Upcoming Young Writers Groups

What an exciting year 2011 has been! And here we are in 2012 with many more opportunities for young writers to hone their skills and be creative together. This year, we're going to try running a couple Inkaholics groups simultaneously, with two different age groups. Here's what we have in the works:

Inkaholics 8 (Middle School)
6-week Collaborative Writers Group for Middle Schoolers
Ages: 12-15, intermediate
Dates: Saturdays, January 14-February 18, 2012
Time/Location: 2:00-4:00 p.m. @ Panera Bread (Powers & S Carefree)
Cost: $75 for the entire workshop
Participants: 6-8

Participants learn to work together to craft a story and contribute their own ideas and writing to the finished product.Every student will receive ONE FREE COPY of the final, professionally-designed, printed copy of the novella after the workshop ends.

REGISTER FOR INKAHOLICS 8

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Inkaholics 9 (High School)
6-week Collaborative Writers Group for High Schoolers
Ages: 15-18, advanced
Dates: Fridays, January 20-February 24, 2012
Time/Location: 5:00-7:00 p.m. @ Panera Bread (Powers & S Carefree)
Cost: $75 for the entire workshop
Participants: 6-8

The older Inkaholics group will have longer write-at-home scenes, plus an opportunity to advance toward real, paid publication IF the final novella meets market standards.Otherwise, we will self-publish, and each student will receive ONE FREE COPY of the final, professionally-designed, printed copy of the novella after the workshop ends.

REGISTER FOR INKAHOLICS 9

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Ink Slingers: Free Monthly Peer Critique Group

This is a brand new group for 2012 that will meet during the school year. Bring 3 copies of 1500 words of your work-in-progress. We'll read it together and critique it as a group--live and in person! Discuss your story with peers and help others with their writing as well.

 

Ages: 14-18

Duration: Monthly, 4th Saturday of the month

Time/Location: 5:00-6:30 p.m. @ Panera Bread (Powers & S Carefree)

Cost: FREE

Participants: 3-8

RSVP for your first meeting

 

 

If you have any questions or would like to register via email, just contact me. Thanks for considering how to encourage the young writers in your life!

Christmas Break Event for Young Writers

Thanks to the brainstorming help of some talented (albiet easily distracted) Inkaholics I know, we are planning a special young writers event over Christmas break. If you or a young writer you know is interested in doing something creative over break, this could be a perfect opportunity. Here are details:

Eight Players:
Character RPG
3 Wednesdays, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
December 21, 28, 2011
& January 4, 2012

Dream up characters together, set the the stage, then send them on an unforgettable adventure of our own creation. Participants will receive a FREE professionally designed and published copy of the final story. Illustrations by writers are welcome!

Ages: 13-18
Cost: $40 per person
Participants: 8-10 total


REGISTER ONLINE

It will be an amazingly fun, fast-paced project that will leave young writers with a sense of having accomplished something grand over their break from school--besides getting to level 100 on a video game or watching three dozen movies. ;-)

If you have any questions about the Eight Players Event, please feel free to contact me.

UPDATE: Only 2 spots left! (12-8-11, 8:00 PM)

Undead Sparkles by Inkaholics V

I am thrilled to announce that Undead Sparkles, the book composed by the Inkaholics V Writers Group last August, is now published! This was an extra special group where my dear friend MightiMidget assisted in writing and leading while on an extended visit to Colorado. Having her in one of my writers live groups was wonderful. She had a great time with us, and with my awesome local young writers, who wouldn't?

Paclo’s simple life as a Flor-Mart greeter is interrupted when a co-worker slips him the zombie virus as a joke. Rejected by the public and his parents, Paclo takes refuge at a mortuary. His only friends are his brother Smith, a vainless alien blob named Phyl, and a duct tape-obsessed robot called Mac.


Before Paclo can even accept his new undead fate, the Earth is attacked by a scintillating foe riding upon clouds of delectable depravity. Against all sensibility, the misfit friends garner up the courage to squelch the sparkly adversaries. After all, what could possibly go wrong?

The Red Ink Club: Weekly Writers Group

Critique groups are essential for the creative development of every writer. Encouragement and insights from fellow members can make all the difference when we're faced with the next blank page.

The Red Ink Club is a weekly critique group designed for young writers, facilitated by an experienced, published author. We'll delve into each piece, line-by-line, to correct, encourage, and spur one another on to even better writing.

Group meetings open with a short writing exercise before individual critiques begin. Our time will be conducted with an attitude of respect for one another in the midst of a fun environment.

Ages: 13-20
Duration: 2 hours per week
Dues: $20 per month (also see Commitment Pricing below)
Participants: 5-7 total

Commitment Pricing:
* 3 months in advance: $49 (2 weeks free)
* 6 months in advance: $99 (1 month free)
* 1 year in advance: $199 (2 months free)

FINE PRINT: Dues are non-refundable, but $5 per missed session may be applied toward future group sessions.

Contact me if you or a young writer you know are interested in getting in on The Red Ink Club.

Upcoming Young Writers Workshops: April 2011

I'm thrilled to announce the next set of Young Writers Collaborative Workshops! We're going to start them right after spring break, so hopefully your young writers will have clear schedules. Here are the date/time details for each group:

INKLINGS
Ages 9-12, Beginners
Wednesday afternoons, Location TBD
April 6-May 11, 2011
3:00-5:00 p.m.

INKAHOLICS
Ages 13-18, Intermediate-Advanced
Saturday mornings, Location TBD
April 2-May 7, 2011
9:00-11:00 a.m.


If you're interested in registering for one or both of these workshops, you may do so online HERE, or if you have questions, feel free to contact me. More details about how the workshops work, plus pictures from our last on on my website.

WWWhoa.

I have a new website: www.TheMangyCat.com

Is that cool or what? I've been working hard and obsessively on this website for the last few days, ignoring eating, sleeping, or paying attention to any lifeforms that were not too utterly adorable to ignore. (read:children)

All the pages are at least up now, and all the forms appear to be working. I'm super excited about this site because, not only does it reflect my personality as a near-pièce de résistance, but it is also going to be an excellent marketing tool as I continue to follow God's will for my life this year.

Please take a look and let me know what you think!

Young Writers Workshops

These young writers workshops run for 6 weeks with 2-hour sessions each week, held at a local coffee shop or cafe. Together, the group brainstorms and writes a novella over the course of 6 weeks. Details on each group:

INKLINGS
Ages 9-12, Beginners
Wednesday mornings, time/location varies

INKAHOLICS
Ages 13-18, Intermediate-Advanced
Saturday mornings, time/location varies

Cost is $65 for the entire 6-week workshop. Students have the option of purchasing a final, printed copy of the novella through Lulu.com after the workshop ends.

If you have any questions, or if you're interested in attending a workshop--great! Shoot me an email (mangycat (at) gmail (dot) com) to let me know. I'll answer your questions, let you know about the next workshop dates, and/or we can talk about forms of payment at that time.

You may also want to keep an eye on this blog, as I will be posting all the details on upcoming workshops. Online workshops are in the planning stages, so if you live outside the Colorado Springs area, we may still have an option for you!

Thank you for taking the time to consider these workshops for you or the young writers in your life.

Upcoming Young Writers Workshops

I am thrilled to let you know about an opportunity for young writers that will be offered beginning the second full week of January. Please feel free to pass this on to any young writers you know who might be interested in being a part of a group writing project.

Two young writers workshops will run for 6 weeks with 2-hour sessions each week, held at a local coffee shop or cafe. Together, the group will brainstorm and write a novella over the course of 6 weeks. Details on each group:

INKLINGS
Ages 9-12, Beginners
Wednesday mornings, 10-Noon
Einstein Bros. Bagels
Begins January 12, 2011

INKAHOLICS
Ages 13-18, Intermediate-Advanced
Saturday mornings, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Panera Bread (S Carefree & Powers)
Begins January 15, 2011

Cost is $65 for the entire 6-week workshop. Students will have the option of purchasing a final, printed copy of the novella after the workshop ends.

If you have any questions, or if you're interested in attending a workshop--great! Shoot me an email (mangycat (at) gmail (dot) com) to let me know. I'll answer your questions and/or we can talk about forms of payment at that time.

Thank you for taking the time to consider these workshops for you or the young writers in your life.

Blessings on your week!

Esthetic Revelation (New Shop)

My husband suggested that I create a Cafe Press store to sell some graphics and art and stuff. I created this tonight using an account that I (apparently) started in 2007. Weird!

Anyhoo--I named it Esthetic Revelation to simply signify that it is a store of creative awesome. You can see it here. Once I have a few more exciting things on there, then I'll put a proper link or widget or something in the sidebar.

Two ideas I had for this store:

1. Utilize the incredible artistic skills of my friend Legolas so that we can go in on this side venture together. She and I will come up with the ideas. She'll create the original art, and I will do the legwork of posting it to the store. She has the talent and creative ideas, but no desire for such things as marketing; I have creative ideas and knowledge of marketing, but not nearly the amount of artistic talent she has. We should make a happy team.

2. I had an idea of making t-shirts that tell a story. That is, a small piece of a short story would be creatively laid out on a t-shirt design (or whatever other product you wanted it on), and it could stand alone or make even more sense when paired with other designs. Sounds like a unique idea to me--now I just have to find the story.

I don't expect this to be a huge source of income, but it's a way to get my designs out there and possibly make a little extra income. You never know...

Tutoring for Young Writers

Improve your writing skills through unique one-on-one sessions that focus on developing your own stories, your own words. Learn the basics of grammar, punctuation, syntax, and more, while learning how to write a compelling page-turner at the same time.

Ages
Students ages 8-18 are accepted; boys and girls; all levels of experience.

Methods
We can either work through your existing written novel or you will receive writing assignments to bring to our sessions.

We will go through your piece together, line by line, and work to punch it to its highest potential. Along the way, you will learn how to correct problem areas as we encounter them in your own writing.

In this way, we will use our time more effectively, covering only the topics that need to be covered, and barely touching on that which you have already mastered.

Journaling may also be suggested for additional writing practice.

Locations & Times
Sessions are held online via Skype (audio only), so a strong, reliable internet connection is required.

Colorado Springs area students can meet face-to-face in a coffee shop or cafe setting for our sessions. It's an incredibly cozy (and yummy) atmosphere to learn.

Times are flexible and can be discussed on a per-student basis.

Complimentary Consultation
Prior to our first session, we will meet via phone or Skype for a 15-20 minute conversation about your goals and what you would like to accomplish during our tutoring sessions.

A writing evaluation can be discussed at that time as well.

Rates & Billing
Session rate is $35/hr and includes:
- 2-way conversation time during the hour
- editorial/writing/submission instruction
- writing critiques (length per session is dependent on skill level)
- writing assignments/prompts for short stories (if desired)
- 5 emails (not to exceed 30 minutes) per week of Q&A between sessions

I will come to each session fully prepared, having read whatever we are going to be working on, ready to discuss and instruct.

Tutoring sessions must be paid four (4) sessions in advance.

Questions?
Contact me directly at mangycat (at) gmail (dot) com.

Young Writers Mentoring

Young Writers Mentoring is a one-on-one relationship between an experienced author and a young writer (ages 10-18). We will take a chosen manuscript and work through it together in a personal critique group environment.

As we hit trouble areas, we will address those and further develop writing skills as well as the story itself. In this way, the young writer can improve in specific challenge areas and skip over what she has already mastered.

If no manuscript is available or after the manuscript has been fully critiqued, we may work on writing and perfecting short stories to build a fiction arsenal.

The primary goal is to help the young writer get her writing skills above average so she will stand out among the masses of would-be authors. We'll get a strong manuscript finalized, and perhaps some good, strong short stories written. At that point, we walk through the process of writing a query letter and submission to publishers.

Meetings are held via Skype so we can talk and work together freely. Those living in the Colorado area may contact me to discuss in-person mentor meetings.

The fee for Young Writers Mentoring is $35 per 1-hour session and includes:

• 2-way conversation time during the hour
• editorial/writing/submission instruction
• writing critiques (# of words covered per session is dependent on skill level)
• writing assignments/prompts for short stories (if desired)
• up to 5 emails per week to address specific questions or concerns (not to exceed 30 minutes per week)

I will come to each session fully prepared, having read whatever we are going to be working on, ready to discuss and instruct.

This is a great option for homeschoolers who are looking to supplement their English curriculum or for young writers who seek to be published in the future.