KWLS Young Writers Studio

July 2, 2018

Emily, Victor, Judy, Lori and George

Victor LaValle







KWLS Young Writers Studio

One of the great joys that I have living in Key West is the opportunity to be a board member for the wonderful Key West Literary Seminar. Each January it gives Kathy and I the amazing opportunity to rub elbows with some of the preeminent literary figures in the world and is always an incredible experience. The seminar hosts the annual gathering of writers in Key West each January, but recently has expanded the mission to include more outreach into the local community, a move that I wholeheartedly support.





Rosi,  Kerry, Kathy and Diane

This summer, under the guidance of our Executive Director Arlo Haskell, our teachers the amazing Kate Peters and Nick Vagnoni and perhaps most importantly our visiting writer Victor LaValle, a dozen young students from the Keys High Schools were the first ever class of the Young Writers Studio.

Victor and Kate

Kate, Arlo and Nick

The free five day immersive program was open to any Freshman- Junior student at any Monroe County high school and twelve applicants were accepted for the first class, “Islands in the Works”. Students spent five full days exploring Key West and learning about authors who have lived and worked here, including Ernest Hemingway, Elizabeth Bishop, José Martí, and others. The program emphasizes journaling, close observation, and site-specific writing exercises, together with constructive feedback and group critique.

Kate

Victor

Daily classroom exercises were paired with visits to local historic sites such the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum; and investigations of rare archival material at the Monroe County Public Library. Site-specific writing exercises took participants from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, and as far west as Fort Jefferson and Dry Tortugas National Park during a special daylong excursion.

Student with Judy Blume



Each afternoon featured a writing workshop led by esteemed visiting writer Victor LaValle. A former Guggenheim fellow and member of the writing faculty at Columbia University, LaValle’s most recent novel is “The Changeling”, which was selected as one of the ten best books of 2017 by” USA Today” and “Time magazine”. Together with LaValle, a skilled and caring group of KWLS educators supported the young writers as they explored the relationship between identity and place and discovered the joys and challenges of the writing process.

Stdents and their families





The theme of the first Young Writers Studio references James Merrill’s poem, “Island in the Works.” Written from his Elizabeth Street home in the 1980s, the poem is rooted in natural phenomena and vernacular language that are distinctive to Key West. Full of observed imagery, a relish for language, and a great sense of humor, the poem represents the ethos of the Young Writers Studio.

Arlo



Kathy and I brought our young neighbor CJ for the final event of the Young Writers Studio a reading featuring each of the young students as well as a reading and book signing from Mr. LaValle at Judy Blume and George Cooper’s wonderful local bookstore, Books and Books at the Studios of Key West. The readings were spectacular and we deem the initial effort a complete success.

Victor LaValle and CJ



This week also brought Kathy and I to the Pier at Higg’s Beach, though still closed due to damage from last summer’s Hurricane Irma, the Pier still provides a fun opportunity to snorkel from shore and there are all sorts of large fish, coral and other critters living along the remnants of the previous old pier and the pilings provide habitat for all manner of wildlife and it is all mere blocks from our house.











We have been trying to take more advantage of the island community we live in, especially during the summer when the water is warm and calm. The beach is so close, we need to take advantage of it and the fun beach floaties which we have, but seem to seldom use.