Summer Workshops

We have two opportunities this summer for teens. The Space Coast Teen Writers Festival (a one-day free event) and Creative Writing Camp for Teens (a week-long intensive course; fee-based).

Space Coast Teen Writers Festival (July 6, 2012)

Time: 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 pm.
Cost: Free

This is a one-day, free event for high school students on the Space Coast (Brevard County) at the Cocoa Beach Library, co-sponsored by The Florida Review and the Cocoa Beach Library. The day will be jam-packed with creative writing activities, including hands-on workshops in graphic narrative, fiction, flash fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and scriptwriting. Published writers will provide how-to talks on getting published and living life as a writer. There will be an open mic contest at the end of the day.

More Information:
You MUST pre-register for this event. For more information or to reserve your space, contact Judith Roney (judithroney@knights.ucf.edu) by June 25, 2012. Visit us on Facebook.

Creative Writing Camp for Teens (July 9-13, 2012)

Time:
Morning Camp: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Afternoon Camp: 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Cost:
$100 for AM or PM Session
$175 for both AM and PM Sessions

Story and Script (M-F; 9:00-11:00 a.m.): In this session, students will study the basic structure of a Hollywood screenplay as a starting point for writing stories and short scripts. They will be able to recognize the principles of screenwriting and apply it to reading and writing fiction. Each student will write one short story and/or one short script. This course brings together students and instructors who, as experienced writers themselves, serve as mentors to guide students through the process of creative writing. During writing workshops, both the instructor and peers offer detailed criticism geared toward revision. Through this process of writing, critiquing, and revising, students develop confidence in their own writing.

Poetry and Creative Nonfiction (M-F; 1:30-3:30 p.m.): This session will focus on writing as an act of imagination and on memory as an ocean of ideas. Students will learn tools of poetry such as image, form, and musicality, which will also apply to creative nonfiction. Students will be shown how to use their senses to create vivid and rich poems and real-life stories. This course brings together students and instructors who, as experienced writers themselves, serve as mentors to guide students through the process of creative writing. During writing workshops, both the instructor and peers offer detailed criticism geared toward revision. Through this process of writing, critiquing, and revising, students develop confidence in their own writing.

Location:
UCF Continuing Education
12565 Research Parkway, Suite 390
Orlando, FL 32826

To register: Contact Martin Malpica (mmalpica@ucf.edu), Program Coordinator at Continuing Education

Summer Workshop Instructors

Each camp session will be facilitated by at least two highly trained and talented UCF creative writing majors, working under the direction of Professor Terry Thaxton.

Space Coast Festival Organizers and Leaders

Stephanie Pando is a recent graduate of the University of Central Florida with a B.A in Creative Writing. Her writing focuses include: fiction, script writing, creative non-fiction, reviews and personal essay. She served as an editorial intern for The Florida Review. She also worked as a chief writer and casting director for Metrocon's Human Chess Match (2007 - 2008) as well as Creative Writing Assistant for Seabug Entertainment. Stephanie is currently working on a young adult novel in her spare time. She is an alumni of Satellite Beach High School, and resides in Cocoa.

Leslie Salas: "I'm a creative writing MFA candidate at UCF who writes fiction and nonfiction and specializes in graphic narrative while working as a graduate teaching associate grading an online creative writing class and serving as a Managing Editor for The Florida Review. I hold a BA in English-Creative Writing from USF, where I also earned a minor in Physics. I have experience teaching and mentoring elementary through high school and undergraduate level--I've covered topics from learning to read to LEGO robotics to editing and proofreading. I grew up on the Space Coast and I am looking forward to working with young writers from the area."

Jude Roney: "I’m a poetry major in the Creative Writing MFA program at UCF. I write poetry, fiction, and memoir, and when I’m not doing that I’m reading, or seeking out those who like to talk about writing or reading. When I need a break, or inspiration, you’ll find me walking the beach. I’ve participated in numerous workshops and believe in the almost kinetic like-energy produced through the workshop process. I adore the challenge of flash fiction and endeavor to write poems which connect us to history and the biology of all life in the greater world at hand."

Story and Script Instructors

Aimee Campbell: "I am a graduate of the University of Central Florida and holds with a B.A.degree in English-Creative Writing. I love the arts and spend my free time workin' on that novel I've been writing, attending open mic nights, and reading funny blogs online. Creative non-fiction is my area of focus, and I have had two pieces of poetry published, one in Gambling the Isle and another in Catfish Creek."

Ryann Lugo: "My name is Ryann and I feed on inspiration. I am a senior creative writing major at UCF, a musician, a ceramic artist, and aspiring writer and film maker. I have participated in many creative writing workshops and I am excited to get a glimpse of the talent in our Middle and High School students."

Poetry and Creative Nonfiction Instructors

Jessica Farrell: "I am a senior creative writing major at UCF, a spoken word poet, and a fiction/nonfiction writer. I have been writing seriously since I was 19 and have recently started performing around Orlando at open mic nights. I am also part of a spoken word team and will begin competing during the summer. Besides poetry, I focus on flash fiction and creative nonfiction essays but I must admit that poetry is my favorite genre. I have worked with teenage writing students before when I was an education major and I am very excited about exploring poetry and nonfiction with teens this summer."

Sabrina Napolitano: "I'm a junior creative writing major at UCF with occasional streaks of brilliance. I've been writing fiction and nonfiction for as long as I can remember, and recently started growing into poetry. I cannot wait to share my love of writing with others, and help them find their own voices in the creative world."