University of Arkansas Writing Camp Develops Confident Authors

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - High school students who love to write will spend five intensive days honing their craft and learning from experienced writers at the Kidswrite II writing camp held July 19-23 at the University of Arkansas. If this second year of Kidswrite II is like the last, the young authors will return to daily life more confident in their writing and with an anthology of work produced during the camp.

On Thursday, July 22, Kidswrite II features presentations in the ROTC building on the UA campus by two local professionals. Robert Ford, author of "The Student Conductor," will speak at 11:45 a.m. about writing a novel. At 1 p.m., Springdale art teacher Liz Matthews will show campers techniques for illustrating their anthologies.

Kidswrite II, which enrolls students from grades 8 through 12, grew out of the Kidswrite camp for younger students. Both programs are a spin-off of the Northwest Arkansas Writing Project-founded by Samuel Totten, professor of middle-level education - which brings together educators to hone and share successful techniques for teaching writing. Two Writing Project graduates, Betsy Penix and Lynette Terrell, organize Kidswrite II.

The Northwest Arkansas Writing Project is affiliated with the National Writing Project and has been organized locally by Totten since 1996.