Léna is also a Regional Manager for Writopia Lab whose mission is to foster joy, literacy, and critical thinking in kids and teens from all backgrounds through creative writing.

"Well, the question is, what do you want to believe? Do you want to live in a world where things are possible, or in one where they aren't?" Cin, Edges.

Monday, June 25, 2012

I'm A Writopian and I Know It . . .

Sometimes I believe that I love running workshops more than I love writing itself. I love watching young authors - like these two - catch the writing bug, finding out who they are in the process. They are constantly surprising and inspiring me. They challenge me to keep up my practice of my own writing. (Yes, I have to practice what I preach - thus the constant plugging away at manuscripts.)

Today I start running half-day creative writing camps that run weekly throughthe summer. Hooray! Last Thursday we wrapped up the Writopia "school" year with a reading at the Mt. Kisco Library with our biggest turnout, (and an appearance by the mayor!) and in our last festive "last" workshops, our writers set themselves to work on some parodies. (These kids are obsessed with these parodies of pop songs on YouTube. Who am I kidding - kids? I love parodies too! So why not write our own?)

Of course, they were brilliant, and I have to share a couple. Permission has been granted by two of my Saturday writers.


I have seen 12 year old Beatrix almost every Saturday for the past year and a half. Her energy is boundless, and because of that, the two of us are constantly inventing new writing games and twists on old ones. She mostly writes fantasy and dystopian (with a hint of sarcasm here and there), but lately has tried her hand at poetry and has revealed a truly wonderful philosophical nature. 

She looks at me, dead serious. "Has anyone done I'm Sexy and I Know It?"


"Nope," I said. "It's all yours." We had Writopia versions of songs by Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, New Direction, Nicky Minaj, as well as the theme songs from Barney and Elmo's World.

Annabel has been in our Saturday group since September, the beginning of sixth grade. Her prose is languid and fluid. She was very excited at the prospect of playing with the lyrics of Call Me, Maybe.



So here is, first: I'm A Writopian and I Know It, by the one and only Beatrix Roberts, followed by: Write Something, Maybe, by Annabel Kelly.


I'M A WRITOPIAN & I KNOW IT



When I write a book, I get this feeling like my character's good, yeah
I read to the beat, ideas running through my head for a new story
This is how I roll, gotta have a pen and pencil to jot down notes
I’m addicted to writing and you know I know it
And I stare at the computer screen and see it glowing
Ah, I like to write stories
Ah, I like to write stories
Ah, I like to write stories
Yeah, I’m creative
When I walk into class, yeah
This is what I see
Everybody’s writing their own story
I got passion for writing and I ain’t afraid to show it
Show it
Show it
I'm a writopian and I know it
Read about it
Read about it
Write
Read
Type
Brainstorm
Ideas
Yeah
Write
Read
Type
Brainstorm
Ideas
Yeah
Write a book, yeah
Write a book
I'm a writopian and I know it
Yeah, when I’m at the mall
I’m at the bookstore reading new releases
And when I’m at the beach
I’m lying in the shade typing new sentences
This is how I roll, typing out words
In all my spare time
We headed class
Baby don’t be nervous
I got plenty ideas to share with y’all

 


WRITE SOMETHING, MAYBE

your hands are typing
computer screens,
full of fun words
story wall
is so awesome!

whats your next story about?

(chorus)
hey i like to write
and my stories are crazy!
but Léna loves them
so write something maybe?
 

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