Busy week for writers

Seems like nothing exciting happens for a while and then EVERYTHING happens at once. Here are a bunch of creative writing events happening within days of each other, and some are actually on the same days.


1) The year's first Coffee House Reading, starring the ninth-grade students, is Thursday, Nov. 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Ensemble Theater. Anyone is invited to read and Desire Givens, 11th grade, makes her debut as emcee. You go, Desire! Refreshments are served after the reading.


2) Creative Writing teacher Brad Craddock stars in Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" at Multi-use Community Culture Center, 142 Atlantic Ave.. Performances are at 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 3-5, 10-12 and 17-19; and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6. Tickets are $5 for people under 25 years old and $15 for general admission. For information or to buy tickets online, got to http://www.mucc.org/


3) Rochester Children's Book Festival brings more than 40 authors and illustrators of children's books to Monroe Community College on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 10 to 4 p.m. While some of the featured books are a bit young, some of the workshops are for middle-school students. Bruce Coville, for instance, presents "Why Write? Good Reasons and Ugly Truths" at 2 p.m. Jane Yolen presents a workshop at 2:30 called “How long did I want to write a graphic novel? Close to forever.” This event is free.

How to become a published author

Even after 30 years in newspaper reporting, I can tell you it's still a thrill whenever I see my work in print. So how do you get started? Here's a baby step, especially for middle school students: write a book review for the Democrat and Chronicle's Our Towns section, which is published on Fridays.
Each week Our Towns features a review written by a local student in eighth grade or younger. The reviews are pretty short. It doesn't matter if someone else has already reviewed the book (there are always new readers who need the information,) or if the book is something kids have to read for school. This week's review, for instance, is The Watsons Go to Birmingham -- 1963, which is a standard on local school reading lists.

If you want to try it, contact Denise Young, the editor of the section. She can be reached at DEMYOUNG@democratandchronicle.com, or by calling (585) 258-2565. Besides your inspiring words, you'll need a "mug shot" of yourself, preferably in digital form. It can be a school picture you don't hate too much. If you're thinking "Oh, they don't need my review, they probably have tons of other kids waiting to be picked," you couldn't be farther from the truth. They're dying to get new submissions. Really.

News from Atlanta

Former SOTA Creative Writing Teacher Tom Painting moved to Atlanta a little more than a year ago when he retired after 18 years at SOTA. Here's a note he sent me recently:
Good news at this end. I've landed a teaching position at the Paidiea School here in Atlanta. I'm teaching English and creative writing in the junior high. I subbed at the school last year and concluded that it was the ideal place to work. Two weeks into the school year and I couldn't be happier....The school it a little over a mile from our house. A walk, which is unusual in Atlanta. People here drive crazy distances.
I'll be presenting a haiku workshop in Hot Springs, Ark., in November.
My own kids are off to a good start to the school year and Laura continues to adjust to her position at Emory Health.
As well as things are going here, I miss you all very much. SOTA is a very special place. ...
Best,
Tom

If All of SOTA Read the Same Book ....

...we'd all be on the same page. OK, sorry. Couldn't resist that awful pun.
Anyway, in case you haven't heard, this year's selection for the book all of Rochester will read is "The Madonnas of Leningrad," by Debra Dean. It's the story of an elderly woman with Alzheimer's floating in and out of her present and her youth as a docent at the Hermitage Museum during a time of great deprivation. I'll be seeking Title I funding to bring the author to SOTA and arrange some other programs in conjunction with the event. Stay tuned and puh-leeeze speak up if you have suggestions, ideas, connections, anything! The city-wide event is in March 2012.

Walking and writing in the woods

Writers & Books has started a new program called "Beyond Reading," which involves a number of events focusing on a single book. The first selection is Bill Bryson's often hilarious "A Walk in the Woods." The book details his ill-formed plans to walk with the entire Appalachian Trail in one year.

The kick-off event is a walking book discussion Oct. 1 in Ellison Park for children (age 8 and up) and their parents. Sounds like the perfect event for middle school writers. Registration is due by Tuesday, Sept. 27. Cost is just $4, and includes a journal to use on the hike.

Other seated and walking discussions are scheduled throughout the month. For more information, visit http://www.wab.org/. To register or ask questions about the event, email karen@WAB.org.

Welcome, creative writers for 2011-2012!

Hi, everyone! It was great to see fresh faces at last night's SOTA orientation. The school, sadly, has been hit by some major cutbacks, but I'm glad to see that creative writing, at least, seems largely unaffected. (Maybe that's what comes of a staff that's already been cut to the bone in previous years.)

I hope to feature soon some profiles of the three creative writing teachers: Marcy Gamzon, Brad Craddock and Ashley Perez.  All three also teach English courses. Ms. Perez handles rollovers classes for middle schoolers. Ms. Gamzon and Mr. Craddock teach the high school writing courses and they also teach some AP courses in English.

Also, please feel free to share with me any of your ideas for a creative writing retreat.  This might be a guest writer offering a workshop off campus, followed by a potluck meal with games afterward. (We've done that a couple of times with great success.) It's not only a chance to know other writers, but a chance to building a little writing community with students, parents and teachers. I offer myself for organizing and fundraising purposes, but I'd really like to get more parents involved in the planning. You can respond with comments here (if you have a google account, I think) or send me an email at blueloon@rochester.rr.com. Thanks! 

Creating writing majors make Rochester history

I just visited a new exhibit in the Rochester Historical Society Center inside of the Rundel Memorial Library downtown and was please to see SOTA creative writing majors playing a small role in this historic display. The exhibit is all about Rochester businesses, with nearly one for every decade that the historical society has been around (150 years, but the 17 featured businesses go back even farther.) As I was looking at the display about the youngest business -- Writers & Books, at 30 years of age -- I realized I was staring at some familiar faces. There were creative writing majors Clara O'Connor and Amelia Carter looking back at me, along with fellow soon-to-be-a-SOTA-sophmore Sophie Dempster-Greenbaum and other teens from the mother-daughter book club they attend. The photo was taken during The Good Thief author Hannah Tinti's appearance at Writers and Books last March. If you're interested in seeing your classmates in this little bit of history, the show is up through Sept. 29. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for those under 18.

Celebrate SOTA filmmakers

Three films made by students at School of the Arts have been selected as finalists in the 2011 Rochester Teen Film Festival. The students’ works were selected from 63 entrees submitted by students from the greater Rochester area.

Named among the 12 finalists were:

MISSING YOU by Linh Truong

I DREAM OF ZUCCHINI by Cassidy Hammond, Norah Cooper, Maddy Feldman, My Tiet

SOMETHING GOOD CAN WORK by Sage Cruz-Field

The finalists’ films will be screened at 5:30 p.m. Wed., Aug. 3 at the Little Theatre. Admission is free and open to the public. A free reception will follow the film festival in The Little Theatre Cafe.

For more information, visit http://film360365.com/school/

More about the Bard and summer.....

Yes, this summer activity thing just keeps dragging on. As if you don't all have jobs and vacations planned that will take up your time. Well, here's one more option if you're interested in Shakespeare al fresco: Ithaca Shakespeare Co. is doing "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "As You Like It" in repertory July 7 to 24. They perform at Cornell Plantations, which is basically a sprawling garden and arboretum on the Cornell campus.  Get details at http://www.ithacashakespeare.org/. This one's not exactly free, as a $10 donation is suggested. It's probably well worth the cost, though, and Ithaca is always a hoot. 

Something to do This Summer, Part II

One of my favorite memories from last summer was watching a production of "Much Ado About Nothing" at the Highland Bowl. My husband and I got to sit under the stars, fight off mosquitoes with a fog of bug repellent, drink wine, and enjoy a cast including none other than Brad Craddock (as the priest.)

I've watched Shakespeare performed outdoors in Regent's Park, London ("Much Ado..."); at Edith Wharton's house in Lenox, Mass. ("Macbeth"); in Delaware Park in Buffalo ("The Tempest"); at the fairgrounds in Sandwich, NH (also "Comedy of Errors"); in a couple of different parks elsewhere in the Granite State (can't remember which plays); and as of last summer, also in Rochester's Highland Park.

So why am I writing about this drama stuff in a creative writing blog? Because it's Shakespeare. Once your ears get the hang of Ye Olde English, you can really start to appreciate the guy's amazing command of language. You have to study his works in English class every year, but the going's much smoother if you listen to or see the plays ahead of time. The Bard's language was really meant to be SPOKEN, not read. And who knows, getting more exposure to works by one of the greatest writers of all times couldn't hurt.

Here are some links to get information about local and one not-so-local outdoor Shakespeare productions. Note that the word "FREE" often comes up!

www.shakespeareindelawarepark.org   Buffalo's troupe is putting on both "Merchant of Venice" and "As You Like It." The first play is offered June 16 to July 10 and the second is July 21 to Aug. 14. Admission is free.

www.rochestercommunityplayers.org/4436.html   Rochester's Shakespeare Players, an offshoot of Rochester Community Players, is staging "Othello" July 1 to July 16, with performances at 8 p.m. in Highland Bowl, 1200 South Ave. Performances are free but they do take up a spirited collection.

www.shakespeareinthepark.org  This is the granddaddy of them all, New York City's Public Theater Company producing plays in Central Park's Delacourt Theater. Again, performances are free, but you have to have a ticket, which requires waiting in line earlier in the day. Let us know how it goes if you happen to go to New York this summer and try this.  This year's plays, offered in repertory, are "All's Well That Ends Well" and "Measure for Measure."  The performances began June 6 and run through July 30. 

Whatever you do and see this summer, have fun. 

Something to do this summer, with Painting

Former SOTA creative writing teacher Tom Painting returns to Rochester in July to teach a class at Writers & Books: "Haiku and the Ah-Ha Moment." The class is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 23. Cost is $43 for the general public and $39 for Writers & Books members.

Here's the course description: Get on board the English language haiku movement. This three-hour course will explore some of the best haiku currently being written in English as way toward inspiration and composing haiku of our own. Particular focus on the “ah-ha” moment will reveal the key ingredient of a successful haiku. Although this course is generative in nature, writers are encouraged to bring previously written haiku of their own for fine tuning in a congenial workshop atmosphere. All materials provided by instructor.

For more information, or to register online, visit http://www.wab.org/.

You go, girls!

Creative writing majors Amanda Ghysel and Molly Snell-Larch were finalists for the Young Women of Distinction Scholarships presented May 23 by the Women's Council of the Rochester Business Alliance in May. Other finalists included SOTA students Marguerite Frarey and Elena Rebholz, with Elena winning the scholarship slated for a city school student. See more about this award program by visiting http://www.grwc.com/ and clicking on "Young Women of Distinction."

Last Coffeehouse Reading of the year

Come support our graduating seniors at their last Coffeehouse Reading of the year: Monday, June 6, at 7 p.m. Hear final words... uh, works... by Nahoma Presberg, Jamal Blair Golden, Mary Rice, Jack Scardino, Molly Snell-Larch, Amanda Ghysel and others whose names the SOTA Scribes editor doesn't know. Come listen and bring a work of your own to share. 

A word from Ms. Gamzon

Thanks to everyone who helped with the Book Sale--especially Ms. Springett and Ms. Jenssen and all of you who bought books! Thank you, all of you, who helped our department create some funds for students needs.

SOTA Creative Writing majors read poetry along with BOA Editions board members at the Public Market on Sunday,
May 22, in the morning.  SOTA students Clara O'Connor,  Amelia Carter, Grace Eliott, Darren Tibbils, Gus Cuddy,
and Aubrey Grube participated. Thank you, Creative Writing majors for your support of the department and for your
heartfelt readings of BOA poetry.

A big thank you to the parents who, as always, provided the support for their students. We're invited to participate in future readings. We need to get out there and let the community know who we are. There will be more readings and more opportunities for SOTA students to collaborate with BOA (in its 30th year celebration) and with the RPO. This kind of PR helps our cause (but why is it now really a cause to keep a vibrant school and program alive?).  Just something to think about.

Rochester's Teen Book festival makes the "Boston Globe"

6th Annual Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival: Not surprisingly, this event features at least a few authors who write books about vampires and other magical or supernatural creatures. Heather Brewer, for instance, will be there to talk about Vladimir Tod, the main character in her books “Eighth Grade Bites,’’ “Ninth Grade Slays,’’ “Tenth Grade Bleeds,’’ “Eleventh Grade Burns,’’ and “Twelfth Grade Kills.’’ And Mark Crilley will discuss books such as “Brody’s Ghost,’’ his tale of a teenager dealing with paranormal activity. 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Nazareth College, 4245 East Ave.www.teenbookfestival.org

Editor's note: don't forget this is a FREE event!

Congratulations!

Left to right: Adriana Herrera Perhamus, HannahMcClaggar, Ms. Gamzon, Mary Rice, Jamal Blair Golden

Three cheers for SOTA writers, who are winning outside recognition!!!

Four out of the six winners in the Friends of the Rochester Public Library's Sokol Writing Contest are SOTA students. They were honored in a ceremony today at the library. Mary Rice, a senior, took first place in poetry and Adriana Herrera Perhamus, a freshman, took first place in fiction. Each won $200. Meanwhile, senior Jamal Blair Golden took third place, and won $75 for his poetry. And Hannah McClaggar, a freshman, took second place in fiction, winning $100.

Two SOTA students also were finalists in GeVa's Young Playwrights contest. Snaps to junior Valerie Sigl and sophomore Madeleine Feldman.

Summer opportunity for juniors and seniors interested in writing

Writers & Books is looking for a few good juniors and seniors (or college-age students) to help with summer day camp classes for younger students. SummerWrite Apprentices help professional teachers and writers for a total of four or five weeks. The positions come with a weekly stipend.

For more information, visit the Writers & Books site : http://wab.org/workshops/2011-spring/apprentice.shtml

Meanwhile, younger students may want to visit the http://www.wab.org/ to check out the camps for their age groups.

Do your spring cleaning AND help the Creative Writing Department

If your house is anything like ours, there are always too many books, including quite a few that the kids have outgrown. You can get rid of some of those books and help out the Creative Writing department by donating to the annual used book sale at SOTA.  The sale is scheduled for May 16-20, a week that includes the last parent-teacher conference, so you'll also have time to shop. This is the department's only fundraiser;  proceeds will help to pay for contest entry fees, retreats and other expenses.  Donations of books, audio books, and DVDs can by delivered by student or parent to the SOTA library, where librarian Christine Jenssen has agreed to store the books until the sale.

Welcome to the SOTA Scribes blog!

Hi, there!

 I thought it might save a bit of space on your computers and mine to share information about Creative Writing at SOTA through a blog. This means you won't be getting anymore lengthy emails, attached newsletters, or printed newsletters. Please let me know what you think. If this goes well, I'll just be sending out emails alerting you new posts on the blog. You can also sign up for an RSS feed, which will automatically notify you when new posts are made. I'll also do the social networking bit and post news of new blogs on my facebook page.
Happy writing and reading.

Diana