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Valuable Resources

There are many classes, workshops, and programs available for creative writing teachers. If you have any particular favorites, we'd like to know. For now here a just a few of our favorites.

Dates/Contests

Michael Kanin Playwriting Awards Program http://www.kcactf.org/NPP/NPPSumm.htm

March 24 - 28, Tennessee Williams Festival in New Orleans
www.tennesseewilliams.net

Princeton University Ten-Minute Play Contest
for the best ten-minute play written by a high school junior

Any student who is in the eleventh grade in the 2009-10 academic year is eligible for the Princeton University Ten-Minute Play Prize. Applicants may submit only one play. Submission must be postmarked by March 30, 2010 http://www.princeton.edu/arts/lewis_center/high-school-contests/ten-minute-play-contest/

Pegasus Play writing contest
www.pegasusplayers.org/education.php

Are you inspired by Maya Angelou, e.e. cummings or Dr. Seuss? Do you love writing haiku? Do verses just run through your head? Then Teen Ink's Monthly Poetry Contest is for you! There are no deadlines; entries are accepted throughout the year. Winning poems are published in Teen Ink magazine and online each month. www.teenink.com/Resources/ContestsR.html#SC1

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, in partnership with Target Stores and in cooperation with affiliate state centers for the book, invites readers in grades 4 through 12 to enter Letters About Literature, a national reading-writing contest. To enter, readers write a personal letter to an author, living or dead, from any genre-- fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic, explaining how that author's work changed the student's way of thinking about the world or themselves. There are three competition levels: Level I for children in grades 4 through 6; Level II for grades 7 and 8, and Level III, grades 9 - 12. Winners, announced in the spring of each year, receive cash awards at the national and state levels. Visit www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/letters/

Second Run is a literary reprint journal Submit up to ten poems, or three plays, essays, or short stories of any length. Include a one-paragraph provenance to let our readers know where the piece came from, where you were in life when you wrote it, where it was first published, etc. Submit all work to submissions@secondrun.org

Misc.

Chicago Dramatists, the playwrights' theatre, has devoted all of its resources and programming to its singular mission of developing new plays and nurturing playwrights. Programs & Resources Available to all playwrights. http://www.chicagodramatists.org/home/index.html

Look up One Act Play books on Google and you'll be overwhelmed.

Check out WBEZ's http://thestory.org.

Check out these personal narrative links... http://library.springbranchisd.com/sbisd_library/personal_narratives.htm

HBO: Brave New Voices
One part Def Poetry Jam and two-parts documentary, Brave New Voices is a doc-series that features the finest young spoken word artists in the country. www.hbo.com/bravenewvoices/

A good CD: "How to Read and Understand Poetry" by Professor Willard Spiegelman of S.M.U. (The Great Courses, The Teaching Company) www.teach12.com/ttcx/CourseDescLong2.aspx?cid=268

Teachers in Illinois now have greatly increased access to high quality professional development programming regarding the teaching of writing. The National Writing Project (NWP) serves teachers of writing at all grade levels, primary through university, and in all subjects. To learn more and find the Illinois site closest to you, go to: www.nwp.org

The Poetry Foundation has wonderful audio and podcasts - Poetry off the Shelf - which I would highly recommend. www.poetryfoundation.org/journal/audio.html

Poets & Writers Magazine (www.pw.org): If you're looking for grants and awards, or literary magazines and small presses that welcome both new and established writers, begin here.

"One ought, everyday at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if possible, speak a few reasonable words." (www.poetryfountain.com)

NCTE Annual Convention, "Once and Future Classics: Reading Between the Lines." November 19-24, 2009. (www.ncte.org/annual)

Iowa Summer Writing Festival & other programs for teachers & writers. (www.continuetolearn.uiowa.edu/iswfest/html/welcome/index.html)

Summer on Campus: College Experiences for High School Students is a great resource book which gives detailed information about programs at colleges throughout the United States which enable students to take college courses.

IATE is a professional organization for teachers of English/language arts. Composed of nearly 1,500 teachers throughout the state, IATE provides a working network for the exchange of teaching tips, current research, and professional development. IATE publishes the Illinois English Bulletin, a newsletter, and hosts a fall conference. Check out their Fall 2008 edition at: www.iateonline.org

Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest is a great way to teach poetry and help students with written and oral communication skills. Poetry Out Loud was designed so that teachers may easily implement this "poetry bee" contest in the classroom. Poetry Out Loud awards prizes to students and schools at the state and national levels. For an overview of the program, classroom tools, and model recitations visit: www.poetryoutloud.org

Taking a trip? Here is a good CD collection. CLASSIC HUNDRED POEMS: All Time Favorites, edited by William Harmon (ISBN: 1598875787). Just enough explanation and analysis to make this highly enjoyable.

You can learn more about Young Chicago Authors by visiting the Web site at youngchicagoauthors.org.

A good CD: "How to Read and Understand Poetry" by Professor Willard Spiegelman of S.M.U. (The Great Courses, The Teaching Company)

We will hold off on recommending particular MFA programs, but if you don't know it already, there are many courses you can take on line. The courses offered by the University of Iowa are especially good as are the summer workshops offered on campus.

A wonderful resource for creative writing teachers, as you probably know, is TEACHERS & WRITERS COLLABORATIVE. Check out www.twc.org/publications.

Sandi Wisenberg's web site (http://slwisenberg.blogspot.com): Good resources for writers and "How To Books."

Chicago Poetry (http://chicagopoetry.com): Keep up-to-date with local Chicago poetry happenings.

Chicago Poetry Center (www.poetrycenter.org): Find out about monthly poetry events and readings.

Neighborhood Writing Alliance (www.jot.org): A local not-for-profit offering adults in low-income neighborhoods the chance to write, publish and perform works about their lives.

Facets Multi Media, Inc. Reel Poetry Program (www.facets.org/asticat?function=web&catname=facets&web=kids&path=): Learn about Facets year-round poetry appreciation program and other youth writing programs.

Chicago Poetry Foundation (www.poetryfoundation.org): A great site -- check out their "Find a Poem/Discover a Poem" section.

Humorous Children's Poetry (http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/poehumor.htm#c): LOL -- a site for librarians, teachers, parents and students.

Powell's Books (www.powells.com/psection/Poetry.html): Great bookstore.

NarrativeMagazine.info (www.narrativemagazine.info): Carol Edgarian and Tom Jenk's on-line magazine, devoted to fiction, non-fiction and the art of story telling.

NarrativeMagazine.com (www.narrativemagazine.com): Mission is to bring great literature into the digital age, and to provide it for free. Stories, poetry, essays, novel excerpts, articles, and interviews are available -- without subscription -- to readers everywhere.

http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/YA/teen_writing.html

www.davidbarrkirtley.com/teenwriter/Contests.html

http://www.civicandarts.org/htmls/pdf/creative.writing_08.pdf

http://www.davidbarrkirtley.com/teenwriter/TeenResources.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?Writing-Contests-for-Teens--
Something-to-Do-With-a-Boring-Summer!&id=237227

http://www.grandmajam.com/luv2kids.htm#writers

http://www.piercecountylibrary.org/kids-teens/teens/teen-writing-contest/Default.htm

http://www.poetryamerica.com/teen-poetry-contest.asp

www.dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/Arts/Creative_Writing/

www.proofpositive.com/contests/writecontests.htm

www.pw.org/content/grants_amp_awards_your_guide_writing_contests

http://www.uic.edu/depts/oaa/ssp/essay.htm

www.youngvoicesfoundation.org/index.html?gclid=CP-ug4KH3pUCFRTbQAodt1N9Xg

Would you like information about:

An on-line course for eager sixth-graders?

Ways to use Friday Night Lights and Veronica Mars in the classroom?

Creative alternatives to senior year?

Discussing creative approaches to the ACT or SAT essay?

Send us an e-mail. We can help you out.

Interested in Historical fiction? Contact us. We have material and ideas for writing about many Chicago figures and events. The material invites students to remember, discover, decide, and create.