Essay Published

My essay, “Teaching Josh”, is published in a new book by Adams Media entitled, My First Year in the Classroom: 50 Stories that Celebrate the Good, The Bad, and the Most Unforgettable Moments. “

“Teaching Josh” is a personal essay about working with a seventh grade student, my first year of teaching, who had ADD. His mother did not want him medicated, and the essay is about what he taught me. I often feel that this student was the beginnings of my path in working with and writing about at-risk youth.

The book has many inspiring essays and is perfect for a first year teacher or someone going back to school!

Two New School and Library Visit Workshops

It’s always fun to be able to add new workshops, and as I grow and change as a writer–so do my workshops. I’ve added two new workshops this year for school/library workshops You can see all of my workshops at my website. Please contact me if you have questions on pricing or availability!

Writing From Life: Flash Fiction
Flash fiction. It’s short. It’s fast, and it’s fun. In this workshop, Mindy will lead us through a series of exercises which “mine our memories” for ideas. Then, we’ll take those rich ideas and turn them into pieces of flash fiction. Recommended for grades 8th through high school and/or adult workshops.

Collage Poetry
Explore the world of poetry through this fun, hands-on poetry workshop. We’ll look at some artistic collages and read poetry written by young people found in books such as Paint Me Like I Am and Tell the World. Then, we’ll write our own poems inspired by quick and easy collages that we create. This workshop works best with small groups in libraries or after school/community based clubs. It would also work well in creative residency week-long settings.

Big Write Contest for Young Authors–Grades 4-8

THE 2009 BIG WRITE CONTEST FOR YOUNG AUTHORS
http://www.bigread.net/big_write.htm

—

Write an original story that begins with the sentence: “It
sounded like someone was scratching at the window.” The story
may be scary, adventurous, humorous, or just plain fun.

Open to students in grades 4 through 8 in Fall of 2009 (or
home schoolers working at equivalent grade between ages 9 &
14). There will be six winners–three in each of the two grade
level categories for (1) Grades 4 & 5, and (2) Grades 6-8.
Winners will receive cash prizes of $100 for 1st place, $50
for 2nd place, and $25 for 3rd place, an Award Certificate,
and an invitation to read their winning entries before a live
audience at The Big Read festival on Saturday, October 10,
2009.

The winning stories will also be published on The Big
Read website at: www.bigread.net and all students that submit
qualified entries will receive a special commemorative bookmark
from The Big Read.

Deadline: September 4, 2009. Don’t forget
your entry form.

Judging will be based on originality, cohesiveness, spelling,
punctuation, and grammar. Each entry may not contain less than
250 words or more than 500 words.

Sponsored by the St. Louis
Writer’s Guild.

Summer Reading for Juvenile Detention Workshops

One of the things I do in the hot days of summer–or if you’re in the Pacific Northwest–the very pleasant days of summer–is read.

I am often reading for new books to include with the juvenile detention poetry workshop which I facilitate, once-a-week during the school year at Denney Juvenile Justice Center.

I keep an on-going list of books for the kids, and when we obtain grant money, I purchase the books for the library, and use them in workshops.

In June, we got a BECU School Grant, which allowed me to run a special week long workshop using Ellen Hopkin’s YA novels-in-verse, Crank and Glass, along with novels in verse by Sonya Sones. The influence of reading the novels in verse added depth to the youth’s poetry writing. By the end of the week, I was already looking for more ways to fund future workshops that incorporate more young adult books or memoirs.

Some of the books I am reading and going to recommend are:

Always Running: A Memoir about Gang Days in LA by Luis J. Rodriguez.

Hearts and Hands: Creating Community in Violent Times by Luis J. Rodriguez–A great book about the importance of using the arts (all arts) with kids in prison, and at-risk.

Burro Genius by Victor Villasenor (Memoir)-The first in his memoir series which details his early school years.

Crazy Loco Love by Victor Villasenor (Memoir)–The second in his memoir series which details his life as a teen and into his early twenties.

Rain of Gold by Victor Villasenor

Walking Stars: Stories of Magic and Power by Victor Villasenor

Inventor’s Digest Essay Contest Ages 12-17

INVENTOR’S DIGEST ESSAY CONTEST
http://www.inventorsdigest.com/
—
Inventors Digest magazine is hosting a national youth essay
contest for National Inventors Month in August. Your assignment:
What will the world look like in 2059?

In 1959, the internal pacemaker, the microchip, the Barbie
doll and pantyhose were invented. Each was significant in
its own right. But that was so 50 years ago. Show us in 500
words or less what technology, tool or product will shape
our lives in 2059 and why. The Grand Prize includes:

-A laptop computer
-Your essay published in Inventors Digest
-A year’s subscription to the magazine
-Possible appearance on the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Everyday Edisons
-A killer T-shirt
-Brain-teaser games

Eligibility: All middle school and high school students
ages 12-17 in the United States. Grand prizes and two runners
up will be awarded for best middle school and high school
entries.

Download official entry and all permission forms online.
All essays must be original work of the student. Only 1 (ONE)
entry per student. Submit essays and forms to Inventors
Digest, info@inventorsdigest.com with Essay Contest in the
subject line or mail to Inventors Digest, Essay Contest,
P.O. Box 36761 Charlotte, N.C., 28236 or fax to 704.333.5115.
Include your birth date, school, address and phone number.
Submit essays Aug. 1-31, 2009.