Contact
Mailing List

Youth Literature Day Programme

Overview

The purpose of this great adventure is to nurture a group of young writers over several years by exposing them not only to superb authors, but also to each other. It is a joy to see the friendships and confidence developing.

The authors working with us are carefully chosen because of their:
- list of critically acclaimed publications in many genre
- warm and empowering presentation style
- different personalities and backgrounds
- and varied approach to the craft of writing.

To elaborate, the same group of talented young writers (drawn from Years 9 – 12) from numerous schools in each area come together, every term, for a whole day creative writing workshop with one of Australia’s top authors for young adults. Each author is a brilliant teacher of their craft. Each day will be informative, practical, intense, inspiring and fun. The director, Lesley Reece, will be managing each day working alongside the author. At the conclusion of each day, the students will have a well-developed piece of writing, which they are expected to finish and email to the Centre, to be included in the collection of writing produced for each group each year. These collections are just superb to read, make all the hard work worthwhile and are displayed in school, public, state and national libraries.

Those students who wish to continue will be invited to return the following year.

The students selected must want to come, be avid readers, want to write and want to share their writing. They should also be prepared to commit to the complete programme of 4 days in any given year.

The Youth Literature Day Programme is in its eighth year at the Centre and has been an outstanding success, with more and more schools applying to join the programme. Since 2007, it has been sponsored by the Copyright Agency Ltd.

In 2007, we were in the happy position of being able to commence the programme for talented young writers in Albany, Bunbury and Geraldton at the same cost as metropolitan schools. This is due to the generosity of the Copyright Agency Ltd and the Public Education Endowment Trust.

Information and Expectations

For Students, Teachers and Parents

Students need to commit to all four days each year, as the skills and confidence development is cumulative.
Students are expected to produce a piece of writing resulting from each Youth Literature Day. This work must be emailed to the Centre, following the format detailed in The Writing Guidelines, within 3 weeks of each Youth Literature Day.
The writing must be edited for clarity, spelling and punctuation and exclude inappropriate ‘four letter’ words.
These days are casual dress: strictly no uniform.
Students need to bring all the food and drink they require. There is nowhere to buy food and students are not permitted to leave the grounds.
Any student needing to leave early must have a note from a parent or teacher.
Books by the presenting author and other authors for young adults will be available for sale on the day. An "Honour System" enables those students unable to pay on the day to take a book and pay on the next Youth Literature Day.

The Centre Director introduces presenting author and outlines programme for the day.
The day is divided into 3 sessions with 2 breaks for morning tea and lunch.
During the day the author shares his/her background experiences and then presents two or three hands-on creative writing workshops, exploring different techniques and ideas. The students engage in silent writing and sharing and editing in both small and large groups.
Students need to bring all writing materials including paper, clipboard, pencil and pen. A designated file for Youth Literature Days is essential to store all drafts, handouts, etc.
Students (who may join in Years 9, 10, 11 or 12 but absolutely not in Year 8) must be highly motivated and prepared to listen, question, write and share. They need to be avid readers. The aim is to nurture both their skills as writers and their confidence to share and be edited. They must want to write. These days are very exciting but also very challenging. Students will be nurtured, have a lot of fun and will be treated as mature young adults.
Feedback forms are required to be completed by all students at the conclusion of each day.

Metropolitan Youth Literature Days

New Group

For those students in Years 9 - 12 commencing in 2010

	New Group A	New Group B
Term 1 with Catherine Bateson	Tuesday 9 March	Wednesday 10 March
Term 2 with Kirsty Murray	Tuesday 22 June	Wednesday 23 June
Term 3 with Archie Fusillo	Tuesday 7 September	Wednesday 8 September
Term 4 with Julia Lawrinson	Monday 8 November	Friday 12 November

Venue:
Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre, Old Prison Hospital, Corner of Knutsford Street and Hampton Road, Fremantle
(Entrance gate in Prison wall at Knutsford Street corner)

Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm

Enquiries: Please phone (08) 9430 6869 or email Sally at s.sweetingham@iinet.net.au

Continuing Group

For those students who were in New Groups A and B in 2009 and wish to continue.

	Continuing Group A	Continuing Group B
Term 1 with Catherine Bateson	Tuesday 16 March	Wednesday 17 March
Term 2 with Kirsty Murray	Tuesday 8 June	Wednesday 9 June
Term 3 with Archie Fusillo	Tuesday 31 August	Wednesday 1September
Term 4 with James Roy	Tuesday 26 October	Wednesday 27 October

Master Class

For those students who were in Continuing Groups A and B or Master Class in 2009 and wish to continue.

Term 1 with Catherine Bateson	Tuesday 23 March
Term 2 with Kirsty Murray	Tuesday 15 June
Term 3 with Isobelle Carmody	Tuesday 10 August
Term 4 with Matt Ottley	Friday 15 October

Regional Youth Literature Days

Albany

For Years 9 - 12 students commencing in 2010 and students continuing from 2007, 2008 and 2009

Term 1 with Catherine Bateson	Thursday 11 March
Term 2 with Kirsty Murray	Thursday 10 June
Term 3 with Archie Fusillo	Thursday 2 September
Term 4 with James Roy	Thursday 28 October

Hosted by Great Southern Grammar School

Venue:
Library, Great Southern Grammar School, 244 Nanarup Road, Albany

Time: 9:00am - 2:30pm.

Enquiries: Please phone Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre (08) 9430 6869 or email Sally at s.sweetingham@iinet.net.au

Bunbury

	NEW GROUP for those Years 9 – 12 students commencing in 2010	CONTINUING GROUP for those students continuing from 2007, 2008 and 2009
Term 1 with Catherine Bateson	Wednesday 24 March	Thursday 25 March
Term 2 with Kirsty Murray	Wednesday 16 June	Thursday 17 June
Term 3 with Isobelle Carmody	Wednesday 11 August	Thursday 12 August
Term 4 with James Roy	Wednesday 3 November	Thursday 4 November

Hosted by Bunbury Senior High School

Venue:
Library, Bunbury Senior High School, Haig Crescent, Bunbury

Time: 9:00am - 2:30pm

Enquiries: Please phone Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre (08) 9430 6869 or email Sally at s.sweetingham@iinet.net.au

Geraldton

For Years 9 - 12 students commencing in 2010 and students continuing from 2007, 2008 and 2009

Term 1 with Catherine Bateson	Thursday 18 March
Term 2 with Kirsty Murray	Thursday 24 June
Term 3 with Archie Fusillo	Thursday 9 September
Term 4 with Glyn Parry	Wednesday 10 November

Hosted by Geraldton Senior College

Venue: Library, Geraldton Senior College, Carson Terrace, Geraldton

Time: 9:00am - 2:30pm

Enquiries: Please phone Fremantle Children’s Literature Centre (08) 9430 6869 or email Sally at s.sweetingham@iinet.net.au

Youth Literature Day Programme