Writing Workshops for Children
Free Writing Workshops for Children and Teens will take place in the Children’s Workshop Pavilion, located in the Children’s Village.
No pre-registration required.
10:00: Odes to Favorite Things, With Nancy Arbuthnot
Work with poet Nancy Arbuthnot to practice writing odes in praise of a favorite person, place, or even thing! We will look at examples of contemporary odes by Pablo Neruda (“Ode to Things,” “Ode to Cats,” “Ode to My Socks”) and others, then spend some time jotting down ideas about your chosen subject. Then, after talking about ways to use repetition, concrete details and metaphors and similes, we will rework those ideas into poems. Finally, you’ll be encouraged to create a handmade “broadside,” or elegantly penned and lightly illustrated 8×10 in card. All supplies provided.
11:00: Comic Character Creation, With Dave Roman and Alexis Frederick-Frost
Join cartoonists Dave Roman (“Unicorn Boy”) and Alexis Frederick-Frost (“Team Unihorn and Wooly”) for a fun-filled workshop about developing unique characters, brainstorming ideas, and collaborating with fellow artists to create unexpected comic stories full of crazy twists and turns.
12:00: Notice, Ask, Listen: Be a Reporter to Improve Your Stories, With Jennifer Gennari
Notice, Ask, Listen: These three reporting skills can help spark creativity and improve writing. You will focus on noticing what’s around you and taking notes about those telling details; asking questions about things that make you curious; and listening to what people share.
1:00: Fantasy Worldbuilding, With Writopia Lab
Calling all fantasy writers! In this workshop led by Writopia Lab, you will design a map for an original fantasy world. By drawing and outlining your fantasy world, you’ll explore how geography influences history, politics, cultures, and, of course, magic. This can serve as the framework for future or current projects.
2:00: Nature Art and Poetry Fun!, With Jenny Klein
Let’s be creative! Come out and create a weather/nature artwork and “You” poem with Jennifer Klein! First, we will discuss some artworks and poems, then we will design our own nature artwork and write our own weather/nature riddle poem. Illustration tips for creating an artwork will be shared. Let’s see if we can guess each other’s riddles!
3:00: Epistolary Writing, With Writopia Lab
In this workshop, led by Writopia Lab, you’ll write letters and postcards to or from fictional characters, exploring voice, perspective, and storytelling. Guided prompts and exercises will show how emotions can create intimate stories and characters. You also will be able to create a collaborative story with a partner through an exchange of letters.
4:00: Art Journaling: Stories Through Words and Pictures, With Jennifer-NeToi Claiborne
Discover the creative possibilities of art journaling. This workshop, led by poet and storyteller Jennifer-NeToi Claiborne, combines poetry, song lyrics, quotes and visual storytelling to help you create meaningful journal pages. Explore techniques like free writing, collage and drawing to express yourself through words and images. Supplies are provided, but feel free to bring favorite quotes, photos or lyrics to inspire your work.