UPDATE: Make sure you sign up for the upcoming narrative writing workshops -- March 13 and March 20 -- below or by email to gg, Katy or Erik. This is a great opportunity! Spaces are limited! (Online follow-up after workshops)

UPDATE: We'd like to have a list of schools that participated. Did yours? Please let us know in comments below or send gg an email.
Vermont Writes Day was featured on WCAX in advance story featuring Winooski Middle School! Thanks to WCAX! (If your school participated today, add a comment below or send us an email: ggevalt@youngwritersproject.org) ...If you want to submit work you create on this day, log in here, "Create a Newspaper Entry" and choose "general writing" keyword. or post it with your firstname, last initial and school on vermontwrites.ywpschools.net (no login necessary)

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 is Vermont Writes Day, a day for schools, teachers, students, administrators and staff to STOP what they are doing and write for SEVEN minutes. Here are three prompt ideas for you to use, but feel free to write about anything you'd like.

• Purple. Put this phrase in a story, poem or essay: "I've never seen such a beautiful, deep shade of purple ..."
• Afghanistan. Write about what comes to mind when you hear that word.
• Surprise. Write a story that starts with this line: "I had the surprise of my life when I opened the door and saw . . . "

UPDATE: 1.12.09: Thanks for your responses -- keep them coming, either below or via email.
As we consider who will be on our Core Group, let me say that we want to involve anyone and everyone in this process in one way or another. All of your voices WILL be heard. Here are two quick things you can do to help:

• Go online and surf. What Web sites do you find fun, interesting or engaging either because of what happens on the site, what you can do on the site or because of the way it is laid out. Criteria: Sites should be focused on youth expression, community, social action and multi-media.
• Encourage a few folks to participate in this process who are NOT involved in YWP? One below suggested a reader who doesn't like writing... what about an athlete or an actor or a visual artist or a debater or someone engaged in community service or someone who's awesome at a trade -- metal working or carpentry -- or someone who's into video or lighting or someone into computers. We're talking fame and fortune here, guys. (kidding) But actually it's an opportunity for them to design something that might be interesting to them.

I am announcing a new project. And I am looking for volunteers. Consider this a journalism project. Consider it also a project to the lay the ground work for the next generation of youngwritersproject.org

As many of you know, we've been noodling on how to take this site, and this project, to the next level. Frankly, we've been so busy that we really haven't had the time to give YWP's future the attention it needs.

So I come to you. I'd like to assemble a team comprised of you and some sharp adults -- journalists, writers & artists, digital educators and software engineers -- to figure out what YWP should become.

This team will do the following:

1. Research: Through online research, interviews with peers and experts and surveys, determine what great ideas are being done or haven't yet been developed.
2. With that research, brainstorm concepts for the next generation of youngwritersproject.org
3. Focus ideas and research into a vision and detailed plan.
4. Develop and test prototype; document ideas and planned programs.
5. Raise money and implement.

It sounds a bit more ominous than it is. Your parts will be divided on your expertise and interests. We are going to work on the theory that many heads make light -- and fast -- work.

We are looking not only for you, but perhaps students you know who are not involved with YWP. We are looking for writers, techies, artists, athletes, dramatists, civic activists and a few folks who are downright bored with school but might be intrigued to engage in a project they might like. Talk to them about it.

We will have a few sessions in person. We'll have a lot of short sessions online through a cool meeting interface that everyone would call in on (Skype on Sterioids). You guys will tackle some of the research on your own.

What we can offer in return is some basic guidance on basic journalistic techniques -- because this is, as you will discover, a kind of journalism project. We can run this as an independent study project for credit at your school, or write you recommendations or give you something you can put on your resume for college. We can occasionally feed you pizza.

We will not be taking everyone who submits their name. We want a working team whose members are committed to making this project a better place and who are also intrigued with the idea of what we will be looking to find out -- Who's doing cool things with youth online? What would teens like to be doing online that they can't now? And what can YWP do to become better? Can we develop leading edge technology, ideas and programs that engage, intrigue and excite?

Interested?

Contact me as soon as possible. ggevalt (at) youngwritersproject.org or call 802.324-9537. Or hire Pony Express or Western Union. Or comment below -- but don't just say you're in; ask questions; get the dialogue going.

cheers,

gg

Braving cold and snow and snow and cold, the YWP Players -- P-T, Usagi, Qwerty, Peaches, Geist, Special and Bailyrae -- did a fantastic job at First Night in Burlington Friday. Remarkable writing and editing; rehearsed and performed in an incredibly short time frame. I was proud to be a part of it. Many accolades from folks in the audience, including some surprise luminaries of Burlington. Nice job, folks. Special thanks to Robin Fawcett for her amazing coaching. And special thanks to all of you who contributed 6-word visions of 2110. Here are the script, sound and images. Click here for Gallery. Video to come in a few days. -- gg