Aspiring and experienced writers of children’s fiction are invited to join a fun and informative three-week class beginning Thursday, Mar. 27, at 10 a.m. The workshop will be held via audio conference call and is offered through New River Community and Technical College.
“Some of the best and most entertaining reading material today is children’s fiction,” said workshop leader Belinda Anderson. “It’s a joy to write and your audience is enthusiastically responsive. I’ve never had an adult stand up after a presentation I made and yell, ‘Group hug!’ But that happened to me with a child who did just that in an elementary classroom.”
The one-hour sessions will include lectures, opportunities for participants’ questions and sharing, and group e-mail follow-up as needed. Participants can join using an internet conference call connection or by phone – no high-speed internet is required.
Anderson’s workshop will include traits and interests of the children’s novel reader and entertaining snippets from some of the best books in the genre, as well as tips and tools on writing for children and opportunities to write. The workshop is designed both for writers who would like to develop new ideas or hone their skills for current projects.
Anderson’s books include a fantasy novel for children, Jackson vs. Witchy Wanda. Read Aloud West Virginia chose to include her book for its recently published Read Around West Virginia map, which features such authors as Pearl S. Buck and Booker T. Washington. “This is the kind of story young readers will devour in one swift gulp … Its characters are unusual and well developed,” wrote reviewer Phyllis Wilson Moore.
Anderson has served as a judge of writing by children for both West Virginia Writers, Inc., and the West Virginia Library Commission. Learn more about Belinda and her work at www.BelindaAnderson.com.
The cost for the class is $95. The registration deadline is Feb. 28. After registering, participants will receive the conference call number and access codes.
New River CTC’s Workforce Education Division offers community education classes, workforce development programs, and customized training designed to meet the educational needs of southeastern West Virginia.
For information on upcoming classes or to register for the course, visit www.newriver.edu/community or contact Gloria Kincaid by calling 304-793- 6101 or emailing gkincaid@newriver.edu.