WordsWorth

WordsWorth -The Nature of Words Wrap-Up

2011-07-26T10:10:00.001-06:00

Summer is half-over, but instead of acknowledging leaves turning colour (already!), I turn my mind back and reflect over the two weeks I got to spend at WordsWorth. The laughter. The inspiration. (The sleep deprivation).

We all have wicked memories to linger on during those frost-bitten nights that lay not too far ahead of us.

Here are my personal top seven from each week at camp.

Week One

Old-Timey fun on the very first night. Who knew how many good times were still to be had with egg-tosses and musical chairs?
FLASH WRITING FLOW – Soundscape 2011. Do I need to explain why?
Eavesdropping on a call to Alexis (Party like a Journalist) from her publisher!
The Spotlight Café. Highlights include the Somewhere Over the Rainbow flute/dance combo and hearing Laura read her Martyn Godfrey Award runner-up story, Xanthophobia.
The Pity-Dates improvising a smash hit about shanking princesses.
The food. In particular, Matt’s artisan bread. I mean, really? Artisan bread?
If Christian Bale got an F on his report card, he’d be Christian Fail.

Week Two

First night’s campfire around a dozen tealights, instruments in hand.
Setting off the fire alarm during the dance because it just got too hot in there.
I might be biased on this one, but shooting tons of 5-Second(ish) videos. “That is not BODY PERCUSSION!!”
Instructor/Muse talent night: Andrew learning to do the worm. Worm ensued.
Spotlight Café. Always a favourite. Standing ovations went to Jessie for her piano composition and to Conar for his spoken word piece ("We are broke, but not broken.")
Hanging out on the river’s edge in twilight on the last night.
Any song written in Brendan McLeod’s songwriting class. The good, the bad, the amazing. Those hooks will be in my head for ages. I can’t wait for the CD release. Does anyone know how to make ring tones?

There you have it, my top sevens. What were yours?

Erin(ne)

Congratulations 2011 MGA Winners

2011-06-02T09:15:00.000-06:00

This year's jury had some tough decisions to make as they read through thousands of humourous - and downright clever - words to determine the winners of the 2011 Martyn Godfrey Young Writers Award.

Students in Alberta junior high schools were challenged to write a short, humourous story that included the colour canola yellow. We saw all kinds of yellow! From hair dye to monkeys, and everything inbetween. We learned about Xanthophobia, the fear of the colour yellow, and laughed out loud over "first date fiascos."

But in the end, we could only choose two...well, three, actually.

Congratulations to Caileigh Reid of Grande Prairie, AB for her story One Bad Hair Day, and to Alena Leonova of Calgary, AB for her story Not My Happy Ending. Caileigh and Alena will both receive a copy of the book Fields of Home, an author visit to their schools during the annual Taleblazers Festival and admission to WordsWorth, the camp for youth who believe in the power of words.

But wait! There's more. Thanks to the generous support of the Alberta Canola Producers' Commission, we are able to offer a prize for this year's runner up as well. Congratulations to Laura E. Stacey of Bowden, AB for her story Xanthophobia. Laura will be joining Alena and Leonova at summer WordsWorth.

Anxious to read their stories? Keep an eye on this blog and the Fields of Home blog, where we'll publish the winning entries over the next couple of days.

Thanks to everyone who entered this year's competion and again, congratulations to the winners.

PS - Didn't win but still want to go to camp? It's not too late to register. Head here to learn all the details and download your registration form. Hurry though - you don't want to miss out. WordsWorth is definitely a camp worth writing home about!

Postal strike? Don't sweat it

2011-06-01T08:34:00.000-06:00

Haven't registered for WordsWorth yet?

Don't let the impending postal strike put a kink in your summer plans. We understand you've got a lot to think about - cramming for those end of school exams, choosing the right grad dress... The last thing you need to worry about is whether your WordsWorth registration will make it to us in time.

It will.

If your registration form is ready to go, pop it in the mail today and e-mail WordsWorth coordinator Lisa Murphy-Lamb to let her know. That way if it IS lost in the mail, you're accounted for.

If you haven't (why not?!), here's the steps you can take:

1. Download the registration form here. (And check out that awesome poster art while you're at it...)
2. Fill in the form.
3. E-mail the completed form to Lisa or the Young Alberta Book Society (YABS) office or fax it to (780) 422-8236. *Note: The fax machine is a bit unreliable as of late. Please call the office at (780) 422-8232 first so we know to watch for it.
4. Wait until after the postal strike and mail your cheque, or bring your fees to camp. We'll finish processing your registration on site.

Questions? Don't hesitate to contact Lisa at (403) 474-7353 or the YABS office at (780) 422-8232.

New poster, new forms, new instructor, oh my!

2011-05-06T11:27:00.001-06:00

Cool poster, huh?

This year's WordsWorth design is brought to YOU by Doug Neilsen, WordsWorth 2010 supervisor extraordinaire and second-in-command to coordinator Lisa Murphy-Lamb this year.

Look for this purple masterpiece everywhere!

So...have you registered for camp? If not, you can check out the Young Alberta Book Society website and download the NEW registration forms. Exciting, right?

We're thrilled to announce that Lee Kvern joins this year's WordsWorth instructor roster as your Blue Pencil mentor for week one - July 3-8, 2011.

Here's the scoop on Lee (prepare to be impressed):

LEE KVERN is the award-winning author of short stories and novels. Her second novel The Matter of Sylvie is nominated for the 2011 Alberta Book Awards. First novel Afterall was nominated for the 2006 Alberta Book Awards. Her short stories are well celebrated: White was the winner of the 2007 CBC Literary Awards, and I May Have Known You was nominated for the 2010 Alberta Literary Awards. Detachment was a finalist in the Malahat Open Season Award 2010. Her work has been produced for CBC Radio, published in Event, Descant, enRoute and on Joyland.ca, New York.

But wait...there's more! If you're registered for week one, you can look forward to an entertaining evening with The Pity Dates.

Announcing...summer WordsWorth instructor roster (week 1)

2011-03-30T08:56:00.002-06:00

Nightly campfires are just part of the action at WordsWorth

If you're sitting on the fence about whether to attend this year's summer WordsWorth, we bet the 2011 line-up will sway you!

Check out the amazing talent coordinator Lisa Murphy-Lamb and her team of creative muses have assembled for July 3-8 (week one), the camp for young writers ages 11-14.

P.S. The senior camp (ages 15-19) is just as exciting! Missed the post on who's going? Check it out here.

ALEXIS KIENLEN knew she wanted to be a writer when she was just eight. To nurture this dream, she began attending writing workshops at a young age - and is now proud to say that she makes her living as a writer. Alexis' work has been featured in newspapers and magazines across Canada, and she's published two books of poetry, “She Dreams in Red” (2007) and “Thirteen” (coming September 2011.) Alexis has an Honours degree in International Studies from the University of Saskatchewan and a Graduate Diploma in Journalism from Concordia University. She currently works as an agricultural reporter for Alberta Farmer which allows her to do cool things like shear sheep and visit reindeer farms. From 2008-2010 Alexis led the AWG Edmonton teen writing group.

"Party like a journalist"- The world of non-fiction writing and reporting
This session is designed to teach help you explore the world of journalism and non-fiction writing. You’ll learn how stories based on real-life facts are put together and the skills to help you write for newspapers or magazines. Fun exercises will teach you how to interview people, and then how to write a news story, a profile and a review of a book, CD, movie or video game. You'll leave this session with the tools that can help you write for your school newspaper, start your own blog or begin your career as a journalist.

BRENDAN McLEOD is an author, musician, and performer based out of Vancouver. His first novel, The Convictions of Leonard McKinley, was nominated for the Re: Lit Award for Fiction. His first play, The Big Oops, toured Western Canada last summer. He is a founder member of the music group, The Fugitives, which was nominated for a 2008 Canadian Folk Music Award. He recently completed and toured a full-length monologue, and is a former Vancouver and Canadian SLAM poetry champion.

Writing for Performance
In this class, you'll learn different ways of engaging with literature through performance. You'll cover songwriting, SLAM poetry, stand-up comedy, monologues - just the general act of saying our words out loud. This class is for both the extroverts and the introverts. It isn't acting class. It's a class about performing your own words in a way that is true to you and what you've written.

DAVID WILSON is a singer, conductor, voice teacher, yoga instructor, and breath therapist. Since moving to Edmonton he has served as Music Director for Vocal Alchemy, the Edmonton Recorder Orchestra, My Fair Lady, Dream King, Mikado, and most recently, RENT. In addition to singing with Edmonton Opera and teaching voice in both Calgary and Edmonton, David is the founder of the Body, Breath, & Voice Integrative Training Technique. The 2010/2011 season sees him working with the Edmonton Musical Theatre Adult Training Program, as well as performing as “Cinderella’s Prince” and “The Wolf” in Elope’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s "Into the Woods." He is currently working on his first book, Yoga for Singers.

FlashWritingFlow
Breath, Move, Sing, Play, WRITE! You'll utilize breathwork, metaphorical movement, chanting, vocalplay and anything you can get our hands on to increase your creative flow - then you'll write; sans editing, censure or judgement. You'll then incorporate your writing and your voice in an epic final performance: SOUNDSCAPE 2011! Oh yeah... bring your instruments!

FAYE REINEBERG HOLT joined the blogosphere with the recent launch of "Can't Quit Learning" but books remain treasures to her. She's authored 11 novels, one poetry chapbook and (co-authored) a travel guide. As well, she's edited books and published articles, interviews and short stories. As former writer-in-residence and workshop instructor, Faye believes enjoying the process of writing is a great first step to finding industry success.

Great Words, Great Photos
Photojournals can explore ourselves and others, our setting and place in time. Discover the creativity and rewards of combining writing with photos to create your own unique journal--a wonderful record of your experiences at Wordsworth. As well, you'll create a Powerpoint class project showcasing your words and photos. Please bring your digital camera. We'll provide journals and a one-shot film camera for anyone without a digital. You'll contribute thoughts, words, enthusiasm, as well as your unique talent for “seeing.” We'll contribute ideas, guidance and an inspirational setting for writers and photo enthusiasts alike.

JACQUELINE GUEST is the author of fifteen novels that rock. Her fast-paced books keep readers on the edge of their seats with topics ranging from speedy motorcycles to deadly video-games. Her interactive presentations have students laughing and learning. Jacqueline knows there is magic waiting in each of us!

Past, Present and Future Writing!
Ever wonder if time travel is really possible? Discover how to make your stories warp to a higher dimension as you learn the secrets to Past, Present and Future Writing. Can you alter the past? Is the future a page waiting to be written? What will an editor look for when they read your manuscript? How can you avoid common writing errors in the present that will detonate your chances far into the future? All these questions and more will be answered in this progressive course that will test your Past, Present and Future Writing. WARNING: You will construct an Actual Time Capsule…

MARGARET MACPHERSON is an author and expressive arts practitioner. She'll facilitate this low skills/high sensitivity workshop that will help writers deepen their understanding of the inner artistic life.

(Ful)filling the (W)hole: A Course in Creative Cross Training
Create a piece of writing, mull it over, then let loose with a paintbrush and see what comes up. Construct a plot and carve it into clay, craft words into the third dimension, generate a sound tapestry from another author’s poem painting: it’s all part of a unique program designed to embrace and affirm the writer in different artistic mediums.

NATASHA DEEN only wanted to be one thing when she was little: a superhero. But there came a day when her dreams were broken, and that was the day she realized that being a klutz was not, in fact, a super power, and her super weakness for anything bright and shiny meant a magpie with self-control could easily defeat her in a battle of wills. She turned to writing as a way to sharpen her mental super-hero skills and bide her time as she practiced ninja kicks and swordplay. She didn't get to orbit the earth in a space station (and thank God, because she gets sick on the merry go round), but she does get to say things like: “Stand aside! This is a job for Writing Girl!!”

Book Hypnosis
A novel is more than the sum of its parts. It’s more than action, character, and description—it’s how those factors intertwine to create an emotional and (at times) transcended experience for the reader. Story is mental telepathy (Stephen King), the Fictive Dream (James N. Frey). It’s truth, as the author (or more specifically, the author’s characters) see it.

DR. OWEN PERCY is a literary critic, writer, and book reviewer whose work has appeared in national and international publications like Canadian Literature, ARIEL, GEIST, and The British Journal of Canadian Studies. He is perhaps best known for his mad fire-making skills and uncanny resemblance to Justin Bieber - but ouside of WordsWorth he teaches in the Department of English at the University of Calgary and St. Mary's University College.

Writing Poetry Better/Writing Better Poetry
This session is designed to broaden your understanding, abilities, and resources when it comes to expressing yourself in poetic form. Over the course of the week we'll discuss and experiment with several different kinds of poems and a variety of diverse approaches to writing and thinking about poetry in general; we’ll pay particular attention to the processes of crafting, editing, and thinking about our own work, and respectfully critiquing and contributing to the work of our fellow poets. We'll work on our poems in various stages from the capturing of that first spark of inspiration or idea, through early outlines and drafts, all the way towards producing polished, performable, and publishable poems. We'll be creating a kind of poetic portfolio of different styles and genres over the course of the week; you will leave Wordsworth with a newly-stocked poetic tool-kit with which to write your worlds-to-come!

ROGER GARCIA is a self taught freelance cartoonist / illustrator based out of Edmonton. His illustrations and cartoons have been published in a variety of humor books, newspapers, and educational material. Over the past year, he has worked on projects such as for the St. John's Ambulance, The Red River Current and drawing model homes for a building company.

Roger's studio doubles as his home and is located in the Arts Habitat Studio Gallery, a live / work space for 16 artists located in downtown Edmonton. When he is not working on a deadline, he can be seen lending a hand colouring illustrations for friends and colleagues. He also organizes and participates in an annual event he created six years ago called Doctors and Derrieres where once a year, medical students from the University of Alberta take their clothes off for 30 talented artists. The art pieces created are then auctioned off with proceeds going to help an emergency health project in rural El Salvador. A good cause that helps over 1500 people 30 poor communities.

Blue Pencil Café
Here's an opportunity to have your writing read and critiqued by someone in the industry! Start thinking about which of your many projects are ready for this kind of invaluable scrutiny.

Itching to go? We don't blame you. Promotional materials are on the way, but if you want to register early, we'd be happy to help you out! E-mail the Young Alberta Book Society office at info@yabs.ab.ca or call us at 780.422.8232.

Want to go to camp for FREE? Enter the Martyn Godfrey Young Writers' Award contest and you could WIN a spot to WordsWorth. Details here.

Announcing...summer WordsWorth instructor roster (week 2)

2011-03-25T15:37:00.003-06:00

Brendan McLeod will be there. Will you?

This is it, the moment you've been waiting for - summer WordsWorth (week 2) instructors are confirmed! And wow, have we got a program for YOU.

Coordinator extraordinaire Lisa Murphy-Lamb and her team of creative Muses/Mooses have pulled from Alberta's rich literary artist pool to find the best of the best, the cream of the crop, the most tippety-top to be YOUR mentors at WordsWorth 2011 - The Nature of Words.

NOTE: The senior camp welcomes young writers ages 15-19. Stay tuned for an announcement about the week 1 camp soon!

WordsWorth (senior camp) runs July 10-16, 2011 at Kamp Kiwanis in Bragg Creek, AB. And, you're going to want to mark your calendars. Feast your eyes on this impressive buffet of literary talent.

BRENDAN MCLEOD is an author, musician, and performer based out of Vancouver. His first novel, The Convictions of Leonard McKinley, was nominated for the Re: Lit Award for Fiction. His first play, The Big Oops, toured Western Canada last summer. He's a founding member of the music group, The Fugitives, which was nominated for a 2008 Canadian Folk Music Award. Brendan recently completed and toured a full-length monologue, and is a former Vancouver and Canadian SLAM poetry champion.

Songwriting
In this class we'll talk about the building blocks of what makes a great song: amazing lyrics, beautiful melodies, killer choruses, monster hooks, and suitable arrangements. Because this is a writing class, our emphasis will be on how words work in a song, so you can definitely take this course if you don't play an instrument. However, if you do play an instrument, all the better! Bring it along. We're gonna rock out. Or ballad out. Or jazz out. Whatever you're into!

DAVID WILSON is a Singer, Conductor, Voice Teacher, Yoga Instructor, and Breath Therapist. Since moving to Edmonton, he'd served as Music Director for Vocal Alchemy, the Edmonton Recorder Orchestra, My Fair Lady, Dream King, Mikado, and most recently, RENT. In addition to singing with Edmonton Opera and teaching voice in both Calgary and Edmonton, David is the founder of the Body, Breath and Voice Integrative Training Technique. The 2010/2011 season sees him working with the Edmonton Musical Theatre Adult Training Program, as well as performing as “Cinderella’s Prince” and “The Wolf” in Elope’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. He is currently working on his first book, Yoga for Singers.

flashwritingflow
Breath, Move, Sing, Play, WRITE! We'll utilize breathwork, metaphorical movement, chanting, vocalplay and anything we can get our hands on to increase our creative flow - then we write; sans editing, censure or judgement. We then incorporate our writing and our voices in an epic final performance: SOUNDSCAPE 2011! Oh yeah... bring your instruments!

DEREK BEAULIEU is the author of five books of poetry (most recently the visual poem suite silence), three volumes of conceptual fiction (most recently the short fiction collection How to Write) and over 150 chapbooks, his work is consistently praised as some of the most radical and challenging contemporary Canadian writing. Publisher of the acclaimed smallpresses housepress (1997–2004) and no press (2005–present), and former editor of filling Station, dANDelion, endNote, Speechless and The Minute Review, Derek has spoken and written on poetics nationally and internationally. His first volume of criticism, Seen of the Crime, is forthcoming from Snare Books.

Thriving under pressure
Discuss how poets and fiction writers have found means of making language flourish under the most rigorous of restrictions; hone your voice through exercises related to some of the most unusual contemporary books out there: narrative without words, poems without letters, throat-singing and beat-boxing, missing vowels, restricted word-counts, visual poetry, sound poetry — all of these subjects are fodder for a class which will challenge how you see writing and what it means to be a writer.

JACQUELINE GUEST is the author of fifteen novels. Her fast-paced books keep readers on the edge of their seats with topics ranging from fast motorcycles to deadly video-games. Her interactive presentations have students laughing and learning. Jacqueline knows there is magic waiting in each of you.

Past, Present and Future Writing!
Ever wonder if time travel is really possible? Discover how to make your stories warp to a higher dimension as we learn the secrets to Past, Present and Future Writing! Can you alter the past? Is the future a page waiting to be written? What will an editor look for when they read your manuscript? How can you avoid common writing errors in the present that will detonate your chances far into the future? All these questions and more will be answered in this progressive course that will test your Past, Present and Future Writing. WARNING: You will construct an Actual Time Capsule…

KIM FIRMSTON is a real life cyborg – though one without any cool powers. When she is not writing or cursing obvious villain mistakes, she warps young minds in her AWCS Reality is Optional Kid’s Writing Club, listens to punk rock at deafening levels and reads way too many comic books. Kim’s short story Life Before War was short listed in the 2008 CBC Literary Award and published in FreeFall Magazine. Another short story, Returning Home, was published in the Alexandra Reader Anthology. Her plays include The Block, Wex, Rock n’ Roll Trolls and Polar Power Quest. Her first novel will be published this fall by Lorimer SideStreets.

The Strange Worlds of Speculative Fiction
Is the government out to get you? Having trouble with your coal-powered trousers? Are werewolves keeping you up at night? Then speculative fiction may be for you. Fairies, aliens, ghosts, dragons, super villains, changed pasts and uncertain futures - we have it all. From epic battles between man and gods to domed cities with really bad Chinese food, come and join us for a journey into a world of writing that will stretch your imagination.

DR. LYLE WEIS is the author of five published novels and a collection of poetry, as well as numerous short stories and articles. Always hunting for new ideas and characters, he is an unrepentant eavesdropper and surreptitious observer in airports, malls and grocery stores. Born in Ontario, he has lived in over twenty places in western Canada and the U.S.A. His current novel project is a crime thriller about terrible secrets.

Bending and Blending the Categories: How to Bring New Life to Popular Fictions
In this workshop we'll look at audience expectations regarding the major forms of popular fiction: mystery, romance, sci-fi, thrillers and fantasy. I'll ask students to choose one form and bring something personal and new to that kind of writing. You might, for example, choose to write a mystery with a strong romantic sub-plot. Or, the choice might involve time-travel to ancient Egypt with a plot that places the character in the middle of a dangerous world of the occult. During the creation of these stories, we'll examine a specific topic each day. For example, the first day will provide tools for making the choice of literary type or form, followed the next day by discussion of the major movements of plot and the ramifications for characters. We'll also concentrate on good opening scenes, dialogue and the creation of suspense.

DR. OWEN PERCY is a literary critic, writer, and book reviewer whose work has appeared in national and international publications like Canadian Literature, ARIEL, GEIST, and The British Journal of Canadian Studies. He is perhaps best known for his mad fire-making skills and uncanny resemblance to Justin Bieber - but ouside of WordsWorth he teaches in the Department of English at the University of Calgary and St. Mary's University College.

Writing Poetry Better/Writing Better Poetry
This session is designed to broaden your understanding, abilities, and resources when it comes to expressing yourself in poetic form. Over the course of the week we'll discuss and experiment with several different kinds of poems and a variety of diverse approaches to writing and thinking about poetry in general; we’ll pay particular attention to the processes of crafting, editing, and thinking about our own work, and respectfully critiquing and contributing to the work of our fellow poets. We'll work on our poems in various stages from the capturing of that first spark of inspiration or idea, through early outlines and drafts, all the way towards producing polished, performable, and publishable poems. We will be creating a kind of poetic portfolio of different styles and genres over the course of the week; you'll leave Wordsworth with a newly-stocked poetic tool-kit with which to write your worlds-to-come!

DR. ROBYN READ is the Acquiring Editor of Freehand Books, a small press that publishes novels, short fiction, poetry, narrative non-fiction, and graphic literature, and is located in Calgary. She has a PhD in Canadian Literature from the University of Calgary, where she studied the philosophy of collecting to try and understand why her own father accumulated so much stuff; she has limited her own collecting to a few salt and pepper shakers, and far too many books. She has taught Introductory Creative Writing at the U of C, and currently sits on the Board of Directors for Canadian Creative Writers and Writing Programs.

Blue Pencil Café
Here's an opportunity to have your writing read and critiqued by someone in the industry! Robyn will be setting up submission guidelines and a schedule for 30 minute one-on-one sessions daily. Start thinking about which of your many projects are ready for this kind of invaluable scrutiny.

ROGER GARCIA is a self taught freelance cartoonist / illustrator based out of Edmonton. His illustrations and cartoons have been published in a variety of humor books, newspapers, and educational material. Over the past year, he has worked on projects such as for the St. John's Ambulance, The Red River Current and drawing model homes for a building company.

Roger's studio doubles as his home and is located in the Arts Habitat Studio Gallery, a live / work space for 16 artists located in downtown Edmonton. When he is not working on a deadline, he can be seen lending a hand colouring illustrations for friends and colleagues. He also organizes and participates in an annual event he created six years ago called Doctors and Derrieres where once a year, medical students from the University of Alberta take their clothes off for 30 talented artists. The art pieces created are then auctioned off with proceeds going to help an emergency health project in rural El Salvador. A good cause that helps over 1500 people 30 poor communities.

SHIRLEE SMITH MATHESON Adventures and mysteries abound in Shirlee Smith Matheson’s 16 published nonfiction books and teen novels, as well as numerous short stories. From aviation mysteries to urban dramas, she writes of characters that live on the edge. Throughout the year, Shirlee leads writing workshops, presents readings, and travels widely to seek out exciting people and continue her work as a “story keeper.”

Becoming A Storyteller
Good stories never die…but can become lost unless a writer restores their original beauty, excitement, and adventure through creative nonfiction. This style of writing allows dramatic events to be recreated so modern readers can clearly envision, and once again enjoy, the time, place, peculiarities, and personalities involved in a historic event. In this class we will weave brave new stories from bits of forgotten lore, with advice about truth and lies, creating composite characters and conversations, and other issues. We’ll enjoy open discussions and lots of class writing as we seek to become story keepers.

Excited? Pre-registration is now OPEN. Contact the Young Alberta Book Society by phone at 780-422-8232 or e-mail us at info@yabs.ab.ca. You don't want to miss out on summer WordsWorth - the writing camp for youth who believe in the power of words.

Win a FREE spot at Summer WordsWorth 2011!

2011-03-16T13:15:00.004-06:00

The snow is (finally) melting and that means one thing: Summer WordsWorth 2011 (about 15 weeks away, to be exact). In the meantime, you’re busy working on a story to get feedback on from a WW instructor or preparing a spoken word piece for the SpotLight cafe. Right?

Why not win yourself a free spot at camp while keeping the creative juices flowing? The annual Martyn Godfrey Young Writers’ Award, sponsored by Alberta Canola Producers Commission, is now open and accepting submissions.

To win, write a funny short story between 500 and 1500 words that includes the colour Canola Yellow.

Here’s a quick review of the deets:

- - Entrants must be in junior high and an Alberta resident.

- - Print your story on standard 8X11, white paper in a standard font. Do not have your name anywhere on the story itself.

- - Include a separate cover page that has both your name, the title and word count of your story as well as all your contact information (address, phone, email), your age and date of birth and your parent or guardian’s signature giving you permission to enter the contest.

Mail your entry to:

Young Alberta Book Society

11759 Groat Rd

Edm, AB T5M 3K6

The first 100 entrants will automatically receive a free Martyn Godfrey book. Two writers will win a free spot at Summer WordsWorth 2011 as well as a visit to their school from a Taleblazers author and a copy of the book Fields of Home.

The Brochure has more details. Deadline to enter is May 06, 2011. Don't forget to include the colour Canola Yellow!

Storytelling Scholarship - Call for Applications

2011-02-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

Storyteller Tololwa Mollel

If WordsWorth instructor extraordinaire Tololwa Mollel got you excited about storytelling last summer, here's an opportunity you won't want to miss!

TALES, the Alberta League Encouraging Storytelling, is pleased to announce the launch of the TALES Youth Storytelling Scholarship.

The winner of the scholarship will receive:

• a one-year membership in TALES

• free admission to addend the 2011 weekend retreat at Sylvan Lake

• an established storyteller to act as mentor to provide guidance and support in getting started as a storyteller

Interested youth (ages 18-30) are invited to apply by March 15, 2011 to lippiatt@mailhub.ca. Applications must include:

1. Name, address, city and province

2. Telephone numbers (home and cell)

3. E-mail address

4. Date of birth

5. Storytelling experience (telling or listening)

6. And answers to the following questions: Why are you interested in attending the TALES annual retreat? What do you hope to gain from this event, and the guidance of a storytelling mentor? How can storytelling be used in your present or desired line of work?

Full details can be found at the TALES website.

P.S. - And it's not too early to start thinking about summer WordsWorth. The junior camp (ages 12-14) runs July 3-8, 2011, and the camp for ages 15-19 runs July 10-16, 2011. Don't miss out on this opportunity to immerse yourself in creativity, surrounded by nature - and cool friends - at Kamp Kiwanis in Bragg Creek, AB.

Call the YABS office for more info - 780.422.8232 or visit our website.

A (beautiful) piece of the WordsWorth magic

2011-02-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

It's hard not to be inspired by the talented young writers who attend WordsWorth, the camp for youth who believe in the power of words.

On February 4-6, an enthusiastic group of brilliant young writers gathered at Kamp Kiwanis in Bragg Creek, AB to write and share their words under a woolen moon. With amazing instructors like Owen Percy and Judith Graves setting the tone, participants made a big dent in their quest for wor(l)d domination.

Check out Chelsea Chan's amazing Cento, written at 2011 WordsWorth:

Cento
by Chelsea Chan

I feel the measure of my humanity
This is the thought that bounces,
that would not die.
Memory by memory
the mind follows the lure,
that thought that informs
the hope of our kind
Flees like a bird,
from the white inviolate solitude.
I remember everything
But what lies behind?
naught but the vanity
of a protesting mind?
I too have felt the presence of God,
in the Earth
in the chirp of a sparrow
within the deepest of caves
the very being.
I shall continue to feel as I do,
in my old griefs,
and with my childhood's faith.
I am who I am - nobody is as I.

Suddenly inspired? Sad you missed Winter WordsWorth? Don't miss out on the magic again - we're taking registrations for summer WordsWorth, which is just around the corner.

Where: Kamp Kiwanis, Bragg Creek, AB (of course)

Dates: July 3-8, 2011 (ages 12-14) and July 10-16, 2011 (ages 15-19)

How can you register? E-mail us at info@yabs.ab.ca

Winter WordsWorth filled to the brim - mostly

2011-02-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

If you're not already registered for Winter WordsWorth, February 4-6, 2011, it may be too late. The weekend camp for youth who believe in the power of words is - full!

Apparently you all love the hard beds at Kamp Kiwanis...

Having a smack-your-head kind of moment? We want to stay true to our promise that our class sizes will remain small so you and your craft will get the full attention you deserve, but camp coordinator extraordinaire Lisa Murphy-Lamb doesn't like to see young talent turned away.

So. If you're twiddling your thumbs over the keyboard, figuring out how best to grovel for a coveted spot at camp, don't dawdle a second more. Send an e-mail (info@yabs.ab.ca), an SOS, or pick up the phone and call (780-422-8236) NOW. We'll do our best to find you a room...you're okay with pitching a tent under the woolen moon, right?!

Can't make it for this weekend? Book your summer plans soon. WordsWorth runs July 3-8 for youth 12-14 and July 10-16 for young writers 15-19. Look for details early Spring.

Registered for WordsWorth? Here's what you need to know!

2011-01-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

Winter WordsWorth is just around the corner! We hope you're all getting as excited as we are.

Coordinator extraordinaire Lisa Murphy-Lamb has lined up an impressive - and inspiring - program for this year's participants. Just bring yourself...well, and the items listed below, everything you need to make the most of your weekend writing retreat!

Dates: February 4-6, 2011
• Please arrive at 7 p.m. at the Kiwanis Lodge
• Pickup is at the Kiwanis Lodge at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Meals:
• Snack provided Friday evening
• Three meals, plus snacks Saturday
• Breakfast Sunday morning
• OUTSIDE SNACKS are permitted BUT cannot be stored or consumed in the dorm rooms (as they encourage pests and critters). They must be stored and consumed only in the dining hall.

IMPORTANT: If you have any food allergies or preferences (ie., if you are a vegetarian), please inform Lisa Murphy-Lamb prior to the camp. If your allergies are complicated and you wish to speak directly to the camp cook, he can be reached at: Matthew Prosser at 403-660-4007

What to Pack (personal items):
• indoor clothes for the weekend
• toiletries, towels (there are showers)
• any medication you take. Please inform Lisa Murphy-Lamb and fill out the medical sheet. (We can email this to you)
• a fitted sheet for a single mattress, pillow, sheet and/or single duvet, and/or blanket, and/or sleeping bag. The lodge is heated, the mattresses are plastic covered.
• indoor shoes
• warm boots for snow walking and playing. Yes, we will be outdoors.
• warm outdoor clothes. We will be in the snow.

What to Pack (for WordsWorth Activities)
• a line or two of writing from something you have already written on an isolated, single piece of paper (any size), handwritten or typed for Friday night’s collaborative writing project. You do not have to include your name. This can be a line (or two) from ANY type of writing, just something you particularly like for any reason.
• a word-based board game (optional). Friday night is board game night!
• FOR OWEN PERCY’S POETRY CLASS: 2-3 copies of a poem you've written and are willing to share. You won’t be critiqued on it nor will you have to read it aloud, but others will see it and it will be discussed in class.
• crazy-carpet and skates (optional). We hope to do both. So if you have either, bring them.
• something to write in/on/with. This can be paper, a notebook, even a laptop, although we prefer the former. It is easier to lug around a notebook, you don’t have to be by an energy source and we don’t have to worry about damage, loss, or (gasp) theft. But bring what you need to to write. And be prepared for lots of it.
• Don’t forget pens, pencils, colored markers and pens.
• A book or two. We’re not just writers, we’re readers.
• A polished piece of writing (optional) for cafe night/open mic night. Have you written something amazing that you are dying to read? Have you been experimenting with something new you wish to try out? Bring it.
• Musical instruments (optional)

What Not to Bring:
• Alcohol or drugs. Neither will be tolerated. Ever. Under any circumstances. Possession or use will result in immediate dismissal from the camp without refund.
• Cell phones. Really. You’ll only be gone a weekend. There will be a phone available to use and if you get homesick, calling home makes it worse. We’ve witnessed it. It breaks our heart. This is not a hard and fast rule, but we highly recommend you give up texting and phoning for a weekend...and live fully present in the WordsWorth experience.
• Anything expensive, breakable and sentimental that if lost, broken or stolen would alter your world. These things happen despite best efforts.
• Anything offensive (pornographic, racist, demeaning). It is hard to define exactly what that might be so please use common sense.

Note: There is a first aid kit on site and the coordinator and supervisors are current in First Aid training

Winter WordsWorth Schedule

Friday Night - February 4, 2011
(all Friday Night times are approximate)

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. - Meet and Greet
• arrive
• hand over all paperwork
• choose dorm, set up room
• say good-bye to parents

8 p.m. Group Greeting and Collaborative Writing Activity, Main Hall

9 p.m. Outdoor Activity and indoor Games Night

10:30 p.m. Hot Chocolate/Bedtime Story

Saturday - February 5, 2011
7:00 - 8:00 a.m. - Wake up and Shower

8:30 - 9:15 a.m. - Breakfast

9:30 - 11:00 a.m. - Session #1
• Judith Graves -- YA Fiction to Die For -- Main Hall
• Owen Percy -- Wor(l)d Domination -- Upper Ball Room

11:30 - 12:30 p.m. -- Lunch

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. -- Outdoor Activity

2:00 - 3:30 p.m. - Session #2 (switch sessions)
• Judith Graves -- YA Fiction to Die For -- Main Hall
• Owen Percy -- Wor(l)d Domination -- Upper Ball Room

4:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Full Camp Free/Quiet Writing/Reading Time

5:00 - 6:00 p.m. - Dinner (all evening times are approximate)
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. - Outdoor Fun

7:15-8:45 p.m.- Evening Session TBA

9:00-10:00 p.m. - Cafe and Open Mic / Hot Chocolate Bar

10:00 -10:30 p.m. - Activity under a Woolen Moon....perhaps

10:30 p.m. - Bedtime Story -- Judith Graves with Milk and Cookies

Sunday Morning - February 6, 2011

7:00 - 8:00 a.m. - Wake and Shower

8:30 - 9:30 a.m. - Breakfast

9:30 - 10:00 a.m. - Pack up and clean up rooms

10:00 a.m. - Final group meeting A Place Called WordsWorth

11:00 a.m. - Parents arrive

This just in! WordsWorth entertainment booked

2011-01-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

Laurie Fuhr

At WordsWorth, the fun doesn't stop when your last session of the afternoon ends.

WordsWorth is proud to present Print's Charming, an interactive workshop that allows participants a hands-on publishing experience. Led by filling Station Magazine Managing Editor Laurie Fuhr, you'll make zines, broadsides, posters, chapbooks and even stamps. You'll learn about micropress, small press and magazine publishing...and maybe even a little about freelancing your finished work.

filling Station is a non-profit society supporting emerging writers through filling Station Magazine and public events in Calgary. Laurie's poetry has appeared in anthologies and magazines across the country, and she is the author of three chapbooks.

But wait, there's more!

We've secured a House Band for Cafe Night!

Mercury Audio is a roots rockabilly duo comprised of Dylan Sadlier-Brown on guitar and Laurie Fuhr on bass. With a full band, they have played most Calgary venues, and they love playing summer festivals. They write about many topics, but space aliens are a favourite. While both musicians have released albums with other projects such as The Sure Fires, Lonely Hunters, and the Sadlier-Brown Family Band, they are currently working on a first album for Mercury Audio called "Interstellar Hits!"

Mercury Audio is more fun when you dance, so get ready to shake it!

Not yet registered for WordsWorth? What are you waiting for! Check out all the details at the Young Alberta Book Society website or call the YABS office at 780-422-8236. But hurry...winter WordsWorth runs February 4-7, 2011 at Kamp Kiwanis in Bragg Creek, AB.

Join Owen Percy's quest for wor(l)d domination at WordsWorth

2011-01-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

Itching to wax poetry under a woolen moon? Yeah, us too.

If you're already registered for Winter WordsWorth this February 4-6, then you already know you'll be working with the amazing Owen Percy (aka "Justin Bieber").

What you might not know is how talented Owen is. Check out these two poems:

why arin’t you laffing like yu usd 2?: a cento

drove into the country for hours

roads we’d never been before

At evening trees drift ghost-like

through the fields these vistas

of desolation, long hills, the swamps

the barren sand

this is the country

our defeat

II.

The body dies little

little

The body buries itself

those who are frightened by death

will carry it

even immortal Gods will show a man respect

whatever wanderer seeks their help.

III.

We lay on a hill-top underneath the moon.

I touch your cheeks, like flowers.

You bruise against me. We unlearn

everything

passes, even a woman’s malice

when she knows she is no longer loved

and I, I cannot say

that I have gone to hell

for your love,

dozens have been born and died there—

the diamond edges of stars

returning,

IV.

Now the night wind has stopped

Inside myself another solid earth rotates,

behind me a road is made and

we may go back there but

it’s been a long time since and we must enquire the way—

Eavesdropping On A Pantoum I’m Not Entirely Happy With: a pantoum

But always, in people, there is want

mine at present, to ask questions that

so seldom can cage words with bars of teeth to

ask where love travels to in the hours of sleep

mine at present is to ask questions

yours, in the past, to answer

Where does love travel to in the hours of sleep?

What happens if you only feign slumber?

you, in the past, answer

with touchable blue words, true or

untrue, What happens if you only feign slumber? when

you could just tell me nothing and smile

with touchable blue words, true or untrue

I answer telephones only to stop their noises

you tell me nothing happens and smile

you insist that no one truly wants to hurt anyone else

I answer telephones only to stop their noises

so seldom do they cage words with the bars of their teeth

or insist no one hurt anyone else

but always, in people, there is want

Awesome, right? This is the kind of stuff Owen will be helping young poets with February 4-6, 2011 at Winter WordsWorth in Bragg Creek, AB.

Already registered? Don't forget to bring 2-3 copies of a poem you've written and are willing to share. You won't be critiqued on it nor will you have to read it out loud, but others will see it and it may be discussed in class.

Not yet registered? What are you waiting for? There's only a few spots left for the hottest youth writing camp in the province. Don't miss out on an opportunity to wax poetic with Owen Percy under a woolen moon, and then learn how to write fiction to DIE for with YA paranormal author Judith Graves. Full details at the Young Alberta Book Society website.

Waking the DEAD: Inspiring the next generation of paranormal writers

2011-01-17T15:01:00.000-07:00

Judith Graves will help you create characters with BITE...rather than sparkle.

There’s only one way to escape the dead of winter. Let your mind wander and get your creative juices flowing this February at the WordsWorth weekend. Join Judith Graves, one of the hottest YA authors around, on a horrific journey on how to write to die for fiction including the terrifying realms of character development and revision.

Judith Graves is the smart and sassy author behind the hit paranormal trilogy SKINNED. Librarian, singer, songwriter, author, and book club haunter, Graves has her own opinions about words and she’s not afraid to voice them. Much like Eryn, the snarky protagonist in her books, Graves doesn’t pull punches when it comes to calling ‘em as she sees ‘em. Now she’s putting her bold opinions to good use at WordsWorth by teaching young and emerging writers how to better craft their own tantalizing tales.

“I’m a firm believer that Canadian teen fiction can be sexy, action packed, and snarky as hell,” says Graves. So what better author could there be for encouraging youth to develop their own feisty stories?

WordsWorth is a weekend-long sleepover for young writers. Over the course of the weekend, writers will be completely submerged in their fictitious worlds. Carefully guided by Graves and poet Owen Percy, writers will be able to attack their projects with newfound creativity. They will learn how to tweak, manipulate, push, pull, and revamp their stories and characters to create truly unique tales.

WordsWorth is being held February 4-6, 2011 and is open to all writers aged 13-19. The weekend will take place at Kamp Kiwanis in Bragg Creek. To find out more information about the event or to register visit the Young Alberta’s Book Society page at http://yabs.ab.ca/WordsWorth.asp

For more information on Judith Graves, visit her GOREgeous website:www.judithgraves.com

Put WordsWorth on your wish list this holiday

2010-12-16T11:02:00.000-07:00

Hey, young writers! What did you put on your holiday wish list this year?

Notebooks?
Pens?
Under My Skin by the amazing Judith Graves?

Awesome! Those are the perfect stocking stuffers to complement your main gift -- registration to Winter WordsWorth, a weekend sleepover camp for youth with the "write" stuff.

For just $157, you'll spend the weekend waxing poetic with Owen Percy under a woolen moon and then hear from paranormal sensation Judith Graves on how to create characters with BITE (rather than sparkle...)

Super supers Erinne and Doug will be on hand to aid you in your quest for wor(l)d domination -- and make sure you're tucked safe inside those soft (ha!) beds at Kamp Kiwanis.

Come on, where else would you rather be this February than immersed in creativity with WordsWorth coordinator Lisa Murphy-Lamb and her team of talented professionals?

Winter WordsWorth - February 4-6, 2011

Kamp Kiwanis, Bragg Creek, AB

Make sure WordsWorth is on your list on must-have items this holiday...but hurry, there's only a few days left to get you into Santa's good books.

Visit the Young Alberta Book Society website for more details or to download the registration form.

Happy holidays!

WordsWorth instructor gets award nod

2010-11-04T11:05:00.003-06:00

WordsWorthians unite in a celebratory cheer!

Winter WordsWorth instructor Judith Graves truly does write fiction to DIE for. Her debut novel, Under my Skin has been nominated for an esteemed Cybils (Children's and YA Bloggers Literary Awards) award in the Teen Fantasy & Sci-Fi category.

How cool is that?

Dying to meet her? Register for Winter WordsWorth and wax poetic under a woolen moon with Judith - and Owen! A weekend retreat definitely worth writing home about.

Can't wait until February? Edmonton and area peeps take heart. Judith will be sipping chai lattes and signing books at the Indigo in North Town Mall from 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. THIS Sunday, November 7, 2010.

You should go. She doesn't bite.

Much.

Salon Word: A fundraiser worth supporting

2010-11-02T14:38:00.001-06:00

Word! On November 20, 2010, we invite you to join WordsWorthians (past and future) for an evening of literary celebration!

Gather with writers, artists and musicians for readings, music, a showcase of art and photography, and of course spirited conversation with fellow artists during Salon Word.

Reminisce with sing songwriter Bob Jahrig over guitar and song.
Listen to words from former WordsWorthians Erin and Sebi.
Read along with David Wenzel.
Groove to the music by DJ Scootz.
Place your bid at the fabulous auction. (Great items up for the taking!)
And much more!

Tickets are just $20, or $15 for students (18+)

And the best part? One hundred percent of the proceeds from ticket and auction sales will go towards WordsWorth!

Can't attend but want to help out? Contact Lisa Murphy-Lamb at 403-474-7353 or email lisamurphylamb@gmail.com. A bit fuzzy on the details? Lisa can help with that too.

Don't miss out on this amazing event. Call Lisa now!

Wor(l)d poetry domination can be yours!

2010-10-26T11:34:00.000-06:00

Conar Kennedy reads from his poem, Swung

Have you been darkly dreaming about waxing poetic under a woolen moon this February?

At Kamp Kiwanis?

In Bragg Creek?

We thought so!

We invite you to join instructor extraordinaire OWEN PERCY in his quest for wor(l)d poetry domination at Winter WordsWorth, a weekend retreat for youth who like to write - just about anything.

Immersed in creativity with a group of like-minded teens? Guided by an inspirational instructor? The possibilities are endless!

Not convinced? Check out this incredible poem written by Conar Kennedy, 2010 Summer WordsWorthian:

SWUNG
by Conar Kennedy
2010 Summer WordsWorthian

I am. One little drummer playing his own tune.
One little chord of dissent
jumping up and down, out of time with the rests and
pauses

one little note hopping on and off the beat,
EmPhAsIzInG EaCh WoRd A LiTtle DifFeReNt

I ignore the score they try and make me play,
I write my own lead sheet, and improvise my own
lyrics,
just to keep 'em guessing.
But to be fair I leave them clues, I write them notes
that for

blue riffs,
and ragtime runs

a staircase of paper music that collapses when they try
and jam it into their 4/4 C# prison

I am. One little drummer, playing to his own
stumblingly syncopated tune,
but,
I am. small and quiet next to the crashing, crushing
crescendos of an orchestral armada,
they try and stuff me into their dustry, joyless, four-
beat, straight-laced, symphonic cell block,
they've made a musical morgue, frozen in time,
moving so fast it's run out of time, time metronoming
tick-tocking tick-tock, tic-,
and then suddenly we have no time 5/4 or 6/8, no
time for
swung bars or pushed notes.
A jazz-free jail, a classical closed door that has
thrown away the C#- key to it's own cell

but,
No jarring, geometrical sheet music

is going to stop me from cake walking my way
through life.
I've stopped paying the piper, and started to write my
own songs,
I am. One little drummer
playing to his own tune.

Fiction to DIE for

2010-10-21T08:10:00.000-06:00

"Under my Skin proves that Canadian YA fiction can be sexy, fun and snarky as hell."

This sentence is splashed across much of Judith Graves' promotion materials - and might be considered a bit smug if it wasn't filled with so much truth.

Under my Skin, the first in Graves' YA paranormal trilogy is everything her clever marketing claims it to be. And more.

Set in Northern Alberta, the novel features Eryn, a tough but sympathetic young girl caught between life as a werewolf and life as a human.

Before you dismiss this as another werewolf book, hang on. Under my Skin introduces a wonderful collection of paranormals - like vampires, witches, dark sprites and much more. A refreshing change from the onslaught of straight werewolf and vampire novels on the market - NOT that I'm complaining...

All Eryn's parents ever wanted was for her to have a normal life, but when they "banish" her to Redgrave, a small Northern Alberta town, Eryn quickly learns she isn't the only beastie on the block. And before long, she's swept up in an intense love triangle and a local mystery. It's a compelling plot that keeps you turning pages. All. Night. Long.

Graves is a master at character development. Eryn is strong, but vulnerable - and perhaps somewhat fragile as she struggles with her inner demons. The two Delecroix boys who have caught her attention - dark, brooding Wade and protective, Alec - are sexy, and likeable love-able. It's no wonder Eryn struggles with choosing one - I couldn't decide which danger boy to root for, either.

Under my Skin is tightly crafted, and filled with wit and humour, essential elements for today's competitive YA marketplace. And in this case, the novel absolutely lives up to its hype. I can hardly wait to get my claws into the second in the series, Second Skin.

Hey you! Young writers!
Would you like to learn how to write YA fiction to DIE for? Register for Winter WordsWorth and master storyteller Judith Graves will teach you how to REVAMP your work so your characters have BITE. (Rather than sparkle...)

Get the full scoop on Winter WordsWorth here.

For more information about Judith, check out her amazing website at www.judithgraves.com.

10 Reasons to Attend Winter WordsWorth

2010-10-12T11:07:00.001-06:00

Super super (and wor(l)d poetry dominator) Owen Percy leads a reading at summer WordsWorth

10.  It’s a whole new year and writing IS among your list of resolutions, right? Put your commitment to action February 4-6, 2011 at Kamp Kiwanis for a weekend definitely worth writing about.

9.  Because you haven’t had a decent night’s sleep since summer Wordsworth. We get it, your beds are too soft. We’re excited to take Winter WordsWorth south this year – all the way to Bragg Creek. You’ll sleep like a baby.

8.  Judith Graves. Fiction to DIE for? Characters with BITE? What better opportunity for you to SUCK up some amazing writerly advice from a successful Alberta paranormal author. Check out Judith’s website at www.judithgraves.com. (Then check her out in person at Kamp Kiwanis.)

7.  Because registering is just THAT easy. Log on to the Young Alberta Book Society website (www.yabs.ab.ca) and download the registration form. Fill it in. Attach cheque. Mail.

6.  Owen Percy. Nobody rocks the Bieber “do” like former WordsWorth super Owen. This February he’ll abandon his Bieber style in his quest for wor(l)d poetry domination. You don’t want him to go at it alone, do you?

5.  Because you can’t possibly wait until next summer to join your writer pals for wordplay of awesome proportions. We’re here for you.

4.  Lisa Murphy Lamb. WordsWorth coordinator extraordinaire is pumped for February. You know her enthusiasm is infectious. Give in. It’s ok.

3.  Because you’re anxious to wax poetic under a woolen moon. And breathe in fresh Bragg Creek air. And participate in outdoor winter activities. And write, of course. It’s all there at Kamp Kiwanis.

2.  Doug and Erinne. Two super supers who are anxious to see your smiling faces again. They’ll be sad if you’re not there. You don’t want to see them cry, do you?

1.  Because it’s the write thing to do. Come on, where else would you rather be this February?

Get your WordsWorth at Kamp Kiwanis this February!

2010-09-22T12:38:00.005-06:00

At WordsWorth, we understand how familiarity - and fresh air - can inspire creativity. And we know how much you love those Kamp Kiwanis beds. So, we thought - why not?

Why not bring summer WordsWorthians back to where their creativity flew? Why not introduce new young writers to the beauty that is Bragg Creek, Alberta?

Why the heck not?

We couldn't think of a reason not to, either.

So, we invite you to spin your paranormal words under a woolen moon this February 4 - 6 weekend. Spend quality time with YA author Judith Graves learning how to write fiction to DIE for (R.I.P), or wax poetic with Owen Percy in his quest for wor(l)d domination.

Come on, where else would you rather be this February?

Some very important details --

WHEN: February 4 (evening) to February 6 (morning), 2011

WHERE: Kamp Kiwanis, Bragg Creek, AB

WHO: Young writers who believe in the power of words - ages 13-19

COST: $157 (includes GST)

Itching to get your WordsWorth? It's easy. Here's how --

Head over to the Young Alberta Book Society website and download the registration form. Fill in the appropriate blanks. Mail the form, along with your cheque, cash or money order to:

Winter WordsWorth
c/o Young Alberta Book Society
11759 Groat Road
Edmonton, AB
T5M 3K6

What can you expect to learn? We're so glad you asked --

Young adult paranormal author Judith Graves will explore what makes fiction to DIE for, how to develop characters that ROCK, and how to REVAMP your work, aka revision with BITE! Be prepared for writerly battle as she introduces you to the beasties known as concept maps and character cards. Once tamed, these tools can help with plot structure and character development.

Owen Percy has planned a workshop FULL of fun! You'll put your poems through a series of constraint-based games designed to engage your vocabulary, process and perspectives as a poet. Owen will challenge not only what you write, but also how you write it. You'll consider word choice, form, punctuation and tone in your quest to become an evil (poetry) genius.

Sounds like fun, right?

Who's coordinating this shindig?

Well, Lisa Murphy-Lamb, of course.

Questions? Call the Young Alberta Book Society at 780-422-8236 or e-mail us at communications@yabs.ab.ca.

PS - Keep your eyes out for this blog. We'll be updating it regularly!

On Spec announces writing workshop for teens

2010-09-21T12:23:00.000-06:00

Itching to sharpen your pencil between WordsWorth events?

Why not check out On Spec Magazine's writing workshop for teens? If you're writing in the fantasy and science fiction genres, then you'll want to flag October 16, 2010 on your iPod scheduler.

You'll receive a professional review of your work from Managing Editor Diane Walton, and learn the fundamentals of what makes a great story - everything from sentence structure to newbie mistakes - by editor and author Barbara Galler-Smith.

This workshop is open for teens ages 14 to 19.

What: Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy Workshop
Where: Stanley Miller Library, Edmonton, 6th floor, Rm 27
How much?: $30 (lunch provided)

To register, e-mail onspec@onspec.ca. And, for answers to all your burning questions, please call 780-413-0215.

Can't get enough WordsWorth?

2010-07-20T11:39:00.000-06:00

We know just what you mean!

We've barely bid farewell to the amazing 2010 campers and already the gears are in motion for NEXT year's camp. Woot!

Itching to get in on the action? Download the PRE-registration form from the Young Alberta Book Society website and send it back to us (with your writing sample and your cheque) by September 1, 2010 and not only will you have secured a spot in WordsWorth, you'll receive a FREE 2011 WordsWorth T-shirt.

Does it get any better than that?

Yes, actually. By being one of the first to register, you'll also be one of the first to get the full deets on WordsWorth 2011.

Questions? Operators are standing by! Call 780.422.8232 or email us at communications@yabs.ab.ca.

You! Young writer! Come to camp.

2010-06-22T14:40:00.000-06:00

Yes you!

Imagine yourself immersed in beautiful Bragg Creek, AB with a group of like-minded peers.

You'll write.
You'll draw.
You'll create.

All under the guidance of an inspirational roster of talented -- and familiar -- Alberta literary artists.

Join the incomparable Sheri-D Wilson for a Spoken Word Poetry super-stimulator.
Discover the creativity and rewards of combining writing with photos to create your own unique journal with Faye Reineberg-Holt.
Help Jason Long save the world from boring screenplays.
Learn the art of Improv with the amazing Donovan Workum.
Perfect your prose under the guidance of storyteller extraordinaire Jackie Guest.
Join the beautiful Carolyn Pogue in her quest for peace through words.

And so much more...

Intrigued? Then what are you waiting for? Registrations are open until noon on June 30, 2010.

For the full scoop, log on to the Young Alberta Book Society website at www.yabs.ab.ca or give us a call at 780.422.8232.

WordsWorth deadline extended

2010-06-14T15:11:00.000-06:00

That's right - you begged, we caved.

We understand you've been busy studying for exams and the NEED to pass math has become more important than sending in your WordsWorth registration form. So, as a result of your pleading, we've decided to EXTEND the deadline for registrations.

You're welcome.

We will now be accepting WordsWorth 2010 applications until midnight, June 23, 2010.

But don't leave it until the last minute. You won't want to miss out on an opportunity to brainstorm with your fellow literary teens and a full roster of amazing instructors - in beautiful Bragg Creek, no less! This is definitely a camp worth writing home about.

Never heard of WordsWorth before? Get the full scoop at www.yabs.ab.ca.

Free admission to camp? No joke!

2010-05-14T12:12:00.002-06:00

Hey YOU! Alberta young writers! Want to register for the 2010 WordsWorth summer writing camp for free? Here's your chance.

Submit your short, light-hearted story (500 to 1,500 words) to the Young Alberta Book Society's Martyn Godfrey Young Writer's Award for a chance to win full tuition (including paid travel expenses) to summer WordsWorth and a half day school visit from an Alberta literary artist this October.

This competition is open for students in Grade 7, 8 and 9.

But hurry. Even though we've extended the deadline to June 7, 2010, that doesn't give you much time to polish your perfect prose.

Send your submissions to:

Martyn Godfrey Young Writers' Award
c/o Young Alberta Book Society
11759 Groat Road
Edmonton, AB
T5M 3K6

Questions? Email Dawn at communications@yabs.ab.ca

Who was Martyn Godfrey?
Martyn Godfrey (1949-2000) was born in England, raised in Toronto, and taught school in Ontario and Alberta. In 1985 he became a full-time writer of young adult and juvenile fiction. His interests varied from Shakespeare and Wagner to heavy metal. He wrote more than 40 funny books.

Whoops!

2010-05-05T10:07:00.000-06:00

If you've been holding back on submitting your WordsWorth registration for the older camp because you thought eight days was just a little too long to be away from your friends and family this summer, we've got GREAT news.

We, uh, kind of screwed up. The dates for the second camp (for young writers ages 15-19) should be July 11-17, 2010, giving you the rest of the weekend to recoup from all that literary fun. (The printed posters and registration form contain an unfortunate typo.)

What's that? You haven't heard of WordsWorth before? What are you waiting for?

For the full scoop on an inspirational camp designed for youth with the write stuff, check out the blog archive or log on to the YABS website.

But hurry! This camp fills up fast. Deadline for registrations is June 14, 2010.

P.S. Too old for camp but still interested in getting your WordsWorth this summer? YABS is looking for seven creative camp supervisors. For more information or to apply, click here.

Super supervisors wanted!

2010-04-28T08:36:00.000-06:00

The WordsWorth 2010 summer writing camp is looking for seven creative supervisors who love to perform, work with talented youth and promote creativity, imagination and wordplay on site at Kamp Kiwanis in Bragg Creek, Alberta.

Have we piqued your interest?

WordsWorth supervisors are responsible for leading creative activities, assisting a talented roster of literary instructors during lessons, and maintaining overall camp routines - and of course, supervising particpants.

Can you think of a better way to spend 15 days of your summer?

Supervisors will be on site July 3 through July 18 (with July 10 off to regroup) and are paid $140 a day - plus free food and lodging. Supervisors will also be expected to participate in a staff meeting, a one-day paid training session and a follow-up evaluation session. Certification in first aid will be required.

Successful candidates will have experience and/or education in (many of) the following areas:

Working with youth in culturally diverse educational settings
Working with youth in inclusive camps where differences are celebrated and bullying is not tolerated
An interest/talent/speciality in the performance arts and/or illustration, filmmaking, photography, comic illustration, etc.
A comfort living and working in the outdoors

This is a great opportunity for anyone working towards a degree or diploma in the performing and/or literary arts or an (arts) education program.

Interested in applying?

Send your resume and a cover letter to:

Lisa Murphy-Lamb

WordsWorth Coordinator

214, 11a Street NW

Calgary, AB T2N 1X8

e-mail: lisamurphylamb@gmail.com

Deadline for applications is May 30, 2010.

P.S. - Hey young writers! Have you registered for camp yet? Download the registration form here .

WordsWorth coordinator signs on for 2010

2010-03-31T08:36:00.001-06:00

Teacher Once. Now Student For Life.

Lisa Murphy-Lamb would love to spend the day under the sun re-reading (again and again) Dangerous Liaisons while birds chirped accompaniment and servants (possibly her well-trained bearded dragon, Hickory) fed her grapes – but only if that day could be capped off with a Mad Hatter-style tea party featuring interesting people who could continue her life-long learning.

Though formally trained as a teacher, Lisa’s sense of adventure won’t allow her to sit still for long. She’s always on the move, whether it’s attending the latest poetry slam, taking off for Thailand for three months without a game plan (yes, she did that!), or coordinating a summer writing camp for YOU.

That’s right – the Young Alberta Book Society is thrilled to welcome aboard Lisa as the 2010 WordsWorth coordinator. And she’s already jumped in with both feet.

2010 might be her first year at Kamp Kiwanis, but Lisa is no stranger to mentoring youth – or letting her creativity flow. As a former teacher – and writing coach – she has the chops (and then some) to push you to your creative limits.

Together with a spectacular (not to mention, familiar) line-up of super talented Alberta literary artists, she’s excited to help you learn to wield your writerly weapon. But most of all, Lisa is looking forward to being smack dab in the centre of a literary arts vortex where for one week, some of Alberta’s best young (and older) talent will live and breathe in creative sync.

Excited to meet Lisa? Book an adventure with the Young Alberta Book Society this summer and be a part of WordsWorth 2010 .

Instructors gearing up for 2010 WordsWorth

2010-03-15T11:18:00.002-06:00

Past WordsWorthians will be sure to welcome back many familiar faces in 2010, but the Young Alberta Book Society is pleased to announce some new names to the summer camp roster as well.

Like Tololwa Mollel - storyteller extraordinaire. Tololwa is the award-winning author of more than 15 children's books and several plays. His stories have been published in Canada, the U.S., Australia, Britain, South Africa and Tanzania where he was born.

We're still firming up the instructor line-up, but we can already share that Tololwa will be joined by Carolyn Pogue, Faye Reineberg Holt, Joseph Simons, Mark Kozub, David A. Poulsen, Brendan McLeod, Kim Firmston, Joan Marie Galat, Barbara North, Jason Long, Jacqueline Guest, Margaret Macpherson, Sheri-D Wilson, Steve Jodoin and Trevor Nugent-Smith of One World Drum.

Whew! That's an exhausting and amazing line-up of Alberta literary talent!

Excited to start learning? Why not register now ?

Check back weekly for all the WordsWorth news - including biographies on the people who will mentor you through your summer writing experience!

Scratch your writing itch this summer

2010-02-11T11:39:00.008-07:00

Hey you! Got an inkling to write? Come and get your WordsWorth - a camp for youth who like to write, just about anything.

Spend a week in beautiful Bragg Creek, Alberta, with your favourite instructors. Pen a pocketful of poems. Dilly-dally over decadent details. Create a catastrophic climax. Swashbuckle a swimmingly good swindle. Fantasize a fantabulous fantasy. Play and write, you playwrights!

Over the next few months, we'll update this blog and the Young Alberta Book Society website with this year's instructor roster, important announcements, or upcoming deadlines.

But we can already tell you this much:

Pen these dates in your calendar now!

July 4-9 (ages 12-14)
July 11-17 (ages 15-19)

Past presenters have included playwright Marty Chan, singer/songwriter Karla Anderson, award-winning comedy writer Barbara North - and many, many more talented literary artists.

Add the WordsWorth blog and YABS website to your bookmarks for the most updated information - oh, and tell a friend, too!

Questions? Never been to WordsWorth before? Leave your question in the comments below, or email Dawn at communications@yabs.ab.ca .