Youth Writing Workshops

Can poetry be an object? Can art be a sound? Can you write a story through a song list? In this workshop, we’re going to back our way into building a narrative by creating fake records. We’ll get inspired by real albums and cover art, and then cut, glue, collage, paint, and write our own fictional albums. You’ll invent a band, name their album and all the songs inside (from hit single to b-side tracks), design a cardboard record and album cover sleeve, and see what true feelings emerge… ...

An introduction to the relationships between poetry and performance. We will discuss what separates performance poetry from standard poetics, how to approach writing for performance and specific performance techniques. ...

Open Share is a time for you to share any of your creations/thoughts with peers. Poems, stories, comics, video games, drawings: we want to hear all about what you are making, whether you share your piece or just tell us your plans. Are you currently inspired by something (music, art, books, film, recent experiences)? You’re also invited to share your inspirations with us! ...

In this workshop students will explore different tactics when combating writer's block. Students will find comfort in the blocked experience and learn to revisit a project when the correct time is presented. Students will also explore the writing process away from the pen and explore the world outside of the pen. ...

In this one-hour workshop, we'll fall into our thoughts. Students will try to write without pausing, without second-guessing themselves. We'll get lost in our writing, find a trance-like state, stumble, maybe, onto something revelatory. For inspiration, we'll read excerpts from Ducks, Newburyport. ...

A literary celebration of the end of the year led by JBWC Youth Ambassadors! We’ll write. We’ll toast. We’ll gift each other words. Alum welcome! ...