A Day At The Young Writers Workshop

Mornings

After breakfast at Observatory Hill Dining Hall, young writers partake in the morning Power-Up session. It is here that young writers extend their practice of new techniques, elaborate on new ideas, and consult with other writers as they revise. Exercises led by counselors are used to develop work in the selected genre and introduce the afternoon intensive workshop.

Following the morning Power Up session, young writers are given a full hour devoted completely to writing. This allows them to develop assignments or works for presentation at a Writer's Cafe or workshop session. While young writers have other opportunities to write at other times during the day, this allows them to do so in a quiet and focused environment.

Afternoons

After lunch, young writers participate in a guided workshop in their selected genre -- fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, or songwriting. Guided by a staff of published and professional writers, they invent, develop, and revise material. Individual conferences with the instructor and peers help them develop a portfolio of writing. Young writers learn to use the writer's tools more effectively-- language, imagination, sight and insight, as well as the journal and word processing technologies. Young writers may submit finished works or works in progress to be critiqued by their fellow writers in their group.

In addition, the student chooses from an array of electives. Elective courses are an opportunity to get exercise, have brief encounters with the eclectic, and igniting untapped parts of the imagination...

Past Electives

Evenings

The evening activities provide a sense of community within the workshop as well as giving young writers the option of sharing and/or performing their work for others. Past evening activities have included poetry slams, improv comedy nights, jam sessions, trips to concerts and plays put on by young writers and faculty, and dances.

Following evening activities and free time, the hourlong Suite Time is devoted to activities in the student living spaces, or suites. This is a period during which suitemates and their counselors bond and plan their own activities.

Weekends

Charlottesville and the surrounding area provide an ideal environment for immersing the writer in rich literary, historical, and cultural traditions. Weekends are loosely structured, allowing young writers to choose from a variety of activities as well as relaxing with friends, writing, or laundry.

Past Weekend Activities