Children's Author Dan Gutman Explains How to Write Your Story in Nine Simple Steps at the Young Writers' Workshop

Author Dan Gutman addressed the group in the Greenacres gym.On Saturday, March 26, 2022, Scarsdale held its 27th Annual Young Writers workshop from 9 am to 12 pm at Greenacres Elementary School for 3rd through 5th graders. Second graders also had the option to virtually connect with keynote speaker Dan Gutman for an introduction to the Young Writers’ Workshop.

Dan Gutman, an American author of primarily children’s fiction, began the day’s event by delivering a presentation to the young students over Zoom. Gutman first talked about how he never loved to read as a young child, but soon discovered how fun it could be. He showed the students the variety of books he has published and taught them how to write their own stories in nine simple steps. Gutman read the first chapter of his newest book My Weirder-est School #11: Mrs. Stoker Is a Joker as well, which will be released in June. He concluded his presentation by showing the students a series of his rejection letters to deliver messages of perseverance.

The students then had the option to spend the morning at two workshops, which they selected from a list of seventeen offerings.

From residents like designer Chip Rich and journalist Ines Rodrigues to award-winning authors including Jacqueline Friedland as well as Laura Schaefer, the students had the opportunity to learn about all forms of writing, art, and multimedia. The sessions were scattered around the newly renovated Greenacres—the four-classroom addition, rearrangement of interior spaces, and the renovation of eleven classrooms contributed to the school acting as the perfect space for the event.

In the “Diary of a Bunny: Storytelling Furry Perspective!” Laura Schaefer, the author of The Crumbles Chronicles: Tails of a Nervous Dog and owner of Scattered Books Bookstore, led the students in a postcard story-telling activity. As the students developed their own stories with creative titles and interesting drawings, Schaefer brought around her bunny Pumpkin, who serves as her bookstore's mascot, for the children to pet.

Schaefer brought around her pet bunny Pumpkin to the workshop.

Dan Gutman’s “My Weird Writing Workshop!” allowed the children to collectively craft a story about a mermaid named Kevin who wants to make a robot friend in a robot factory—the students alternated giving suggestions for a character, setting, and a goal and many laughs were had along the way.

Local pop artist Michael Albert allowed the students to dive into the world of art as they crafted collages made from recycled cardboard food boxes while listening to the Beatles. One student even took the opportunity to create a flag of Ukraine with the words “Stop the War” for her project. The students left the “Famous Pop Artist Lead Collage Workshop” with a new art project as well as postcards and bookmarks of Albert’s most famous prints. The elementary school students even learned the craft of commercials with local Creative Director Chip Rich.

The Young Writers’ Workshop proved to be an enjoyable and exciting event yet again for the students, guest participants, and volunteers alike.

Commenting on the event, organizers Jill Casal and Georgina Sforza said, "

Commenting on the event Casal said, “We had 350 students participate this year, in grades 2-5 (grades 3-5 in person, and grade 2, we piloted an "Intro to YWW" session virtually, where the children could watch the keynote with Dan Gutman livestreamed at home, to get a taste of the event before attending next year as third graders!).

It was truly wonderful to see all of the children back together. They reveled in the keynote with Dan Gutman, then moved from classroom to classroom for the various workshops. We thank Sharon Hill and Sharon DeLorenzo for allowing us to use the beautiful new Greenacres space for the event (it was the perfect spot for this event). And we also thank our wonderful community of volunteers -- over 50 parents from all five elementary schools helped the day of the event to make sure the event ran smoothly for the kids. It takes a village, and the village, as always, was present!

Student's in Michael Albert's workshop crafted collages from recycled carboard food boxes.