Library hosts writing workshop

Published 9:13 pm Friday, November 26, 2010

Holidays are full of stories worth remembering.

Bring your favorite to the North Suffolk library on Nov. 30 to learn tips on creative writing to make your story memorable for years to come.

“There are such crazy stories from families over the holiday,” said Sarah Newton, children’s librarian. “This is a great opportunity for teens who love to write to come get tips on how to write a really great story.”

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The library will host its “Teen Time: Writing Workshop” from 4 to 6 p.m. at 2000 Bennett’s Creek Park Road.

No registration or experience is required.

The first hour of class will include group instruction and tips from the Old Dominion University Writers in the Community organization.

“They’ll focus on how to turn stories you might have with your family into a flushed-out, rich story to share with others,” Newton said.

The second half of the course will be one-on-one or small groups writing for mentors to share tips with students and get peer feedback.

“I think that it’s good to get instruction and feedback outside of school,” Newton said. “They get different outlooks and tricks of the trade. It’s also a great way for them to find other teens that they might have something in common with.”

The writing workshop is one of the several “Teen Time” workshops the library has held in the community. Teen Time normally attracts between 10 and 20 students.

The library also hosts a teen book chat every first Monday of the month, will celebrate the Chinese New Year in February and includes teens in the Winter Wonderland program.

“We are hoping to build ownership and community for the teens in the library system,” Newton said. “We want a place to carve out a niche for them to hang out with each other and us and get a feel for another community resource.”