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What is a Writers in Communities creative writing residency?

• A learning experience
• A journey in self-discovery
• A safe place to tell your story
• Flying lessons for the brain

How is the workshop structured?

Students meet regularly with an instructor for reading, discussion, and writing in an encouraging and supportive atmosphere. In most cases, the last few sessions are spent revising and readying students’ work for publication in an anthology, which is presented and distributed to participants in a culminating public reading of their work.

Who are the instructors?

Writers in Communities differs from similar arts programming in the stringent professional criteria met by WIC faculty.

• They must have at least one published book or the equivalent.

• The quality and seriousness of their work must be recognized by established critical sources.

• They must have extensive experience teaching creative writing to students of all ages.

WIC writers are known for their dedication and professionalism, constantly receiving high evaluations from both students and partnering hosts. Click here to learn more about our faculty.

What is the curriculum?

Each writer designs his/her own residency curriculum in concert with the needs and goals of students and the host facility. Typically, writers will introduce age- and culture-appropriate poetry and prose to the students for lively discussion, followed by focused writing exercises designed to stimulate imagination and word play.

What benefits may be gained from a Writers in Communities creative writing workshop?

A Writers in Communities creative writing residency can:

• Sharpen observational skills
• Encourage students to look at people, places, and things in a new way
• Foster creative problem solving
• Familiarize students with implementing the creative process from start to finish (inspiration, creation, correction and revision, presentation)
• Create empathy and connection with others through the sharing of individual stories
• Spark students interest in reading, writing, and the written word

Will a WIC workshop help my child be better prepared for state-mandated testing?

At present, there is no direct research proving a correlation between WIC workshop participation and test scores; however, anecdotal evidence exists from the North East Independent School District, where WIC has been involved in eleven middle schools for four years. Each year, an increasing number of NEISD schools request WIC workshops for their students prior to the TAKS writing test. In Writers in Communities workshop evaluations, the overwhelming majority of children participating reported improved writing skills and increased confidence about their ability to express ideas.

Numerous national studies from the past two decades demonstrate that children with high involvement in fine arts education perform better on standardized tests, have lower dropout rates, and do better academically.

Why do many schools, community, and therapeutic settings choose Gemini Ink’s Writers in Communities program to provide creative writing workshops?

Creative writing can provide measurable health benefits. As early as the 1980’s, studies showed a positive correlation between in-depth journal writing and a stronger immune system. In a 1999 study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, patients with chronic illnesses showed significant health improvement after writing about stressful events in their lives. And a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology demonstrated that creative writing frees up working memory.

Creative writing enhances literacy. The National Commission on Writing in America’s Schools and Colleges reports that writing has been grossly neglected in school reform. According to a report by the Associated Press, the College Board-commissioned study found that “[s]tudents finish high school without the ability to write in a sophisticated, precise, or engaging way.”

The San Antonio Independent School District and the Cyndi Taylor Krier Juvenile Correctional Treatment Center are only a few of the many settings that have chosen Writers in Communities programming to help address this issue.

How can I help my child develop literacy skills?

• Encourage your child to write and read their work aloud to you.
• Encourage your child to keep a diary or journal.
• Turn the tables; ask your child to make up and tell you a bedtime story.
• Introduce a regular family reading time. Once a week, turn off the television and take turns reading aloud from your favorite book or poetry collection.

How can I bring a Writers in Communities residency to my organization, school, or community group?

If you are interested in having a Writers in Communities creative writing workshop, contact Anisa Onofre, director of Gemini Ink’s Writers in Communities program, at 210.734.WORD.

I’m a writer. How can I participate in a Writers in Communities workshop?

If you have a published book (or the equivalent), have experience teaching creative writing, and want to help bring creative writing, reading, storytelling, and thinking to diverse communities, we want to meet you. E-mail your resume or CV and three pages of writing samples to wic@geminiink.org

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