Past Event

Creative Writing: Young Writers Workshop – Online

10 – 13

Welcome to The Young Writers Workshop, an ONLINE creative writing studio with Brendan Constantine. In these sessions (for beginning and advanced writers), we’ll explore poetry and storytelling, their history, and even create the genres of the future. No previous experience is needed. The final Saturday will not be a regular class but we will have a virtual, public reading of our work together.

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Overview

“Poetry is a means of seeing invisible things and saying unspeakable things about them.”
– Howard Nemerov

“If there is a book you really want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”
-Toni Morrison

Welcome to The Young Writers Workshop, a creative writing studio with Brendan Constantine. Come challenge yourself with professional exercises, discover advanced tools for editing, learn how to submit work to publishers, and cultivate a live performance. No previous experience is needed.

Classes will meet every day for one week of writing, reading, discussion, games, and a few surprises. Make sure you have a good internet connection, a preferred electronic device with WiFi access, standard writing equipment like pens and paper, and (most important of all) a sense of wonder. You may also want to bring some examples of writing you enjoy. We all have something to teach each other.

This workshop is the perfect opportunity for you to meet new friends and potential collaborators, from all over the world, who share your passion for writing. It might even help you get a head start on school projects for the new year. We look forward to reading you!

Additional Information

Writers will start at their own levels and no experience is necessary. Each session is designed to challenge and inspire students in an atmosphere of encouragement and inclusion. Constantine has worked for years to develop a unique teaching style which both empowers new voices and allows seasoned writers to flourish. Sufferers of ‘Writer’s Block’ are strongly encouraged!

Notebook
Pen
Laptop (optional)

Here is a list of random things you may also want to have ready:
a good memory
a bad memory
a favorite time of day
a favorite kind of weather
a ‘good luck’ charm
a random phrase or lyric that keeps playing in your head
a dream
a poem or story you admire by someone else

Some (but not all) of our routines:

Be prepared to write every day. A willingness to experiment and take risks is encouraged. We will also be emphasizing discussions of craft, ways to test its limits (if any), and what it’s like to be a contemporary author. Likewise, students will also gain insight on teaching. Indeed, when our week is over, you’ll be able to lead your own workshop.

A typical day consists of writing, reading, discussion time, and usually a few games or surprises. Students develop their most promising work with their classmates, receiving thorough feedback from peers and the teacher.

Brendan Constantine is the author of four books of poetry and his work has appeared in many standards including Poetry, The Nation, Best American Poetry, Prairie Schooner, Field, and Poem-A-Day. A popular performer, he has read for audiences throughout the U.S. and Europe, also appearing on NPR, TED ED, numerous podcasts, and YouTube. He holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and currently teaches at both the Windward School and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Since 2017, Brendan has been developing poetry workshops for people with Aphasia.

Website: http://brendanconstantine.com
Twitter: @poetbrendan
Instagram: @brendanconstantine

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