Lit Youngstown will host the seventh annual Winter Writing Camp Saturday, February 18, at St. John’s Episcopal Church and the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County. The all-day event is free with registration and open to the public. The registration deadline is February 5, and seating is limited.
This year’s camp offers sessions for adults, teens and youth ages five and up, of all experience levels. Adult session topics include writing poetry from life, interviewing to collect family stories, writing a caretaking graphic memoir, submitting work for publication, writing flash fiction, and writing the true story. The event will include a musical performance by Jon Locketti, and a cookie table and open mic for those who would like to share their work.
The 2023 Winter Writing Camp teaching artists include R. W. Franklin, Tanesha Bokally, E. F. Schraeder, Arya F. Jenkins, Marissa Snyder, Mari Alschuler, Katie Urs, Lindsay Sinkovich, Marissa McFly and McKayla Rockwell.
Session leader R. W. Franklin, who will be attending for the sixth time, said she thinks of Winter Writing Camp as a miniature writing conference, “except it’s completely free and more personal. If you’re a new or experienced writer, it’s great to spend the day with other creative people,” she said. “And kids sharing their writing at the open mic is just the best.”
In 2022, youth attendees worked with local playwright Kelly Bancroft to write and perform an original play.
Pre-registration is required by February 5 and includes lunch (no walk-ins, please). Youth under 12 are required to have an adult present, and kindergarteners and first graders to have an adult with them throughout the day. Registration information is available at LitYoungstown.org.
This year’s Winter Writing Camp is funded in part by the Char and Chuck Fowler Foundation, the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, and the Youngstown Foundation. Lit Youngstown is a literary nonprofit with programs for writers, readers and those who love a good story.
