每日大赛

The 11th Annual Young Creative Writer’s Workshop

Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025
Strawberry Plains Campus
7201 Strawberry Plains Pike
Knoxville, TN 37914

(Please enter our main building through the sliding glass doors under the “Jenny and Randy Boyd Building” sign.)

If you have questions, please contact Professor Patty Ireland at paireland@pstcc.edu or call (865) 225-2340.

Sponsored by: 每日大赛; Library Services

Registration

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If you experience any problems with the form, please contact paireland@pstcc.edu.

About the Workshop

The YCWW is a free, day-long event open to the community, but specifically geared toward local high school, middle school and PSCC students who have an interest in creative writing. While we include the word “young,” note that ALL persons interested in creative writing are invited to the event!

This year’s theme is “Frames and Phrases,” and will focus on the blending of words with images (art, comics or photography).

Lunch, coffee, and pastries will be provided, along with the chance to win door prizes during the lunch period.

The official schedule of activities will be included below soon.

Students will have the opportunity not only to learn writing skills, but will also be able to tour the Strawberry Plains Campus and interact with professors, administrators and other students. At the end of the workshop, students will be able to perform or recite their original works; family members and teachers are invited to attend the showcase.

Planned Activities

Fiction and poetry writers may bring an original short story or poem. Songwriters may bring song lyric sheets/charts or a guitar (if you play and wish to perform at the Showcase). Students who do not have original work to share are still welcome!

• The keynote speaker/featured workshop leader is best-selling graphic novelist, Robert Gipe, author of the award-winning trilogy, Trampoline, Weedeater, and Pop, which won the Judy Gaines Young Book Award in 2021.
• Musical entertainment will be provided by the talented Thomas Family Band, a family group bringing alive the sounds of Appalachian Bluegrass.
• Workshops offered this year include fiction, traditional poetry, songwriting/performance poetry, publication, and a specialty workshop in blending text with images/art, all taught by luminaries such as Julia Watts, Dr. Anna Childs, Drema Bowers, Herb Rieth and Joseph Woods, aka Black Atticus, the former Poet Laureate of Knoxville.
• Terry Shaw, founder and editor at Howling Hills Publishing, will teach the publication workshop. Shaw has worked as a newspaper reporter, columnist, copywriter publicist, novelist, freelance book editor, and the content manager for a Fortune 500 company. He serves on the board of the Tennessee Mountain Writers and is a past president of the Knoxville Writers' Guild.
• Also featured that day will be a "Writer's Room" segment where attendees may interact one-on-one with our workshop leaders and other professional writers from the community.
• The "Appalachian Arts" space will feature artisans, craftspeople and interpreters who will offer attendees a glimpse of the rich culture of the area. If you have ever wanted to learn how to quilt a “story square” or to immerse yourself in area history, this is a great opportunity!
• At the end of the day, there will be a hosted "Showcase" where attendees may read/perform original works before an audience of peers, instructors and family members.

• Be part of the “Putting Words to Appalachia” station where you can choose a photo (alternatively, you can bring a photo of your own!) and create a short poem or narrative. You can then share your work on screen with our videographers!
• Create your own “Zine!” Publish your own “mini book” complete with art!

What to Bring

Fiction and poetry writers may bring an original short story or poem. Songwriters may bring song lyric sheets/charts or a guitar (if you play and wish to perform at the Showcase). Students who do not have original work to share are still welcome!

Schedule for 2025 YCWW

8:30 – 9:00: Check in (Strawberry Plains lobby)

9:00 – 10:00: Featured workshop with Robert Gipe – North Community Room, Library. (Note: All attend)

10:00 – 10:10: Break

10:10 – 11:10: Attendees choose between memoir/nonfiction workshop with Drema Bowers and traditional poetry with Anna Childs. (Classroom numbers TBA)

11:10 – 11:20: Break

11:20 – 12:20:  Attendees choose between song lyric writing/performance poetry with “Black Atticus” and fiction with Julia Watts. (Classroom numbers TBA.)

12:20 – 12:30: Break

12:30 – 1:45:  Lunch: Door prizes given away; Music by Thomas Family Band; Keynote by Robert Gipe. (CMA cafeteria downstairs.)

1:45 – 2:50: Fun activities in our Appalachian Arts Space! (Library)
“Create your own Zine” “Putting Words to Appalachia”; “Quilting Bee,” Make your own story square; “Writer’s Room”; Read your work for our videographers and be part of our Youtube videos! (Library.)

2:50 – 3:00: Break

3:00 – 4:00:  Attendees choose between publication with Terry Shaw and art workshop with Herb Rieth. (Classroom numbers TBA.)

4:00 – until we’re done:  Showcase! Read from your original works.  Note: 3-minute limit on readings. (Downstairs in the CMA cafeteria.)