Creative Writing Programs for Youth

Fostering Creative Writing Opportunities for High School Age Students 

The Nature of Words is launching new programs to foster creative writing opportunities for mainstream youth in traditional education settings and at-risk youth in alternative academic programs.

With an awareness of the critical need for more creative writing opportunities for high school and at-risk youth in the region, The Nature of Words is collaborating with regional schools, academic programs and organizational partners to introduce these enriching programs to Central Oregon. Studies show that the ability to articulate, to reflect on one’s experiences in life through writing, improve critical thinking skills, develop lifetime readers and raise the level of discussion in important ways among high school age youth.

Two Complementary Programs
Starting in November 2008, The Nature of Words will implement two complementary programs:

• one designed for traditional classroom settings
• another which works in settings serving “at-risk youth”

The curriculum will be developed by The Nature of Words staff, and both programs will offer a minimum of 10 sessions, addressing and comparing poetry, fiction and nonfiction through readings and writing exercises.

An author-in-residence will supply the instructional expertise for the workshops in the mainstream educational environment. Regional authors will work with the at-risk program. In addition, this curriculum will include in-school counseling resources to assist the students in processing the outcomes of their creative writing.

The schools and remedial programs being targeted for the new author-in-residence program are also served by Arts Central, which places visual artists in the regional schools. The Nature of Words will work with Atelier 6000, a printmaking studio for the public, in illustrating the Rising Star anthology, as well as work by students in the year-round creative writing programs.

Ellen Waterston, director of The Nature of Words, an author and writing instructor, has worked extensively with high school and at-risk youth and will play a key role in the design of the curriculum. The Nature of Words has met with Writers In The Schools, Oregon’s statewide coordination effort of these programs, and is adapting their experience to fit the needs of this region.