Tranquility (needle and thread) by Tatum Lovely, 13; published in the July/August issue of Stone Soup A note from Emma Wood Hello, everyone: I’m writing today with some big and very exciting news. As many of you know, I have been Editor of Stone Soup for the last six years and took over as Executive Director as well this past year. Juggling both roles with my other work commitments, a very busy family life (we have two young children), and a move, was an enormous challenge—and fun in many ways. But it quickly became clear to me that it was not sustainable for the long term. So, the board and I put our heads together, and after careful consideration about the next best move for Stone Soup, we decided that I would stay in the role of director and we would hire a new editor. The board and I spoke with many interesting, qualified, enthusiastic people, and are thrilled to share that Diane Landolf, a freelance editor, a writer, and a former senior editor at Random House Children’s Books, is taking over the editorial reins. When I first spoke with Diane, I knew that I was speaking to a natural editor: she immediately honed in on small details from a recent issue, noting what was working—but more importantly, to the editor’s eye, what could be improved or fixed. She has the attention to detail, the knack for problem-solving, the readerly openness, and the experienced eye required of an excellent editor—as well as a genuine passion for Stone Soup’s mission. Like a number of people I spoke with, she had read Stone Soup as a child. While I’m excited to see what Diane brings to Stone Soup, I am also deeply sad to be stepping away from my day-to-day work on the magazine and books. Over the past six years, I created 64 issues of Stone Soup and nine books by young authors. I learned how to create a magazine, how to edit a book, how to evaluate the work of young writers, how to read with an open mind, how to write with a sense of humor and playfulness, and so much more. I remain so grateful to William Rubel, Stone Soup’s co-founder and director emeritus, for entrusting me with the magazine (and so much more!) when I was much younger and had to rely much more on my grit and resourcefulness than my experience. I am also deeply grateful for all the young writers and artists who entrusted Stone Soup, and by extension me, with their work. Thank you! On a practical note, as I step more fully into my directorial role, I am increasingly aware of some gaps in our staff knowledge base. We remain interested in finding volunteers who have experience in marketing (and specifically Google AdWords) as well as those with educational experience who might be able to help us work toward the next iteration of our educator portal. If this is you, please write to me at emma@stonesoup.com. Onto the next chapter– Stone Soup is published by Children’s Art Foundation-Stone Soup Inc., a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization registered in the United States of America, EIN: 23-7317498.
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Saturday Newsletter: July 15, 2023
Beyond (OPPO FIND X2 LITE) by Karuna Yang, 11; published in the July/August issue of Stone Soup A note from Tayleigh Greene Hello readers, This week, I want to highlight Karuna Yang’s Beyond, pictured above and featured in the latest issue of Stone Soup. Although it was captured in New Zealand, it reminds me so much of the golden, rolling hills and lush, green river valleys of Northern California—where I grew up, and where I spent the last week visiting friends and family and camping at Lassen Volcanic National Park. I climbed Lassen Peak—the view was much snowier and rockier than Karuna’s photograph, but breathtaking nonetheless. Now for the news: the deadline for our annual book contest is August 15th, a mere month from today. This year we once again plan to accept two books for publication: one novel or short story collection and one book of poems. If you need motivation for your manuscript, we’re offering two virtual writing camps that are sure to inspire young writers. There is still time to register for Advanced Novel Writing with professor, writer, and translator Conner Bassett; the class will convene via Zoom July 17th-20th. Perhaps you’re more interested in submitting a collection of poetry or short stories—register for Freedom through Constraint: Experiments in Poetry & Prose with Stone Soup Blog Editor Caleb Berg, July 24th-27th. Whichever course you decide take, happy camping and happy writing! We can’t wait to read what you’ve written. If you subscribe to the magazine, you will notice some QR codes alongside some of the art and writing, such as Lazy Cat by Tutu Lin, 13, “Dad’s Stocks” by Mia Xu, and “Dwelling on a Memory” by Micki Mermelstein, 11 in the latest issue. Scanning the QR codes will bring you to additional resources for educators—discussion questions, author and artist interviews, and more. We are so excited to share this project with you, and we are immensely grateful for all of the hard work that volunteer Amanda Barnett poured into it. Thank you, Amanda! Stone Soup has long been a valuable resource for homeschoolers, classroom teachers, and writing coaches, and it is now more user-friendly than ever. Sincerely, P.S. If you’re not yet a subscriber but still want to check out our new resources for educators, use code SUMMER at checkout for one month digital access free! Don’t miss out on this limited time offer. Terms and conditions apply. Subscribe now From Stone Soup July/August 2023 By the River by Mary Gomes, 7 A beautiful river is beside me. The forest behind me. The world is a beautiful place to live. We all love our Earth. The river brings something to my mind. What could it be? Click here to read more from the July/August issue. Explore our summer camp offerings Advanced Novel Writing July 17–20; 9–11 am PT In Writing Instructor Conner Bassett’s course, learn the basic techniques of good storytelling, such as setting, plot, character, dialogue, and more! Brainstorm concepts and share ideas for your novel that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. Freedom through Constraint: Experiments in Poetry & Prose July 24–27; 9–11 am PT In this workshop taught by Stone Soup Blog Editor Caleb Berg, campers will study and use self-imposed constraints such as omitting specific letters and patterns of repetition in order to maximize the untapped potential of their work. The goal is not necessarily to make sense but to excite the senses! Anthropology of the Everyday: The Art of Creative Nonfiction July 24–27; 1–3 pm PT Taught by Laura Moran, cultural anthropologist and Stone Soup’s Refugee Project director, this course instructs students in a method of personal writing called autoethnography that combines storytelling with details about your daily life. Playwriting August 7–10; 1–3 pm PT Conner will also teach a class about the history and craft of writing drama. Campers will ponder the practicalities and philosophies of the art form as well as work on developing their own 10-minute play! Click here to see more course offerings from Society of Young Inklings. Stone Soup is published by Children’s Art Foundation-Stone Soup Inc., a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization registered in the United States of America, EIN: 23-7317498.
Saturday Newsletter: July 1, 2023
Sunset in the Shadowy Woods (acrylic) by Emma Yang, 8; published in the July/August issue of Stone Soup A note from Emma Wood Hello, all— I hope you are enjoying the summer—I just wrapped up my Intro to Poetry summer camp, and it was an invigorating week reading, discussing, and writing really incredible poems. One thing I love about the Stone Soup teaching philosophy is that we don’t teach “down” to kids—I adapt lessons that I use with undergraduate students, and the poems are never too hard for them. Everyone responds to the brilliant writing, regardless of their age and experience with literature! We are running writing summer camps in conjunction with Society of Young Inklings through August 10th—sign up for a spot now if you haven’t yet! You can also peruse our offerings below. We are currently running a campaign to support our writing workshops and summer camps, as well as our annual book contest and publishing program. While both of these programs align with our core mission, they cannot be entirely supported through the revenue we earn from the magazine. Here are some of the things we’ve heard from children impacted by these programs: Two of the most exciting and proud moments of my life were when I got my first poem published—and two years later when my book won the book contest. Emma Hoff, 11 Stone Soup means so many things to me–but with my novel, it was a goal and a place to aim for. That novel is currently being serialized in Stone Soup, and writing it was a huge experience for me. It taught me a lot! Emily Chang, 14 I’ve become the writer I am today thanks to Stone Soup’s writing workshops.…If not for them, I would very rarely have the motivation to sit down and write… I’ve discovered so much about my writing style through these classes, and I think anyone who has a passion for writing will find their voice through these classes, too. Anonymous, 13 We are also very proud to share that Liam Hancock, a contributor to Stone Soup and longtime writing workshop participant, has recently launched his very own literary magazine, StudentKind Literary Journal, for individuals aged 13-18—proof that the inspiration, confidence and skills that students develop in our classes takes them far beyond their own desk! We hope you will consider making a thoughtful gift in support of our successful book program, writing workshops, and summer camps today; your gifts will fund our classes, and enable us to continue offering scholarships to a handful of deserving students each year, as well as help our books reach a wider audience—and ensure this valuable initiative will continue. You can donate online via Paypal or Donorbox. Sincerely, P.S. The Stone Soup board of directors has given $6500 in a dollar-for-dollar match, so the impact of your donation is doubled. Donate Now From Stone Soup July/August 2023 Ivy’s Return by Clara Gluzdov, 13 The melody came on the beams of moonlight. Moonlight poured through a tall window, covering the room in an eerie glow. Ivy lay on the fluffy carpet, fur glowing slightly. Her ears finally stopped twitching at every noise, wishing it was music. More specifically, piano music. She sighed in her sleep, the comforting sound filling her dreams. Ivy dreamt of kitchens full of mice—so many! an endless source of entertainment—and swarms of birds in the air, fresh and warm, to bring inside for her beloved Dahlia. She rolled over in her sleep, and her dreams changed to the piano. If only I was human . . . Ivy purred to herself in her sleep. Then I could play the piano, the wonderful piano Dahlia sits at for hours and hours . . . I could be tall, tall enough to reach the piano, to sit down on the stool with my human legs touching the ground. But now it towers over me, grand and elegant, leaving me feeling small and vulnerable. If only I was human . . . As she wished and wished to be human, the moonlight wrapped itself around her. It grew thicker and thicker, almost solid now. Swirls of it were bright and sounded slightly higher pitched. To most it would sound like nothing, but to the moonlight it was speaking. Should we do it? Should we do it now? She had tried. She had tried to play the piano but was only able to make horrid, wild noise. And when she failed, it made her desire stronger. Does she truly want this? the moonlight sang. Yes! said a shiny swirl. Are you sure? said another. A third said: We will find out soon. * * * Click here to find out what happens next. Not yet a subscriber? Get one month digital access free! Don’t miss your chance to enjoy Stone Soup, the magazine 100% written and illustrated by kids since 1973, for free! Use code SUMMER at checkout to receive one month of digital access at no cost. Free submissions to the magazine, access to 20+ years of digital archives, and new issues bimonthly. Terms and conditions apply. Shop our Summer Sale Explore our summer camp offerings Advanced Novel Writing July 17–20; 9–11 am PT In Writing Instructor Conner Bassett’s course, learn the basic techniques of good storytelling, such as setting, plot, character, dialogue, and more! Brainstorm concepts and share ideas for your novel that will keep readers hooked from start to finish. Freedom through Constraint: Experiments in Poetry & Prose July 24–27; 9–11 am PT In this workshop taught by Stone Soup Blog Editor Caleb Berg, campers will study and use self-imposed constraints such as omitting specific letters and patterns of repetition in order to maximize the untapped potential of their work. The goal is not necessarily to make sense but to excite the senses! Anthropology of the Everyday: The Art of Creative Nonfiction July 24–27; 1–3 pm PT Taught by Laura Moran, cultural anthropologist and Stone Soup’s Refugee Project director, this course instructs students in a method of personal writing called autoethnography that combines storytelling with details
