JUNE 17 – 21st, 2019, Digging Deep: Unearthing the Heart of Your Character with Author Ingrid Palmer 

Ages 12 and UP, from 10 am – 2 pm at BookBar

During this week-long camp, we’ll focus on developing strong characters, writing with emotional intensity, and discussing literature that is gripping and relatable. We’ll talk about motivation, voice, conflict and pacing–all essential components of contemporary fiction–and engage in fun writing activities that will get us thinking about our characters in new ways. But mostly, we will write! This camp is for teens who want to take their story ideas or current WIP to a deeper level by unearthing their characters’ full range of emotions.

Ingrid Palmer is the author of All Out of Pretty (Creston Books 2018), a contemporary YA novel about a 16-year-old honors student who is forced to live with her drug-addicted mother and her mother’s dealer boyfriend. Ingrid has a Master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and is a graduate of the Denver Publishing Institute. She has worked as an editor-in-chief, an automotive journalist, a proofreader, and a bookseller. Originally from Ohio, Ingrid now lives in the Colorado mountains and is at work on her next young adult novel. Website: ingridpalmer.com, Twitter: @IngPalmer, Instagram: IngyPal, Facebook: ingridpalmerauthor.  

JULY 15th – 19th, 2019 HiFi – Scifi: Science Fiction Writing

Ages 8 – 12, from 10am – 2pm at BookBar

Time travel, rocket ships, clones. Alternate realities, bad tech, AI. Science experiments gone terribly wrong… In this summer camp, we’ll take our most daring what-ifs and lightning bolt them to life. Bring your mad scientist goggles and your best bot. Let’s get to work!

Debbie Vance imagines alternate realities daily and would like it if some of them were real. Her fiction has appeared in Catapult, The Masters Review, Black Warrior Review, and elsewhere. She’s at work on a collection of speculative stories.

Around August we will publish a book of your writing! We want you to see new things, think new thoughts, and write new stories to share with the world. Once your book has been published, Denver Writes will have a book release and reading party at Bookbar to celebrate! Copies will be available for purchase. More details to follow.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How much does camp cost? Parents: if this fee is a burden for you, we do offer sponsorships.

Camp cost is $300 for each student. We offer full and partial scholarships please inquire!

How long is camp? Can I live there?

Camp will be from 10-2, Monday – Friday for our BookBar Camps, with an end of camp party and reading to be announced shortly. It is important that you stick with us all five days. Please don’t show up more than 15 minutes before camp begins, or stay more than 15 minutes after camp ends.

Do I have to bring my own food?

No! BookBar will provide food the entire week! Of course, please let us know about any food allergies. And, please bring a water bottle each day.

Will we stay in the same place all of the time?

For this camp, we will stay at BookBar each day. We may take a quick walk around the neighborhood, though, so please be sure to dress comfortably and wear comfortable shoes you can walk in. Just in case, please don’t forget sunscreen! You should probably bring a backpack and an umbrella or parasol for extra protection from the elements.

Can I bring a friend/sister/brother/parent/pet?

We will take friends/sisters/brothers if they turn their own applications in on time, and convince us they really want to go. Parents, grandparents, guardians, and pets are not really part of this. Prepare yourself to meet new people! Oh– a warning. If cell phones become a problem, we will ask you to turn them off or not bring them. Be independent!

Who are the adults who will be hanging out with us?

The adults will be Denver Writes volunteers. Many of them will be teachers on summer break, high school or college students, or adults who just really like to write and hang out with kids. All of them will be fun and knowledgeable. Parents: our volunteers are background-checked and kids are never left alone with a volunteer in a private place. We are currently looking for students interested in becoming Denver Writes interns for Summer Camps, and beyond, email us if interested.

How many kids can participate, and how will those kids be chosen?

We would like to take all of the kids in the world who love writing, but we cannot yet make that happen. We will take the fifteen (15) kids who turn in their applications, completed, with tuition, and with really good answers to our questions, to Denver Writes as soon as possible. We’ll stop accepting applications once camp is full. If you don’t get in, we can add you to our wait list if you’d like.

Why do you ask for a writing sample, is it a competition? 

Not at all. We ask for a writing sample to ensure that the kids who are singing up know that we are a writing camp, and love to write! 

Where and how do I turn in my application?

What a great question! You can do one of three things:

1. You can mail it to us: PO Box 12256, Denver, CO 80212.
2. You can scan the application and email it to us: hello@denverwrites.org.
3. If you are really anxious or don’t trust the Post Office, you can email us and arrange to drop it off at BookBar (just make sure it’s in an envelope marked for Denver Writes).

How will I know if I my application is accepted?

We will call or email you one to two weeks after you submit your application to let you know if you will be one of our 15 writers or if you’re on our wait list.

If I get in, what comes next?

We will send you ANOTHER information packet a few weeks before camp, and we will probably email you, too. You’ll get to know us.

What is your cancellation policy? What if we win a trip to Disney World?

For camp, if you tell us you cannot come at least a week before camp begins, we will refund your tuition because we can give your spot to another kid. If you let us know less than a week before camp begins, then we will keep your payment (unless there’s an emergency, of course).

What if I have more questions?

We love questions! Email us at hello@denverwrites.org.