Class Description
This class will be team-taught by Sarah D. Rivera and Denise Delgado!
Part I: Speak, Listen, Answer Me
Whether you define poetry as the metered sonnets of the past or the song you can't get out of your head, whether your home is the slam stage or the intimate distance between reader and page, this class is meant for any teen who is, or wants to be, a poet. These three days will be dedicated to play and celebration, but also to a deep exploration of the emotional truth that makes our art form universal. Day 1, Speak: we'll zero in on our unique voices and stories, exploring narrative poetry and concrete language. Day 2, Listen: we'll work with the tools of rhythm-making and break our language down into its unforgettable moments of music. Day 3, Answer Me: we'll consider the audience, the conversation that poetry generates, and revise our work so that it shines. Every day will include writing exercises, discussions, and moments of getting up on our feet to engage with the world. Students should leave class with at least 3 new poem drafts.
Part II: Flash Fiction Explorations!
We’ll write super-concentrated stories. Whether you call it flash fiction, short-shorts, micro fiction, or something else, these kinds of stories force you to think hard about your words and compress a whole experience into one page or even just one sentence. You’ll spend some time getting to know your fellow writers. You’ll read, discuss, and dissect micro-stories by published authors as well as by teens, play writing games, and use your newfound insights to draft your own flash fiction. You’ll also workshop (exchange group feedback on) each others’ work. Finally, you’ll have time to polish your stories and learn about where to submit them. At the end of our time together, you can participate in a casual group reading or—if it’s more your style—just be part of an appreciative audience.
Writing notebooks will be available, but feel free to bring your personal favorite writing materials to class (that journal you love that's just the right size, your phone loaded up with your favorite writing app, or your laptop, full of works in progress).
This class will feature written poets and performance poets spanning time, culture, and social context, from Rupi Kaur to Emily Dickinson, Warsan Shire to William Shakespeare. For writers age 13-18 ONLY.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
GrubStreet is happy to be able to offer a limited number of full scholarships for our teen writing camps. To apply for a scholarship, please click the "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" link above, and complete the online form describing why you want to take the teen writing camp and detailing your financial need. Please wait to hear from our Scholarship commiittee before registering for the class, as scholarships cannot be applied retroactively. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is Friday, June 23rd at 5pm.
*If you are registering on behalf of your teen, add their email information in the “For a Friend or Child?” field on the right-hand side of the screen before you check out. This will send them a direct link and reminder to create their own profile with GrubStreet.
Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.
For more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.
This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. Please visit the Resources tab to access the video-conference link.
Zoom Participation:
Students are not required to turn their camera on, but are encouraged to participate any way they feel comfortable through functions such as the live chat, emoji reactions, and unmuting the microphone. Learn more about using Zoom here.
Zoom Accessibility:
We ask that instructors enable closed captioning and send a transcript of the session after class. You can also enable closed captioning at any time during the meeting. If your instructor forgets to send the transcript, just send ’em an email!