Young Authors’ Virtual Camp Resource Page
On this page, you will find fun writing activities, Writing tips and techniques as well as inspiration and advice from some of your favourite authors!
There is sure to be something for all our Young Authors’ Virtual Camp campers!
Acorn Fund for Youth
In Honour of Terry Campbell.
Videos About Writing Tips, Tricks and Advice!
Marty Chan Channel for Writers
We are THRILLED to have Marty Chan join us on Thursday, August 12th, 2021 for our Young Authors’ Virtual Camp. Marty has an AMAZING YouTube channel filled with great advice for writers like magic rules for writing fantasy, how to create villains, writing dialogue secrets to making setting come to life and more!
Click here to check out all the great videos.
Christopher Paul Curtis’ Four Golden Rules for Young Writers
Award-winning author Christopher Paul Curtis talks about his four golden rules for young writers. We were THRILLED to have Christopher Paul Curtis as the keynote speaker at Book Camp London 2018. This video was shot at the London Public Library when he visited Book Camp. Click here to hear Christopher Paul Curtis’ rules.
What Every Teenage Aspiring Writer Needs to Know
9th grade student, Isabela Moreno, does a wonderful job at explaining that everyone has stories, but very few people write them down. She further goes on to explain factors that prevent teenagers from writing, and she explains her own experiences as being a Young Author and the challenges she faced. Moreno also tells her audience why the world needs young authors. Click here to listen to her story and find out why!
Lots of Authors Give Advice on Telling Tales Site
For more than a decade, Telling Tales has celebrated a love of reading and the important role that Canadian storytellers play in shaping our children’s futures. They believe that through inspiring a love of reading, stories can change people’s lives. They featured over 30 authors, illustrators and storytellers at their first virtual festival in 2020. Click here to check out the amazing presenters and get advice from authors on writing for different genres.
Interview with Gordon Korman
Gordon Korman is the author of 82 books for kids and teens. His books have been translated into nearly 30 languages and have sold over 25 million copies worldwide. Gordon Korman shares how he stated writing, his writing routine, and what book influenced him! Click here to see the interview with Gordon Korman.
11 Famous Authors Give Advice to Young Writers
Listen in to writing advice given by the greatest writers of our time! If you are ever struggling to put your ideas on paper, this video is for you. Jonathan Franzen tells young authors to have fun and to always create something that is fun to work on. Herbjørg Wassmo tells young authors that if you want something for yourself, you must work for it. You must never give up. For more inspiring advice, click here to find out what some of the greatest writers of our time have to say.
How to Write Descriptively
As a writer, have you ever struggled to find the perfect words to create that perfect flowing sentence? Nalo Hopkinson shares some tips for how to use descriptive language to make your fiction stories really come to life. Fiction stories are so much fun to read, so why not enjoy writing them as well. Click here to learn how use descriptive language to write amazing fiction stories!
Why Writers Need Empathy
Are you a young author and feel like you’re about to give up? Jen Neale shares why they should continue to learn and get better, and to never think to yourself that you are done writing. She also shares her experience about writing her book Land Mammals and sea creatures. Neale also shares with her audience why it is important for writers to have empathy when writing about the characters. To learn more, click here.
Twists and Turns - Secrets of Great Plots
Join Kevin Sylvester (Moderator), Kenneth Oppel, Jonathan Auxier, Sylv Chiang, Hamilton Children’s Choir and Krista McNaughton to explore the twists and turns of storytelling! Click here to watch the video!
That Dreaded Blank Page! Where to Start? - Lorna Schultz Nicholson
Lorna Schultz Nicholson is one of our amazing guests at our 2022 Young Authors’ Virtual Camp. In this video, Lorna helps writers tackle one of the hardest parts of writing: getting started. Using examples from her novels, Lorna offers techniques to help you get started.
Click Here to watch the video!
First Person, Second Person and Third Person Writing.
Writer Rebekah Bergman shares the difference between first, second and third-person writing. This video explains the benefits of each writing style and when a writer may choose one over the other.
Click Here to watch the video.
How to build a fictional world - Kate Messner
Award-winning author Kate Messner gives tips for writers who wish to create fictional worlds. This video helps writers create fictional worlds that come alive off the page by offering advice to help writers thoroughly think through what makes their world different than our own.
Click Here to watch the video!
Marty Chan has several videos to assist young authors in starting their stories. This video provides different ideas and prompts to begin a story and to find the right words to write a story.
Click Here to watch the video!
In this Video, Marty Chan provides advice to young authors to help authors.
Click Here to watch the video.
This video is another way to assist young authors with starting off their stories or providing helpful suggestions on how to keep a story going.
Click Here to watch the video. (Viewer discretion is advised for the very young audience).
John Spencer also has many videos for young authors to be inspired by providing prompts to create a story or start a new story from the different ideas given in the videos.
The First Video Prompt is “A smartphone for pets.”
The second Video is “You woke up inside a video game.”
Canadian writers who have written Middle school and young adult books.
Click Here to view the video!
Reading Rocket is a website where many authors give interviews to assist young authors with their writing. This is Erin Entrada Kelly, who has written books that she hopes readers have been inspired to write about Mighty in different ways.
Click Here to watch one of the authors from The Reading Rocket.
10 Writing Tips
J.K. Rawlings provides ten writing tips to young authors and parental advice for parents not to discourage children from their dreams.
Click Here to watch the video!
Being a Good Writer: Writing Tips and Strategies!
Lucy Calkins speaks to writers with tips, honouring other readers and positive messages to writers.
Click Here to watch the video!
Have you ever wondered, “What if?” Marty Chan believes the great thing about being a writer is that you can take your what-if and make it a reality in the stories you write. This video is about coming up with creative ideas.
Click Here to watch Maty Chan’s video!
Drawing Tips, Tricks and Advice!
Learn to Draw a Comic with Clayton 'CTON' Hanmer
We were so happy to have Clayton present at 2021 Young Authors’ Virtual Camp! Clayton Hanmer, the Yellow Cedar Award nominated illustrator for Trending: How and Why Stuff Gets Popular, shows us how to draw our own comics with our own characters. Click here to watch the video.
Make Your Own Comic with Clayton Hanmer
Clayton has converted his live comic workshop into an online version which shows kids how to create their own characters using simple shapes. Then, he wrote a comic on the spot using the wacko characters. Watch the video to find out what he came up with and what happened to them!
More great advice and information!
Submitting your work
Do you have something that you wrote that you’re super proud of? Click here to see where you can submit your work for other people to see!
10 straightforward tips for young writers
Karen Krossing the author of seven successful novels for kids and teens provides a list of 10 great tops for young writers. Click here to check out the list.
What makes a good story?
“The strongest stories have well-developed themes, engaging plots, suitable structure, memorable characters, well-chosen settings, and attractive style. For best results, build strength in all areas.” - says Aaron Shepard the award-winning author of The Legend of Lightning Larry, The Sea King’s Daughter, The Baker’s Dozen, and many more children’s books. Click here to read Aaron’s advice on how to have a good theme, plot, story structure, characters, setting, and style and tone.
Are you too young to write a book?
Do you think that you’re too young to be writing a book? The answer is no! You are never too young to write and share your experiences. Click here to read about the realities of writing at a young age.
Do you like writing Poetry?
Publishing Your Poetry
Do you have poetry that you want to share with the world? Look here to see where you can submit your poem to be published.
Poetry Writing Tips
Have you ever wanted to try writing poetry but don’t know where to begin? Click here to get tips and tricks for writing poetry.
Insights on poetic scheme, meter, schemes and techniques
Have you ever asked yourself: What should I write poems about? How should I decide the right form for my poem? What are common mistakes that new poets make, and how can I avoid them? How do I write free verse/blank verse/sonnets/haikus etc.? If so, click here to find answers to those questions.
Printable Activities you do at home!
Do you like creating comics?
If you are looking for printable comic templates, look no further! Click here to get a selection of blank templates. If you are having troubles getting started, try finishing this comic story starter!
On your mark, get set, go!
Can you find books in your house that tick off all the boxes in this bookshelf scavenger hunt? Challenge a friend or a sibling to do it at the same time.
Reading Challenge
We know you like to read but let’s see how many books you can read that check off all the boxes on this reading challenge check list!
