by Karen Krossing | Sep 10, 2013 | Mentoring, Presentation News
Teen writers who are looking for hands-on writing workshops should check out the Toronto Public Library’s Young Voices 2013 Writers Conference. This free one-day event is on October 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. How lucky are we to have the fabulous Toronto Public Library!
You can meet published authors and artists, improve your craft, get your work published in the Instant Anthology blog and magazine, and meet other Toronto teen writers.
Workshops include:
Plus you can hear Tavi Gevinson – teen editor and founder of ROOKIEMAG.com.
Registration is now open, and if you register before October 11, you can enter to win a Kobo e-reader on the day of the conference!
For full details and to register, click here. Hope to see you there!
by Karen Krossing | Jun 5, 2013 | Mentoring, Presentation News
I often get emails from teens and parents asking about upcoming writing workshops. This summer, Toronto teen writers can find inspiration and hone their craft with some cool local writers.
Open to teen writers ages 12 to 19. Submission to the Toronto Public Library’s 2014 Young Voices Magazine of teen writing and art is encouraged!
Who: Karen Krossing (me)
When: Thursday, July 11, 2:00 to 4:00 pm
Where: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street
Network with a published author and with other teen writers; discover teen-friendly publishing opps. Do some writing, some reading, and have a bunch of fun. An informative and friendly workshop for teen creators.
To register, contact Ken Sparling at ksparling@torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Who: Karen Krossing (me)
When: Monday, July 22, 4:00 to 6:00 pm
Where: Agincourt Branch, Toronto Public Library, 155 Bonis Avenue
How can real life inspire story ideas? Explore how moments such as an early memory as a child, a conversation overheard on the bus or your family history can spark fictional or memoir writing. With fresh and inspiring story-starters, you’ll create captivating scenes, learn creative writing techniques and get constructive feedback on your writing.
To register, contact Margaret Godden at mgodden@torontopubliclibrary.ca.
Use Your Words: Summer Workshops for Emerging Writers
For young writers aged 16 to 30.
Who: Dalton Higgins (Vibe, The Source)
When: Saturday, July 13, 2:00 to 4:30 pm
Where: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street
Dalton inhabits the worlds of digital culture, hip hop and popular culture – and combines them in a potent mix. One of Canada’s foremost experts on hip hop.
Who: Emily Pohl-Weary (Kiss Machine, Girls Who Bite Back)
When: Saturday July 20, 2:00 to 4:30 pm
Where: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street
Executive Director of the innovative “open source” learning centre the Academy of the (Im)possible, Emily’s novel Not Your Ordinary Wolf Girl will be published this fall by Penguin.
Who: Sheila Heti (How Should a Person Be?, The Chairs are Where the People Go)
When: Saturday, July 27, 2:00 to 4:30 pm
Where: Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street
Sheila’s book How Should a Person Be? was chosen by The New York Times as one of the 100 Notable Books of 2012. Contemporary culture is her beat.
Spaces are limited. To register, email useyourwords@hotmail.ca.
by Karen Krossing | Mar 25, 2013 | Mentoring
Calling all teen writers and artists in Toronto! The Toronto Public Library’s Young Voices magazine of teen writing and art is looking for art, photographs, stories, poems, rants, reviews and other writing by teens 12 to 19 years old. Deadline is April 6, 2013. For guidelines and how to submit, click here. For last year’s magazine, click here.
by Karen Krossing | Dec 14, 2012 | Mentoring, On Writing
CBC Canada Writes and CANSCAIP – The Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers – have joined forces to celebrate two weeks of “Seusstivus” with Canadian children’s authors. Go to the CBC Canada Writes website for:
- writing tips from children’s authors Robert Heidbreder, Helaine Becker, Lena Coakley, Marty Chan, Kyo Maclear, Jack Wang, Jonathan Goldstein, Carol-Ann Hoyte, Lisa Dalrymple, Richard Thake, Sara O’Leary and Frieda Wishinsky.
- new Seussian words coined by children’s authors.
- a Seusstivus Twitter Challenge on Tuesday, December 18. You can check out the winning entry here.
There’s also a Q&A with me in my role as CANSCAIP President included here. Happy Seusstivus!
by Karen Krossing | Oct 10, 2012 | Mentoring, Presentation News
Exciting news! Young Voices 2012 – the Toronto Public Library‘s annual magazine of teen writing and art is now available at your local Toronto library branch. As an editor of this magazine for six years, I’m particularly proud of the diverse talents of Toronto’s teens showcased within these pages.
Selecting contributors for the Young Voices magazine is great fun and hard work. I love digging into the pile of writing I receive, exploring the insights that these teens have put to paper. And I love hashing out who the finalists will be with the members of the Editorial Youth Advisory Group. Most of all, I love congratulating the contributors to the magazine at the Young Voices launch party – held this year at the North York Central Library on Thursday, October 11 at 7:00 p.m.
Thanks to my group of enthusiastic editors for an evening of friendly arguments, loud disagreements and finally mutual understanding as we came to terms over which pieces to select for the magazine. Thanks to the staff at the Toronto Public Library who give Toronto teens this fantastic opportunity.
I hope that acceptance in Young Voices makes the contributors stand a little taller and feel more confident about their unique voices and the insights they have to offer.
Don’t forget – it’s never too early to think about next year’s magazine! Check out the submission guidelines and deadline here.
by Karen Krossing | Sep 12, 2012 | Mentoring
I keep a list of writing contests and places to submit on my website, which I update periodically. With the start of school, it’s a great time for young authors to explore where they can submit their writing – and artwork – this year.
If you’re an aspiring teen writer, you can check out the list here. I also have tips for young writers here. Good luck!
