The Connecticut Writing Project at Fairfield University hosts conference for secondary school writers

The Connecticut Writing Project at Fairfield University hosts conference for secondary school writers

Student writers and their teachers are invited to gather for a day of writing and sharing pieces in all genres and styles at the "Conference for Secondary School Writers (6-12) and their Teachers." The conference, organized by the Connecticut Writing Project at Fairfield University, will take place from 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 17, at the Charles F. Dolan School of Business at Fairfield University.

The conference will include a keynote speech, workshops, lunch, and an open microphone. Professional storyteller, chaplain, and psychotherapist, Lot Therrio, will be the keynote speaker. As the president of the Connecticut Storytelling Center, he believes in the power of stories. Workshop topics for students will include fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, memoir, drama, short story and screenwriting. Teachers attending will have a faculty session.

"The Young Writers' Conference is one of the highlights of the year for the Connecticut Writing Project - Fairfield. It provides secondary school youngsters the chance to come together and to talk with adult writers and, this year, with a storyteller," explained Faye Gage, director of the Connecticut Writing Project. "Writing can be a lonely business, especially for youngsters whose peers are not committed to using writing to define their personal and academic lives."

The conference is part of a larger ongoing project to cultivate young writers. The centerpiece of this effort is the Young Writers Institute held yearly for two weeks in July. The deadline for conference registration is Friday, March 5. The fee is $30 per participant. Certificates of attendance for CEU's and limited scholarships are available. For more information contact Chris Lawton at (203) 254-4000, ext.3124 or cwp@mail.fairfield.edu .

Posted On: 02-27-2004 10:02 AM

Volume: 36 Number: 203