Workshop Leaders Sought for 2021 North Country Young Writers' Festival

 
2021 North Country Young Writers’ Festival
Workshop Facilitator

The North Country Young Writers’ Festival is looking for five inspiring student leaders to serve as workshop facilitators for its May 13, 2021 festival, held at White Mountains Community College in Berlin, New Hampshire. The festival serves 7^th-12^th grade students from New Hampshire’s northern region.

Facilitators will be responsible for developing and leading the workshops in creative writing offered at the festival under the tutelage of the New Hampshire State Poet Laureate/festival director. The goal is to inspire 7-12^th graders and give them a great experience with self-expression. The number of participants in workshop sessions will be kept small to follow state guidelines for social distancing. Facilitators gain invaluable classroom and leadership experience for job and graduate school applications. In addition to leading a writing workshop, facilitators assist the festival director during the event, helping with sign-in, informational booths, lunchtime games and raffles, and the Open Mike.

Stipend:

·         $1,250 for attending online training sessions and presenting at festival

·         Hotel lodging, meals, and transportation costs covered for facilitators from outside the North Country. (Meals will be covered for North Country residing facilitators.)

[Facilitators will need to provide their own transportation to the festival; gas and mileage will be covered for them.]

Skills and Qualifications:

1.  Applicants must be an enrolled undergraduate or graduate student at Salem State University, the University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State University, or White Mountains Community College, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. We seek applicants who are majoring in English or creative writing (Salem State University, the University of New Hampshire, or Plymouth State University) or in the Liberal Arts program (White Mountains Community College). Students from other majors from these four colleges/universities who are significantly involved in creative writing may also apply.

2. Preference given to applicants with demonstrated leadership or teaching experience. (“Teaching experience” is broadly defined: tutoring in a writing center, coaching sports, serving on the editorial board of a school’s literary magazine, or volunteering qualify.)

3. Flexibility: facilitators need to be able to move their workshop online (with support) in case the pandemic prevents an in-person event.

Job Duties:

·         Participate in 2-3 online training sessions during December 2020-February 2021

·         Develop, refine, and practice a 60-minute creative writing workshop for online or in-person delivery

·         Be on-site in Berlin, NH, on May 12 and May 13, 2021

·         Present workshop session at festival

·        Provide event support during festival

Application:

 Send your resume and a cover letter. In the cover letter: 

1. Provide the name, job title, phone number, and email of 2-3 individuals who are familiar with your work ethic and other strengths. 

2. List the genres of creative writing you most identify with: poetry, short stories, longer fiction, flash fiction, creative nonfiction, memoir, screenwriting, playwriting, etc.  

3. List the courses you have taken in creative writing.

4. Mention your publications (not required). 

5. Discuss prior job and/or mentoring experiences that demonstrate your reliability and abilities as a peer leader.

6. A substantial paragraph in which you describe what it takes to lead a dynamic writing class, using details from actual classes you’ve taken or ones that you wish you had a chance to take. What do you see as the best way to teach creative writing? What are the best practices to keep  students’ attention and build students’ enthusiasm, self-confidence, and creativity?

Process:

Applications will be reviewed by a board of faculty from Salem State University, White Mountains Community College, University of New Hampshire, and Plymouth State University. For full consideration, applications should be sent as a Word document to apeary@salemstate.edu by December 5, 2020.

·         Notification of Round 2 by December 15, 2020

·         Interviews will be conducted online between December 15-December 30, 2020.

·         Applicants notified of final results by email by January 5, 2021.