You may not be a classroom teacher, but if you know a student who could benefit from some fanciful and friendly writing instruction we’d still love to see him or her at 826LA! Workshops are free 826LA classes offered in a variety of writing-friendly spaces accessible to us during evenings, weekend mornings, and other “off hours.” Each workshop is led by an instructor with professional expertise in the field, and our project-based model means that no matter whether the class concerns standup comedy or rock operas, something cool will be produced by the final minute. We like to think that our workshops are some of the best fun, free opportunities in Los Angeles, and we showcase them occasionally on the blog.
Here’s a look at some of what’s on the calendar for the next few months, listed with appropriate ages for each class:
(Mini) Words, Spoken on January 28 (12-18) In this intensive one-day workshop, students discover and harness their voices via the medium of spoken word poetry. The workshop will culminate with a mini spoken word slam.
Between the Lines: Intensive Comics on multiple dates (8-14) At their core, comics are just words and pictures, but in the hands of a master, they become something more. At this workshop, students will learn techniques that take their work beyond stick figures with speech bubbles.
Heroes and Villains on February 5 (8-14) Inspired by examples from classic comics, students will tap their own experience and transform their own lives into comic book adventures, complete with origin stories and action scenes.
Wake Up! Caffeinated Writing on multiple dates (8-14) Some folks need a chemical jolt of caffeine just to crawl out of bed. What if we could inspire them to run out the door instead? In this workshop, students will write inspirational stories and essays to inspire people to wake up and do big things.
World Builders: Creating Fantasy from Everyday Life on March 17 (8-12) Real life can be mundane–if only there were something fantastic lurking just beyond our reach, in an unopened letter or an applewood door. Workshop students tell us what might happen.
You can find comprehensive information on our workshops for young writers here, with a link to a full class list on our workshops-only calendar.
