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!
2012: A Time Odyssey
3 Wednesday sessions: January 11, 18, 25 (2012)
6-7:30pm
Taught by Susan Meyer and Susan Voelker
For ages 8-12
2012 doesn't seem that strange to us today, but imagine if you were a time traveler transported here from hundreds or thousands of years in the past or future. If you were a caveman, would you wonder if all the mammoths had been run over by taxis? Or if you were a businessman from 2213 would you question why everyone is walking around when they be teleporting? Help us develop a collection of stories that are about the past, present, and future all at once!
Dream Room: Extreme Makeover Edition
2 Sunday sessions: December 4, 11 (2011)
12-1:30pm
Taught by Gary Rudoren
For ages 6-9
Calling all budding (and seasoned) architects! This is the workshop you've been waiting for - a chance to re-imagine and re-construct the dreamiest version of your very own room. Want a bed made of chocolate for midnight snacking? Done! Want a bedroom whose corner is a real beach? Done! Want a robot to help you pick out your outfits each morning? Done!
In this workshop, you'll draw up with plans for the greatest room anyone could ever wish for. Better yet, your plans will come up with a super persuasive letter, which will convince the people in charge (your parents, the super, the mayor, the President?!) that this room *has* to happen. ASAP.
Every great room design starts with a great story. What's yours?
Please note that you must come to all sessions of this workshop.
Adaptation - With Puppets!
4 Tuesday sessions: November 30, December 6, 13, 20 (2011)
6-7:30pm
Taught by 826NYC
Calling all filmmakers, puppeteers, and storyboarders: We need you! Last month, students rewrote The Man in the Iron Mask. This month, we're adapting the story for the big screen! Join us to storyboard the screenplay, transform the characters into puppets, and film each scene. That's right: you'll play the roles of producer, director, and actor all at once!
Sign up now to bring this remade classic to life! Enrolled students are required to attend all four sessions of the workshop.
H. Mildew's Scary Story Factory
2 Sunday sessions: October 23, 30 (2011)
12-1:30pm
Taught by 826NYC
For ages 6-9
Have a scary or spooky story to tell? At this workshop, you'll get a chance to write it, publish it, and tell it - just in time for Halloween! We'll spend the first of two sessions writing scary, spooky, and creepy stories featuring brand new, original characters - maybe even ghosts!
By the end of this workshop, we'll have published our very own book. Just what will this latest, greatest, spooky, spectacular, Halloween-themed anthology hold? Sign up now to help us churn it out!
Judging Classics By Their Covers
3 Tuesday sessions: September 27, October 4, 11 (2011)
6-7:30pm
Taught by 826NYC
For ages 8-12
How would you like to write the story of a madman's war against a big white whale? Or the tale of a man who wakes up one morning to find he's a beetle?
During this workshop, you will rewrite and update classics from the 1800s and beyond - so that they are exciting and current and filmable! Amazingly, you will do all of this in three sessions and without even opening the book. That's right: We are judging books by their covers, and we are turning those covers into updated stories and screenplays. The ideas are all there, but we need your help filling in the details!
Please note that enrolled students are required to attend every session of this workshop.
Celebrate Good Times (Come On!)
5 Monday and Wednesday sessions: July 13, 18, 20, 25, 27 (2011)
2-3:30pm
Taught by 826NYC
For ages 6-9
Who doesn't love an excuse to celebrate? The calendar is full of holidays you know and love. There's Groundhog Day, April Fool’s Day, Valentine's Day. But have you ever heard of Cellophane Tape Day? What about National Hug Your Cat Day? In this workshop students will create a calendar that includes a whole year of fun, interesting and just plain weird holidays and how to go about celebrating them!
