WGVU presents Write. Create. You.

Educate. Inform. Entertain.

The project consists of a series of creative writing workshops hosted in Grand Rapids Public Schools throughout the school year. Each month, one school will host six workshops with six different instructors. Workshop instructors consist of local authors, performers and other writing professionals. Students will learn about everything from Poetry Slams to character development to comic book creation.

The project is facilitated through WGVU and The LOOP, the after school program hosted throughout many Grand Rapids Public Schools. The LOOP has tutoring and mentoring opportunities, and offers the kids several field trips throughout the year to local venues such as the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the Grand Rapids Ballet, and Opera Grand Rapids. The project was created by WGVU, The LOOP and Ryan Hipp, a writer and author from the Grand Rapids area.

WGVU received a $12,000 grant from the National Center for Outreach to facilitate this project in 2005. The program was so successful during its first year, that WGVU was able to secure funding from Meijer and Chase Banks to continue and expand the program for the 2006 – 2007 school year.

Workshops are held twice a week at one of five schools. Any student that participates in The LOOP can sign up to take part in a workshop. Each session is limited to 20 – 30 students.

We have several instructors currently involved in the project, including:

Alisha Blondeel – Grand Rapids Performance Poet

Scott Cramton – Grand Rapids Writer & Head Writer for The Haunt

James Dixon - Battle Creek Poet

Monica Harris – Kalamazoo Author

Leslie Helakoski – Lawton Author

Janet Heller – Portage Author

Ryan Hipp – Grand Rapids Author and Illustrator

Kevin Kammeraad – Grand Rapids Author and Performer

Kristin Wolden Nitz – Holland Author

Tracey Smith – Kalamazoo Poetry Slam Master

Sue Stauffacher – Grand Rapids Author

Tom Woodruff – Fenwick Author

If you are interested in becoming an instructor, please contact Emily Maurin at maurinem@gvsu.edu or 616-331-6785.

Check back frequently for updates!

Updated 02/26/08
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Also, check out last year's
Write. Create. You. web page
HERE.

Updated 05/24/07

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Are you part of The LOOP? Have you attended a Write. Create. You. workshop? If so, we want to see your work! Show WGVU and the rest of West Michigan what you’ve created. Click HERE to submit your story, poem, comic book or other writing project to WGVU. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number in case we need to get in touch with you. You could see your writing featured here on wgvu.org or even on WGVU TV!

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