Guest Post: Brian Falkner on Writing Camps for Kids

We recently featured Tristan Bancks' lineup of online writing courses for budding young scribes. 

In addition to this distance learning concept, there are also numerous in-class and out of school options to choose from. Here is one of our favourites by children's novelist, Brian Falkner.

‘Write Like an Author’ (WLAA) and ‘Draw Like an Artist’ (DLAA) are school holiday workshop programmes for kids who love to write or draw. 

Each expertly tailored camp allows them to draw on the extensive knowledge and first-hand experiences of award-winning, published authors and illustrators. Detailed, face-to-face, in-classroom instruction is provided through guided learning sessions and one-on-one mentoring.

Established in 2010 by award-winning Queensland author Brian Falkner, the three to four day programmes take young writers on a publishing journey, from the inception of an idea, through to the steps to publication. The tutors share tips and techniques from their intimate knowledge of the art of storytelling, while escorting kids through the process of story creation, covering all aspects of creative fiction writing and creating original visual narratives (in the DLAA course).

The aim of the programmes is to foster the next generation of published authors and illustrators by helping them realise and achieve their creative potential.

There are more opportunities now for young writers and artists to get published than ever before and these courses teach the skills and techniques to write and illustrate well-crafted, imaginative stories, perhaps even a novel.

These programmes cater for students from nine years and up, and there is a junior camp for younger writers. An Advanced Writing module is available to elevate super keen creators to the next level.

Numerous writing orientated games and fun literary-based activities along with one-on-one appraisals of works-in-progress where the authors and illustrators give individual advice to students on their writing and artistic creations ensure these camps are not only fun but rich in feedback that benefits each child’s creative development.

Typical comments from students include:
‘This camp was a whirlwind of fun and surprises!’
‘I loved everything from meeting new people to learning how to write.’
‘It (the camp) made writing easier for me and explained aspects of stories I didn't really understand.’

Teachers have commented:
‘It was a pleasure to see such joy on the faces of the students...’
‘The improvement in our students’ writing was real and measurable...’

‘Write Like an Author’ and ‘Draw Like an Artist’ content has also featured on the HOTA (The Home of the Arts, Gold Coast) school holiday programme. They are an authorised NSW Creative Kids provider, and are available as an in-term programme for schools. In fact, in addition to the various school holiday camps, the programme is run regularly in term at Queensland schools such at Brisbane Boys College, Rainworth State School and Wilston State School.

To learn more about each of these fantastic courses, visit the WLAA and DLAA websites. New camps at schools throughout the SE Queensland and NSW regions are scheduled every school holiday period. Camps are also run extensively throughout New Zealand.

www.writelikeanauthor.com

www.drawlikeanartist.com

Brian Falkner wanted to be an author ever since he was a child. It only took him thirty years to realise that dream. Along the way he worked as a reporter, advertising copywriter, radio announcer, graphic designer, and Internet developer. Now an award-winning author, Brian has had nineteen books published internationally. He is also an internationally acclaimed writing coach, running workshops and writing camps around Australia, New Zealand and the USA.

He lives in Queensland, Australia. Find out more at his website: www.brianfalkner.com