetic practices for keeping your poems flowing. You will look at the different inspirations for poems, processes for getting poems written, and poetic techniques, in order to figure out which ones are most natural to the poet in you. The instructor will help guide you to poets whose work you may find inspiring. Finally, we will discuss sharing your poetry with friends and the world: what is too personal and where your own specific poems work best in performance or publication.

If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can ever warm me, I know that is poetry. If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry. These are the only ways I know it. Is there any other way?
—Emily Dickinson

How to register

Slam Poetry Performance Technique Clinic

• WY7-P5
• Instructor: Reenah Golden-Collier
• Saturday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
• March 10
• $39 W&B members / $44 general public
• High School through Adult

Slam poetry is poetry spoken and performed in a variety of crowd-pleasing formats. Bring a poem that you want to perform, whether it is your own or a tribute performance of someone else’s work. Using the instructor’s and the group’s feedback and encouragement, you will figure out which oral presentation styles and techniques best fit your piece and learn to put the poem across with more meaning, depth, and excitement. A great class for anyone interested in improving their presentation and/or performance skills. Please bring a bag lunch.

How to register

Writing the “Young Adult” Novel