Speak Up, Speak Out!
(a workshop in 3 parts)

Dates & Times:
Saturday, April 10th 3:30-5:30 pm (at 826 Boston)
Saturday, April 17th 3:30- 5:30 pm (at 826 Boston)
Saturday, April 24th 4:00-6:00 pm (session starts at 4:00pm/performance starts at 5:00 pm, both at Emerson College)

Ages: 14-18
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.

Learn to create and perform spoken word poetry that moves people; hypes them up, hangs them on a word, & switches directions on a dime. Participants will have the chance to perform their finished pieces for an audience at Emerson College.

Download a registration form here or drop by our center at 3035 Washington St. to pick one up. You can also call 617.442.5400 to register for this workshop.

Para información en español, llame al 617.442.5400, o visítenos en 3035 Washington St.

Descargue la hoja de inscripción haciendo clic aqui, o venga a nuestro centro para conseguir una. También puede llamar al 617.442.5400 para inscribirse.

February Workshop Series 2010

Join us during the Boston Public Schools’ February vacation for a series of free, exciting and unique writing workshops for all ages! We will offer morning and afternoon workshops February 15-19, 2010. See workshop descriptions for details. To sign up for workshops, call 617-442-5400 or email info [at]826boston.org. Please note that in order to insure participation and allow as many students as possible to attend our workshops, we are now requiring a $20 deposit upon registration, which is fully refundable upon attendance.

Click here to download the workshop schedule. Click here to download a workshop registration form.

For students ages 6-9:

Any Which Way. Thursday, February 18 and Friday, February 19, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Lindsey Plait. Ever wanted to trek the Amazon rainforest or join a band of supervillians? While we can't help you do those things, we can show you how to make a realistic, wild, and bold choose-your-own-adventure book that will take you all over the place. Students will create a class book in two sessions.

Skulk, Roar, Squeak! Monday, February 15, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Kristen Hoggatt. Join us as we transform into animals real and imagined! We will slither, hop, trot, strut and prowl while learning about rhyme and writing poems about our favorite beasts, large and small!

For students ages 8-11:

Yummy Words. Friday, February 18, 1:00 – 3:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Alia Hamada. Expose yourself to poetry writing - with fruit, vegetables, lasagna, falafel - all sorts of food as the inspiration! Students will talk about food with the powerful description that comes with using all five senses, and each will have the chance to write a few poems about their favorite foods. Just like at the best recipe swaps, everyone will leave with their own collection of delicious poetry made by the group.

Speaking in Tongues. Wednesday, February 17, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Wednesday, February 17, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Heather Hughes. Bring your creativity, imagination, and plenty of mlamdiggleby to an afternoon of playing with words from all corners of the globe and the farthest reaches of imagination! We will speak in tongues, create our own words and write multilingual poems!

For students ages 9-12:

Sonnets with Superpowers. Tuesday, February 16, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Sarah Green. Do you want to write poems that can: see in the dark, travel invisibly, breathe underwater, or fly faster than light? In this poetry class, we will look at the basics of the sonnet form, and learn how to craft creative new sonnets the likes of which no Bostonian-- or world citizen-- has ever seen. Who knew fourteen lines could be so powerful?

For students ages 11-14:

Create a Lit Mag! Monday, February 15, Tuesday, February 16, and Wednesday, February 17, 1:00-3:00 PM (three sessions). Teacher: Andrea Drygas. Attention aspiring poets and story spinners: in this class you will learn how a literary magazine is made! Each student will write a poem or short story, and then learn how a collection gets put together to create an impressive magazine!

For students ages 12+:

SpecifiCITY: Image and Rhythm in the Urban Landscape. Thursday, February 18, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Maggie Dietz. Join published poet and BU faculty member Maggie Dietz to explore and write poetry. Students will write poetry collaboratively and individually about the urban landscape.

Cartoonists Unmasked!

Dates: Saturdays, January 23rd & 30th, 2010
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ages: 8-10
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.

Leave your secret identity at the door, and learn the essentials of making a comic about a character you can really get into: YOURSELF! We’ll look at different styles that cartoonists use to write about themselves, and experiment with our own styles, too. In this workshop, you’ll be writing comics about your past, present and future lives. At the end of this two-week class, all of our comic stars will take home a compilation comic book featuring their very own work!

Download a registration form here or drop by our center at 3035 Washington St. to pick one up. You can also call 617.442.5400 to register a student for this workshop!

Para información en español, haga clic aqui, llame al 617.442.5400. o visítenos en 3035 Washington St.

Para descargar la hoja de registración, haga clic aqui o venga a nuestro centro para conseguir una.

Skulk, Roar, Squeak!

Dates: Saturday, December 5th, 2009
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ages: 6-8
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.

Join us as we transform into animals real and imagined! We will slither, hop, trot, strut and prowl while learning about rhyme and writing poems about our favorite beasts, large and small!

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing info [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

How to Survive Anything

Dates: Saturday, September 26th, 2009
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ages: 8-10
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.

What do you tell your teacher when you forgot your homework? How do you defend yourself against a vampire? How can you get out of doing your chores? How do you stop aliens from taking over the planet? It’s about time someone put together a book of how to survive absolutely anything- and that someone is you! After looking at existing survival guides, students will create a “how to survive anything” survival guide to solve even the most fantastical mishap.

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing info [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

W826: Monster Radio -- Where Monsters Tell All

Dates: Saturdays, October 3rd, 10th & 17th, 2009
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ages: 10-12
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.

Have you ever wondered how Bigfoot really feels?  Or what it’s like to be the Loch Ness Monster? We’ve got their phone numbers.  Here’s your chance to get exclusive interviews with the world’s most mysterious creatures. In our radio workshop, you’ll get a hands-on opportunity to interview them and then create a radio show full of sound effects and music where you’ll be the hosts.

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing info [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

August Workshops 2009

Join us the first two weeks of August for a series of free, exciting and unique writing workshops for all ages! We will offer morning and afternoon workshops August 3rd-6th and August 10th-13th, 2009. See workshop descriptions for details. To sign up for workshops, call 617-442-5400 or email info [at]826boston.org. Please note that in order to insure participation and allow as many students as possible to attend our workshops, we are now requiring a $20 deposit upon registration, which is fully refundable upon attendance.

Click here to download the workshop schedule.

Are You Talkin' To Me? Monday August 3rd & Tuesday August 4th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Val Madden. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 11-14. By playing improv and theatre games and working with pieces of famous plays, students will create their own monologues and dialogues for performance!

Choose Your Own Adventure. Tuesday August 4th, 1:00 - 3:00 pm & Wednesday August 5th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Lindsey Plait. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 6-9. Students will learn about the basic elements of telling a story, and will create their own multi-choice adventures. All adventures will be published in a group book for students to take home.

Message in a Bottle. Monday August 3rd, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Leora Fridman. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 6-9. Using ancient papers, bottles, and special author pens, students will compose their own postcards and personalized letters, and prepare them for mailing to the individual of their choice!

All the Stars in the Night Sky. Wednesday August 5th & Thursday August 6th, 1:00- 3:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Ali Reid. Enrollment is capped at 10 students. Ages 8-10. Using the Stellarium planetrium to view stars, planets and constellations, students will learn about constellations and the myths around them, and write their own myths about characters in the night sky.

Manic Mansions. Thursday August 6th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Matt Grzecki. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Using 3D tools and ideas from movies and television, students will get to design their own crazy mansions and the super weird rulers who live in them.

Make Your Own Magazine. Monday August 10th, Wednesday August 12th & Thursday, August 13th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (three sessions). Teacher: Kristen Berke and Andrea Drygas. Ages 10-12. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Students will learn the basics of interviewing, write profiles of each other, and put together their very own 826 Boston Magazine!

Outer Space Fictions. Monday August 10th & Wednesday August 12th, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Jesse Moskowitz. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 11-14. Do you like dragons? Have you always dreamed of ruling a country called Iggledywick? Do you think you have the perfect idea for a character who could take over the universe? Bring all your ideas to this class, in which students will be building their own wacky science fiction and fantastical stories.

Fly Your Flag High. Tuesday August 11th, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Karen Boss. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 8-10. Do you think you'd be a great king or president? Does your family have enough history to fill a whole country? In this workshop, we will be making our own personal flags and writing short stories about the countries, families and worlds where we are the queens and kings.

Find the Moment. Tuesday August 11th, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Charles Coe. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 11-14. Working with esteemed Boston-area poet Charles Coe, students will talk about the important moments in their own lives, look at defining moments in poetry, and write their own poems about important moments that will be collected in a chapbook of 826 Boston youth poetry.

Speaking in Tongues. Thursday August 13th, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Heather Hughes. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 8-10. Bring your creativity, imagination, and plenty of mlamdiggleby to an afternoon of playing with words from all corners of the globe and the farthest reaches of imagination! We will speak in tongues, create our own words and write multilingual poems!

Write Your Own Rag!

Dates: Wednesdays, May 27th, June 3rd, and June 10th
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Ages: 9-13
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.

Learn how journalists create stories, from the moment your editor assigns you to a hazy scoop to the satisfaction of holding the printed copy in your hand. It requires detective work and word craft, and you'll try your hand at all of it in this three-session workshop. Investigate an alleged Bigfoot sighting, interview witnesses and untangle the story, then write it up and have your own newspaper clipping to take home.

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

Yummy Words!

Dates: Saturdays, June 6th and 13th
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Ages: 8-10
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.

Expose yourself to poetry writing - with fruit, vegetables, lasagna, falafel - all sorts of food as the inspiration! Students will talk about food with the powerful description that comes with using all five senses, and each will have the chance to write a few poems about their favorite foods. Just like at the best recipe swaps, everyone will leave with their own collection of delicious poetry made by the group.

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

Build Your Own Adventure

Dates: Tuesdays April 28th, May 5th, and May 12th
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 15 students.

Should you go down the deep dark tunnel or climb up the tree? There’s a story either way and it’s your job to write it! In this workshop you will learn to create a story with multiple ending and discuss character, settings and all the aspects that go into creating an adventure.

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

Speaking in Tongues–Poetry Writing in Many Languages, Real or Imagined!

Date: May 30th, 2009
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Ages: 9-12
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.

Sut mae! ¿Qué tal? Bring your creativity, language skills, and plenty of mlamdiggleby to an afternoon of playing with words from all corners of the globe and the farthest reaches of imagination! In this one amazing session, we'll speak in tongues, create our own words, write multilingual poems, and host a reading to share poetry and language - real and invented.

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

Con-text-books Part II

Date: Saturday, May 2nd & Saturday, May 9th, 2009, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.

In the second edition of this hands-on poetry class, students will combine visual arts with writing to transform found text into powerful works of visual poetry. We will work on our poetry by erasing, painting, cutting and pasting. Students will learn about illuminated manuscripts, visual poetry and cut-up poetry and create their own mixed-media poems. Each student will also have time to work on their own writer's notebook filled with their writing-collages. Both new students and students who attended part one are welcome! Teacher: Julia Newman.

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

April Break Workshops 2009

Join us during April School Break for creative workshops at 826 Boston! We will offer a morning and an afternoon workshop each day, Tuesday - Friday, April 21-24, 2009. See workshop descriptions for details. To sign up for workshops, call 617-442-5400 or email info [at]826boston.org.

Click here to download the workshop schedule.

Airbrush Haiku. Thursday & Friday, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Alex Gordillo. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 6-9. In the first session of this workshop, students will explore various forms of haiku, from the classic practice of Basho and Issa, as well as more contemporary urban haiku. Students will learn to write their own versions of the form, and will have these verses airbrushes onto their own t-shirts by the end of session. White t-shirt required for airbrushing.

Words of the Wise. Thursday & Friday 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Dana Horrocks. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 9-11. Does your Grandma have a knack for always saying it like is? Is there a song or a lyrics which always rings true to you? In this workshop, participants will discuss different kinds of wisdom and where they come from, and will then wisdom poems to pass their own words along to others.

Hip-Hop-oetics Take II. Tuesday & Wednesday, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Chris Mooney. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Ages 10-14. In this two-session workshop, students will explore verbal and rhythmic elements of hip-hip lyrics, and write their own lyrics to perform at Jamaica Plain Youth Week Talent Showcase on the evening of April 21st!

Sketch Comedy. Tuesday & Wednesday 10:00 am -12:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Lily Mooney. Ages 11-14. Enrollment is capped at 15 students. Working with improv games and comedy-writing exercises, students will create their own sketch comedy skits and have the opportunity to perform them on the evening of April 21st, at the Jamaica Plain Youth Week Talent Showcase.

February Break Workshops 2009

Join us during February School Break for creative workshops at 826 Boston! We will offer a morning and an afternoon workshop each day, Tuesday - Friday, February 17-20, 2009. See workshop descriptions for details. To sign up for workshops, call 617-442-5400 or email info [at]826boston.org.

Step by Step: A Life Instruction Manual. Friday, February 20, 2009. 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Sara Legasy. Ages 6-9. Enrollment is capped at 12 students. There seem to be instructions for everything, except for the things anyone really wants to do. There are instructions for tying our shoes, and making our beds, and long division, but none for anything fun. Do you think you could teach people how to dance? What about how to blow bubbles, or how to pick their nose? Together, we will go through the steps of writing instructions for just about anything, and compile the most original instructions manual ever written.

Sonnets with Superpowers. Wednesday, February 18, 2009. 10:00 am - 12:00 pm (one session). Teacher: Sarah Green. Ages 9-11. Enrollment is capped at 12 students. Did you accidentally send a singing valentine to Bigfoot? Are you tired of rhymes like "Roses are red, violets are blue?" Do you want to write poems that can: see in the dark, travel invisibly, breathe underwater, or fly faster than light? In this poetry class, we will look at the basics of the sonnet form, and learn how to craft creative new sonnets the likes of which no Bostonian-- or world citizen-- has ever seen. Do sonnets always have to rhyme? Do they have to be about love? Come to 826 to find out, and leave with your own magic poetic invention. Who knew fourteen lines could be so powerful?

Con-text Books. Tuesday February 17 & Thursday February 19, 2009, 10:00 am -12:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Julia Newman. Ages 9-11. Enrollment is capped at 12 students. In this poetry class, students will combine visual arts with writing to transform found text into powerful works of visual poetry. Start with a newspaper article, a xeroxed page of your favorite novel, or a recipe for crème brûlée, and learn to bring out its poetry through a process of erasing, painting, cutting and pasting. Students will begin with a short history of illuminated manuscripts, visual poetry and cut-up poetry before making their own mixed-media poems. Each student will leave with the beginnings of a writer's notebook that's sure to turn heads.

Hip-Hop-oetics. Tuesday February 17 & Wednesday February 18, 2009, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Chris Mooney. Ages 11-14. Enrollment is capped at 12 students. Want to know the secret to Lil Wayne and Jay-Z's rapping ability? Among many things, it's a clear understanding of poetic elements such as metaphor, simile, assonance etc.. Students will listen to hip hop with these concepts in mind, and will use group activities and writing exercises to produce one long, poetic verse with hip hop influence!

Stand-up Comedy. Thursday February 19 & Friday February 20, 2009, 1:00 - 3:00 pm (two sessions). Teacher: Evan Fleischer. Ages 11-14. Enrollment is capped at 12 students. Stand-up comedy: a man (or a woman) telling jokes. End of story? Not quite. A stand-up routine needs a form and an engaged, friendly audience, which the workshop aims to be. After looking at good comics, okay comics, and absolutely terrible comics, students will workshop their jokes into a short routine, which will then conquer the world.

Con-text-books

Date: Saturday, April 11th & Saturday, April 18th, 2009, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Ages: 10-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.

In this poetry class, students will combine visual arts with writing to transform found text into powerful works of visual poetry. Start with a newspaper article, a xeroxed page of your favorite novel, or a recipe for crème brûlée, and learn to bring out its poetry through a process of erasing, painting, cutting and pasting. Students will begin with a short history of illuminated manuscripts, visual poetry and cut-up poetry before making their own mixed-media poems. Each student will leave with the beginnings of a writer's notebook that's sure to turn heads. Teacher: Julia Newman.

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

Visiting Artist, Visiting Critics

Date: Saturday, March 7th 2009, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Ages: 9-12
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.

In this one session workshop, students will travel from 826 Boston to visit a show by artist Chris Reid at the Godine Family Gallery at Massart. They'll learn the language of art critics, and publish personal reviews of Reid's work online on a website developed specifically for this project. Teachers: Ali Reid and Evan Smith.

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

Sensing Symphony

Date: Saturday, February 21st 2009, 1:00 pm,
Sunday, February 22nd 2009, 2:30 pm (concert at Sander's Theatre in Cambridge)
& Saturday, February 28th 2009, 1:00 pm
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 10 students.

Are you a shower-singing specialist or a rhyming whiz? Join us as we trek through the world of classical music and learn about the pieces that make up a symphony. By the end of our three sessions, you'll have attended a performance at the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and have written your own music review!

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

Speaking in Tongues

Date: Saturday, Jan 17th, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.

Join us for a workshop in multilingual poetry, where we'll work with all languages -- real or imagined!

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing programs [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

Sensing Symphony

Date: Saturday, February 21st 2009, 1:00 pm,
Sunday, February 22nd 2009, 2:30 pm (concert at Sander's Theatre in Cambridge)
& Saturday, February 28th 2009, 1:00 pm
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 10 students.

Are you a shower-singing specialist or a rhyming whiz? Join us as we trek through the world of classical music and learn about the pieces that make up a symphony. By the end of our three sessions, you'll have attended a performance at the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and have written your own music review!

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing leora [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

College Essay Night

Date: Monday, November 10, 2008
Time: 6-8 pm

Join us for the chance to start, work on, or polish up your college essay! This workshop will feature the expert advice of college students, graduates, admissions professionals, and other helpful people as students work to craft the perfect college application statement.

Any high school senior (or prepared junior!) can join this workshop by RSVPing to info [at] 826boston.org or 617-442-5400. Bring your materials, whether you have no idea or a near-final draft, we'll help you get ready to send off your college application today!

Narrate Yourself!

Dates: Wednesdays, October 15, 22 & 29, 2008
Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
Ages: 14-18
Teachers: Dan Bromfield & Dan Rudolph
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.

Do you dream of breaking into the film industry? Well here’s your chance. 826 Boston is searching for aspiring young screenwriters, directors, actors and grips who will combine forces to create a short film. Here’s the twist: instead of using a standard video camera the film will be composed through a series of still images with the voice action recorded later. In addition to snapping the pictures ourselves we will scour the internet for images that bring our setting to life. No experience, resume or cover letter required.

Download the flyer.

About the teachers: Dan Bromfield co-taught Screenwriting & Filmmaking workshops last year, and directed the original 826 Boston student film, Me Need Job. Dan Rudolph is an after-school tutor extraordinaire.

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing programs [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

The Whole (Mailed) Package

Dates: Thursdays, November 6 & 13, 2008
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Ages: 8-12
Teachers: Chris Glasser
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.

In this workshop, students will imagine, design, and create an amazing and fantastic package to mail to a friend or loved one. Not only will they find new and unique ways to write a letter, but they'll collect and create objects of sentimental value and prepare it for mailing.

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing programs [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

The Emergency Story Kit

Dates: Wednesdays, November 5, 12 & 19
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Ages: 11-14
Teachers: Evan Fleischer
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.

Receive full training for a thrilling new product still in beta testing, the Emergency Storytelling Kit, a portable device designed by award-winning scientists* at the Greater Boston Bigfoot Research Institute to be readily deployed at a moment's notice to save any and all storytelling emergencies.

Participants will test the strengths and weaknesses of the ESK in a variety of environmental and real world situations, learn techniques from the realm of improv comedy, practice spontaneous prose, have their scientific observations thoroughly examined and expanded upon, and look at the works of Joseph Cornell.

New ESK's will be designed by participants.

* Honorary Medal for Preserving the Humanoid Integrity of the World Mustache Competition.**

** He's out there. And he really shouldn't win mustache competitions.

About the teacher:
Evan Fleischer is a member of the Chocolate Cake City comedy troupe and co-led the Improv & Sketch Comedy Workshop this summer at 826 Boston.

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing programs [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

Collage for Inspiration

Date: Saturday, October 18, 2008
Time:10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ages: 8-12
Teachers: Christine Junge & Brian O'Neill
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.

In this class, we will use another artistic medium, collage, to explore students’ fictional stories. We will start by discussing certain elements of fiction, such as character development, setting, theme and plot. Then each student will make a collage, choosing images that are meaningful to his or her story. Through the collage-making, students will get a better understanding of their stories. This technique is particularly helpful to turn to when you are feeling blocked or stuck on a particular piece of fiction, though it can be used at any point in the creative writing process.

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing programs [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

Profile Writing

Dates: Wednesdays, October 1 &8, 2008
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Ages: 8-12
Teacher: Meredith Goldstein
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.

Everyone’s got personality. Learn how to interview an interesting subject and write about them in this class about personality profiles.

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing programs [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

Whoa....You Wrote That Song?

Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008
Time: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Ages: 14-18
Teacher: Sarah Green
Enrollment is capped at 8 students.

We'll bring the chords; you make the words. Join two local musicians in November for a fun and friendly songwriting workshop. By the end of our session, you'll have written lyrics and recorded your own new hit! Astonish your friends and family. Rule the charts. No songwriting experience necessary.

About the teacher:

Sarah Green holds an MFA in Creative Writing and is on the faculty of the Writing, Literature, and Publishing Department at Emerson College. She guest-taught a lesson on Pablo Neruda's Book of Questions and a town-hall debate on bigfoot at 826 Boston's summer camp.

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing programs [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

Extra! Extra! Write All About It!

Dates: Thursday, September 18, 25, October 2, 9, 2008
Time: 6-8 pm
Ages: 11-14
Teachers: Chris Hinman & Elizabeth Bernardi
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.

This workshop gives kids a basic understanding how to identify a story, gather primary and secondary information through research and reporting, and structure and write a basic feature article. The workshop will culminate in the publication of a newspaper with all the feature articles!

Sign up by calling 617.442.5400 or emailing programs [at] 826boston.org with the student's name, age, school, email and phone number.

Food Critic For A Day

Don't miss this fall's tastiest workshop!

Date: Saturday, September 3 & 20, 2008
Time: 1-3 pm
Age: 11-14 years
Teachers: Ryan Rose Weaver & Jennie Coates
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.

In this workshop, we teach you the skills to review restaurants professionally and to experience a meal with all of your senses in order to do so. You may decide (maybe after your third dumpling) that this is the job for you! We’ll be talking about some great food writers, then you'll visit a fine restaurant in Boston to write and illustrate your own food review. Then you' ll go over the review with your "editors" (your workshop teachers).

Please note: A parent or guardian will have the opportunity to accompany the student on their restaurant review! The meal will be scheduled during the week between the two workshop sessions (September 7-19). Confirmation of parent or guardian participation is required at time of registration for the workshop.

Download the flyer.

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

About the teachers:

Jennie Coates holds a Ph.D. in Nutrition and is on the faculty of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy at Tufts University. A dedicated volunteer, Jennie led the highly successful Science of Ice Cream lesson at 826 Boston's Summer Science & Writing Camp.

Ryan Rose Weaver, a graduate of Emerson's journalism program, is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in the Weekly Dig and the Boston Business Journal.

Writing in Response to Images

Date: Wednesday & Thursday, August 13-14, 2008
Time: 10 am - 12 pm
Ages: 8-12
Enrollment is capped at 12 students - students must attend both sessions.
Teacher: Claudia Auer

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

Poetry for Little Ones

Date: Monday & Tuesday, August 11-12, 2008
Time: 10 am - 12 pm
Ages: 6-9
Enrollment is capped at 12 students - students must attend both sessions.
Teacher: Jondelle DeVeaux

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

Spoken Word Poetry

Date: Wednesday & Thursday, August 6-7, 2008
Time: 1 pm - 3 pm
Ages: 14-18
Enrollment is capped at 12 students - students must attend both sessions.
Teacher: Steve Subrizi

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

Cartooning

Date: Wednesday & Thursday, August 6-7, 2008
Time: 10 am - 12 pm
Ages: 8-12
Enrollment is capped at 12 students - students must attend both sessions.
Teacher: Paul Thie & James Rathmell

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

Sock Puppet Theater

Date: Monday & Tuesday, August 4-5, 2008
Time: 10 am - 12 pm
Ages: 6-9
Enrollment is capped at 12 students - students must attend both sessions.
Teacher: Ali Reid

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

Improv Comedy

Date: Wednesday & Thursday, August 13-14, 2008
Time: 1 pm - 3 pm
Ages: 14-18
Enrollment is capped at 12 students - students must attend both sessions.
Teacher: Chocolate Cake City

ATTENTION BUDDING JESTERS AND/OR CLASS CLOWNS. Want to write sketches? Make others laugh? Think on your feet? Think faster than your feet? Sign up for the Chocolate Cake Comedy Camp, where you'll learn the basics of improv comedy and sketch comedy in a fast-paced two-day workshop taught by Chocolate Cake City.

Chocolate Cake City is a comedy troupe based out of Emerson College best known for the mash-up trailer Brokeback to the Future and Taste Test, and they've generated attention from Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, MTV, and The New York Times. The Guardian finds them "intelligent, admirable, and very funny."

Uncovering the Extraordinary: A personal profile and portrait writing workshop

Date: Mondays and Tuesdays, August 4-5 and 11-12, 2008
Time: 1 pm - 3 pm
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students - students must attend all 4 sessions.
Teacher: Beba Knight

Download the flyer. Flyer by Ben Sisto

Uncovering the Extraordinary will be a four-session 2 hour workshop devoted to the art of literary portraits and personal profiles. Students (ages 11-14) will be introduced to a variety of writers who are great in the medium of the personal profile as well as develop the skills to research and write their own. Individual profiles celebrate the anonymous, help us to see what is shared about a personal experience, how it fits into society, and provide a human face for even the most complex of issues.

The object of this workshop is to introduce students to profile writing and develop their basic listening, interviewing, and writing skills as they search for an ordinary citizen within their community who makes for an extraordinary personal portrait. Their bus driver, their lunch lady, a relative or a quirky neighbor, here students will realize how an individual’s story stands out as interesting while still possessing something familiar that pulls the reader in and touches them.

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

Braving the Elements - Wrap-up & Publication

Monday, June 9, 6:30-7:30 p.m. is the last class--come and help put together the book of your writing, and invite your friends & relatives to sit in for a presentation of the book.

Lisa Gordon & Rebecca Wasley will also be giving a short lesson and having a discussion about how to move on from here with your writing, including different opportunities for publishing.

Note: This workshop is only open to students who participated in Braving the Elements I or II.

Monster Poetry

Date: Saturday, April 26, 2008
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Ages: 8-10
Enrollment is capped at 12 students
Teacher: Hannah Nolan-Spohn

Perfect poetry for a cryptozoological research center! This workshop focuses on bringing imagination to poetry by focusing on a subject all kids are familiar with: monsters! Show up to learn more about some zany creatures and create a poem of your own!

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

Word Photography II

Date: Friday, April 25, 2008
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 15 students
Teacher: Hope Kelly

Get in a good-weather mood! Learn techniques of descriptive writing, this time with a focus on classic, surprising, and personal images of spring & summer. (Participation in Word Photography I is not a prerequisite for this workshop.)

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

Gross Science Experiments II

Date: Thursday, April 24, 2008
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 15 students
Teacher: Daniel Johnson

The much-requested sequel to Gross Science Experiments & Other Strange Phenomena. Touch squishy specimens; smell pungent odors; hazard to guess the contents. (Participation in Gross Science Experiments I is not a prerequisite for this workshop.)

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

Short Story City

Dates: Thursday, April 24 & Friday, April 25, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Ages: 9-11
Enrollment is capped at 15 students
Teacher: Gus Lubin

Starting from a few details about a fictional city, students will collaborate to flesh out the details. Then, each student will write a short story featuring intersecting characters, places, and plot lines, to put in the final collection.

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

Elementary Aphorisms

Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Ages: 6-9
Enrollment is capped at 15 students
Teacher: Hannah Nolan-Spohn

You've heard "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," or maybe "Perro que ladra, no muerde." In this workshop, we'll be writing our own proverbs, witticisms & sayings, proving that you don't need to be old to say something wise. (This workshop will include both English & Spanish elements, but students need not be bilingual to participate.)

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

Collage Poetry

Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 15 students
Teacher: Ali Reid

Use found writing - from newspapers and magazines to store receipts and product labels - to create original poetry.

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

Onomatopoeia

Date: Monday, April 21, 2008
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Ages: 6-9
Enrollment is capped at 15 students
Teacher: Laura Messenger

We'll use well-known and invented sound-words along with drawings to tell stories, and students will take home their own original picture book.

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

Observation & Inspiration

Date: Monday, April 21, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Ages: 9-11
Enrollment is capped at 15 students
Teacher: Katie Sticca

Learn how to us your powers of observation to create fascinating fiction.

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

Braving the Elements II: A Continuation of the Traditional Writing Workshop

Dates: Mondays, April 28, May 5, 12 & 19
Time: 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students
Teachers: Lisa Gordon & Rebecca Wasley

Have you always wanted to write but never really given it a try? Or, do you love to write and want to take it to the next level? This beginners' writing workshop will discuss some of the major elements of writing fiction. If you don't already love to write, you will after this workshop! (Participation in Braving the Elements I is not a prerequisite for this workshop.)

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

You're the critic

Dates: Rescheduled for: Wednesdays, April 2 & 9, 2008
Time: 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students
Teacher: Meredith Goldstein & Alexandra Perloe

Salty. Sweet. Overcooked. Tangy. Heavenly. Doughy. Grainy. Bland. Can you think of other words to describe the food you eat each day? "You're the Critic" is a hands-on descriptive writing workshop that will have you tasting fine cuisine and coming up with words to describe your dining experience. Food will be provided.

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

Braving the Elements: An Introduction to the Traditional Writing Workshop

Dates: Mondays, March 10, 24, 31 & April 7, 2008 (there will be no session on Monday, March 17 due to the BPS Holiday)
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students
Teachers: Lisa Gordon & Rebecca Wasley

Have you always wanted to write but never really given it a try? Or, do you love to write and want to take it to the next level? This beginners' writing workshop will discuss some of the major elements of writing fiction. You'll learn about plot, characterization, dialogue, and how to make your sentences stand out on the page. If you don't already love to write, you will after this workshop!

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

A mono that won't make you sick

Dates: Monday & Tuesday, February 18 & 19, 2008 (two sessions)
Time: 12 - 1:30 pm
Ages: 11-14
Teacher: Katie Sticca
Enrollment is capped at 10 students.

Tired of staring at yourself in the mirror while you expound on your amazing ideas? Now someone else will look at you--and listen! Learn how to write a theatrical monologue in this groundbreaking two-session workshop.

Word photography

Date: Thursday, February 21, 2008 (one session)
Time: 12:30 - 2:30 pm
Ages: 11-14
Teacher: Hope Kelly
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.

This workshop is a great introduction to creative writing, focusing on using language to make a picture appear in the reader’s mind. We start with describing a person (character), move on to describing a place (setting), and finally, objects (things).

DIY Zines

Date: Friday, February 22 (one session)
Time: 12:30 - 2:30 pm
Ages: 9-11
Teacher: Christopher Budnick
Enrollment is capped at 10 students.

Students will make their own books and zines with just a printer, some scissors, and our trusty stapler. Through comics, photographs, and writing students will construct and publish their own Cryptic Exposé, chronicling and revealing the history of one of the world's many hidden creatures in this one-session workshop.

The most interesting person you know

Dates: Thursday & Friday, February 21 & 22, 2008 (two sessions)
Time: 9:30 - 11 am
Ages: 9-11
Teacher: Hope Kelly
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.

Students will write autobiographies by using photos and timelines to select scenes from their own lives and developing detailed literary snapshots of that point in time. The end product may take several different forms, from non-fiction to fiction to poetry, over the course of two sessions.

Gross science experiments & other strange phenomena

Date: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 (one session)
Time: 12:30 - 2:30 pm
Ages: 9-11
Teacher: Daniel Johnson
Enrollment is capped at 10 students.

Ever dissect a hairball? Ever stare into the sun until you saw spots? The workshop encourages far-out questions & promises freaky hands-on experiments! The faint-of-heart ought not register for this one-session workshop!

Poetry/Poesía

Date: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 (one session)
Time: 9:30 - 11:30 am
Ages: 6-9
Teacher: Joseph Diaz
Enrollment is capped at 10 students.

Students will read some of Pablo Neruda's "Odes to Common Things" then write their own poems in praise of everyday objects. We will work on blending English and Spanish (other languages welcome!) in our poems, focusing on the sounds of words. Students need not be bilingual to enjoy this one-session workshop.

"Dear Bigfoot..."

Date: Monday & Tuesday, February 18 & 19, 2008 (two sessions)
Time: 9:30 - 11 am
Ages: 6-9
Teacher: Ali Reid.
Enrollment is capped at 10 students.

This workshop is the perfect opportunity to see where science and stories overlap. Students will look at the factual and fictional sides of Bigfoot, and will learn to make their own handmade books in two sessions.

True Confessions: Turning Your Ordinary Life Into an Extraordinary Story

Dates: Mondays, February 25 & March 3
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students
Teacher: Katie Bayerl

Have you ever wondered what makes other people's stories so exciting to read? Have you doubted whether your own life could be turned into a captivating story? Well, doubt no more. You don't need to live a life of fame, mystery, or adventure to write stories with a "wow effect." In this story-writing series, you'll learn how to turn your everyday life into words that will cause laughs, tears—and maybe even a little nail biting. By the end of this two-session workshop, you will have several captivating, true-to-life stories. You may even have the beginnings of your own award-winning memoir or novel.

Enroll by emailing programs [at] 826boston.org or calling 617.442.5400.

Sock Puppet Theater

Dates: Saturdays, January 26 & February 2, 2008
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Ages: 6-9
Enrollment is capped at 12 students
Teacher: Ali Reid

Bring characters to life in this workshop, which will help students learn about character development, writing for the stage, and above all, how to sew that perfect button nose! Relatives and friends are invited to join us at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 2 to watch the theatrical creations of the workshop students. Students are asked to bring a sock to the first workshop and any other interesting materials they have around the house. All other needed decorations (buttons, yarn, felt, etc.) will be provided.

From Dream to Screen: An Introduction to Filmmaking

Dates: Mondays, January 28, February 4 & 11, 2008
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 8 students.
Teacher: Dan Bromfield

Have you ever dreamed of being a bigtime Hollywood director, or building a YouTube empire of viral video skits? This workshop will introduce you to the creative and fun process of film/television production, from writing, to shooting, to editing your own project! It will teach you how to craft your imaginative ideas for the screen, as well as the basic technical skills necessary for production. Each student will go home with a DVD of their work to show friends and family!

Creative Poetry for Beginners

Date: Saturday, January 12, 2008
Time: 9 am - 12 pm
Ages: 11-14
Enrollment is capped at 12 students.
Teacher: Jondelle deVeaux

In this workshop we will focus on poetry writing as a craft and as a way of artistic expression. No prior experience is necessary as we learn together through skill building exercises how to begin to explore ways of creating poetry and connecting words to flow and tell a story. At the end of the workshop, we will make a collection of our newly crafted poems and word pictures to share with families and friends.

Screenwriting Workshop

Don’t just be part of the audience. Write your own Movie!
Heres your ticket! Our first screenwriting workshop is next week!
Monday, December 3rd & 10th, 2007
6pm to 8pm
Ages 11-14
Don't miss your chance to start writing your own film!

Free College Essay Writing Workshop
Monday, November 19th and Tuesday, November 20th, 2007, 6:30 pm-8:00 pm
All High-School aged students are welcome.

826 Boston staff & volunteers want to help you create the essay that will get you into the college of your dreams. For this free workshop, we'll look at college essay samples, work one-on-one with you to draft the essay, and discuss what exactly college admission staff look for on applications.

Bam! Pow! Krash! Writing for Comics
Wednesday, November 7th & Wednesday, November 14th, 2007, 4:00-5:30 pm
Ages 8-12

Learn how to tell a story through drawing! Develop two unique characters and lead them on an adventure of your creation!

Animator Dave Schlafman and Creative Writer Mattie Bowden will be co-teaching this two-session workshop, which will culminate in a bound collection of original comics.

Home