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Summer Writing with Dream Keepers! by Rochelle Melander

Last night was awesome! The Dream Keeper Writing Circle met at Capitol Drive Library, and we wrote tall tales. I grew up hearing tall tales about such characters as Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. The 11 young writers who came had never heard of a tall tale—but they liked the idea of writing about something that wasn't quite true. I wish you could have heard the stories. We met footballs that turned into hungry monsters, trains that chased people, and stolen princesses. For the most part, the endings were happy. (Whew!) 

Come join us during July and August for Dream Keeper Writing Circle AND our wonderful Super Reader Writing Workshops.

Happy Writing,
Rochelle



Dream Keeper Writing Circle
Calling all young writers (ages 9-13)! The Dream Keeper Writing Circle will give you the opportunity to work on your writing project and share it with other young writers. Students will spend the first part of the session writing, with writing prompts and encouragement from author and writing coach Rochelle Melander. During the second half of the session, students will share these stories with each other, learning how to listen for key story elements and give helpful feedback.

July 7 and August 4, 2014
Capitol Library; 4:00-5:00 PM
3969 N. 74th Street

How to Be a Superhero in 6 Easy Steps
Super Reader Writer Workshop
Did you ever wonder how the Super Reader kids got their powers? Why doesn’t Dr. Brain Drain want kids to read? Come to this workshop and use your skills to write the backstory for your favorite Super Reader characters or even make up your own! Geared toward ages 6-12. 


July 21, 22, 23, 24, 2014
Mill Road Library; 4:00-5:00 PM
6431 N 76th Street

August 18, 19, 20, 21, 2014
Bay View Library; 4:00-5:00 PM
2566 S Kinnickinnic Avenue

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In 2004, I began attending a church in the heart of my city. During my first visit, I had a vision: I would teach writing to the young people in this place. I dismissed the thought. I’m too busy. It’s too hard. They wouldn’t be interested. But the visions persisted. Each time I sat in the pew, the dream would come. Finally, I accepted this vision as a calling. I shared the dream with others, but I didn’t believe it would come true. Then a friend asked, “What can you do right now to make this happen?” In the fall of 2006, I embarked on a writing journey with four young women from the church. We have named ourselves “Dream Keepers,” after a poem by Langston Hughes. Hughes believed that writers were the dream keepers of the community. We are! In addition, recent studies suggest that people who write down their deepest thoughts, feelings, and dreams are healthier, happier, and have better success achieving their goals. Every Saturday I meet with four or five young women. We talk and write....