This month, we spent two Saturday afternoons sharing and developing ways to overcome writers’ block, invent stories, and create and develop characters and conflicts. The techniques seemed to work, as writers filled pages upon pages of their new notebooks in a flurry of ink and graphite.

In the workshop, led by the notable Doug Favero, we explored what would happen if the president wandered into a stranger’s kitchen (the woman of the house throws a pair of running shoes at his head, in case you were wondering). Writers had the opportunity to interview one of their own characters. Most importantly, though, we learned that there are countless ways to miss the bus, and that it often occurs at tremendous personal loss.

A chapbook is forthcoming, full of stories that these students created using their new techniques. Each person involved can expect to see tales about marshmallows with superpowers, warring computers, magical faeries, possessed travelers, stolen backpacks full of sensitive materials, criminals who defy authority, or other products of these creative young minds. Perhaps we may even see some of these stories in the next 826 Quarterly.

John Snyder (that's "Darthsnyder" to you)
826 Intern