Press Democrat feature story- Helping the words flow freely (Phoenix Writers Program)

TUTORING IN LITERATURE: Helping the words flow freely

Professional authors provide environment where youths can experiment with writing in program at Phoenix Theater

By JANET PARMER
FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

In a small room behind the Phoenix Theater stage, its black walls decorated with graffiti, teenage writers are meeting twice a month to share poems, essays and short stories.


The fledgling group links teens who want to improve their writing skills with professional adult authors.

Kali Kennedy, 16, a Petaluma High School junior, is among the kids who joined when the group started late last year.

"In the beginning, I was afraid and didn't know anyone," she said. "Now it feels like a second family."

Another member of the group is Hadas Lipman, 17, a Petaluma High School junior.

She hangs out at the Phoenix, helping tutor students after school, and values the suggestions she's gotten from professional writers in the group.

"I like that they critique you, and it encourages me to do more with my poems,"­Lipman said. "They make me feel good about what I write. It's completely different than at school."

The teens are joined by adults like poets Geri DiGiorno and Terry Ehret, who give them feedback on their work.

"It's different in a lot of ways than a class, where usually there are a lot more students and you don't see each person's work," Ehret said. "It's less formal instruction, and you can pay more attention to the content of a writer's work."

Dave Murphy, who helps run the volunteer tutoring program at the Phoenix, went to San Francisco to see how the 826 Valencia writing community operates before launching the program in Petaluma.

The 826 Valencia program, based in a storefront, holds after-school writing workshops.

Murphy met the director and toured the facility, and began formulating a plan for a similar program in Petaluma.

He recruited several writers, including Ehret and Digiorno, the county's poet laureate and organizer of Petaluma's annual Poetry Walk. Other participants include writers Ginny Buccelli and Chris Newton.

At one recent session, Ehret told the group about a writing contest, and two of the teens jumped at the chance to submit their work.

The deadline was just a couple of days away, but Ehret assured the teens they could submit writing in any genre, and they could send something already completed.

Ehret, a Santa Rosa Junior College English instructor and former Sonoma County poet laureate, also told the teens about open mike events, author talks and a local literary update she publishes on the Internet.

The aspiring writers and their coaches meet twice a month. The sessions are held in the evening, and there is no charge.

"It's a chance to express to other people how I feel and to show off my work," Kennedy said. "I'm learning what works and what doesn't work."

Kennedy said the group and the assignments she's received bear little resemblance to her high school English classes.

"I'm frustrated with school essays and hate having to stick to what a teacher wants. I usually put personal things in and get marked down. This is easier for me, and much more freeing for me," she said.

"I have poems that I bring in," Lipman said. " Whenever I'm going through some kind of emotion, I'll write it. Some times it's personal, and I think hmmm, should I do it or not. Then I'll get courage."

The adults are donating their time and expertise, and say they do it because the group gives kids a safe environment to experiment with their writing.

Ehret appreciates being one of several mentors rather than the sole classroom instructor.

"It's a pleasure," she said. "I don't have to be the voice of authority. I'm one of many, and I love that."

Ehret considers the sessions "no guilt" workshops because students don't have to bring completed assignments and aren't penalized if they miss a meeting.

They can choose to participate actively or listen and absorb the conversations and critiques.

At a recent meeting, as an exercise to explore creativity, each writer contributed a line to a poem about dreams.

They passed a paper around the room and with previous lines covered up wrote a sentence.

Murphy read the group poem aloud and the kids and adults discussed art as collaboration.

The teens were asked to read something they had written and they received feedback from Ehret and Digiorno, who offered specifics about phrases that worked well and writing that could be improved.

At the end of the session, Murphy gave the kids an optional assignment to think about a fictional character and describe the person in detail in one paragraph, and then take several characters and create a dialogue.

"We'll bring a cast of characters in here," he said.

The group meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The next session will be Thu rsday.

The group is open to any middle school or high school students and is free.

For further information, contact Murphy at 778-6397.

PHOTO: 1 by SCOTT MANCHESTER / The Press Democrat

Tim Rodgers, 20, of Petaluma reads his poetry to mentors, from left, Geri DiGiorno, Sonoma County poet laureate; Terry Ehret, former Sonoma County poet laureate; and Jane Hamilton, head of the board of directors of the Phoenix Theater, during a meeting for young , aspiring writers last month at the Phoenix Theater .

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BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Middle school or high school students who want to improve their writing skills can link up with professional authors.
When: Second and fourth Thursday of the month, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The next session will be Thursday.
Where: Phoenix Theater
Cost: Free.
Info: Contact Dave Murphy at 778-6397