Children's Writing Workshop
September 19-21, 2008
The annual fall Children's Writers Workshop at Fishtrap is scheduled for September 19-21. Portland young adult writer Blake Nelson and Montana writer Peggy Christian are the presenters. Nelson is the author of Prom Anonymous and Paranoid Park (recently made into a movie by Gus Van Sant), and Christian's books in include Bookstore Mouse and If You Find a Rock.
The workshop begins with dinner on Friday night, September 19, and concludes with open mics on Sunday morning. Nelson will address "'Voice': How do you capture the sound of a teen or middle grade voice. How do you represent region, class, and gender within that context; how do you use (and not overuse) slang." And Christian calls her workshop "Engaging Your Reader in the Story." She focuses on writing techniques that engage readers' imaginations and allow them to co-create the story with the author. She says that the workshop is especially appropriate for the chapter book age group. Both writers call their teaching techniques hands on and experiential.
Cost of the workshop, including three meals, is $195. Discounted motel rooms are available at the Ponderosa Motel in Enterprise, just three blocks from Fishtrap. Click here to register.