May 12, 2011

Registration open for Young Writers Workshop

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Registration is open for the annual Southern Illinois University Carbondale Young Writers Workshop -- celebrating its lucky 13th anniversary this year.

The Young Writers Workshop is an intensive program open to high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. Participants work closely with SIUC faculty and graduate students in writing workshops, panel discussions and readings. The Department of English and the creative writing program, in cooperation with the Division of Continuing Education, offer this workshop camp.

The workshop is June 21-25. Participants may choose to stay on campus or commute. Registration is on a first come, first served basis. The enrollment limit is 30 students. The lead instructors are Workshop Director Allison Joseph, also the head of the creative writing master of fine arts program at SIUC, and graduate student Nick Ostdick.

Students should submit a writing sample with their registration -- three poems, or three pages of prose. Joseph said the writing sample does not affect admission to the workshop, but does help the workshop instructors place students in appropriate groups. Writing samples do determine scholarship winners, who receive a reduced tuition cost for the workshop.

The resident camper fee is $300 and the commuter camper fee is $250. Advanced registration is required, along with an $80 non-refundable deposit. The registration deadline is June 3.

To register or for more information contact the Division of Continuing Education at 618/536-7751 or visit the website at www.dce.siu.edu. The mailing address is: Division of Continuing Education, Mail Code 6705, Washington Square C, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill., 62901-6705.