We all started writing at different points in our lives. Some of us were older, some younger, so we at Lighthouse have tried our best to make the materials necessary for improving skills and building community available to writers of all ages. And this is the goal of the Young Writers Program: to connect children and teens to literature, new friends, and a writing community. Our workshops, whether at Lighthouse or at one of our dozens of partnering sites, are taught by published and award-winning authors and are designed to foster creativity and self-expression and to empower youth to find their voices through creative writing.
If you’re a teen or have teens in your life, our Young Authors Collective has options for both in-person and online participation. The Denver cohort of YAC meets in person at Lighthouse Writers Workshop each Wednesday from 4:30-6:30 PM MDT from September to May. YAC is a great option for writers ages 14-18 who want to build in-person connections with peers as well as participate in occasional special projects and/or events with the Lighthouse staff and community. Past participants have shared that the Denver cohorts have been known for their loud laughter and love of snacks.
The online cohort of YAC, (formerly the Remote Writing Cohort) meets via Zoom each Thursday from 5:00-7:00 PM MDT September to May. This group offers teens ages 14-18 an opportunity to connect with fellow writers across the United States and around the globe. Members enjoy connecting with each other through video/audio and an active chat as well as supporting each other on individual writing goals. The virtual Young Authors Collective cohort is known for its ability to pen powerful puns, flex around tech issues and jokester siblings, and Zoom in from wherever they may be on a given week.
Instructors often make or break a learning experience, and at Lighthouse, we pride ourselves on the positive feedback we continuously receive from our participants about our instructors, and vice versa. Our in-person instructor, Gary Garrison was raised in the mountains of Colorado. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado Denver, an MFA from Arizona State University, and a master’s in journalism from the University of Missouri. In addition to teaching English and creative writing to undergraduate students at ASU, he has worked at a language academy in China, in secondary schools in Spain, and at newspapers across the U.S.
Virtually, our instructor Jesaka Long explores themes of found family, identity, and the radical idea of being loved for who you are in their writing. Jesaka was selected and awarded the Daniel & Isa Shaw Scholarship twice for Aspen Summer Words juried memoir workshops and was a finalist for the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund grant for Memoir. Jesaka has also worked as a freelance editor and ghostwriter, editing books and penning speeches for leaders in Fortune 500 companies, celebrities, small business owners, and organizers. Humor is also an important aspect of their writing—and their teaching; raucous laughter is common in Jesaka’s classes.
Participating students have and continue to rave about their wonderful experiences in this program, some even stating that they “found some of the most beautiful and profound friendships [they] have ever known, and [they]’ve met several people who [they] intend to be close with for as long as [they’re] able”. Throughout the course of the few months these students are working with one another, they have the opportunity to try their hands at different genres, learn the importance of giving and receiving feedback, and engage in special projects with the Lighthouse community. A strong sense of community is created during these meetings, and many students stay in touch with both their peers and instructors. Upon the completion of their time in the Young Authors Collective, a student wrote this in their testimonial: “When I think about leaving, I’m reminded of the ending to the Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy says goodbye to her scarecrow--for it’s you, Lighthouse, that I’ll miss most of all.”
Applications for the fall semester are open through September 7, 2024, and details can be found under the Youth tab on our website, or by clicking this link. Spots are available for both returning students and first time students ages 14-18. While we understand that cost may be an obstacle for families looking into this program, we never want it to prohibit creative minds from finding an outlet, which is why Lighthouse offers Writerships for select writers looking to learn without the stress of cost. More information on Writerships and how to apply can be found on our website. We hope to see many youthful faces flood our applications for the Young Authors Collective, and that those who apply find themselves in a supportive setting where their creativity can flourish.
