We offer free evening and weekend workshops designed to foster creativity, strengthen writing skills, and provide students with a forum for executing projects they might not otherwise have the support to undertake. Workshops range from the playful to the practical, and all are taught by volunteer writers, artists, educators, and publishing professionals.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to increased demand, enrollment for workshops are now determined by lottery. Once you have signed up for a workshop, please look for an email from workshops@826nyc.org, verifying that we have received your request. If you have not heard from us after 48 hours, feel free to call.
Our workshops are limited enrollment and often generate wait lists. With this in mind, please only sign up if you can make every session of a workshop. Thank you!
The Lightning Thief Read-Aloud Book Club
2 Sunday sessions: July 22, August 5 (2007)
4-6pm
Taught by Martha Mihalick
For ages 8 and up
According to the New York Times Book Review, Rick Riordan, author of The Lightning Thief, "has a knack for showing readers a crazy good time." Here's your chance to see if you agree! This workshop will begin with a read-aloud of the first chapters of this book, featuring the voices of volunteers, students, and parents. During the second session - two weeks later - students will discuss and write book reviews for this novel.
Please note that students must attend BOTH sessions of this workshop. Parents are welcome to join us for the read-aloud portion of this class.
Writing on the Radio
4 Mondays and Wednesdays: July 16, 18, 23, 25 (2007)
3-5pm
Taught by 826NYC
For ages 9-12
In this workshop, we'll focus on writing personal narratives specifically for radio. We'll discuss how writing for the ear differs from writing for print, and listen to examples of fictional and non-fictional monologue. Students will then write a narrative, pick a music bed that evokes the right mood, practice reading, then record their monologues and gather appropriate sounds.
Express Yourself!
4 Tuesday sessions: July 10, 17, 24, 31 (2007)
6-8pm
Taught by Brian Donnelly and Chris Timmins
For ages 11-14
Do you like to laugh? Well, there's a silly question. Of course you do! Here's a less silly question: Do you love dreaming up hilarious scenarios with your friends? You do? Well, get ready to dream up even more scenarios! Get ready to laugh at yourself and others. Get ready to discover the comedian, actor, and writer within. Basic ingredients include dash of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?," a pinch of "Saturday Night Live," and a whole lot of funny. In this 4-part workshop, students will learn to improvise with each other, and will write and perform in original comedic sketches.
Bring yourself and your enthusiasm every week and you will come away with some great sketches to be performed for friends and family!
Puppet Mania: The Puppets Party in Brooklyn
4 Sunday sessions: July 8, 15, 22 29 (2007)
1-4pm
Taught by 826NYC
For ages 6-9
If you like Kermit the Frog and the Fraggles, then this is the workshop for you. Join us as we delve into the world of puppetry, where everything is in your hands. You will make your own puppet, write a story, and then film your puppet's very own act. Four weeks of puppet fun will satisfy even the greatest fan. So, look out Miss Piggy. Here comes Puppet Mania!
Please note: Students must attend all four sessions of this workshop.
Sculpt a Graphic Novel
3 Sunday sessions: June 17, 24, July 1 (2007)
12-2pm
Taught by Jaimee Garbacik & Joan Kim
For ages 6-9
Most people have imagined their own comic book characters, what they would look like, and what special powers they might employ. Maybe you dreamed up a giant Iguana who could erase unfortunate historical events by counting backwards. Perhaps you took your favorite existing Superhero (or Villain) and crafted a whole new story line for them. This workshop is your chance to make your ideal graphic novel come to life. Using trick photography, graphic design software, clay and your written script, we will help you to produce your very own graphic novel.
Free Verse Boot Camp
2 Saturday sessions: June 16, 30 (2007)
2-4pm
Taught by Kate Soto & Jess Fjeld
For ages 14-18
Ever wondered about the nuts and bolts of free verse poetry? Think you're the next Walt Whitman? Though it might seem like free verse is a no-holds-barred approach to poetry, there are actually quite a few considerations that poets must make: line length, stanzas, slant rhyme, and alliteration, for example. The more you understand them, the better poet you'll be.
In this two-part workshop, we'll explain devices that you can use in your poetry and we'll provide exercises and ideas to help you generate new work. During the second half, we'll workshop your new poems and hold a mini-reading for the class.
Please bring in free-verse poems from other poets and/or your own in-progress poems to the first class.
