MightyWriters

“I like myself better when I’m writing regularly.”

—Willie Nelson

“When I grow up I want to be a little boy.”

—Joseph Heller

One of the best known proponents of putting graphic novels on library shelves is Katharine “Kat” Kan, who has been advocating for comics in schools for over fifteen years.

“I saw how the boys loved finding comics in the library,” Kan told Publishers Weekly recently, “and when they found out that a lady old enough to be their mom liked comics, they realized librarians did care about what they liked. It all started from there… I think comics should be used as more than literacy tools. They provide a wonderful springboard for creative writing, for art, for use in science and social studies, even math.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Publishers Weekly
Graphic Novels: Core Collection

“Writing is thinking on paper.”

—William Zinsser

Monday Afterschool Program: 3pm.
Check our calender for writing workshops.

“Words are, of course, the most powerful
drug used by mankind.” —Rudyard Kipling

To the Beat, Y’all (Ages 8-10)
Karas Lamb
Sun. 1-2:45pm
Jan. 23 and 30; Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27

Learn how to rap! Through a series of themed writing sessions, we’ll put rhythm and rhyme to our thoughts about family, neighborhoods and friends. Take your poetic flair to new and exciting heights with the addition of instrumental music and rhythmic group performance. Karas Lamb, a graduate of the Writing for Film and Television Program at The University of the Arts, is a writer with an ear for great music. Together, we’ll make our own raps and show the world our skills!

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Ms. Write Now (Ages 10-12)
Joanna Grim
Tues. and Thurs. 6-7:30pm
Jan. 4, 6, 11, 13, 18 and 20

Consider this workshop the little sister to our popular “Girl Power Poetry.” We’ll read great female writers across genres and practice writing poetry, fiction and nonfiction of our own. As inspiration, we’ll read selections from the writing of Jamaica Kincaid, Gail Tsukiyama, Virginia Wolf, Dorothy Parker, Arundhati Roy, Zadie Smith and others. Join us for this twice-weekly intensive power-writing workshop!

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Writing My Neighborhood (Ages 11-13)
Sam Allingham
Monday 6-7:30pm
Jan. 24 and 31; Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28

What does it mean to be from somewhere? How do you fit into your neighborhood and surroundings? Do you blend in or stand out? Together, we’ll move from the basics of what our neighborhood looks, smells and sounds like into expressing more complex questions like, “What’s my route?” Where do you go and what spots do you avoid? Who do you talk to and who don’t you talk to?

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Act Out Loud
(Ages 11-13)
Kenya Gayles
Tuesdays 6-8pm
Feb. 1, 8, 15 and 22; Mar. 1, 8, 22 and 29; Showcase April 5

Do you love the limelight? Is there nothing better than being the center of attention? In school, are teachers constantly asking you to get back in your seat? If so, this is the workshop for you! Learn how to ”Act Out Loud” with Mighty Writer Kenya Gayles. We’ll clear the MW studio for these winter evening classes that promise lilting laughter, frantic fun and crazy characters of your own invention! All participating students will join us for a final community showcase of their original work.

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Sports Blogging
(Ages 12-14)
Sam Watson
Tuesdays 6-8 p.m.
Feb. 1, 8, 15 and 22; Mar. 1 and 8

Does sports talk get you heated? When you’re in a restaurant, do your eyes wander to the game on the tube? Do you have an app on your phone that tells you when your team scores? Learn how to write sports stories and bring your opinions to the blogosphere with longtime Mighty Writer volunteer Sam Watson. We’ll talk about branding ourselves as sports personalities and launch our blog online in weeks five and six.

To sign up for any workshop, call or email
Program Director Rachel Loeper:
267.239.0899
rloeper@mightywriters.org

P.S. More to come!

Comic Madness
Ages 9-12
Tuesdays, 6-7:30pm: Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26 and Nov. 9, 16,
Learn techniques for crafting a narrative—pacing, story-boarding, page layout and cover art. By the end of these six sessions, you’ll have produced your very own comic book individually (or collectively in a small group). Come join the ranks of our Mighty Comic Artists.

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Girl Power Poetry
Ages 13-15
Sundays, 6-8pm: Oct. 17, 24, 31 and Nov. 7, 14, 21
Jaime Hunter and Sheena Strawter-Anthony introduce young teenage girls to a variety of female African-American and Latina modern poets. Discussions on gender equality, motherhood and urban life will be explored. This workshop seeks to inspire literacy—reading, writing, listening, speaking, an appreciation and understanding of poetry and a sense of self-accomplishment.

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Hot News Now
Ages 13-15
Mondays, 6-8pm: Oct. 18, 25 and Nov. 1, 8, 15 and 22
Get bylines in local publications while working with top-notch journalist and Temple prof George Miller, returning for his second Mighty Writers workshop. We’ll talk about the kind of news that matters to us and then make sure that people in Philadelphia get to read it.

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Sportswriting Is Back!
Ages 15-17
Tuesdays, 6-8pm: Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26 and Nov. 9, 16
With Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Annette John-Hall, we’ll discuss the hottest topics in sports and learn what makes a sports story POP! Learn trade secrets about how to get pro athletes to open up in an interview and to write a sports story with flair and style.

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Heads and Tales (ages 9-11)
Linda Garfield
Sun. Oct. 24, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
In this kids’ version of Linda Garfield’s adult workshop, “Self Portraits and Life Stories,” students aged 9-11 use multimedia like ribbon, buttons, magazines and other collage elements to create self portraits. They’ll also write short versions of their own life stories. Ms. Garfield is a local printmaker and mixed media artist.

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Winter Weather Watch (ages 5-7)
Sundays 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Nov. 7, 14, 21; Dec. 5, 12
Our youngest Mighty Writers are invited to get excited about reading, writing and watching the sky in this interdisciplinary and imaginative workshop. We’ll start off by reading “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” by Judi Barrett and learn how to use simile, metaphor and other literary devices to talk about the weather. Each week, we’ll consider the weather through one of the five senses: sight, touch, sound, smell or taste and produce an imaginative weather forecast of our own.

To sign up for any workshop, call or email
Program Director Rachel Loeper:
267.239.0899
rloeper@mightywriters.org

P.S. More to come!