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Valuable Resources
There are many classes, workshops, and programs available for creative writing teachers. If you have any particular favorites, we'd like to know. For now, here a just a few of our favorites.
Louder Than a Bomb DVD now available
http://www.louderthanabombfilm.com/
IATE prose and Poetry Contests
Louder than a Bomb. This is a good opportunity for your young performance poets. It's also a great field trip for your classes. It all starts in February.
Summer writing programs at University of Iowa, Columbia College and other universities
Whitewater November 16, 2011
826 CHI
Let Teen Ink help you find the coolest summer program!
Iowa - Every summer, young writers from across the country come together to share their work, practice craft, and improve their writing in Iowa City, Iowa, home of the University of Iowa. Join us for one of two sessions!
Find out just how much you can improve your writing with two weeks of intensive focus. Come to the Iowa Young Writers' Studio.
Chicago Public Library-
Lists local events, programs.
Heinemann Publishing always has good stuff for English teachers, including writing teachers. Check out the catalogue. If you're going to the NCTE in Orlando, check out the Heinneman booth.
The Library of America features a story of the week: Read it here.
An opportunity for teacher/writers is New Scriptor, a magazine published by teachers at Adali Stevenson High School. Its mission is to “provide a forum by educators to exhibit their fiction, poetry, drama, art, and expository writing.”
You can submit pieces online to Jim Barnabee at jbarnabee@d125.org
The September/October 2010 edition of Poets & Writers features their second annual ranking of The Top 50 MFA Programs. Go to their website for more details.
Magazines
Summer's a good time to catch up on what other writing teachers have to say.
The May issue of Poets and Writers, along with a long list of wiring contests and opportunities, features an interview with people who run writing contests. It also has a feature article about novelist Sir Hustveldt, who discusses her fascination with memory.
The May/Summer issues of Writers Chronicle (the publication of A.W.P.) has interviews with Sherman Alexie, an article by Steve Kowit titled "The Poet's Anti-Rule Book," and a list of Grants and Awards, and much information about writers workshops for various ages and various times.
And, as you've heard me say before, nothing beats Teachers and writers Collaborative for intelligent, useful and fresh ideas. Visit the web site, and pay particular attentions to the publications, on-line opportunities in the RESOURCE section, and the Bechtel contest. This is a wonderful, wonderful resource. USE IT!
Newberry Library Seminars Program- offers writing workshops for both beginning and advanced writers; discussion-based seminars on a variety of topics in philosophy, history, arts, music, languages, genealogy, and literature; and a good selection of "Chicago interest" seminars from Chicago playwrights to Chicago neighborhoods to the city's public art.
Printers Row Lit Fest- The Midwest's largest literary festival includes author readings and signings, panel discussions, kids' activities, food booths, book sales, and more.
Events at the Harold Washington Library Center require advance tickets.
June 4-5, 10am-5pm.
Newberry Library Book Fair- annual book sale offers 120,000-plus donated books in 70-some categories, many priced under $2. If you're there on Saturday, get up on your soapbox and hold forth on current issues at the Bughouse Square Debates, held in Washington Square Park, just across the street-and prepare be heckled (it's encouraged).
July 28-July 31;
Book fair Thu-Fri noon-8 PM and Sat-Sun 10 AM-6 PM,
Debates Sat 1-4 PM, Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton.
Little City Book Fair: Billed as the largest used book sale in the Midwest, this annual sale also offers CDs, DVDs, comic books, and collectibles. Proceeds benefit the Little City Foundation, which supports children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities.
August 19-August 21, Fri 5-10 PM, Sat 10 AM-9 PM, Sun 10 AM-5 PM.
Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin, Palatine, $10 donation on opening night, free thereafter.
57th Street Children's Book Fair: Dozens of booksellers and community organizations participate in this neighborhood book sale, which also features three stages of music, storytelling, and other kids' activities.
Sun September 18, 1-6 PM
57th and Kimbark, 773-684-1300.
Television
You know about The Wire, The Sopranos, Friday Night Lights, Six Feet Under, Breaking Bad, and all the other TV series that are so well written.
Another TV resource you may not know about is the 30/30 series of documentaries on ESPN. These are serious sport films by serious filmmakers.
Jordan Rides The Bus is about Michael Jordan's year playing minor league baseball
Winning Time is about Reggie Miller's great games against the Knicks.
Silly Little Game is about fantasy sports.
Dates/Contests
Upcoming contests for TEACHERS AND STUDENTS:
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Sharat Chandra Prize for Fiction-
January 15
- Rose Post Creative Nonfiction-
January 16
- Thomas Wolf Fiction Prize-
January 30
- Iowa Review Fiction Award-
January 31
- Coffee House Fiction-
January 31
- Glimmer Train Award-
February
- 100 Words or Fewer Writing Contest-
February 18
- Multi-Story Flash Fiction Contest-
February 29
- WOW! Women on Writing Flash Fiction Contest-
February 29
- Lost in las Vegas Writing Contest-
March 1
- James Jones First Novel Fellowship-
March 1
- Pinch Fiction Literary Award-
March 15
- Tobias Wolff Award for Fiction-
March 15
- National Writers Association Novel Writing Conest-
April 1
- First Writer International Short Story Contest-
April 1
- The Atlantic Monthly Student Writing Contest.
- Being an American Essay Contest.
- Bennington College Young Writers Award - for grades 10-12; categories in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Always a November 1st deadline.
- Canary - an environmental zone that focuses on the natural world and threats to that world. Accepts poetry, short fiction, and essays.
- Dylan Days Creative Writing Contests. Entry rules for next year will be posted shortly.
- Hanging Loose Magazine - for high school age students; poetry and short stories.
- Iowa Young Writers' Studio - A two-week intensive seminar and workshop for poetry, fiction, or creative writing. 10th-12th grade, and the rare brilliant 9th-grader.
- John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest for high school students. All submissions must adhere to contest requirements.
- Launch Pad- for ages 6-14; fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual art.
- Maggie's Drawers - for middle school students; poetry, short fiction, and visual art.
- Manningham Student Poetry Awards - for grades 6-12.
- Medulla Publishing Chapbook Contest. Free-verse, non-rhyming poetry with surrealistic edge is preferred.
- National Peace Essay Contest. The topic is Governance, Corruption, and Conflict. To participate, students are asked to answer the question: For those who hope to prevent violent conflict, how can their efforts to reduce, if not eliminate, corruption best contribute to building sustainable peace using two cases of countries in transition from war to peace?
- A Near Miss for grades 9-12; poetry, short fiction, and visual art.
- Norman Mailer High School and College Writing Awards for Creative nonfiction. Info and entry rules to be posted soon.
- Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers - for grades 10-11; Submit during the month of November.
- Poetry Out Loud, - An annual spoken word competition for high school students. You can't use original poems, but this is still a cool opportunity for slam enthusiasts. Materials are distributed in September; finals are held in April. Get your English teacher involved so he/she can contact your state's coordinator and get you registered.
- Polyphony- for grades 9-12; short stories and poetry.
- River of Words Poetry and Art Contest - for anyone age 5-19. Poetry.
- Scholastic Art and Writing Awards - for grades 7-12; categories in visual arts and writing.
- SEVEN-CIFA Essay Competition. We are seeking essays on enterprise solutions to poverty from around the globe that are faith-based, faith-inspired, or interfaith efforts. Submission deadline is October 15..
- Stage of Life features a national writing contest for teens and high school students (non-fiction, memoir, blogging, essay-style contest for teens in high school).
- Teen Ink- a literary magazine and website
- Young Arts: National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. Scholarship opportunities for talented 17-18 year olds in the visual, literary and performing arts.
- The Writing Conference, Inc., sponsors writing contests in poetry, narration, and exposition for elementary, junior high/middle school and high school students.
- Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest - for girls in grades 10-11; November 15 deadline.
- Young Arts - open to high school seniors and other eligible 17 and 18-year-old artists in the performing, literary and visual arts. Deadline: October 15.
- The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, in partnership with Target Stores and in cooperation with affiliate state centers for the book, invites readers in grades 4 through 12 to enter Letters About Literature, a national reading-writing contest. To enter, readers write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, from any genre-- fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic, explaining how that author's work changed the student's way of thinking about the world or themselves. There are three competition levels: Level I for children in grades 4 through 6; Level II for grades 7 and 8, and Level III, grades 9 - 12. Winners, announced in the spring of each year, receive cash awards at the national and state levels. Visit www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/letters/
- Second Run is a literary reprint journal. Submit up to ten poems, or three plays, essays, or short stories of any length. Include a one-paragraph provenance to let our readers know where the piece came from, where you were in life when you wrote it, where it was first published, etc. Submit all work to submissions@secondrun.org
Misc.
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Chicago Dramatists, the playwrights' theatre, has devoted all of its resources and programming to its singular mission of developing new plays and nurturing playwrights. Programs & Resources Available to all playwrights.
http://www.chicagodramatists.org/home/index.html
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Look up One Act Play books on Google and you'll be overwhelmed.
- Check out WBEZ's http://thestory.org.
- Check out these personal narrative links...
http://library.springbranchisd.com/sbisd_library/personal_narratives.htm
- HBO: Brave New Voices
One part Def Poetry Jam and two-parts documentary, Brave New Voices is a doc-series that features the finest young spoken word artists in the country.
www.hbo.com/bravenewvoices/
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A good CD: "How to Read and Understand Poetry" by Professor Willard Spiegelman of S.M.U. (The Great Courses, The Teaching Company)
www.teach12.com/ttcx/CourseDescLong2.aspx?cid=268
- Teachers in Illinois now have greatly increased access to high quality professional development programming regarding the teaching of writing. The National Writing Project (NWP) serves teachers of writing at all grade levels, primary through university, and in all subjects. To learn more and find the Illinois site closest to you, go to: www.nwp.org
- The Poetry Foundation has wonderful audio and podcasts - Poetry off the Shelf - which I would highly recommend.
www.poetryfoundation.org/journal/audio.html
- Poets & Writers Magazine (www.pw.org):
If you're looking for grants and awards, or literary magazines and small presses that welcome both new and established writers, begin here.
- "One ought, everyday at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if possible, speak a few reasonable words." (www.poetryfountain.com)
- Iowa Summer Writing Festival & other programs for teachers & writers. (www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/iswfest/html/welcome/index.html)
- Summer on Campus: College Experiences for High School Students is a great resource book which gives detailed information about programs at colleges throughout the United States which enable students to take college courses.
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IATE is a professional organization for teachers of English/language arts. Composed of nearly 1,500 teachers throughout the state, IATE provides a working network for the exchange of teaching tips, current research, and professional development. IATE publishes the Illinois English Bulletin, a newsletter, and hosts a fall conference. Check out their Fall 2008 edition at: www.iateonline.org
- Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest is a great way to teach poetry and help students with written and oral communication skills. Poetry Out Loud was designed so that teachers may easily implement this "poetry bee" contest in the classroom. Poetry Out Loud awards prizes to students and schools at the state and national levels. For an overview of the program, classroom tools, and model recitations visit: www.poetryoutloud.org
- Taking a trip? Here is a good CD collection. CLASSIC HUNDRED POEMS: All Time Favorites, edited by William Harmon (ISBN: 1598875787). Just enough explanation and analysis to make this highly enjoyable.
- You can learn more about Young Chicago Authors by visiting the Web site at youngchicagoauthors.org.
- A good CD: "How to Read and Understand Poetry" by Professor Willard Spiegelman of S.M.U. (The Great Courses, The Teaching Company)
- We will hold off on recommending particular MFA programs, but if you don't know it already, there are many courses you can take on line. The courses offered by the University of Iowa are especially good as are the summer workshops offered on campus.
- A wonderful resource for creative writing teachers, as you probably know, is TEACHERS & WRITERS COLLABORATIVE. Check out www.twc.org/publications.
- Sandi Wisenberg's web site (http://slwisenberg.blogspot.com): Good resources for writers and "How To Books."
- Chicago Poetry (http://chicagopoetry.com): Keep up-to-date with local Chicago poetry happenings.
- Chicago Poetry Center (www.poetrycenter.org): Find out about monthly poetry events and readings.
- Neighborhood Writing Alliance (www.jot.org): A local not-for-profit offering adults in low-income neighborhoods the chance to write, publish and perform works about their lives.
- Facets Multi Media, Inc. Reel Poetry Program (www.facets.org/asticat?function=web&catname=facets&web=kids&path=): Learn about Facets year-round poetry appreciation program and other youth writing programs.
- Chicago Poetry Foundation (www.poetryfoundation.org): A great site -- check out their "Find a Poem/Discover a Poem" section.
- Humorous Children's Poetry (http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/poehumor.htm#c): LOL -- a site for librarians, teachers, parents and students.
- Powell's Books (www.powells.com/psection/Poetry.html): Great bookstore.
- NarrativeMagazine.info (www.narrativemagazine.info):
Carol Edgarian and Tom Jenk's on-line magazine, devoted to fiction, non-fiction and the art of story telling.
- NarrativeMagazine.com (www.narrativemagazine.com):
Mission is to bring great literature into the digital age, and to provide it for free. Stories, poetry, essays, novel excerpts, articles, and interviews are available -- without subscription -- to readers everywhere.
- http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/YA/teen_writing.html
- www.davidbarrkirtley.com/teenwriter/Contests.html
- http://www.civicandarts.org/htmls/pdf/creative.writing_08.pdf
- http://www.davidbarrkirtley.com/teenwriter/TeenResources.html
- http://ezinearticles.com/?Writing-Contests-for-Teens--
Something-to-Do-With-a-Boring-Summer!&id=237227
- http://www.grandmajam.com/luv2kids.htm#writers
- http://www.piercecountylibrary.org/kids-teens/teens/teen-writing-contest/Default.htm
- http://www.poetryamerica.com/teen-poetry-contest.asp
- www.dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/Arts/Creative_Writing/
- www.proofpositive.com/contests/writecontests.htm
- www.pw.org/content/grants_amp_awards_your_guide_writing_contests
- http://www.uic.edu/depts/oaa/ssp/essay.htm
- www.youngvoicesfoundation.org/index.html?gclid=CP-ug4KH3pUCFRTbQAodt1N9Xg
Would you like information about:
- An on-line course for eager sixth-graders?
- Ways to use Friday Night Lights and Veronica Mars in the classroom?
- Creative alternatives to senior year?
- Discussing creative approaches to the ACT or SAT essay?
Send us an e-mail. We can help you out.
Interested in Historical fiction? Contact us. We have material and ideas for writing about many Chicago figures and events. The material invites students to remember, discover, decide, and create.
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