Writers Club for Teens
2:30 p.m. last Sunday of the month
Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Rd., Johns Creek
770-360-8820
While the library has long been the bastion of readers, it can also be a place for those who aspire to create the books, papers and magazines that line the shelves. At the Northeast/Spruill Oaks branch of the Atlanta-Fulton system in Johns Creek, young writers have a special haven where they can hone their skills, get feedback and develop creative imaginations.
On the last Sunday of the month, the NESO Writers Club draws anywhere from four to 14 middle and high schoolers who swap their latest material and pick up writing tips. But they also get the chance to connect on a personal level with other teens, said instructor Sarah Calhoun.
“It’s not just a place where they can share writing and get feedback or advice; it’s also become a place where they can open up to one another through poetry, song lyrics, an essay for a competition or a novel,” said the Johns Creek mom. “It gives them a chance to improve their writing and to share what a lot of kids their age are going through.”
The idea of a teen writers club grew from a conversation between Kay Clark, the branch’s young adult librarian, and Calhoun, who had been a writing tutor at Kennesaw State when she was studying for a psychology degree.
“We got to chatting about the importance of writing for kids, and Sarah told me about her experience as a student tutor,” said Clark. “Together we hatched a plan for a six-week Creative Writing for Teens series, and the kids who participated were so dedicated that we knew that we had to keep it going. So was born the monthly Writers Club for Teens.”
The first creative series debuted in 2012 with 18 students, and Calhoun followed it with a session on writing research papers and another creative class. But there was also an interest in continuing with a workshop-style program.
“They can bring their writing, get help from their peers and discuss writing principles,” said Calhoun. “It’s very informal, and I try to be less of a teacher and more of a facilitator. If they don’t bring anything they’ve written, we talk about what they’re struggling with or work on character development. It’s exciting because every time is something different.”
Rachael Jones, 14, has attended the various writing sessions and has been a regular member of the Sunday workshops since last summer. The 8th grader admits that, at first, talking about her fantasy fiction and poetry with strangers was scary.
“I didn’t know anybody there, so the first day was hard, but it did get more comfortable,” she said. “When I presented my writing, I was scared about the feedback, but I’m glad I did it. Most of the stuff I need to work on is the tiny details, and I need to polish it and make it better. I also like hearing what other people my age are writing.”
Calhoun grounds the group in the theory that everyone can be a good writer. “It’s a skill you work on, but it can also be fun. Many kids don’t see it that way, but once they understand that with writing, you get to be in charge and you manipulate your reader, it becomes a fun process. And it doesn’t feel like school; this is a fun place to be.”
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