Class

Heroes, Villains, and Worlds: Fantasy Writing for Ages 12 to 14

Welcome back to Summer Youth at Open Book! Join us for a week of writing and all day creativity!

-Session 1: Character Development: Design a Fantasy or Sci-Fi Protagonist, Villain, and Side Kick for Ages 12 to 14 with Kelsey Daly

Come create your very own fantasy character alongside fellow fantasy and sci-fi writing peers! You’ll do writing exercise that make your character pop off the page and into your reader’s heart. What are their motivations, surprising backstories, dreams, worries, and noteworthy fashion choices? When given difficult choices, what do they do? Next, you’ll craft a terribly devious villain for your protagonist to battle. We'll talk about what makes a villain compelling and how to mold a villain that will perfectly challenge your character. (We’ll also give your protagonist a complex side-kick so they aren’t alone in battle.) Through a combination of writing exercises and games, you'll see your character spring to life and interact with each other. We’ll also study strong character examples from your favorite shows, films, and books.

-Lunch & Enrichment: We'll break for lunch with more activities that will inspire us to express ourselves while having fun! We may explore Gold Medal Park to seek creativity outside the classroom! Please bring a packed lunch.

-Sesson 2: Short Story Writing for Ages 12 to 14 with Kat Shephard

Reading a collection of short stories is like having a taste of every dish at a banquet. Whether it's funny, frightening, or heartbreaking, a good short story is a compelling peek into a deeper world. In this class we'll read short works by Jack Gantos, Pam Muñoz Ryan, David Levithan and others to unlock the secrets of short story structure. Then we'll use a variety of games and activities to help writers brainstorm, outline, and write short stories of our own. While each class will begin with reading and discussing a work of literature, the majority of class time will be spent writing, conferencing, and revising. Every writer will have the opportunity to complete at least one short story, and students will work together to critique and revise their work.

Aspiring writers, grab your notebooks and pens, and let’s write at the Loft!