Project Write, Inc. for Young Writers

Young Screenwriters’ Conference 2023
Saturday, April 1
9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Keynote Speaker Christopher C. Rogers brings his experience:

• Showrunner & screenwriter, Halt and Catch Fire & Paper Girls
• Graduate of Handley High School & University of Mary Washington

Participants can look forward to:

• A day of hands-on learning in scriptwriting and other media fields, such as documentaries, virtual reality, and esports. 
• Industry professionals joining with a community of like-minded students and teachers.

The $15 registration includes:

• Keynote session & breakout sessions.
• Lunch on campus at Shenandoah University.
• A Conference t-shirt*, notebook, and pen.
• Optional activities in conjunction with Virginia Emerging Filmmakers’ Festival at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.

*Registration must be received by March 1.

This low registration fee is made possible through our partnership with The National Endowment for the Arts and the Marion Park Lewis Foundation.

Project Write Day Camp

Project Write is back in person! The annual day camp for young writers grades 4-12 will be held on the Shenandoah University campus from June 26-29, 2023. All information is on the website.

PWI has continued the Second Saturday series–workshops offered each month, online, and in a variety of genres and topics.

Check out the recent panel discussion held in July 2021 to learn more about Project Write.

The Young Screenwriters’ Conference was a huge success on Saturday, October 12, 2019.  We were delighted to work with the giant killer Joe Kelly of Man of Action writer’s group.
Remember: I hunt giants. I find giants. I kill giants!

This event was made possible by a grant from the Marion Park Lewis Foundation, Virginia Film, Alamo Drafthouse, Four Color Fantasy, PWI, the SVWP, and the Media & Communications Department at Shenandoah University.

In 2019 Project Write students worked with these authors:

• Dashka Slater author, storyteller, and journalist. She is the author of nine books for children and adults, including the acclaimed 2017 releases The Antlered Ship, Escargot and The 57 Bus. Her book Dangerously Ever After is currently being made into an animated film by Fantasiation Studios. A recipient of a Creative Writing Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, Slater is also an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in such publications as Newsweek, Salon, The New York Times Magazine and Mother Jones.
  
• Adam Gidwitz is the bestselling author of A Tale Dark and Grimm, In a Glass Grimmly, and The Grimm Collection, as well as The Empire Strikes Back: So You Want to Be a Jedi?, Newbery Honored novel, The Inquisitor’s Tale, and brand new series, The Unicorn Rescue Society. He is also the creator of the podcast, Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest—available on Apple Podcasts!
• Leslie Connor is the author of middle grade books, All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook, Crunch, and Waiting for Normal, and books for teens, The Things You Kiss Goodbye and Dead on Town Line, as well as the picture book, Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel.

The Teacher Consultants of the Shenandoah Valley Writing Project are proud to have provided Young Writer’s Workshops since 2005 for the children of the Shenandoah Valley.

In 2013, the teachers formed a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to better serve the youth of the area.  Under this designation, the newly formed enterprise can accept your tax-deductible contributions and grant funding to expand opportunities for underserved students in our area. We invite you to visit our website and donate.

Project Write partners with the Children’s Literature Workshop every year in June. As teachers learn from award-winning authors, our young writers have the chance to write with the outstanding authors who visit each year.

In 2016, students worked with authors Jewell Parker Rhodes (Ninth Ward and other award-winning titles), Lisa Graff (2013 National Book Award Nominee), Jacqueline Davies (The Lemonade War series), and Grace Lin (Newberry Honor Where the Mountain Meets the Moon).

In 2015, Newberry Medal winner Kwame Alexander met with 40 young, aspiring writers and invited them to say “Yes!” when the world says “No.” Kwame was both inspiring and inspired.  In his words, the students were “Awesome!” joining in both writing and sharing.  Kwame spent time signing the students’ copies of his award-winner Crossover and took pictures with the group.  A memorable morning.

Campers in 2016 worked with Matt de la Pena and
Wendelin Van Draanen among others.

Project Write, Inc. has an account at Amazon Smile.  You can donate to our students as you shop!  Just follow the link, choose Project Write, Inc., and then effortlessly improve the literacy for scores of young people.

Our phenomenal Young Writers Workshop was visited by six authors and students learned from everyone of them.  See our young writers at work at Project Write

Project Write  

The Young Writers of the SVWP have been writing away beginning in 2006 under the leadership of Erin Hubbard and Patrick McCarthy.  Project Write, Inc. is now lead by Rhonda Lancaster, President.

In 2013 the YW group spun off into a Non-Profit called Project Write, Inc.

Connect with the Project Write website to keep up with all of the Young Writers’ activities.