Written by Malcolm Knowles, Associate Director of Specialty Programs
“The reading was epic!” – Ethan, age 8
On a rainy Tuesday afternoon, many a Writopian and their parents gathered for our annual Fall trimester reading hosted at the St. Agnes Library. Writers of all ages stood upon the stage to share the fruits of their hard work and dedication from the last three months. True to the season, we had a handful of scary stories; tales of haunted dolls, zombie towns, and adventures of survival. After the reading, I had the opportunity to speak to three writers who attended and here is what they have to say about the experience.
Did you have a favorite part of the reading?
Oona (9): I liked when the parents asked questions.
Sarah (8): I liked when everyone read the parts we made of the poem, it kind of fit in, and it almost started to make me cry… it kinda meant a lot, Writopia is my favorite time of the week, so it just kinda felt special.
Ethan (8): Obviously, my favorite part was my reading.
Did you have a favorite interview question?
Oona: When they asked if we ever had writer’s block.
Sarah: I liked the question about what part do we get most stuck on, my mom is constantly telling me that I am starting stories but I am not always finishing them.
What did you share at the reading?
Oona: My story was about a doll that kills a girl.
Sarah: I read two-thirds of chapter one of my book called Survival Kids.
Ethan: My story Vampire Town…wait not Vampire Town, Zombie Town.
For some, this kind of event was a first-time experience. Sarah had this to say about her first reading. “I was kind of scared, but then everyone was so kind to me, and as I kept on reading I felt better about it.” For others, this is a regular part of their time at Writopia, the perfect cherry on top of a trimester worth of crafting their stories. The event made for a truly special evening and I think Ethan was able to sum it up perfectly: “The reading was epic!”
