YOUNG WRITERS WORKSHOP
11.2.2019
Rochester, MN
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. ~ Ben Franklin
Do you have a student between the ages of 10 and 16 who is interested in writing? If so, we invite them to join some local authors for a day of creativity and fun.
General Information
WHEN & WHERE
Saturday, November 2nd, 2019
9AM - 3PM
Gage Elementary School, Rochester, MN
WHAT
The Young Writers Workshop is a full-day event dedicated to 10-16 year-old writers who love being creative and want to learn new skills and techniques from local authors in their community. And as a BONUS, we offer a unique experience where students can upload their writing before the workshop for a one-on-one session with a local author to gain even more insight.
WHY
Because writing is fun and it makes our brains better, and we're better people for putting our creative talents to good use. Duh!?!
LUNCH
Students should bring their own lunch and beverage. Food and beverage will not be available for purchase.
SNACK
We got you! Water bottles and a variety of small snacks will be provided at the end of the day.
BOOK FAIR
YES! Titles written by our talented local authors/instructors will be available for purchase during the workshop.
QUESTIONS
Workshop Sessions
Students will choose FOUR one-hour sessions.
YOU and a Local Author
One-on-One Session
Submit up to 2500 words of your original writing prior to the start of the workshop and have one-on-one time with a local author who will read your work and be ready to give advice, answer questions, and be a genuine voice of encouragement. Deadline for submitting your writing is Sunday, October 27th.
At Second Glance
Jennifer L. Davidson
Learn how to uniquely describe secondary characters as you introduce them in your story. Share with your reader not only the characters’ physical appearance, but what items are stuffed in their pockets or purse, what words are written across their t-shirt or stitched on their hat, and which gestures they use when confronted with difficult questions. After a brief presentation featuring descriptions written by professional authors, volunteers can use props to create one-of-a-kind characters, while the rest of the class writes a vivid description.
Bringing Characters to Life
Anthony W. Eichenlaub
Stories might describe fantastic plots taking place in an incredible world, but it’s the characters that really draw readers in. Learn how to bring your characters to life, shaping them in a way that will grab the reader’s interest in only a few words. We’ll discuss character-driven plotting and ways to grow our stories organically from the desires of our fully realized characters.
Every Good Story Contains a Mystery
Mike Kalmbach
Every story needs tension. No matter whether you're writing romance, fantasy, science fiction, or any other genre, learn to use elements of mystery to keep your readers turning pages. In this session, you'll have several opportunities to practice through structured exercises.
Enchanting Your Readers with Scintillating Settings
J. Lynn Else
Learn fun tips and tricks to creating immersive settings and unique dialogue. By building your authenticity, you’re building your audience. We’ll analyze our favorite stories and discuss ways to develop your own setting. What should writers be mindful of when creating the backdrop of a science fiction, fantasy, and/or historical fiction story? We’ll explore further in this session.
Ready, Set, Go! Publishing That First Novel
C.H. Armstrong
Learn about the various routes for publishing that first novel. This session will cover self publishing, small publisher, or publishing through an agent, and will hit on topics including the querying process and the various social media contests to aid in the process.
Do I Really Need to Revise?
Rachel Schieffelbein
Spoiler alert, the answer is YES. You've finished your story, what's the next step? We'll talk about the rounds of revisions published authors go through, what feedback to listen to, and what you can ignore as you polish up your story and make it exactly what you want it to be.
**HIGHLY ENCOURAGED** Help us help you!
