WRITING FOR CHILDREN: A PROFESSIONAL APPROACH TO CHILDREN'S LITERATURE with Patricia Hermes
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
Writing for children is very different from writing for adults. And in many ways, harder. In order to write well for children, one must remember what it is to be a child, must remember what the child cares about and fears and hates. One must speak like a child, think like a child, laugh and even cry like a child. Because inside every good writer lives a remembered child -- and the job of a good writer is to unearth that child.
In this workshop, participants will learn the craft of writing, as well as how that craft manifests itself in the different genres in children's literature: short stories, picture books, middle grade novels, young adult writing and chapter books. Over the course of the six weeks participants will be guided as they develop their own writing projects. All work will be prepared prior to the meetings, and shared each week in a comfortable and supportive atmosphere.
Patricia Hermes is the author of over fifty novels for young people, from early chapter books to young adults. She has written six historical novels for the Dear America/My America series for Scholastic. Her newest venture is the Emma Dilemma series of chapter books for Marshall Cavendish. Her numerous awards include the New York Library Best Book for Teens award for her nonfiction book, A Time to Listen; C.S. Lewis Honor Book award for her novel, On Winter's Wind; Smithsonian Notable Book award for her picture book, When Snow Lay Soft on the Mountain; and Children’s' Choice awards for many other novels. She also won the Iowa, Missouri, Michigan and California state awards for her classic novel, You Shouldn't Have to Say Goodbye, recently reissued by Source Books. She lectures nationally and internationally, speaking recently for the American Embassy School in New Delhi, India, as well as in Bahrain, and other countries. She has also written two adult nonfiction books and published in national magazines. Her books have been translated into seven languages including French, Chinese, Japanese, and Danish.
WHEN:
6 Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to noon
Feb. 2, 9, 16 March 2, 9, 16
WHERE:
Westport Writers' Workshop, 3 Sylvan Road South, Westport
More information here.
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