First-time young writers workshop in Vaughn deemed a success

Colleen Slater

Special to the Gateway

Fifteen young writers and several adults enjoyed a day of active writing sessions at a Young Writers Workshop held earlier this month at the Key Peninsula Civic Center in Vaughn.

Most of the participants gathered Friday evening for a get-acquainted time with the presenters and to share pizza.

Under the auspices of local writing group Watermark Writers, the event drew attendees from the Key Peninsula, Belfair, Puyallup and Aberdeen. Workshops in fiction writing, poetry and song writing involved hands-on participation.

Randall Platt, a local author of 11 novels for young adults, led the fiction workshop and included exercises in writing from prompt cards she provided. Platt also led a group brainstorming session on stereotypes.

One student said imagination is what she liked about the fiction class. It ran rampant in that group of teens as they wrote and shared their stories.

Greg Greenway, a performer who has recorded seven albums, discussed and demonstrated some techniques for song writing, including a brief Zen session. The culmination of their time was a group-written song that was performed for the rest of the participants at the end of the workshop.

Paul Nelson and David Rizzi, both published Northwest poets, led the poetry workshop. They read examples from various poets and did an exercise in group writing of opposites, among other methods of teaching.

The young people have a week to send in final copies of their work, up to 1,000 words, to be published in an anthology of the workshop. They’ll each receive a copy with an option to purchase more.

For some, it will be their first publication.

“Everyone had a good time,” Watermark Writers director Jerry Libstaff said.

The event was the first of its kind on the Key Peninsula. Libstaff plans to hold another next year, perhaps with a slightly different format, but with the same topics, plus journalism.

“Working with accomplished authors and songwriters is an inspiration, not only for the Young Writers but for us as well,” Libstaff said. “But the true thrill is seeing and hearing what these teens have accomplished during the conference. To feel their motivation, hear the fantastic work they’ve created, that’s the driving force behind the Young Writers’ program.”

Colleen Slater can be reached at cas4936@centurytel.net.