Teen Writing Workshop

We are absolutely thrilled to be offering our first ever Teen Writer'sWorkshop!

This will be an 8 week workshop that will meet every Monday (except for Spring Break) in which teens will learn how to improve their writing through discussion and practice.  They will have the opportunity to work with published, professional authors, who will provide additional feedback and tips for individual students.  Local teacher Charles Sanderson will be facilitating this intensive but very valuable workshop.  Upon completion, students will have a portfolio of work, including publication-worthy samples, and they will receive a certificate of completion.

Participating students must be ages 14-18 and committed to participating. Registration is online, and participation is limited.  The entire course is $150, which can be made at the time of registration with a credit card.  The reading selections for the course will include a mix of young adult and adult titles, and parents should be advised that material may be inappropriate for some students.

Below is a selection of Frequently Asked Questions. If there's still something you'd like to know about the course, please don't hesitate to contact the store owner, Lori Cardiff, at the store by phone at 503-397-4917 or email at lori at sthelensbookshop dot com.

When you're ready, follow this link to register: 

FrequentlyAsked Questions:

How do I register?  Can I register in the store?

The easiest way is to follow this link to register.  You can either pay online when you register, or you can select "check" as your payment type and then pay in the store. Here is the information that is required.

Your name, email, address, phone number, age:

Your parent's name, email and a phone number (home, work or cell):

Why do you want to participate in this workshop? What do you hope to accomplish?

Do you have previous writing experience? If so, please describe it.

Where do you attend school, and who is your English teacher?

How do I know if I'm registered?

You will receive a confirmation email.  If you have paid for your registration and provided your information but have not received an email, please call the store and ask to speak to Erin.  

Are there any prerequisites? What are the requirements?

The chief requirements are an interest in writing, a dedication to the course, the maturity to approach the readings, and the willingness to contribute to the course. The only other restriction is age; you must be between 14 and 18. There is no prerequisite for this course, and previous writing or publishing experience may be helpful but is certainly not required.

How much does the course cost? Are there any other costs besides the registration?

The registration is $150, which will include excerpts from the chosen books for the readings.  Full volumes will be available for purchase by students at a discount, but it's optional.

How much homework is there? What kind of time commitment does it require?

The sessions are once every week for eight weeks, meeting on Mondays, 7-8:30 pm at the St. Helens Bookshop, with a break for Spring Break. Participants will be expected to work on a manuscript of approximately 1500 words (about 6 pages) over the course of the workshop, but this is a cumulative work. There will be weekly reading assignments and weekly writing assignments, but the course has been designed so that these assignments can achieve the maximum benefit without being excessive or conflicting with your school work and other activities.

Will I get school credit for this course?

At this time, this course is not offered for credit, however participants will receive a certificate of completion and a detailed syllabus and course description to document their work. It will be appropriate to put on a resume or application.

Who are the authors?

A list of the authors participating and the dates of their appearances will be given to course participants at the first session.

What does it mean that some readings may be inappropriate? What are the readings?

The readings were chosen for their literary merit.  They illustrate certain points of the course, and as such have been taken from both young adult and adult sources. The content is not excessively adult, but it may not be suitable for students who do not possess a high level of maturity. At this time, it is unfortunately not possible to list the readings.

Do I need parental permission to participate? 

Yes, a parental consent form will be emailed to all participants prior to the start of the course to be brought to the first session.