Kids Write! Virtual Writing Classes for Kids
Introducing our new online writing program for kids! We want to encourage young writers, especially during these days when schools are closed, by giving them some new concrete skills that will help them become better writers and feel good about what they are accomplishing as young writers. Our classes combine instruction about craft and writing exercises, all at an age appropriate level. Classes are led by Lynn Rosen, owner of Open Book Productions and English, writing, and publishing instructor. (For more about Lynn see HERE.) What people are saying about Kids Write! Praise from a former student:I really liked this writing class. I’m still enjoying writing the rest of the story I started during the class. We were given time and help to be creative and write what we wanted. Praise from the parent of a previous student:“My daughter, who is in 7th grade, took a class with Lynn in the fall. It was a great experience on so many levels. I knew my daughter was a talented writer but didnt know how to foster this talent without nagging! Lynn got the middle schoolers comfortable with her and each other right away so they could give each other feedback. The fiction piece my daughter ended up writing blew me away. The characters had serious depth and I wanted to read more! I know she is a better writer from this class! I highly recommend Kids Write for teens and tweens!” Class Details BOTH SESSIONS ARE FULL. IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN A NEW SESSION BEGINS, PLEASE EMAIL LYNN@LYNNROSEN.COM. Class will meet virtually; details are below. Each class is 2 weeks long, includes 4 meetings, and each meeting is an hour and 15 minutes.Cost per class is $85 Register HERE. (A special discount for two children from one family is available.) KIDS WRITE! GRADES 3 – 5 DATE: Mon/Thur, April 16, 20, 23, 27TIME: 11AM – 12:15PMLOCATION: via ZoomIn this workshop, young writers will exercise their writerly muscles in a series of exercises designed to teach them about how to craft good writing in a fun way. They’ll learn about how to plan a writing project and what it means to write a good sentence, all in the context of exercises designed specifically for their age group.Register HERE. KIDS WRITE! GRADES 6 – 8 DATE: Tues/Fri, April 17, 21, 24, 28TIME: 2PM – 3:15PM LOCATION: via ZoomIn this workshop, we’ll start to look at what it means to be a writer. What exactly, do writers do? What are the many professions in which writing plays a role? What are some different types of writing? Students will do exercises that explore a variety of writing...
Literary Mindfulness
Writing is an activity that we pursue because, theoretically, we enjoy it and find it rewarding and fulfilling. It’s also extraordinarily challenging. Sometimes we are good at creating habits that have us regularly sitting in our chairs and working on our writing, and sometimes we let whatever distractions or concerns we may be feeling keep us from making the commitment to our creative work. Literary Mindfulness is about making a commitment to writing and being mindful about it. This is a commitment that means that we will do this writing for ourselves, acknowledging that it is something that is important to us and that nourishes us as much as it may challenge us. Literary Mindfulness is about honoring ourselves and the creative instinct that resides inside us. Practically, it’s about creating space for yourself to do your creative work. Sometimes, this is just about carving out a few hours, or even minutes, in your busy day. In these trying times, it’s more important than ever to make sure your creative soul has the chance to be expressed. Hence Open Book Productions is happy to provide some virtual opportunities for regular guided writing. Each Literary Mindfulness session will begin with focus exercises and goal setting. It will then include structured time that mixes writing exercises and group work with periods of quiet writing time. In addition to general structured writing exercises, it offers the opportunity to focus on writing your own project as well. Ongoing sessions will be offered.If you’d like to try a class, email lynn@lynnrosen.com. Sessions are scheduled as soon as a group is assembled at a time that is convenient for all. Each session is an hour and a half.COST: $25 PER SESSIONSign...
The Baby Owner’s Games and Activities Book
Babies learn about their world by playing. And with The Baby Owner’s Games and Activities Book, you’ll discover 75 exciting ways to enrich their minds, strengthen their bodies, and spark their imaginations. No expensive toys or battery-operated gizmos are required—just common household materials and a little creativity. From cooking and making crafts to dancing, playing music, and imitating favorite zoo animals, these activities all feature numerous developmental benefits. Compatible with all models ages 0–36 months, The Baby Owner’s Games and Activities Book will result in hours of...
Hot Off the Press Spring 2020
In this lively monthly book discussion class led by Lynn Rosen, participants read and discuss new literary fiction. Class conversations include a thorough and thoughtful analysis of the book as well as background information provided by Lynn about the author and the book’s path to publication. We talk serious book talk, but have a lot of laughs too! Class meets on Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 8:30pm. CLASS DATES:February 26March 25April 22May 20June 17LOCATION: Elkins Park, PA 19027COST: $160Sign up HERE.Books are not included and can be purchased by class members at a discount from Open Book Bookstore. CLASS READING SCHEDULE: February 26American Dirt by Jeanine CumminsTells of the ordeal of a Mexican woman who had to leave behind her life and escape as an undocumented immigrant to the United States with her son. This book has created a great literary controversy about cultural appropriation, which will also be part of our discussion. March 25Amnesty by Aravind AdigaA riveting, suspenseful, and exuberant novel from the bestselling, Man Booker Prize–winning author of The White Tiger and Selection Day about a young illegal immigrant who must decide whether to report crucial information about a murder—and thereby risk deportation. April 22Days of Distraction by Alexandra Chang“Startlingly original and deeply moving…. Chang here establishes herself as one of the most important of the new generation of American writers.” — George SaundersEqual parts tender and humorous, and told in spare but powerful prose, Days of Distraction is an offbeat coming-of-adulthood tale, a touching family story, and a razor-sharp appraisal of our times. May 20Afterlife by Julia AlvarezThe first adult novel in almost fifteen years by the internationally bestselling author of How the García Girls Lost Their Accents. Antonia Vega, the immigrant writer at the center of Afterlife, has just retired from the college where she taught English when her beloved husband, Sam, suddenly dies. And then more jolts happen. Antonia has always sought direction in the literature she loves, but she finds that the world demands more of her than words. June 17The Book of V by Anna SolomonA bold, kaleidoscopic novel intertwining the lives of three women across three centuries as their stories of sex, power, and desire finally converge in the present...
A Celebration of Jewish American Women Writers
A half-day event for readers offering a chance to mingle with writers DATE: Sunday, April 30, 2017 TIME: 9am to 2pm LOCATION: Elkins Park, PA (See below for location details.) Event sponsored by Open Book Bookstore and Congregation Keneseth Israel Much of the vital new work in Jewish American letters is being done by women. These women writers are bravely exploring what it means to be Jewish in America today, and what being Jewish brings to the act of creating literature. Join us in a day of literary celebration with a group of well-known Jewish American women authors. Many of them will be introducing and reading from their new novels. They will talk about what being Jewish means to their work, about writing and life, about passion and activism, about history and about life today, and above all, about how they create meaningful literature. The day will include talks and readings by the authors, ample opportunity for questions from attendees, book signings, a morning “bagel break,” and a catered buffet lunch with the authors. Authors attending include: Elinor Lipman Lauren Grodstein Pam Jenoff Nomi Eve Stephanie Feldman Dana Bate Janet Benton Amy Sue Nathan Ellen Umansky Conference Agenda 9-9:30am Arrival and registration. Coffee, tea & snacks are served. Bookstore and book signing tables open. 9:30 Programming begins. 9:30 – 9:40 Welcome by Lynn Rosen, Open Book Bookstore. “How women writers are redefining American Jewish literature.” 9:40 – 9:50 Nomi Eve: “What it means to be a Jewish writer and part of a Jewish community. 9:50 – 10:10 Author Readings Dana Bate, author of Too Many Cooks Amy Sue Nathan, author of The Good Neighbor 10:10: 10:30 Lauren Grodstein “Being Jewish and being a writer – and a writing teacher.” Plus an introduction to her new book, Our Short History, and a reading from the book. 10:30 – 10:50 Janet Benton, author of Lilli de Jong “The pre-publication jitters: Two weeks before the on-sale date of her debut novel, Benton tells about the journey that got her to this point.” 10:50 – 11:10 Bagel break. Bookstore and book signing tables open. 11:10 – 11:20 Stephanie Feldman, author of The Angel of Losses “Writing, activism, and Jewish identity.” Stephanie will talk about her book and also her work running the Philadelphia chapter of WritersResist. 11:20 – 11:40 Elinor Lipman “On Jewish women’s writing and humor.” Humor has always been an important part of the Jewish experience. Lipman is known for her witty and entertaining books. She will address how she uses humor in her writing, and talk about and...