Writer's Workshop is a gathering of college prep student artists working individually and collaboratively under an experienced writer's guidance to produce outstanding works of fiction, poetry, essays, humor, drama, experimental works, satire, and many other forms of inventive literary pieces.

5 Goals of the Workshop:

1.) Write drafts of new material.

2.) Edit, improve, and redraft previous pieces.

3.) Present works in progress to peers in an open and supportive writers' community.

4.) Publish student work as an anthology of each workshop in a binder that is distributed to the authors, their parents, school officials, and the school library.

5.) Publish all student work on this world-wide website.

Guest Speakers for Workshop VII: Brit Butler (Oglethorpe University), Rebecca Paisley (Georgia Perimeter College), and Zhang Saisai (Formerly of Anhui Province, China)

To read 2007's anthology, "7 Good Reasons Never to Give Teens Pens!," written by students Emily L. Baskin, Eric Brown, J. Samuel Collins, Emily Elkind, Whitney Ott, Tina West, Megan Young, and with special contributions by teachers Don Gerz and Hank Jones, click on the 11th link from the top on the left of this website!

Emily L. Baskin (Class of 2009) – A first-time member of the Writers’ Workshop, Emily is one of the most prolific writers in its seven-year history! In fact, Emily published no less than twenty-one pieces in this year’s anthology, plus another four currently under revision! Her poem, “I Want to Be Me” (page 9), should be the goal of every person. Emily is a sophomore.

Eric Brown (Class of 2008) - Eric’s prose works are mainly historical fiction. His poems are usually reflections, expressions of things that are or have been…or they are a pondering of certain situations. Eric’s short story, “Avalanche” (page 16), shows that he has a strong sense of survival, as do many of the characters in his writing. His novel in progress, Beneath the Burning Sun (page 18), demonstrates a traditional sensibility of epic heroism. 2006-2007 is Eric’s junior year.

J. Samuel Collins (Class of 2007) - Genith is an ambitious novel-in-progress by J. Samuel Collins. The work aspires to that of its predecessors in the fantasy epic genre of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Genith seeks to fit a world’s unique culture into one novel, proving to be a promising project. His ambitious poem, “Idol” (page 29), is one of the most profound poems ever penned in the Writers’ Workshop. A senior, Sam is planning to graduate this May!

Emily Elkind (Class of 2009) - Emily generally writes fiction, and her stories tend to be about the difficulties of life. Agatha Christie’s mystery novels have inspired her greatly, and Harper Lee’s famous work, To Kill a Mockingbird, has been a strong influence in her writing as well. Emily’s poems, such as “Dreams” (page 32), show that she posses tremendous resolve. Emily is currently a sophomore at Mill Springs Academy.

Whitney Ott (Class of 2008) - Monday, January 8, 2007, was not only Whitney’s first day in this year’s workshop, it was also her first day as a student at Mill Springs Academy! Whitney chose to write about many experiences that mean much to her. Her poem of intense lament, “Never Say Goodbye” (page 38), is an especially moving tribute to a former teacher. Whitney is presently a junior at MSA.

Tina West (Class of 2009) – Writers’ Workshop VII was also Tina’s first workshop. She submitted a number of extremely interesting pieces, not the least of which were seven poems, a prose piece based upon a miniature painting ("Every Day" on page 39), and an innovative travel piece generated by an imaginary visit to Tuscany, Italy (page 41)! Tina is currently a sophomore.

Megan Young (Class of 2008) - Another first-time author participating in this year’s Writers’ Workshop, Megan also wrote an interesting travel piece—this one on Turkey. A very reflective writer, she contributed a deeply felt contemplation on the state of the world (“New” on page 43), a highly compressed poem on the interconnectivity of relationships (“Flying,” also on page 43), and a humorous (but true) poem on the fickle hearts of boys (“Pieces” on page 44). Megan is a junior at Mill Springs.

"On Poetry (and Creative Writing in General)" by Don Gerz

It is not my intention to give you the definitive meanings of the following poems. They will be interpreted differently from person to person because no two souls share the same linguistic sensibilities. A poem's meaning is not what makes it distinctive and important. The meaning of a poem is much more than the mere sum of its constituent parts, even more than the limited intentions of its creator. After all, words have meanings, both denotative and connotative. When effectively combined as a congruency of words, their relations generate completely new possibilities of perception and even BEING itself.

Reality, the goal of perception, is not just an object, nor is it solely the goal of consciousness. Perception and consciousness literally become vital parts of reality itself when organized in the mode of a poem. Poems, therefore, are fertile sources for unlimited human transformation and growth.

Because poems are tightly woven and highly compressed patterns of human images, emotions, perceptions, and experiences, poetical composition and the intelligent reading of poetry are powerful instruments for developing and exercising human perception, that driving aspect of the intellect. As a work of art, a poem's purpose is to be itself, a "turbine" empowering the human being toward greater and more comprehensive vistas of reality.

At its very least, a poem is most certainly a part of reality itself because it exists. By definition, that which exists is real to the degree of its unique nature. Reality, therefore, is extended by the poem as a new layer on reality's surface—one that dramatically expresses the universal core of human and, sometimes, even divine meaning.

We hope you enjoy the following poems and other creative writing. Remember: All writing (to the extant that it is innovative, creative, and fresh) is poetical.

"Poetry" by Pablo Neruda

And it was at that age poetry arrived in search of me. I don't know, I don't know where it came from, from winter or a river. I don't know how or when, no, they were not voices, they were not words, not silence, but from a street it called me, from the branches of night, abrubtly from the others, among raging fires or returning alone, there it was, without a face, and it touched me.

I didn't know what to say, my mouth had no way with names, my eyes were blind. Something knocked in my soul, fever or forgotten wings, and I made my own way, deciphering that fire, and I wrote the first, faint line, fant, without substance, pure nonsense, pure wisdom of someone who knows nothing; and suddenly I saw the heavens unfastened and open, planets, palpitating plantations, the darkness perforated, riddled with arrows, fire, and flowers, the overpowering night, the universe.

And I, tiny being, drunk with the great starry void, likeness, image of mystery, felt myself a pure part of the abyss. I wheeled with the stars. My heart broke loose with the wind.