Spoons (pen and watercolor) by John Gabriel Sperl, 11; published in the May/June 2024 issue of Stone Soup A note from Emma Wood Hello, Stone Soup readers! As many of you know, Conner and I both teach English to undergraduates at Xavier University in Cincinnati. Our semester ended in early May, and while, yes, we have been relaxing a bit, enjoying spending more time outside—running, hiking, and exploring various parks with our kids—we were both extremely excited to have some extra time for… more work! But work of a different kind: our various personal writing projects. It’s often difficult to know how to classify creative work—though it often feels like play, it can look an awful lot like work, and though it can look like play once it’s on the page, it often feels like work in the process. That said, the less time I have (and we do not currently have much time in this phase of our lives!), the more I value the time I am able to devote to my creative work—and the better I become at using that time effectively. I hope many of you will take your summer break not only to rest and recharge but also to devote yourself to your own personal work—whether that’s poetry or painting, songwriting or dancing, or everything in between. To help facilitate this creative work-play, you might consider signing up for a summer camp with Society of Young Inklings. There is something for everyone—filmmaking, playwriting, novel writing, short fiction, poetry writing, literary editing, writing memoir, and more. These classes are filled with such fun, enthusiastic, smart, creative kids excited to make and discuss art—I love teaching them and hope to meet some of you there. Spaces are limited, so be sure to sign up soon! I also have other news to share with you: a few weeks ago, I let you know that the annual book contest was being delayed. I regret to inform you that we have decided not to hold the contest this year; we are taking the year off so that we can reevaluate and improve the experience for young writers. Nurturing young writers through the book contest has been such a rewarding part of Stone Soup for all of us on the team, and we look forward to bringing the contest back stronger than ever next year. As we dive into this summer of creativity, I’m excited to see the incredible stories, plays, poems, and films that you all produce. Thank you for being part of the Stone Soup community, and here’s to a summer filled with inspiration and storytelling! Warmly, Executive Director, Stone Soup Explore our summer camps Playwriting June 17–20; 9–11 am PT The goal of this course led by Conner Bassett is to produce one 10-minute play. To help you do this, we will approach playwriting as a form of craft—grounded in dialogue, character, voice, setting, tone, conflict, action, and plot structure. This workshop will also emphasize a play’s arc: its beginning, turning point, and ending. Reality Hunger: An Introduction to Memoir June 24–27; 9–11 am PT In this class, led by Emma Wood, Executive Director of Stone Soup, we will read and write memoir and personal essays—in short form. We will consider how they work, ask questions about the ethical aspects of writing nonfiction (What if my mom reads it? What if I hurt someone’s feelings? What if my memory is “wrong”?), and—most importantly—experiment in the form with daily in-class writing prompts, sharing our work in a supportive, fun community. Literature in Miniature: A Study of Micro Fiction & Prose Poetry June 24–27; 1–3 pm PT Sometimes, the biggest ideas are best expressed in the tiniest of forms. In this workshop taught by former Stone Soup Blog Editor Caleb Berg, you will learn to condense your horizons into a style of writing perfected by writers like Lydia Davis, Daniil Kharms, Gertrude Stein, and many others. You will write multiple discrete pieces per day and finish the class with enough writing to fill up a chapbook. Intro to Poetry: The Image and the Line July 22–25; 9–11 am PT Emma Wood will also teach a class on poetry. Immerse yourself in what a poem is and what it can do. Students will write their own poetry, shaking themselves out of established modes of thinking. Filmmaking as Dialogue August 5–9; 9–11 am PT In this class taught by filmmaker Isidore Bethel, we’ll use the camera to facilitate and enrich our interactions with others – friends, family, animals, plants, and the world around us. Writing texts with a partner, recording and sharing short videos, and interpreting their meanings aloud will be starting points for developing individual and collaborative approaches to filmmaking. Editing and Revising Fiction August 5–9; 1–3 pm PT In this class taught by Stone Soup Editor in Chief Diane Landolf, you’ll learn how to think like an editor and make your stories the best they can be. We’ll discuss first paragraphs, character development, dialogue, story arc, and what makes a great sentence. Click here to peruse the entire selection of camps available; our friends at Society of Young Inklings are teaching a variety of additional courses, and more courses will be announced soon! 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.
contest
Saturday Newsletter: April 20, 2024
Annalisa (acrylic) by Rebecca Wu, 9; published in the March/April 2024 issue of Stone Soup A note from Tayleigh Greene Hello from Houston! Although it’s hot, the skies here are gray today, so I’m enjoying a healthy dose of technicolor in the form of Rebecca Wu’s Annalisa, shown above and published in the March/April issue of Stone Soup. If you’d like to see your work in a future issue of Stone Soup, there’s still time to submit to the Stone Soup Art, Poetry, and Story Prizes! Submissions are due May 1 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time. We will select a single winner—one story, one poem, one piece of art—from each category for publication in Stone Soup Magazine. Winners will also receive three free expedited submissions ($30 value) and a one-year, print subscription to the magazine ($89.99 value). All entries are always considered for publication in the magazine, as well. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity! In other news, there are only two spots left in our spring session writing workshop, Adaptation: Crafting Stories from the Familiar and the Unknown, which begins next Saturday, April 27th. If you’ve been thinking about registering, do it now! Those last two seats are sure to sell out quickly. Registration for our summer camps in collaboration with fellow literary nonprofit Society of Young Inklings is now open. From playwriting and memoir to micro fiction and prose poetry, we have a workshop for every young writer. This year, we’re also excited to offer a filmmaking course with award-winning filmmaker Isidore Bethel! Click here to explore the full range of virtual summer camps open for registration. Warm regards, The Stone Soup Art Prize The Stone Soup Poetry Prize The Stone Soup Story Prize Only two spots left! Register for Spring Writing Workshops Explore our summer camps Playwriting June 17–20; 9–11 am PT The goal of this course led by Conner Bassett is to produce one 10-minute play. To help you do this, we will approach playwriting as a form of craft—grounded in dialogue, character, voice, setting, tone, conflict, action, and plot structure. This workshop will also emphasize a play’s arc: its beginning, turning point, and ending. Reality Hunger: An Introduction to Memoir June 24–27; 9–11 am PT In this class, led by Emma Wood, Executive Director of Stone Soup, we will read and write memoir and personal essays—in short form. We will consider how they work, ask questions about the ethical aspects of writing nonfiction (What if my mom reads it? What if I hurt someone’s feelings? What if my memory is “wrong”?), and—most importantly—experiment in the form with daily in-class writing prompts, sharing our work in a supportive, fun community. Literature in Miniature: A Study of Micro Fiction & Prose Poetry June 24–27; 1–3 pm PT Sometimes, the biggest ideas are best expressed in the tiniest of forms. In this workshop taught by former Stone Soup Blog Editor Caleb Berg, you will learn to condense your horizons into a style of writing perfected by writers like Lydia Davis, Daniil Kharms, Gertrude Stein, and many others. You will write multiple discrete pieces per day and finish the class with enough writing to fill up a chapbook. Intro to Poetry: The Image and the Line July 22–25; 9–11 am PT Emma Wood will also teach a class on poetry. Immerse yourself in what a poem is and what it can do. Students will write their own poetry, shaking themselves out of established modes of thinking. Filmmaking as Dialogue August 5–9; 9–11 am PT In this class taught by filmmaker Isidore Bethel, we’ll use the camera to facilitate and enrich our interactions with others – friends, family, animals, plants, and the world around us. Writing texts with a partner, recording and sharing short videos, and interpreting their meanings aloud will be starting points for developing individual and collaborative approaches to filmmaking. Editing and Revising Fiction August 5–9; 1–3 pm PT In this class taught by Stone Soup Editor in Chief Diane Landolf, you’ll learn how to think like an editor and make your stories the best they can be. We’ll discuss first paragraphs, character development, dialogue, story arc, and what makes a great sentence. Click here to peruse the entire selection of camps available; our friends at Society of Young Inklings are teaching a variety of additional courses, and more courses will be announced soon! 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: February 17, 2024
Water on Wood (OPPO Find X2 Lite) by Karuna Yang, 12; published in the January/February 2024 issue of Stone Soup A Note from Tayleigh Greene Hello and Happy Saturday! I’m writing to you from Houston, Texas, but as I contemplate Karuna Yang’s Water on Wood, shown above, I’m transported to Venice, Italy. Venice brims with magnificent artworks and exquisite architecture. However, last I traveled there, I found myself more moved by the way that reflections of apartment buildings and strung linens danced in the water. Karuna’s photograph is mesmerizing and beautiful in much the same way. I love how the leaves’ shadows blend with their reflections. Taking inspiration from Karuna’s photograph, here’s a prompt for you this long weekend: select your subject, then shift your perspective to explore its shadow, its reflection, or perhaps both. (Madeline Male’s Sapling Shadow, also featured in the January/February issue, is another brilliant example.) Don’t limit yourself to photography, or even to drawing or painting. This prompt can also be used as a writing exercise. As always, if you like what you create, please submit your work to Stone Soup. We are currently accepting submissions for our Short Story, Poetry, and Artwork Prizes. Winners will receive three free expedited submissions ($30 value) and a one-year print subscription to the magazine ($90 value). We will select a single winner from each category—one story, one poem, one piece of art—and publish them in the magazine. The deadline to submit is May 1, 2024. As they say in Italy, in bocca al lupo (good luck)! Until next time, The Stone Soup Story Contest The Stone Soup Poetry Contest The Stone Soup Art Contest 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.
