Story Publishing Camp: Myths & Other Genres

For Grades 5-8

Story Publishing Camp gives young writers the opportunity to explore their writing and storytelling skills through the process of creating an original book. Each day of camp will offer daily lessons on the main elements of fiction, including writing compelling narratives and developing characters; group discussion time; and plenty of creative writing time. Working with the instructor and ACW’s program coordinator, each participant will write, illustrate, and produce their own short book.

Daily schedule

Topics

• Monday: Getting started and getting ideas; a basic intro to genres (prose, poetry, comics); types of writing (fiction, nonfiction, memoir; mythology. Tuesday: Finding your voice (word choice, point of view)
• Wednesday: Plot comes from character (the driving force in fiction)
• Thursday: Poetry comes from noticing (the power of observation)
• Friday: Open questions (anything the students have questions about that we haven’t addressed so far)
• Saturday: Optional opportunity to sell your book at the ADK Family Book Festival. 

Activities

• Topic of the day: I’ll briefly introduce the day’s general writing topic and lead a discussion.
• Clinic: Time for one-on-one feedback from the instructor for students who want it
• Writing time!
• The group chat: each day before we leave we’ll check in as a group to give and receive constructive criticism and share our progress. 

Goals

• Each student will write and illustrate a book that can be reprinted or photocopied and sold 
• Each day will mark progress toward this overarching goal. 
• Students will learn about a different craft topic each day.
• Students will learn the art and value of giving and receiving helpful feedback.

Supplies 

• 8.5 x 11 paper 
• pens 
• pencils
• colored pencils
• markers 
• magazines & other collage materials 
• glue sticks
• staples & long stapler