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YouthWrite 2011 Summer Camp Info September Update!!!!
by Conni Massing
During the week of July 10-16, YouthWrite 2011 was unleashed at the
beautiful Bennett Centre in the heart of Edmonton’s river valley. Every
single moment of the schedule was filled to the brim with creative fun.
Young writers had a dazzling array of course offerings to choose from, including:
Spoken Word Extravaganza with Mary Pinkoski
Get a Life with Stephen Heatley
A Story, A Story with Tololwa Mollel
Toon Town with Spyder Yardley-Jones
Rocks, Weeds, Water with Anna Marie Sewell,
The Wild Side of Fiction with Timothy J. Anderson
And the Beat Goes On with Mark Kozub
Bad Romance with Bronwyn Storm
Making a Scene with Conni Massing
Eye Say (guided improvisation) with Jeff Page
Fiction Fixings with Don Trembath
Tunesmithery with Al Brant
Blue Pencil Café with Thomas Trofimuk
And that’s not all…evenings were a informative and entertaining blast as
well, beginning with the famous, not-to-be-missed “Beeg Show,” high
drama (and low comedy) written and performed by camp director Gail Sidonie
Sobat and the YouthWrite supervisors. Each day’s theme (Classic
Literature, Characters You Love to Hate, Goth, Dead Beat Poets, and
Clueless) was reflected in the play’s plot and in the campers’ costumes,
with the latter awarded beeg prizes each night.
YouthWrite also hosted a number of spectacular evening guests during the
week, including Colleen Brown (singer/songwriter), Amnesty
International, Jay Bardyla (Happy Harbour Comics), SWYC (Spoken Word
Youth Choir), Cathleen Rootsaert (Bioware), and Geoff McMaster
(videographer). These outstanding peeps generously shared their
experiences as writers, creators, activists, and artists.
YouthWrite campers had many opportunities to share their creative
output, too: as a part of “Inklings” (an impromptu and informal daily
performance of works-in-progress), and in a truly impressive final
presentation for family and friends on Saturday afternoon.
Overall, this year’s summer camp was an astonishing experience for
instructors, supervisors, and young writers alike. The creative energy
generated during this inspiring week could power a new planet or two –
and seems certain to change our world as well.
 YouthWrite Winter WordPlay 2012 Info coming soon...
Hurrah for YouthWrite 2011! Here were this past summer's instructors
at the beautifully refurbished Bennett Centre, 9703 - 94 Street, Edmonton:
 Thomas Trofimuk has published poetry, short-fiction, and novels. Waiting for Columbus, is his third novel. It burst onto the international stage, with a Canadian and US release, in addition to more recent releases in the UK, Serbia, Brazil, Poland, French Quebec and China. Waiting for Columbus won the City of Edmonton Book Prize and was short-listed for the Alberta novel of the year. His other books include The 52nd Poem and Doubting Yourself to the Bone. Thomas is a founding father of Edmonton’s Raving Poets and plays piano (badly but with gusto) in the Raving Poets Band. He is delighted to return to YouthWrite.
Blue Pencil Cafe - Hone your words! Polish your prose! Dazzle your readers! Get sound advice from one of Canada's most successful internationally recognized writers! Meet one-on-one and tete-a-tete with Trofimuk. Daily sign-ups onsite at camp.
 Stephen Heatley is a nationally acclaimed director, actor, dramaturge, playwright, and educator. He was Artistic Director of Theatre Network in Edmonton from 1981 to 1992, Director of the Theatre School and Associate Artistic Director of the Citadel Theatre from 1994 to 1999. He is currently a faculty member in the Theatre Program at the University of British Columbia. He co-wrote the Christmas musical The Other Side of the Pole with Marney Heatley and Edward Connell. A sought-after instructor, Stephen is excited to return to YouthWrite, which he taught at in its inaugural year.
Get a Life! - Use techniques from improvisation and dramatic play to breathe life into your characters! There are so many similarities between creating character for the stage and for the page. Find out how to make your villains and heroes realistic and rich. Take your turn on the "hot seat"!
 Tololwa Mollel is a children's author, dramatist and storyteller, who has written sixteen books and several plays as well as stories that he created or adapted for performance. His books, which include award-winning titles such as Rhinos for Lunch and Elephants for Supper, Big Boy, and My Rows and Piles of Coins have been published in Canada, the U.S., Australia, England and Tanzania where he was born, and translated into various South African languages and into Korean. Tololwa has presented, performed and conducted writing, storytelling and dramatic workshops and writer-in-residence programs in schools, libraries and communities across Canada and the U.S., as well as in England, Australia and Tanzania. Through writing, storytelling and drama, Mollel hopes to empower the young, and others, with the gift of story — to write, tell, share and enjoy stories; to mentor them as he was mentored.
A Story! A Story! - The very first writers were storytellers who were highly respected, almost godlike members of early human societies. What were the secrets behind their magical spinning of tales. As modern tale-tellers/writers, when does the writing hat come off and the storytelling hat go on? Explore the oral tradition of storytelling—from inspiration to research to finding one's 'voice'—and how storytelling relates to the writing of prose.
Conni Massing is an award-winning writer working in theatre, film, radio, and television. Recent projects include her commissioned adaptation of W.O. Mitchell's Jake and the Kid, premiered by Theatre Calgary; and her first book, Roadtripping: On the Move with the Buffalo Gals (Brindle and Glass Publishing). Conne's writing has been recognized by AMPIA, the Academy of Cinema and Television, the Betty Mitchell Awards, and the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards. A recipient of a Queen's Jubilee Medal (for contributions to the arts), she was also honoured as one of 100 people who have made a contribution to Alberta theatre in the last 100 years.
Making a Scene – Explore the basics of writing for theatre: Character, conflict, and dialogue. Create a dramatic premise - inspired by your own experience and wild imagination – then write and revise a short play. Don’t be afraid to make a scene!
 Spyder Yardley-Jones our beloved arachnid artist, was born to Welsh pirates. He’s crossed this mighty land from west to east and east to west, and tatooed pen & brush art on the forehead of society with his artwork and exhibitions. Spyder has dedicated more than a decade of his life to educating young people and adults about the fine art of cartooning & illustrating. A frequent guest artist in primary and secondary schools, he was recently artist in residence at Harcourt House Gallery in Edmonton.
Toon Town! – Graphic art and text are all the rage. Cartoons and comics have been the independent voice of sub-cultures. This summer write and illustrate your independence. With pen, pencil, and colour, find out how easy and fun it is to get the message out. Through images, poems, quotations. statements, and rants, find the voice of your generation.
 Anna Marie Sewell is a poet, playwright, actor, and musician who lives in Edmonton and writes mainly for performance. Her first book-length collection of poetry, Fifth World Drum, is receiving accolades and many positive reviews. Of Mi’gmaq/Anishnabe/Polish heritage, she has always worked cross-culturally. From 1998 to 2001, she ran Big Sky Theatre, which produced original Aboriginal theatre in Edmonton and on tour. As Big Sky Artistic Director, she was also active on the international Aboriginal theatre scene, through conferences, committee work and creative gatherings. Other recent projects include: Memramcook/ Amlamkuk, a French/Micmac duet with author Jocelyne Verret: editing the 2009 Stroll of Poets Anthology; and the Honour Songs multi-media project.
Rocks, Weeds, Water - Using Rocks, Weeds, and Water as our guiding motifs, hone your poetic language and explore the ways in which humans relate to the rest of the living world. How can we write to acknowledge, affirm and engage with these connections? And what does engagement with the world offer us in terms of inspiration, challenge and support? Walk gently through the woods, observe, and write!
 Timothy J. Anderson earned a place in George Melnyk's A Literary History of Alberta Vol. 2 when his 1996 book of poetry triggered Alberta Report magazine to call for restriction of provincial and federal funding to the arts. Timothy has had an active international performing career which has included operas, musicals and non-lyric theatre. His writing, which includes works for the stage as well as poetry, novels, and non-fiction, has received many awards. From 1994 to 2005 he was a member of The Books Collective literary publishing company, bringing underrepresented literary voices to the fore. He is also a community advocate; in 2005 he was awarded a Province of Alberta Centennial silver medallion for his services to the arts and advocacy, and in 2007 he received the Todd Janes Award for community service. He currently teaches writing at Grant MacEwan University and the University of Alberta and serves on the board of the Boyle Street Community League.
Wild Side of Fiction - Telling tales is risky business. But what is art, what is writing, without creative risk-taking. Join Timothy and plot your narratives, whether of revenge, fantasy, adventure or realism. Learn how to spin a story that has the ring of truth to it. Raise the stakes and raise the state of your prose. Let your fictional hair down and take a walk on the wild side!
 Mark Kozub has been writing for magazines and radio since 1988. His poetry has been featured on CBC Radio, CBC TV, Book Television and The Bravo! Network, and his "When I Was a Kid" video poem appeared on the TV show ZeD and at various comedy festivals. Mark invites you to dream a little harder. He knows the merits of dreaming.
As a kid, he used to spend hours creating mock magazines, using his
parents’ dining room table as his primary production facility. He is also author of the novel The Uptown Browns, co-author of the non-fiction coffee table book A Calgary Album, and a founding father of Edmonton’s wild Raving Poets performance poetry-with-music scene. Both a saxophonist and a bassist, Mark also dabbles in painting and teaching writing classes for young people.
And the Beat Goes On! - La de da de de/ La de da de da - Drums keep pounding rhythm to the brain. Or so the song goes. And you, too, can find the beat to your poetry or fiction! Learn to use the right word at the right time in the right place. Find your groove thang and make your poems zing! your fiction zap! your rants zoom! It's all in the wordplay - you dig?
 Bronwyn Storm is a writer of romance, mystery, and YA fiction. She wanted to be a superhero when she grew up. Sadly, this goal was made moot when she realized that being a klutz was not in fact, a super power, and her super-weakness for anything bright and shiny meant that a magpie with self-control could easily defeat her in a battle of wills. Today, she doesn’t live on a secret space station orbiting the earth, but she still gets to wear leotards, a cape and say things like, “STAND ASIDE! THIS IS A JOB FOR WRITING-GIRL! Bronwyn began writing as a career back in 2005 and has published I Love You a Latte, The Genie's Curse, Shoe-In for Love, Love and the Leprechaun, the mystery novel, Ethan's Chase, and most recently, Sneakers, Sandals & Stilettoes.
Bad Romance - Realistic characters, tight plots, spine-tingling suspense and comedic elements--these are the hallmarks of great writing and unforgettable stories. And chocolate. Eating lots of chocolate makes for incredible stories...okay, not really. But it sounded good, didn't it? Explore the ins and outs of what makes sigh-worthy romances and smart, satisfying mysteries. And romance doesn't have to be bad - no matter what Lady Gaga says!
 Jeff Page is a professional actor, director, writer and teacher who writes for stage, radio and film. His stage plays include Love Letters from the Unabomber and The Granite Man and the Butterfly. He also co-wrote The Specialists, a CBC radio serial, and the screenplay for When the Pig Looks at the Matchbox, an acclaimed short film. In 2009, Jeff received a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Alberta. He currently teaches drama at Red Deer College.
Eye Say - YouthWrite's VERY popular class is back! Create a unique world of vibrant characters and dramatic, suspense-filled situations through guided improvisation. Activate your imagination in collaboration with others. Embark on a written exploration of this extraordinary world and the characters you invent. Writing and drama in wordplayful combination!
 Don Trembath is an author and journalist whose love for writing started at an early age. He began writing stories when he was 13 years old, but did not share this fact with others. Finally, after much work and many years, his award-winning The Tuesday Café was published. Since then, Don has written a series of successful young adult novels. Most have become Canadian bestsellers, while a few have been translated into French, German and Braille. Some of his other novels include A Beautiful Place on Yonge Street; A Fly Named Alfred; Lefty Carmichael Has a Fit; The Popsicle Journal; Rooster, and Emville Confidential. He teaches writing at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, and he regularly visits schools and libraries across the country. Don is overjoyed to be returning to YouthWrite.
Fiction Fixings - Take a plot, plus characters, plus conflict - add seasoning and mix - then voila! You've concocted a story, right? Except that it takes the perfect number and blend of ingredients to cook up a perfect story stew. But we at YouthWrite have the perfect recipe: Don your apron with master narrative chef, Donny T. and create your piece de resistance!
 Mary Pinkoski is a poet and spoken word poet artist from Edmonton and the winner of the 2008 National CBC Poetry Faceoff. She was a member of the inaugural 2010 Edmonton Poetry Slam Team which placed 5th at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word and is a board member for SpoCan (Spoken Word Canada). Her writing has been called dynamic and visceral. Mary has presented her unique style of Spoken Word throughout Alberta, British Columbia, and Washington. In addition to her live performances, Mary's work has been played on CBC Radio One's Radio Active and the Key of A, CKUA's The Road Home, as well as Philadelphia's Spotlight on Jazz and Poetry. Mary has published two chapbooks, Set List: poems for lonely microphones and My Heart & Other Small Gifts and a very limited broadside, Instructions on How to Hold a Paper Bird.
Spoken Word Extravaganza - Poetry is meant to be spoken aloud. Words are meant to fall trippingly off the tongue. Penning the poem may be the first act, but learning to deliver your words and dazzle an audience is another. Learn the fine distinguishing details between reciting a poem and performing a spoken word piece. From page to crowded cafe of adoring fans, make your words make a difference.
Al Brant is a singer-songwriter who writes music that is soulful, reflective and life affirming. He is also an itinerant musician at the U of A Hospital, as part of their Artists-on-the-Wards program, and he plays the role of Christmas Present annually in The Christmas Carol Project. Al has always been a natural at connecting with people. That skill facilitates his intimate style of performing and recording. Whether addressing an audience, working with youth, or with hospital patients, connecting with people is his sole focus, and his music helps to do that with people who are at their most vulnerable. "Music is a bridge," he says. "It helps start a conversation; it can be comforting; it can bring up memories and trigger emotions." Al has a number of albums with the band Stone Merchants, in addition to his solo cd Let it Fly and his newest release Wide Open.
Tunesmithery - Catch the spirit and inspire each other to simply take creative action and write a song (or two). In the tradition of a songwriter’s circle, you’ll be invited to spark creativity and improve your skills and abilities. Encourage and cheerlead! Stimulate your senses create original pieces and discover your inner tunesmith!
And this summer's confirmed supervisors:
Noel Taylor
Marla Albiston
Caleb Nelson
Elisha Pinter
Nicholas Carter
Kristel Harder
Anna Cooley
More details about online/mail-in registration below!
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