What a joyful celebration we had this past weekend at our conference, The Way Words Move Us!
On Friday night, Stacey Lee kicked off our conference with words of wisdom for writers, including these: “Don’t give up on your worst day. Writing has lots of ups and downs, but the world needs your writing. So, continue writing your stories. They do matter, and someone’s going to connect with them one day.”
Saturday morning, participants met Society of Young Inklings alumni, Sophia and Sean Nesamoney, who shared highlights of their creative journey which includes publishing as youth authors through our program. Now as young adults, they’ve launched their own literary nonprofit, The ABC’s of Our World, that provides young readers with accessible, inspiring, and captivating stories about global issues and topics.
Our breakout sessions offered playful and thoughtful exploration of the way words move us, from a dance-based figurative writing session, to an opportunity to build a playlist to inspire a current story, to a quote walk in the redwood grove, and more!
Our Inklings Book authors added a final exclamation point to the weekend with their inspiring reading of their pieces. They encouraged creatives of all ages to be resilient through creative blocks, open-minded about revision, and bold about sharing each of our unique voices.
As the weekend came to a close, I reflected on the importance of each unique voice, and why it is so important to me, personally, and to Society of Young Inklings as an organization, to support youth in their creative development.
Recent research on neuroaesthetics has demonstrated a wide range of mental, personal, and social benefits of arts experiences. We’ve witnessed these success stories firsthand for many years at Society of Young Inklings. Collecting one’s ideas on the page, shaping those thoughts through drafting and revision, and then being seen and heard as one shares their unique perspective is a transformative experience. As youth build their courage about writing and sharing their voices, they step courageously into new territory. They become leaders, visionaries, change-makers.
We are excited to be headed into the fall season, when our 1-on-1 mentorships and membership open again for enrollment. We are also offering a master class for parents, to share with you the many benefits of creative development. By learning about the proven impact of the arts on your child’s mental, physical, and emotional health, you’re able to partner with us in the artistic mentorship of your child. You will be equipped to have meaningful conversations to help your child see how they are growing, and also to hold space at home for that growth to happen. More information on that master class will be available soon—stay tuned!
We are grateful to the many donors, presenters, board members, staff members, mentors, volunteers, families, and of course, to our Inklings, for bringing their joy, energy, and creativity to the Inklings Book program. Thank you for a fabulous weekend, and here’s to the exciting year to come!
P. S.: The Inklings Book is now available for purchase! Grab your copy here.
