Young Writers Summer Camp at Mechanics'

Young writers will learn the essentials of story craft—developing characters, building worlds, plotting, and refining prose—through workshops, hands-on exercises, peer-critique, and dedicated writing time. By week’s end, each young writer will complete an original short story (2–5 pages) with a clear beginning, midpoint, and ending. Social time and creativity-boosting games round out this fun, supportive, and imagination-fueling experience.

At the end of the week long camp, your young writer's story will be printed and added to the MI Library Collection!

Skill-Building & Guided Instruction:

Structured workshop blocks focus on developing strong writing fundamentals. Students will engage in lessons and hands-on exercises including:

• Generating and refining story ideas
• Building vivid characters and compelling worlds
• Understanding story structure
• Plotting approaches
• How to give and receive meaningful feedback

Writing Lab & Collaboration:

The Mechanics’ Institute’s reading rooms and meeting spaces transform into a collaborative writing studio to give our young writers dedicated time for:

• Writing sprints to build focus, momentum, and writing stamina
• Independent writing and revision
• Small-group critique circles

These sessions emphasize a supportive, encouraging atmosphere where students can experiment, try new ideas, and build community with fellow young writers.

Community, Creativity, and Play

The week also includes social time designed to help students connect and form friendships, along with games and activities that spark imagination, observation, problem-solving, and curiosity—essential tools for any writer.

During theJune 22 - 26 session, campers will receive a writing lesson from award-winning author and MI Board Member, Lindsey Crittenden.

During the July 6th – 10th session, campers will receive a writing lesson from Pulitzer Prize finalist and MacArthur Fellow Tommy Orange, author of the acclaimed novels There There and Wandering Stars.

Age Range: 11 - 13 years old

Camp Fee:

Members: $450

Non-Members: $500

Dates:

Session 1 - June 22 to June 26

Session 2 - July 6 to July 10

Time:

9:30am to 3:30pm (30-minute break, lunch provided at noon) each camp day

About the Instructor and Special Guests

Terri Selting David is an author, artist, animator, curriculum and content creator—and above all, a storyteller. She began her professional storytelling career in 1996 as a character animator, working across television, film, video games, and even comics, where she honed her ability to bring compelling characters to life.

In 2015, Terri co-founded a summer camp for underrepresented groups passionate about STEM. As head of content development she has created curriculum and hands-on projects designed to spark creativity, confidence, and a love of tinkering and problem-solving. It was during this work that Terri discovered her true calling as a fiction writer, using storytelling to empower young people—especially girls—to see themselves as capable, inventive problem-solvers.

Terri is the author of eight full-length novels across three series, writing Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction known for strong female protagonists, nuanced male characters, and engaging, adventure-driven plots. Her stories balance fun and imagination with thoughtfulness and depth, offering excitement without relying on gratuitous content. Accessible to advanced readers and critical thinkers alike, her novels invite readers to escape into richly imagined worlds while exploring meaningful themes.

Whether writing for Middle Grade or Young Adult audiences, Terri Selting David creates stories that entertain, inspire, and stay with readers long after the final page.

Tommy Orange is a graduate of the MFA program at the Institute of American Indian Arts. An enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, he was born and raised in Oakland, California. His first book, There There, was a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize, received the 2019 American Book Award, and is among the 22 recipients for the 2025 MacArthur Fellows Program. He lives in Oakland, California.

Lindsey Crittenden has taught writing for more than 30 years, most recently at The Writers Grotto and as an Honored Instructor at UC Berkeley Extension. She also taught for several years at the Urban School of San Francisco. A member of the Writers Grotto, Lindsey is the author of an award-winning collection of short fiction as well as numerous essays, stories, and articles in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Best American Spiritual Writing, Cimarron Review, Glimmer Train, and elsewhere.

Questions? Please contact us at programs@milibrary.org or give us a call at (415)-393-0103.