Portland YAC - Session 4, Day 3

July 27th, 2011 was a blast at The Telling Room’s Young Authors Camp. We had opportunities to play games, take pictures, meet new people, and of course, to write.

Molly and Kelly kicked the day off with a tricky game of two truths and a lie. As an entire camp, we managed to guess most of the lies, but we did have a select group of especially good, sneaky liars in there.

Our second activity was interviewing another camper that you did not know very well. You might not even have known their name! After spending a few minutes questioning our partners about things from their favorite color to the most enjoyable food to eat, in their opinion, we went around the large circle introducing each other.

When the previous activity was completed, we quickly shoveled in a snack, and before we knew it, we were onto the next unique thing planned for the day. All of the campers counted off by six. The six different groups hit the streets carrying only strips of paper with phrases that were written by previous Telling Room Students and a camera. Our assignment was to simply place the selected phrase and place it with a person, place, or thing you thought had some sort of connection to it. When you had done that, you snapped a picture and were off to the next location. Our goal was to conjure up some ideas for new and original stories that had not yet been told. This activity worked, and many different stories came from it. It was truly amazing how much inspiration one person can get from an ordinary photo with a few words within it.

Lunch was spent all over the city. Some people chose to go to the faithful Lobsterman’s Statue, others to the wharfs, and some to Tommy’s Park. Each group got a different experience with different memories and inspiration just from a plain lunch break.

After lunch we regrouped at The Telling Room and were lead in some writing exercises by Gibson that included six word memoirs and writing stories based off of reaching into a hat, picking out peoples real and made up secrets, and writing what ever story waltzed into their head.

In all, it was a terrific day at The Telling Room. All of the campers were able to find new inspiration in the activities we were introduced to. I, for one, cannot wait until tomorrow’s day of camp.

~Julia

Portland YAC: Session 4, Day 2

The Young Author's Camp today was very thought-provoking and fun. It started with a couple pieces of inspiring poetry, and then a special guest, a man who plays the cornet! I loved listening to the different mutes and their effect on the brassy sound. The music inspired some great pieces of writing. After snack, we did a fantastic activity involving poems for multiple voices. I helped create a three-voice-poem about weather. When lunch was over, some kids did an activity about the senses while others stayed in the Telling Room and wrote. After an awesome piece of original poetry, it was time to go home. The day seemed to end much too quickly, but I'm already looking forward to another day of camp.

Welcome John

First days of work are always pretty weird, even when you're starting a dream job. There's no routine to follow, your work space isn't set up, you don't have keys to get in and you're just never really sure of what you should do. And so it was that I launched myself into my new position as the Creative Director at the Telling Room on Monday July 25, 2011. Lucky for me, when I walked in the door a new Young Authors Camp was just getting under way and I immediately found myself participating in several classic "name games" with 22 young authors. Instantly I was on familiar territory--I'm not really a sit around the office kind of guy-- and all my minor fears of day one slipped away.

As I tended to the much less interesting but necessary tasks of filling out tax forms and setting up my new email account I kept my ears on the young authors in the studio next door to the office. What I heard, and what I didn't hear, was the sound of young authors hard at work practicing the craft of writing. The ebbs and flows of the energy and volume in the studio spoke of engaged young artists brimming with the need and desire to write and to share what had been written. There were moments when the density of discourse became quite dense as multiple voices filled the room with conversations about writing and about the things that young people talk about when they're getting to know each other. There were also moments when every writer in the room was focused on the one person brave enough to share what she had just written followed by a focus on a fellow writer who had listened hard enough to be able to offer some intelligent and supportive feedback to her peer. And there were moments when there was hardly a sound at all except for the sound of pens and pencils scratching across pages as fast as the hands that held them could move. All of these densities speak volumes and all are equally important evidence of students engaged in creative learning that results from creative teaching.

So it was that day one came and went. To be a fly on the wall at a Young Authors Camp is to be a lucky fly. To begin a new job at the Telling Room is to be a lucky professional. And to begin a new job on the same day a camp kicks off is about as good as it gets. Here's to you Young Authors, keep on bringing what you bring and always remember that your stories are important!

Portland YAC: Session 4, Day 1

One cool sunny morning, 22 young writers gathered in a place called the Telling Room. Some had been there, some hadn’t. Some were friends, some strangers. They wandered around the room, tasting jelly beans and popcorn, molding play-doh, and smelling cinnamon. They drew maps and wrote stories, stories about neighborhood bullies, about touching stop signs, about lawyers and lizards and about the haunting orange stripe in the middle of a piece of candy corn. They scattered in groups to find benches and green spaces around the bustling Old Port, then they returned and wrote about full bookshelves, falling out of trees, and playing lacrosse by the ocean. Thus began the Young Authors’ Camp.

Portland YAC: Session 3, Day 5

Today was a great farewell day. We played writing games, enjoyed each other's humor and laughed a lot. We took a hot walk through the city and played telephone along the way. We wrote six word memoirs and shared our anthology pieces. Today was a great farewell day.
- Ezra

Topsham YAC Day 3

Camp

Here at writers camp we
Write in many ways
We write
Learning Autobiography poems and more
We wouldn’t be able to do it if it wasn’t for
Mrs.Aronson and Kaili
So thank-you for making this possible for us to do
Writers Camp

Student Writing

The Ocean By Saoirse

Ocean water glistens with beauty

Seagulls circle around the ocean buildings

lobster traps stacked columns of five

Small fish swim peacefully in circles

boats parked along the wharf

and here I sit peacefully watching

all of this beauty fitting together like

puzzle pieces

Student Writing

A poem in two voices

By Abby .M. and Abbie .A.

Tennis racket Tennis ball

I am round and bouncy

I am oddly shaped

Together you can play tennis

I am green and fuzzy

I am made of wood

Together we are a really fun game

I have tape on my handle so I don’t slip

I have white lines around me

When I hit the ball it makes a thwack

I go zooming through the air

The crowd roars

I’ve done it I won

I deserve a round of applause for flying all around

BFF

A soul sister
Almost like a sister
A secret keeper
A BFF
A best
Friend
Forever
Is all of the above

Portland YAC: Session 3, Day 4

We had another great day at the Telling Room today. We started out by playing a sticky note game. We each got a sticky note and wrote down one sentence to start a story. Then, we stuck them onto the wall and Sarah read them all. We had to pick someone else's and we used it for a great beginning to a story later on. Then, we made a writer's toolbox for ideas for writing. We got a list of characters, problems and settings and we can mix them up to use later. Then, we had some time to write our author's blurb to go with our individual writing in the anthology. We spent a lot of time working on the story for the Chamber Music Festival and Asher Applecrest and his friends search for his missing nuts. It will be awesome. We look forward to our last day of camp tomorrow...not because it is the last, because we are having so much fun!
- Caroline

Portland YAC: Session 3, Day 3

Our day was exciting, fantastic, phenomenal! Those are some of the adjectives that were used in our wrap up after our Writing Marathon. All of the things you could want in a day. First, of course, we arrived at the Telling Room. We talked about what would happen during the day and how the Writing Marathon worked. Then, we set off to hit the streets! We split in different locations and found comfortable, shady, or sunny spots to write. We shared a bit and set off for a different place to observe. We wrote a whole bunch. Funny, we heard musicians playing at each location. Later we found out that they were arranged and there to spark any ideas and give a nice sound to our writing. At the end of the day, we shared how the experience was for us and shared part of what we wrote about. It was a great day in the city, a warm sun and cool breeze was great.
- Fiona

Portland YAC: Session 3, Day 2

Our second day at the Young Author's Camp was GREAT! We started the morning by playing a few games called Tell Me About the Time and Fortunately and Unfortunately. After, we got our writing brains all warmed up, we began to write our story for the concert. We came up with some different plots and story ideas. We even got the character names down. We worked right up until snack! After snack, we worked on our own personal writing until we went to explore Portland. Those trips included a fire, a bride, a commercial and a interesting man that tried to teach us how to ring a bell. RANDOM! Who knew Portland could be so pretty, bizarre, and fan? After that, we ate lunch, yum! Then, we came back to the Telling Room and worked on our story a little bit more. We talked about what we did in Portland and worked on out group story. Before we knew it, it was time to go. What a fun, funny and exciting day! - Violet

Topsham YAC Day 2

We all met in the front of the school ready for a new day of writing. But before we got in side they had a surprise for all the campers. Because it was so hot upstairs, we got to work in the library. But we could only be in there as long as we kept it clean. When we got inside, we started off with word a minute we all love word a minute a good way to start the day. And then after sharing a work with a partner. And then we headed to a quiet place to start on autobiography, all the campers say that it was good, and they enjoyed it. after a while of that we headed outside for snack break. people were in little groups with friends talking and telling jokes. when we got ready to go inside there was yet another surprise, because of the most important poems we did before we left for snack, we get to go to D.Q. on thursday! the idea came from one of the poems people did on ice cream and because its going to be hot why not do a writing marathon all the way to D.Q.! that really made people smile. once we got inside we did art that talks about the work we are doing for the anthology.
Abby and Miranda

Topsham YAC Day 1

The first day of writers camp have been awesome! It is very hot through out the time here but It seems most of us cool off as soon as we dive into our writing. For the fist day we went over the basics of writers and what they do, then we were sent off to write on our own. At first most people were really into it , but as our time went on it got hotter and hotter, by the time it was over and we were at the meeting, you could see the sweat on the person next to you. But that didn't stop us! After the meeting we went right back in to the world of writers. We started to think about the writing for the anthology after, we were asked to get into groups with people we don't know and read the short story that we had worked on in the free writing time. Then we got to food time, everyone got together in the group and we ate what we had brought for snacks and we talked with friends. When everyone was done most kids had to run around so we went outside to play around for a while, but it was hotter outside than in. We all headed back upstairs, after we all settled down we play a little game of "excuse me what are you doing?" that made a few laughs! But then after that it was back to writing, we started on the autobiographies. and after what seemed like a long but fun time, we had to get everyone to come for closing. After closing we got T-shirts and went down stairs and ready to get picked up. All together day 1 was Awesome and we couldn't wait for the next day.

Portland YAC: Session 3, Day 1

Our first day of our Young Author's Camp was wonderful. Our theme for the week is sound, so we started the day with a game called Sound Machine. We sat in a circle with our backs towards the middle and created a song with only sounds. The rhythmic woof and boom added dimension to our creation. Patty Hagge came to share some drumming and rhythm we can use with our words. We listened, modeled and shared some very creative works. After lunch, we came back together to hear about a fantastic and collaborative opportunity that the Portland Chamber Music Festival, the Young Authors Camp writers (that's us) and Peek-a-Boo Children's Center will put together. Using a piece written by Dvorak, our campers will write a story to be read while the chamber performs. Also, the Peek-a-Boo Children's Center artists will add scenery for a backdrop to our story. All of these elements will be performed on the 14th of August and our writers might have the chance to take a bow on stage! We hope everyone can make it. We hope that the rest of the week runs so smoothly and we see even more of the creativity that we saw today. We will have a writing marathon on Wednesday and be outside for the majority of the day. So, dress accordingly and see you tomorrow.

Student Writing

It all started when the sky turned to fire and my nose fell off.

The old prophecy told me that when the sky turns red and a limb falls off, you

become an adult. That limb grows bak in a few seconds.

I was exited for this day, and when the sky turned the color of a brilliant red, I

was joyful. My mother was worried though. She didn't seem to like the

green streaks in the red sky.

Then the sky seemed to swallow me whole, and I felt a tugging sensation at

my nose. Then my nose went numb, and it didn't seem intact anymore.

P.S. The girl's mother kicks her out of the house, and she's stuck between

the adult world, and the world of childhood for the rest of her life.

Thank you Jasmine, Thalia, and Mae

Portland YAC: Session 2, Day 3

We went on a writing marathon

Edited a few of our stories

Didn't stop having fun

Nor did we stop writing

Escorted our writing to lands that you can only dream about

Shared our stories

Day 3 of camp

And many people asked what we were doing and we answered...

Yes, is the answer if you are wondering if I am a famous writer!

-Grace

Portland YAC: Session 2, Day 2

Taking pictures

Unbelievable sentences

Extra cool assignments

Stalking people (hahaha not really)

Dramatic papers

Awesome stories

Yahooo!!!!!

By Miss Steampunk

Portland YAC: Session 2, Day 1

Our first day of this YAC session is over, and the camp is off to a great start. Today we explored Portland, collected both sounds and smells, and transformed this sensory gathering into remarkable writing. I think we are all much impressed with these kids! What a talented group of young authors! After sampling the rich array of smells (and sights and sounds) to be found at Standard bakery (their bread smells oh-so-good - and so do their teas!) we found ourselves inhaling exotic aromas from around the world at Mexicali Blues. Students brought these smells back to the room and embarked on what is arguably a challenging project - group writing. Despite this challenge, I was so impressed with my group, and the other groups, as they began working on their stories, hashing out the details, spontaneously generating ideas, and allowing themselves to be inspired by each other. What was produced was a rich variety of sometimes wacky, sometimes magical stories in which secret agents stole pizza recipes, heroes smeared their bodies in a variety of foods, and tranquil tea houses broke out into all out food fights.

Perhaps the tastiest event of the day came after lunch, when campers were given a sumptuous chocolate, but told, rather than just eat it, they must observe it. They held it in their hands, feeling the round bulk, listening to the crinkle of the foil wrapping. They slowly unwrapped it, watching as the foil opened, pausing to jot down the details. As they ate just half of the chocolate they observed as well, feeling the texture, noticing the smell, and paying close attention to the process of eating a simple piece of chocolate.

Once they had finally been allowed to eat the chocolate, they got down to writing, producing a fun, and insightful collection of short stories and poems that captured the agony of anticipation, the joy that delayed gratification eventually brings, and the loneliness of a wrapper bereft of its chocolaty companion.

It was a "sensational" day...

Portland YAC: Session 1, Day 5

Lots of friends to say goodbye to.

Always want to come back to the Telling Room.

Super fun here.

Terrific writing that has improved.

Delicious chocolate treats.

A day filled with writing.

You'll always love this camp.

Tons of pieces of writing to publish.

Oh wow! New friends made on the first day stick together.

Wonderful memories to hold on to.

Really, the best writing camp.

In building 225 the magic happens.

Telling Room is the most magical place.

Everybody has improved their writing.

! FUN !

Portland YAC: Session 1, Day 4

It's so sweltering hot here in the bakery that the chocolate chips on my backside are starting to melt.

Oh my, a half dozen kids are breaking into my house. Let;s call 911!

Hello, I have an emergency! Oh, the pizza delivery guy? Well then, a large mushroom pizza with extra cheese please. While I was distracted by the pizza someone grabbed me by my rotund belly and dropped me into a waxy bag. From what I could see I could tell one of the kids was bringing me to the Ferry Terminal. I could smell the saltiness of the ocean. Then I was off to the Court House to rest in the grass. After that I was hauled off to Tommy's Park where they ate lunch. I WAS EATEN!! My spirit stuck with them when the went to the Telling Room for a bathroom break and sharpen pencils. The walk ended with a visit to Monument Park and the Michael sculpture. It was an interesting day. I learned a lot and I am excited that I made it into a story. What a Writing Marathon!

Portland YAC: Session 1, Day 3

"Bilbo, what did you see on Earth?"

"Powerful Leader, I visited a place called Young Authors Camp in Portland, Maine. Kids write there. On Wednesday they started with two gesture games and then they heard a poem about a fence that went around a ruined fort. I didn't like the poem. Then the kids wrote about a place they remembered. A girl named Sadie wrote about York, ME. A boy named D.O. wrote about a comic book. A girl named Meredith wrote about a ranch in Texas.

"Bilbo, what a place!"

"Yes Powerful Leader and they eat too. They go out in groups to eat in different places for snack and lunch. After lunch the writers made lists for a tool box. They listed jobs, places, problems, smells, and sounds. They could use these lists to help make short stories. Someone could write about a scuba diver who smells cut grass near the ocean but can't find his air tank. Lastly, the kids wrote their blurbs for the Anthology.

"Bilbo, what is a blurb?"

"It is a little thing that shares something about the author."

"Bilbo, job well done. Two week vacation!"

Portland YAC: Session 1, Day 2

Once there was a crumb. His name was Joe. Joe practices Kung-Fu. He ate chocolate and then wrote about it. He learned that chocolate was tasty and that you can write a lot about tasty things. Then he stuck words all around the Telling Room and Portland. One set of words was "louder and louder" and he stuck next to a sign that said "if towed call." Then he took a picture of it. When the kids came back to the Telling Room he was REALLY FREAKED OUT. So, he played dead. Then when they left he had a party. The end.