The Epic of Gilgamesh “Tell me a tale that always was. Read me a story that I can be in...Turn me around so that I can see everything I was meant to be.” —Michael Kiwanuka, from Tell Me a Tale Why is telling a story more important today than ever before? The intimacy and power […]
Percy Jackson is mighty with his sword; his creator, Rick Riordan, is mighty with his pen. Experiment with the writing methods Riordan uses to weave a siren spell. You will need to prepare by reading the first book of the series, The Lightning Thief. In class, we will mine it for models of how to […]
Calling all quest seekers! What do collaborative role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons and writing have to do with each other? Quite a lot, as you’ll discover. In this camp, we’ll explore rich, fantastical worlds; create complex characters; and learn how to hone our plot points into stories that the bards will sing of for […]
In this week-long camp we’ll immerse ourselves in the cultures of indigenous peoples from many lands while we explore favorite Magic Tree House tales Buffalo Before Breakfast, Polar Bears Past Bedtime, Dingoes at Dinnertime, and High Tide in Hawaii. We’ll explore the stories and history of Native peoples from our area and discover how we […]
Do you love theatre? Do you have a big imagination? Have you always wished you could see the characters and stories in your head come to life in front of you? Then this class is for you! Through acting games, writing exercises, and reader’s theatre, we’ll learn the basics of playwriting, including character, conflict, and […]
Get to know YOU through the great world of books. We’ll read stories as a group, create art and games, venture out into the museum for special activities, and learn relaxation skills so that we can understand and express our emotions more effectively. We will create our own superhero identities to help us gain a […]
Have you ever wondered what it’s like living in a magical world, like that of Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, or The Borrowers? How do we leave everyday routines and leap into fantastical realms? Better yet, how do we create our own? Come explore surprising worlds of all shapes and sizes and learn new perspectives […]
Calling young thespians! We’ll spend the week walking into the world of William Shakespeare, with a special focus on his use of the supernatural in his plays. We’ll explore his life and times and learn the secrets to his use of language. We’ll play theater games, peek into some of his otherworldly plots and characters, […]
Whether you aspire to write fantasy, science fiction, historical, or contemporary realist novels, you’ll want to develop the skills and discover the tools that successful fiction writers use to bring their stories to life. We will focus on examples and exercises that help develop characters, setting, and atmosphere; choosing point of view; and creating and […]
In this exciting camp, a collaboration between Writers & Books and the Creative Workshop at the Memorial Art Gallery (MAG), you’ll create your own fantastically illustrated and imaginatively written story. You’ll learn how to illustrate an idea, choose a fitting style, and draw things you thought you didn’t know how to draw. You will learn […]
Immerse yourself in Harry Potter’s world! This workshop is for young wizards and witches who haven’t yet read the full series. With dramatic read-alouds, creative projects, and visits from special professors, students will dig into the first four books of the series in a supportive environment. We’ll study the history of magic and Hogwarts; learn […]
All the best stuff happens before the cameras roll! In this camp we’ll talk about what makes screenplays work and learn basic techniques by focusing on structure, story, characters, dialogue, and format. We’ll watch scenes from different movie genres and break down the scripts to see how the writer made it all happen. Students should […]
Trees are central to our existence—providing the very air we breathe, and setting the backdrop for many of our favorite stories. This exciting new camp incorporates both science and fantasy. We will learn fascinating facts about how trees live and read folklore? from around the world about trees and the magical beings who dwell in […]
Words and pictures work together to tell stories in celebrated graphic novels, comics, and Manga like Dog Man, Black Panther, Super Diaper Baby, Razzle Dazzle Unicorn, Cat Kid Comic Club and The Last Kids on Earth. With the whole library at our fingertips we’ll immerse ourselves in graphic novels that tell stories and focus on […]
Immerse yourself in the world of Harry Potter as all of Writers & Books turns into Hogwarts! Throughout the week, students will attend classes such as Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Transfiguration, Divination, History of Magic, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, and much more. Hands-on activities will be accompanied by creative writing exercises […]
Exercise your creativity in this exciting week of summer fun at the library! We’ll explore stories from every angle by reading them, telling them, writing them, acting them out, listening for them in music, and finding stories that speak to us on the shelves of the library! Stories connect us to our friends and families, […]
Todos tenemos una historia y ahora necesitamos unirnos para contarlas porque cada cuento importa. Durante este programa vamos a ‘tomar espacio, hacer espacio’ por la poesía para contar la historia de nosotros, de nuestra culturas, y nuestra gente. Al fin del programa, los estudiantes van a mostrar, en forma de poema, el tema central siendo […]
Learn the essentials of voice, character, conflict, and dialogue to build a story and keep it going. Whatever kind of fiction you write, we’ll hone in on what makes a story shine—and what keeps readers reading. We’ll examine a range of diverse examples from across cultures, genres, and styles. Ample writing time, including prompts and […]
Does the state of our world today concern you? Do you ask yourself, “What can I do?” Do you enjoy defending your ideas? Searching for what lies beneath the surface? If so, this is the camp for you! Become a philosopher, learn how to discuss and write creatively. Activities include invigorating discussions and meaningful writing […]
In this exciting camp, a collaboration between Writers & Books and the Creative Workshop at the Memorial Art Gallery, you’ll create your own characters and explore your own story ideas. You’ll learn the tools of the trade—how to illustrate an idea, choose a fitting style, and draw things you don’t know how to draw—and learn […]
Camp conducted in American Sign Language Calling future writers, visual storytellers, artists, and filmmakers! In this two-week-long camp, Deaf and Hard of Hearing campers participate in designing and painting a mural at the Rochester Public Market while learning the art of filmmaking. We will create short films documenting the mural-making process, engage in meaningful conversation […]
Flash fiction is a very short form of story writing where every word is essential. This genre has all the parts of a story—characters, setting, and plot—but in a nutshell. We’ll learn to hook the reader and then, through an unexpected twist, leave the reader wanting more. In writing our own pieces, we’ll analyze the […]
In this new camp you will learn the art of transforming a written story into a comic. We’ll look at and discuss media that has been made in both word and image formats to discover the elements that go into an adaptation. Throughout the week we’ll examine a wide variety of examples ranging from Batman […]
Are you passionate about seeking justice? Do you listen in on current events and happenings in your community, wondering what you can do to make the world a better, more welcoming place? Improvisational theatre is a perfect vehicle for exploring these issues! We’ll be inspired by a script that brings a multi-racial, blended family to […]
This collaboration between Writers & Books and the Flower City Arts Center provides a unique opportunity merging visual arts with creative writing. You will work with artists to handbuild a ceramic book—on which you will inscribe your own poem, make paper, learn to make different kinds of books, and use letterpress printing techniques to decorate […]
The word photography means “writing with light.” Using a 35mm film camera (provided) and a pen and notebook, we will explore the uniqueness of the Neighborhood of the Arts. There will be opportunities to photograph and write about such outdoor art as wall murals and sculptures, the interior and exterior details of historic buildings, and […]
So you want to write a book, but you need a plan? Learn how to plot a book chapter by chapter, taking your great idea and turning it into a juicy plot. We’ll access resources from a variety of arts and cultural organizations and learn how thoughtful observation of ordinary people and places will […]
Have you ever seen a comedy improv show or the television show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and thought, “That looks like fun!” It is fun, and here is your chance to see for yourself. Comedy improvisation is the art of acting without a script. The results are always entertaining and often hilarious. In this […]
Starting from two characters—one with your own personality and a character of your own invention—you will create the kind of stories you like, whether they are superhero adventures, fantasy, sci-fi, or realistic problem-solving stories. You'll learn methods to keep readers glued to your story. You will also create poems or dramatic scenes that express your […]
