I am
convinced when we look back someday we will find this is the age of the writer.
There is such promise in the opportunity to make our work available to readers.
And nowhere is this clearer than with young writers and poets (or sometimes
those who are both!)
July on
Romancing the Genres will spotlight young writers. Young writers bring their
own perspective and voice to writing. They also bring fresh content that can
sometimes seem controversial to adults. It is a fine balance, I think, between
promoting their writing style, their academic learning and their freedom of
expression.
It is
fitting for this post during our charitable subject month, that I get the
opportunity to thank some wonderful organizations out there who are helping
kids learn to walk this balance while supporting and building their motivation
to write:
-
Our
very own, local, Willamette Writers has a nationally known program for kids,
Young Willamette Writers (http://www.willamettewriters.com/YWW/yww.htm)
-
826
National aims to “provide under-resourced students, ages 6-18, with
opportunities to explore their creativity and improve their writing skills…”
and much more! (http://826national.org/about/)
-
Another
local organization, Write Around Portland, “…Bring(s) free 10-week creative writing workshops to hospitals,
schools, homeless youth shelters, senior centers, low income apartments,
prisons, social service agencies and treatment facilities…” (http://www.writearound.org/index.html)
-
The
Association of Writers and Writing Programs takes the learning back a level, by
supporting those who teach kids how to express themselves (showing how to build
a well, so to speak rather than building it for them) (https://www.awpwriter.org/about/our_history)
-
Young
Writers Society is an online community for young writers age 13+ (http://www.youngwriterssociety.com/)
- The
Young Writers Project out of VT and NH has a great format for others to use in
supporting young writers (including developing fun writing prompts to kick
start imagination) (http://youngwritersproject.org/)
-
Who
hasn’t heard of NaNoWriMo? But did you know they have a special Young Writers Program:
(http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/)
The list
could go on and on. Whether you are an established author, or a new writer,
getting involved in one of these organizations helps all of us, kids and adult
volunteers alike, continue to grow as writers.
DeanneJourneys Inspired by Love
www.deannewilsted.com
Follow me - @dwilsted
or https://www.facebook.com/DeanneWilstedAuthor
6 comments:
As in other areas of our lives, the young people are our future. I'm young enough that I'm sure I'll be reading the works of some of the talent being nurtured by these organizations. Thanks, Deanne.
Thank you for sharing information on all these wonderful programs for helping and supporting young writers, Deanne.
Wonderful that there are so many organizations supporting young writers. Any program that encourages young people to write and read is awesome.
Thank you for this great post! I'm looking forward to the July series of posts.
There is also Hope Clark's KidWriter which is a bi-monthly newsletter listing contests, grants, and markets just for young writers. It's free to subscribe.
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/writingkid/
Wow Mindy... that looks awesome! Thanks for adding it. I was also reminded by my daughter that by showing our own kids (and their friends) that we are writers, by taking ourselves seriously, we act as important role models for them.
Yesterday, on vacation, we were taking a tour of an old gold mine and when the guide asked if I was a teacher my daughter chimed in proudly; "no, she's a romance writer." :>)
One of those "Kodak" moments. I know that reference dates me but then I see myself as spanning several generations - from Kodak moment to MasterCard's 'Priceless'.
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