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Welcome to Society of Young Inklings!

FIRST THINGS FIRST …

YOUR INKLINGS CERTIFICATE!

Just in case you haven’t printed it yet, here is your official certificate. We are thrilled to have you as part of our community, and can’t wait to hear the big ideas you have to share.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN INKLING?

INKLINGS EXPLORE

FOLLOW YOUR CURIOSITY

Poke around on our site. Seek adventure in the world around you. Soak up experiences and transform them into stories.

One of our favorite authors, Kate DiCamillo, says: “There is no right or wrong way to tell a story. You have to find your own way. You can get your idea from listening, looking, or imagining. Stories are everywhere.”

What stories are floating around in your mind today? Even if you only have a flicker of an idea just now, that’s okay. Follow it! You never know where it may lead you.

We always learn a ton about writing and storytelling by talking to creative pros. That’s why we talk shop with authors monthly on our Ink Splat. Each month, these talented, insightful authors pull back the curtain for us and share their experiences, strategies and tools.

As an Architect, we think you’ll like this Ink Splat featuring author, Mitali Perkins, especially because of her attention to detail.

INKLINGS PLAY

SPILL SOME INK MINI BOOK

Games are more fun when they stretch us. At SYI, we're not interested in perfection. We're interested in your potential!

Play your way past perfect as you put together this mini book. It's a bit of a puzzle, but the video will guide you step-by-step. It shouldn't take more than ten minutes to make, and when you're done, you'll have a pocket-sized book to take with you for writing prompts on the go.

You'll Need:
  • a printer
  • the interior page of the book, printed double-sided
  • the cover, printed on thick paper
  • one piece of regular white paper and (if possible) one piece of white card stock
  • scissors
  • double-sided tape or reliable glue
Instructions:
1. Download and print the interior of the book.

Print page one, and then feed the page through your printer again to print the second side. Make sure to feed the page correctly, so that neither page is upside down.

2. Download and print the cover.

If possible, use card stock or thick paper for the cover.

3. Fold, cut, and assemble the interior pages.

If you're feeling puzzled, or you just want step-by-step instructions, watch the video.

4. Make sure the folds line up so the pages turn properly.

You will likely have to fold some pages the opposite way before taping the interior pages to the cover.

5. Use your tape or glue to attach the interior pages to the cover.

The pages that are supposed to be attached are labeled.

How'd you do?

(Gold star if you stared your perfectionist in the face along the way and kept on going!)

INKLINGS DRAFT

spill your ideas onto the page

Don’t let your Spill Some Ink book go to waste! Flip to a page and try out a prompt. Remember, writing sessions don’t have to be long to be creative.

Whether you’re writing prompts, poems, stories, or working on a novel, what’s most important is writing regularly. Keep drafting productive with some of these tricks designed especially for Architects.

Drafting Strategies:

Start with the Details in Mind

Create a list of sensory details that you could include in a scene or a poem. Review the list, and choose the five-ten that are most important. Then, use those details as a checklist as you draft your piece.

Connect the Dots
Before you draft, use index cards to plan. Use a card for each important moment or key interaction in your scene. If you have an idea of the beginning, middle, and end, start with those, and fill in from there. If not, just put any detail that comes to mind on a card, and when you have a stack, put them in a logical order. Then, when you write, connect the dots between your cards.
Use a "Remember This Later" List
As you’re drafting, you might think of details you don’t want to forget later. Instead of stopping to fix a detail in an earlier scene, or to write something that will come later, jot a quick note on a “remember this later” list. If you keep your list close at hand while you draft, you’ll be able to manage distractions and stay on track.
INKLINGS GROW

Learn, Learn, Learn

As an Architect, you want a solid plan when you approach your work.

That’s why we think you’d love a one-on-one mentorship. Your mentor will create a personalized plan with you, and help you work through the project of your choice one step at a time. Keep in mind, you can personalize your mentorship schedule, too, and meet a mentor every other week, or even once a month.

“I didn’t initially want to revise my story. I thought it would be a lot of work. But when my mentor pointed things out, I realized that the story could be much better. It’s actually really fun. I’m really happy with how my story turned out.”

Lauren Crawford, Inklings Book 2017

INKLINGS SHARE

your voice matters

You’ve got big ideas to share, and we want to read them!

Society of Young Inklings has small, medium and large publication opportunities, so you’ll definitely find one that’s perfect for you, right where you are.

Ink Splat Challenges

Each month, our guest author throws down a writing dare, and it’s up to our Inklings to meet the challenge. Will you be the next Inkling featured on our blog? Submit your most imaginative, most lively, most well-crafted short piece of writing, and the chances are high.

Inklings Book Contest

Are you ready to enter an international writing contest? 3rd-9th grade writers are invited to submit stories and poems for this annual contest, one of the highlights of our Inklings year. Remember, as a Society member, you receive a full editorial letter, no matter what. It’s a win-win!

Your Name in Ink Editorial Program

If you’ve dreamed of seeing your name on the spine of a book, Your Name in Ink is for you. In this program, you’re mentored through a full editorial revision. You’ll end up with a beautifully printed or published book available through independent bookstores and other retailers.

INKLINGS CELEBRATE

Join us for Summer Camp!

We’re inviting passionate young writers to join us on Zoom for writerly summer camp experiences. Each camp will include skill-building activities, time for drafting, and collaboration with peers.

Where should you start?

We know! There's so much goodness to explore. Bookmark this page, becaue you can always come back and explore further.

For now, we suggest:

Step One: Put together your Spill Some Ink Book.

Step Two: Flip to your favorite page and try a drafting sprint.

Step Three: Submit your Spill Some Ink story or poem by emailing submit@younginklings.org. You never know, you might be published on our site!

 

P.S. We're here for you! You can always email with ideas or questions: info@younginklings.org.