Monday, March 9, 2015

A Top-Notch Conference for Young Writers!


As a former editor of My Little Magazine, a publication (years back) for young writers, I still hear from students and teachers wondering what magazines or e-zines are out there to help them, and what conferences or other events are available to young writers. My top answer for this year is the summer 2015 Young Writers’ Program through the Loft Literary Center (www.loft.org).

Why this one? For a lot of reasons. One, the very affordable program hosts classes for students ages six to seventeen, so there’s something for every young writer no matter where their talents and skills lie. Having given a few classes for young writers through a different program, which I believe was quite good, I can say without hesitation that I haven’t seen too many programs for young writers with such a diverse list of available classes as the one hosted by The Loft.

They offer classes on writing genre fiction, writing the epic fantasy, novel writing, writing fan-fiction, personal essays, poetry, historical fiction, college application essays – and who won’t need those someday – and also advanced fiction workshops for students already working on a short story or novel.

For students who can’t travel to Minneapolis, they have a broad list of online classes, each with a suggested age bracket. Some are geared toward students ages thirteen to seventeen, while others are for students ages twelve to fourteen, and still others for ages nine to eleven. There are even classes for students as young as six to eight years old, nurturing that first interest in writing and helping it blossom into a garden of possibilities and stories.

This program gives a hands-on approach to writing, as well as a better look at how to read to improve your craft. Many classes offer critiques not only from other students, but also from the instructor. The unique organization of the program boasts everything writing conferences for adults offer, and there’s no holding back on brainstorming ideas and writing prompts to kick-start creativity.

Students will be learning from such creative writing instructors as Holly Vanderhair, Samantha Ten Eyck, Nicole Kronzer, Rhea Davison-Edwards; and editors including Andrew Karre and Edward J. Rathke; and authors —Kate St. Vincent Vogl, Emily Strasser, Janet Graber, Lyda Morehouse, Rachel Gold, and many more (not a complete list in any category).

I’m inspired just hearing about the program. If you or a young writer you know is looking for an intense but fun learning experience, I doubt you’ll find any better. Check the website out, and consider this—I’m excited about the program, and I don’t even work there.

Happy writing!

23 comments:

  1. Thanks for the information! Definitely book-marking this one, because I also get asked a lot about writing resources for kids!

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    1. I'll bet you do. This one is amazing. I've been to some of their conferences for older writers, and I honestly do believe they put out some of the best.

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  2. I think it's wonderful that they offer online classes for kids who can't make it to the workshops.

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    1. Me too. With so many families having a pile of 'to do's stocked up for every summer, places to go, people to visit, it's nice that kids can bring a laptop and take these classes no matter where they end up.

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  3. Wish I knew at a young age that I wanted to be a writer. Sounds like this would have been a fantastic opportunity! :)

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    Replies
    1. Yeah. I knew I wanted to me a writer, but I'd never heard of any programs or conferences for young people.

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  4. Sure sounds perfect for every young writer indeed

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    Replies
    1. Yep. So, now if only I could convince them I'm only 17...

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  5. This sounds excellent source for people who are trying to get started and have no where to turn. Glad you have spotlighted it

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    1. Thanks. It's something I'd want to know if I were young or had a young writer living with me. :-)

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  6. Sounds like a great program! How cool that online courses are available for this, too...

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, it is because then it works with any schedule.

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  7. I wish I'd had something like this available for me when I was in high school.

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    Replies
    1. Ah, Chuck, you and me both. And just think how much smarter we'd be then. :-)

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  8. Very interesting post, The Loft sounds great!

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    1. Thanks, and it is great. I wish I were young enough to take this class, or brave enough to lie that much about my age, or ... well, anyway. :-)

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