Central New York Pen in Hand was birthed as a student developed and student directed young writers’ conference. Fifteen years later, high school students from across New York continue to converge on the city of Little Falls to enrich and develop their gift of writing.
“The kids are amazing. They are truly gifted,” said poet James E. Fahy. “They are so talented, year after year I am genuinely impressed with their writing. They inspire me to reach for greater heights.”
Fahy has attended the conference every year since its inception, and was particularly impressed with this year’s crop of student attendees. “I have to say that they are one of the best groups we have ever had at the conference,” he said. “They are so energetic and ready to learn and share.”
“It’s the kids. They are the reason I come back year after year,” said playwright Alan Steinberg, a professor in SUNY Potsdam’s English Department. “The kids are unbelievable, they are open to different thoughts and ideas, and they are talented. Some of the throw-away lines they come up are just amazing, so amazing that I told them I am going to steal some of them and use them myself.”
School districts are invited to submit samples of their students’ poetry, fiction and creative prose to be considered for acceptance to each year’s conference. As Pen in Hand provides an opportunity for young writers to work closely with professional authors in workshop settings, the number of students each year is limited between 60 and 65 ninth through twelfth graders.
“Comments repeatedly offered by students from past conferences explain their delight at being able to write with peers who share their affinity for writing and how exciting it is to work so closely with their authors,” said Diane Wagar, an eleventh grade English instructor at Dolgeville Central School.
While the conference is created for students by students, Wagar and other faculty help coordinate the logistics and lead the two-day event at Knights Inn and the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts.
“I was glad to help. It was more work than I thought it would be, but it’s encouraging to see how many schools participate and how it benefits the writers,” said Dolgeville student Robert McKelvey.
“Its an opportunity for young writers to work with respected authors and to come away with greater confidence as a writer,” second-year conference student director Jessica Pollak said.
First-year presenter and poet Joan Murray was impressed not only with the level of the students’ writing, but with the conference overall. “To see so many passionate young writers together in one place is great,” she said. “They are not just writers. These students are also talented artists, musicians and athletes. They are a remarkable collection of young adults who love what they do.”
Teachers who accompany their students to the conference come as mentor-teachers, and take part in separate writing workshops for “teachers who write.”
Wagar said comments from teachers at previous conferences explain that Pen in Hand is a great opportunity for them to be the writer, rather than the teacher.
“The students come to the conference with unlimited potential, and when they leave Pen in Hand they have tapped into that potential,” said Wagar. “You can see their growth over the two days.”
Fiction writer Andrew Devitt and journalist and children’s story writer Liza Frennette also participated in this year’s conference.
Little Falls, N.Y. —
