Join Young Willamette Writers...
Why?

• It's Free!
• You'll meet and join other students like yourself who have an interest in and love of writing.
• Share your work with your peers, and help each other grow as writers.
• Meet and learn from writing experts.
• See your best work published on this Web site and in an annual anthology.
• You'll have fun, make new friends and learn how to improve your writing!

Meetings . . .

are held at the same time and place as the adult Willamette Writers.

• Day: The first Tuesday of each month (YWWs meet only during the school year).
• Time: From 7 to 8 p.m.
• Place: "The Old Church" on SW 11th and Clay in Portland, Oregon.
• Price: Free! (Unless you want the Newsletter and other benefits of regular WW Membership.) Parents can attend the adult meeting for free while you are in the group.
• Who: Students from 5th through 10th grades who love to write. Our meetings are divided between mini-workshops led by the co-chairs of the group, and special presentations by writers, editors, publishers and other writing professionals. Students usually get a chance to read their work at the end of meetings. YWWs meet in the Victorian parlor off to the side of the reception room. Parents are welcome to stay with their students or to attend the main WW meeting at no charge.

Our next meeting...

With only a keyboard, telephone book and cell phone the first of four song writer classes began. Megan Hope of the "Mega Music Foundation" captured the student's imagination with her enthusiasm and knowledge of music. The main emphasis of the first aclass involved the art of truly listening to the nuance in series of notes. Megan guided the students to listen to musical structure as a prelude to writing lyrics.

For the next class Meagan asked that students bring two of their favorite songs. The students will analyze why the songs appeal to them. She will also bring three samples of what is regarded by experts as the best songs of the last fifty years. Students will learn why musicians chose those songs that earned such high respect. Both activities develop skill and the ear so that when students go to write their song, they will be able to discern what will work for them.

The next class is April 1st at the Old Church at 11th and Clay from 6:45 – 8 p.m. Looking forward to seeing you then.

During our last class, one student wrote the first line of a poem then passed their paper to the next person who wrote the second line, and so forth around the room. The students wrote the poems quickly, drawing on their instincts. Their poems are presented to honor their way with words.
Joni, YWW Chairperson

Play
We play outside and
Never stand doing nothing
Trust me, I’m not bluffing
It’s fun to swing
Entertaining just to run around
I cook "food" with dirt and petals
Pretend play. . .that's the thing
That makes me happy
It’s fun to cook
Even without a kettle.

Flower Magic
The roses had dew on their petals
Like sprinkles on a cake
This is what only nature can do,
That man could never make
Whenever I could, I stole a glance at them
No matter how many times
My Mom told me to wait
They are true magic
That makes these roses beautiful,
As though they have wing
But they can not fly in the air
To share the clouds with birds

The Wind
Swiftly, swiftly blew the wind
As it flew across the pond
Green grass blades swayed with the wind
And they shimmered as always
But this time there were no swans
Just frogs and muskrats
And with them jumps and dives
The pond was not lonely.