fifth annual literary festival for high school students

Saturday, March 31, 2012

9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Hosted At Lusher High School
5624 Freret Street, New Orleans 70115

Interested in writing? Want to meet other high school writers from across the city?
Ready to explore new forms of writing with professional writers?

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 24.

LitFest is a collaboration between
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and Lusher Charter High School

Lusher Charter High School and New Orleans Center for Creative Arts are collaborating once again to produce the fifth year of a remarkable two-day event for high school students:  New Orleans New Writers Literary Festival. The Festival, coordinated by Lusher faculty member Brad Richard and NOCCA faculty member Lara Naughton, draws nearly 150 young writers from the New Orleans area who come together to learn new skills, share ideas and celebrate the writing life.  “LitFest is a great way to explore -- with other quirky, imaginative students -- different types of writing, like screenwriting and food writing. The minute I stepped out of LitFest last year, I wanted to sign up again!” said high school junior Ryanne Autin.

Day One Thursday March 29: features a reading with poet Matthew Olzmann. The reading, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 7 p.m. at NOCCA, 2800 Chartres Street, New Orleans 70117. Matthew Olzmann’s poetry has appeared in numerous journals including Kenyon Review, New England Review, Atlanta Review.  He is a writer-in-residence for the InsideOut Literary Arts Project in Detroit, coaches members of the InsideOut slam team, is editor of The Collagist, and the poet-in-residence for the Lloyd Hall Scholars Program at the University of Michigan.

Day Two Saturday March 31: offers high school students a day-long festival of master classes with nationally renowned writers and artists, seminars, food, and sharing their work and ideas. Saturday events will be held from 9:30 AM-4:30 PM at Lusher Charter High School, 5624 Freret Street, New Orleans 70115.

Headlining the Saturday festival will be poet Matthew Olzmann who will offer a reading and master class for all participants then meet with a small group of students to discuss memoir writing and the writing life.

Other session offerings include text and movement; screenwriting; spoken word; experimental poetry; experimental fiction; songwriting; and story games for writers.  In addition, there will be an open reading by members of the local high school literary scene.

Co-founder Brad Richard says, “As professional writers, we know how important it is to be part of a larger writing community.  The same is true for young writers who want to meet other students with similar interests and explore the craft with outstanding artists and mentors. We’re thrilled to offer this opportunity again this year.”

The Saturday festival is open to high school age students only and requires pre-registration. The non-refundable registration fee is $20.00, payable on-line, and the registration deadline is March 23, 2012. 

Spoken Word: An inspiring class focusing on how to dynamically perform your poetry.

Screenwriting: Discover the elements needed to write a screenplay.  Write your own major motion picture.

Text And Movement: You don’t have to be a dancer to take this class. It’s a fun and surprising way to connect movement and language.

Story Games for Writers: Play a variety of tabletop role-playing, story, and word games to help strengthen your storycraft, world-building, improv and narrative skills. No experience or dice necessary!

Songwriting: Music is everywhere but have you ever thought about what it takes to create a song?  Learn some basics of songwriting and be encouraged to write your own.

Experimental Fiction: Don’t retell the same story in the same way.  Experiment with new approaches to fiction.

Experimental Poetry:  Are you a non-traditional poet looking for experimental ways to approach your writing?  Class. This. For. IS. You.

Author Chat with Matthew Olzman: Spend time in a small group setting with this year's featured artist! Discuss the craft of writing, share work and create new work.

We are ready to help you!
Please email or call us with any questions you may have.

Lara Naughton
lnaughton@nocca.com
(504) 940-2821