Dates: Monday-Thursday 6/9/25 - 6/13/25
Time: 9 - 11 am (PT) // 12 - 2 pm (PT)
Ages: 9-14

A ticking time bomb. A secret in danger of being revealed. A mess of your character’s own making. How can we push the stakes in our stories to make them more compelling?

Whether your favorite genre is fantasy, realistic fiction, or adventure, whether you write short stories, are working on a longer piece, or prefer to craft graphic novels–this online summer camp will focus on intensifying your storyline through a variety of engaging techniques. Our activities will help you to generate new stories or deepen stories you are already working on. 

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Society of Young Inklings is a nonprofit organization, and part of our collaborative mission is to celebrate the full, vibrant diversity of youth writers' voices and stories.

To apply for a scholarship, visit this link.

To donate in support of scholarships, visit this link.

________________________

Instructor Bio:

Sonja K. Solter is a mentor with the Society of Young Inklings. She spent her childhood summers in her mother’s homeland of Finland and traveled the world extensively with her family. She read so voraciously as a child that she once brought over 70 books on a trip. (Her mother is still trying to figure out how that slipped by her).

Sonja graduated with an interdisciplinary degree in Human Biology from Stanford University and has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. She writes for all age levels and has had a reader published for the educational market. She has also been a Music Together director and teacher, where she especially enjoyed the collaborative improvisation aspect of the program.

Sonja lives with her husband and two children in Louisville, CO, and enjoys nature, travel, and yoga. Her debut middle-grade novel in verse, When You Know What I Know, is an ILA Honor Book and Colorado Book Award Finalist.

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Cancellation Policy:

Camp transfers or full refunds will be given for cancellations requested one week or more in advance of the camp start date. For cancellation requests received less than one week before the camp start date, you may choose to transfer to another camp or receive a refund less registration fees of $15.99.

Minimum enrollment: 6
Maximum enrollment: 20

Should minimum enrollment not be met, we will contact you to offer a full refund or other learning experience in exchange. 

Please contact us at info@younginklings.org with any questions.

Dates: Monday-Friday 6/16/25-6/20/25
Time: 1 - 3 pm (PT) // 4 - 6 (ET)
Ages: 9-14

Design a new novel from the ground up, or take your current concept to the next level. In this Zoom workshop facilitated by author, Naomi Kinsman, you’ll brainstorm options, interview your characters, map your story-world, and shape your plot.

Meeting virtually with Young Inklings community means that you’ll connect with young writers from around the world who are passionate and committed to their writing, just like you. Over the five days of camp, you’ll learn new tools and strategies to strengthen your writing craft skills, be inspired by ideas and writing by creative peers, and walk step-by-step through the process of developing a strong novel concept. You’ll walk away with a few drafted chapters, plus a complete plan to build from this solid foundation through the drafting process.

________________________

Society of Young Inklings is a nonprofit organization. Part of our mission is to celebrate the full, vibrant diversity of youth writers' voices and stories.

To apply for a scholarship, visit this link.

To donate in support of scholarships, visit this link.

________________________

Instructor Bio:

Naomi Kinsman is the founder and Executive Director of Society of Young Inklings, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth creative writers. She is also the author of the From Sadie’s Sketchbook Series and Spilled Ink, the award-winning Inklings Writers’ Notebook, Naomi is passionate about sharing her love of writing and creativity with young writers. Naomi’s background in improvisational and story theatre as well as her arts education work in Chicago, Portland, and the Bay Area has convinced her that creative play is a doorway through which learners can find inspiration and transformative learning experiences.

Naomi holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Seattle Pacific University and has studied theatre with the Piven Theatre Workshop and ACT. She also has a Masters in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University.

________________________

Cancellation Policy:

Camp transfers or full refunds will be given for cancellations requested one week or more before the camp start date. For cancellation requests received less than one week before the camp start date, you may choose to transfer to another camp or receive a refund minus registration fees of up to $30.

Minimum enrollment: 6
Maximum enrollment: 20

Should minimum enrollment not be met, we will contact you to offer a refund or other learning experience in exchange. 

Please contact us at info@younginklings.org with any questions.

Dates: Monday-Friday 6/23/25 – 6/27/25
Time: 1 - 3 pm (PT) // 4 - 6 (ET)
Ages: 9-14

What drives your characters? What kinds of trouble will their choices lead them into? Bring an ongoing project to this workshop or come with an open mind, ready to build a brand new cast of intriguing, full-of-potential characters.

Author Naomi Kinsman facilitates this Zoom workshop and will give you the opportunity to either continue your novel project from the Design a Novel camp or to work on characters for any other project of your choice. Your peer writers will collaborate and support you as you develop your characters past ink-and-paper ideas into vibrant life.

Meeting virtually with Young Inklings community means that you’ll connect with young artists and writers from around the world who are passionate and committed to their creative projects, just like you. Over the five days of camp, you’ll learn new tools and strategies to strengthen your writing craft skills, be inspired by ideas and writing by creative peers, and walk step-by-step through the process of developing a strong cast of characters. You’ll walk away with a new set of writing tools and strategies, plus solid progress on the project of your choice.

________________________

Society of Young Inklings is a nonprofit organization. Part of our mission is to celebrate the full, vibrant diversity of youth writers' voices and stories.

To apply for a scholarship, visit this link.

To donate in support of scholarships, visit this link.

________________________

Instructor Bio:

Naomi Kinsman is the founder and Executive Director of Society of Young Inklings, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth creative writers. She is also the author of the From Sadie’s Sketchbook series and Spilled Ink, the award-winning Inklings Writers’ Notebook, Naomi is passionate about sharing her love of writing and creativity with young writers. Naomi’s background in improvisational and story theatre as well as her arts education work in Chicago, Portland, and the Bay Area has convinced her that creative play is a doorway through which learners can find inspiration and transformative learning experiences.

Naomi holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Seattle Pacific University and has studied theatre with the Piven Theatre Workshop and ACT. She also has a Masters in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University.

________________________

Cancellation Policy:

Camp transfers or full refunds will be given for cancellations requested one week or more before the camp start date. For cancellation requests received less than one week before the camp start date, you may choose to transfer to another camp or receive a refund minus registration fees of up to $30.

Minimum enrollment: 6
Maximum enrollment: 20

Should minimum enrollment not be met, we will contact you to offer a refund or other learning experience in exchange. 

Please contact us at info@younginklings.org with any questions.

Dates: Monday-Friday 7/7/25–7/11/25
Time: 1 - 3 pm (PT) // 4 - 6 (ET)
Ages: 9-14

How might you add conflict, surprise, heart, or humor to your scenes? Bring an ongoing project to our writer’s workshop or come with an open mind, ready to experiment with writing craft skills that transform your scenes from strong to spectacular. Your peer writers will collaborate and support you as you work on a short story, a play, a novel, a graphic novel, a collection of narrative poems, or other project of your choice.

This Zoom workshop is facilitated by author Naomi Kinsman and is designed to support repeat summer camp students who want to take their current project further, as well as new campers who either want to start a new project or move forward with an ongoing one.

Meeting virtually with Young Inklings community means that you’ll connect with young artists and writers from around the world who are passionate and committed to their creative projects, just like you. Over the five days of camp, you’ll learn new tools and strategies to strengthen your writing craft skills, and be inspired by ideas and writing by creative peers.

________________________

Society of Young Inklings is a nonprofit organization. Part of our mission is to celebrate the full, vibrant diversity of youth writers' voices and stories.

To apply for a scholarship, visit this link.

To donate in support of scholarships, visit this link.

________________________

Instructor Bio:

Naomi Kinsman is the founder and Executive Director of Society of Young Inklings, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting youth creative writers. She is also the author of the From Sadie’s Sketchbook series and Spilled Ink, the award-winning Inklings Writers’ Notebook, Naomi is passionate about sharing her love of writing and creativity with young writers. Naomi’s background in improvisational and story theatre as well as her arts education work in Chicago, Portland, and the Bay Area has convinced her that creative play is a doorway through which learners can find inspiration and transformative learning experiences.

Naomi holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Seattle Pacific University and has studied theatre with the Piven Theatre Workshop and ACT. She also has a Masters in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University.

________________________

Cancellation Policy:

Camp transfers or full refunds will be given for cancellations requested one week or more before the camp start date. For cancellation requests received less than one week before the camp start date, you may choose to transfer to another camp or receive a refund minus registration fees of up to $30.

Minimum enrollment: 6
Maximum enrollment: 20

Should minimum enrollment not be met, we will contact you to offer a refund or other learning experience in exchange. 

Please contact us at info@younginklings.org with any questions.

Dates: Monday-Thursday 7/14/25 - 7/18/25
Time: 9 - 11 am (PT) // 12 - 2 pm (ET)
Ages: 9-14

Are you a poet interested in making your poems into a story? Or are you a story writer who’d like to try a story in verse? During our week together, we’ll explore how poetry can bring the voice and themes of your story to life, as well as how to develop a storyline in poems. Each day will include exercises or prompts, with plenty of time for brainstorming and writing. The focus will be on storytelling in general, not only for short stories, so feel free to bring novel in verse ideas as well. We will primarily be working with poetic techniques in free verse but will also cover how to include tighter poetic forms.

________________________

Society of Young Inklings is a nonprofit organization, and part of our collaborative mission is to celebrate the full, vibrant diversity of youth writers' voices and stories.

To apply for a scholarship, visit this link.

To donate in support of scholarships, visit this link.

________________________

Instructor Bio:

Sonja K. Solter is a mentor with the Society of Young Inklings. She spent her childhood summers in her mother’s homeland of Finland and traveled the world extensively with her family. She read so voraciously as a child that she once brought over 70 books on a trip. (Her mother is still trying to figure out how that slipped by her).

Sonja graduated with an interdisciplinary degree in Human Biology from Stanford University and has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. She writes for all age levels and has had a reader published for the educational market. She has also been a Music Together director and teacher, where she especially enjoyed the collaborative improvisation aspect of the program.

Sonja lives with her husband and two children in Louisville, CO, and enjoys nature, travel, and yoga. Her debut middle-grade novel in verse, When You Know What I Know, is an ILA Honor Book and Colorado Book Award Finalist.

________________________

Cancellation Policy:

Camp transfers or full refunds will be given for cancellations requested one week or more in advance of the camp start date. For cancellation requests received less than one week before the camp start date, you may choose to transfer to another camp or receive a refund less registration fees of $15.99.

Minimum enrollment: 6
Maximum enrollment: 20

Should minimum enrollment not be met, we will contact you to offer a full refund or other learning experience in exchange. 

Please contact us at info@younginklings.org with any questions.