WriteCon26 is day to spark the imagination and inspire new creative writing projects for young writers in middle school and high school. Sessions exploring fiction, poetry, journalism, world building, and more! 

Sessions are held at MUSE Sturgeon Bay, 330 Jefferson St., and Door County Community Foundation, 222 N. 3rd Ave., downtown Sturgeon Bay. 

Registration is $50. Full scholarships are available. To request a scholarship, please email Artistic Director Jerod Santek.

 

SCHEDULE (subject to change)

 

9:30 am - 9:55 am

Orientation and Welcoming Remarks

 

10:00 am - 10:45 am

MIddle School Breakout Sessions at MUSE

• TBD
• It's Alive! Bringing Characters to Life with Chris Bower

High School Sessions at Door County Community Foundation

• Character Interrogator with Sally Collins
• Photo/Essay with Kevin O'Donnell

 

11:00 am - 11:45 am

Middle School Breakout Sessions: at MUSE

• Character Interrogator with Sally Collins
• Photo/Essay with Kevin O'Donnell

High School Breakout Sessions at Door County Community Foundation

• Content Creation with Tracey Langenbach
• TBD

 

11:45 am - 12:30 pm

Lunch: Bring Your Own! at MUSE

 

12:30 pm - 1:00 pm

Choose from a creative walk or playing word-related games

 

1:15 pm - 2:00 pm

 

Middle School Breakout Sessions at MUSE

• Worldbuilding with Rebecca Zornow
• And Then What Happened? Stories Come to Life with Chris Bower

High School Breakout Sessions: Door County Community Foundation

• Poetry with Abayo Animashaun
• Idea Generator with Ann Linquist

2:15 - 3:00 pm

Middle School Breakout Sesssions

• Poetry with Abayo Animashaun
• Idea Generator with Ann Linquist

High School Breakout Sessions

• Worldbuilding with Rebecca Zornow
• Journalism with Myles Dannhausen, Jr.

 

3:15 - 3:30 pm

Closing Remarks by Myles Dannhausen, Jr.

 

Session Descriptions

10 - 10:45 am Middle School Sessions

TBD

It's Alive! Bringing Characters to Life with Chris Bower

What if your main character was a retired pirate who now teaches sailing lessons, a ghost who is afraid of the dark, or a kid who dreams of being the first person to open a sandwich shop on Mars? In this session, we'll spend our time writing and meeting characters who are strange, funny, or completely ordinary. You can bring a character you already know or invent a new one on the spot. You'll discover what your character wants, what they're hiding, and what makes them impossible ro forget.

10 - 10:45 am High School Sessions

Character Interrogator with Sally Collins

No matter the genre, no matter the plot--the most important element carrying any story is its characters. How well do you know yours? In this session, we'll dive into our characters' motivations, of course, but also the smaller, finer nuances that make them feel like real people: their quirks, contradictions, fears, secrets, habits, and favorite shoe brand. Through fun, creative exercises, we'll dig deeper into who our characters are -- and discover how knowing them better can make our stories stronger.

Photo/Essay with Kevin O'Donnell

11 - 11:45 am Middle School Sessions

Character Interrogator with Sally Collins

No matter the genre, no matter the plot--the most important element carrying any story is its characters. How well do you know yours? In this session, we'll dive into our characters' motivations, of course, but also the smaller, finer nuances that make them feel like real people: their quirks, contradictions, fears, secrets, habits, and favorite shoe brand. Through fun, creative exercises, we'll dig deeper into who our characters are -- and discover how knowing them better can make our stories stronger.

Photo/Essay with Kevin O'Donnell

11 - 11:45 am High School Sessions

Content Creation: More than Reels on Instagram with Tracey Langenbach

A writing job that pays well! Ever wonder who writes the instructions for your favorite video games, the setup guides for the newest smartphones, or the safety manuals for rockets? They aren't programmers or scientists -- they are Technical Writers! Explore this well-paying field with a hands-on activity sure to have humorous results.

TBD

1:15 - 2 pm Middle School Sessions

Science Fiction and Fantasy Worldbuilding with Rebecca M. Zornow

Join book coach and bestselling author Rebecca M. Zornow for a session focused on building dynamic SFF worlds. Discuss what research to do before writing your story, how to steer clear or cliches, and ways to tie your ideas to a character-driven manuscript. This workshop in interactive and writers will start building in session. Just bring your idea!

 

And Then What Happened? Stories Come to Life with Chris Bower

What happens when your character wakes up to find the school bus has been replaced by a giant snail with wheels now driven by a gnat, or when the quiet neighbor next door turns out to be a spy? In this session, we'll drop our characters into exciting and surprising situations to see what they do next. You'll practice raising the stakes, making bold choices, and following your story wherever it wants to go.

1:15 - 2 pm High School Sessions

 

Poetry with Abayomi Animashaun

In this session, new writers will be introduced to the art and craft of poetry through a series of exercises that are designed to facilitate an intuitive understanding of  reading and writing poems. Writers can expect to working in a nurturing environment where writing is prioritized and experimentation is encouraged.

 

Idea Generator with Ann Linquist

Rise to the challenge of making something out of nothing! That creativity is in you -- come and find it!

 

2:15 - 3 pm Middle School Sessions

 

Poetry with Abayomi Animashaun

In this session, you will be introduced to some of the basics of poetry through a series of fun and engaging exercises. writers can expect to work in a nurturing environment, where writing is prioritized and experimentation is encouraged.

 

Idea Generator with Ann Linquist

Rise to the challenge of making something out of nothing! That creativity is in you -- come and find it!

2:15 - 3 pm High School Sessions

Science Fiction and Fantasy Worldbuilding with Rebecca M. Zornow

Join book coach and bestselling author Rebecca M. Zornow for a session focused on building dynamic SFF worlds. Discuss what research to do before writing your story, how to steer clear or cliches, and ways to tie your ideas to a character-driven manuscript. This workshop in interactive and writers will start building in session. Just bring your idea!

 

Journalism with Myles Dannhausen, Jr.