The document provides resources and exercises for creative writing programs for youth. It shares online and print resources for program planning, as well as tips for teaching youth to edit, present, and give feedback on writing. A number of exercises are described, including acrostics, artistic inspiration, exquisite corpse, editing, and free writing. The document also provides ideas for program elements like peer editing groups, fan fiction and poetry contests, literary zines, and open mic nights.

1. CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH Presented for Metrowest in April 2008 Beth Gallaway, Information Goddess Consulting http://www.informationgoddess.info [email_address]

2. OBJECTIVES Share online and print resources for creative writing program planning Try your hand at a number of simple exercises Get tips for how to teach youth how to edit, present, and deliver feedback on other's writing

3. ICEBREAKER: 2 TRUTHS & A LIE Tell the group three things about yourself Two things must be true One thing must be a lie The group has to guess which is fact and which is fiction

4. EXERCISE: ACROSTICS Write a name with each letter forming a column. Use each letter to start a new sentence. Traditional for cards or valentines. B M T E O I T T G H H G E E R R

5. RESOURCES: BOOKS Bogen, Nancy. How to Write Poetry . MacMillan, New York: 1998. Dahlstrom, Lorraine. Writing Down the Days: 365 creative journaling ideas for young writers . Free Spirit Publishers. Minnesota: 2000. LeGuin, Ursula. Steering the Craft: Exercises and discussions on story writing for the lone navigator or the mutinous crew . Eighth Mountain Press, Portland: 1998. Peacock, Molly. How to Read a Poem…and Start a Poetry Circle . Riverhead Trade, 2000. Walton, Todd, and Mindy Toomay. The Writer’s Path: A guidebook for your creative journey: exercises, essays and examples . Ten Speed Press, Berkeley: 2000.

6. RESOURCES: SERIES Scholastic Guides series: How to Write Poetry Putting it in Writing Writing With Style Writing Stories Franklin Watts Prep series: Extraordinary Blogs & Ezines Extraordinary Emails, Letters and Resumes Extraordinary Essays Extraordinary Poetry Writing Extraordinary Short Story Writing

7. RESOURCES: ONLINE American Academy of Poets http://www.poets.org CanTeach. Writing Prompts/Journal Topics. http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/prompts.html ETTC. Instant Poetic Forms. http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/newpoem.htm Magnetic Poetry: Play Online! Kid’s Kits. http://www.magneticpoetry.com/magnet/ The Writing Site. http://www.thewritingsite.org/resources/prompts/poetry.asp

8. EXERCISE: ARTISTIC INSPIRATION Choose: A postcard A painting A work of art A piece of music Write about it Example: “Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh “ Vincent (Starry Starry Night) by Don McLean

9. PROGRAM: PEER EDITING GROUP Meets on a regular basis Writing & editing exercises Themed meetings College essays Poetry Reviews May host event or magazine

10. FEEDBACK Model feedback Specific Constructive criticism only Take it with a grain of salt Appreciations Suggestions Written feedback

11. PROGRAM: FAN FICTION CONTEST Establish criteria Select “expert” judges from community Fan prizes

12. PROGRAM: VOYA POETRY CONTEST Call for submissions Select “expert” judges from community Winning poem is sent to VOYA Check out the April 2008 winners at: http://www.voya.com

13. PROGRAM: LITERARY ‘ZINES Call for submissions Youth does editing & layout Print and/or online Coffeehouse event to celebrate publication

14. PROGRAM: SUPPORT NANOWRIMO National Novel Writing Month November 1-30

15. PROGRAM: REVIEWS Use e-Vanced Solutions! Tie into: Summer Reading Teen Read Week Other

16. PROGRAM: POETRY BOOK CLUB Read a novel in verse Read a collection of poems

17. PROGRAM: POETRY CIRCLE Limit by poet Limit by theme Limit by geography Limit by time Limit by form

18. POETRY SLAM Competitive Prizes Podcast Blog YouTube

19. PROGRAM: OPEN MIC NIGHT Coffeehouse Non-competitive Door prizes Podcast Blog YouTube

20. EXERCISE: EXQUISITE CORPSE Write one line on a piece of paper. Pass it to the next person, who adds a second line. Continue around the room, with each person contributing a line. Variety! poem or story group or individually simultaneously

21. EXERCISE: EDITING Write 5 lines about whatever pops into your head. Write 3 new lines (using words from the first 5 lines)leaving a blank space for a new line between each one. In the blank spaces, write new 2 nd, 4 th & 6 th lines Cross out 2 words in each lines. Rework these lines, keeping to 6lines. Cross out 4 entire lines! Rewrite the remaining 2lines, leaving a blank space between them. Write a new second line that goes with the existing 2 lines. Cross out all but 5words to make one new line. Select ONE word. Write this one word at the top of a new page.

22. EXERICSE: FREE WRITE Write the one word from the last exercise at the top of the page. This is a title for a poem, an essay, a blog post, a story. Write it.

23. THANK YOU! Beth Gallaway http://informationgoddess.info http://del.icio.us/informationgoddess29 [email_address] 603.247.3196