Spark your young writer’s imagination! Author John Claude Bemis teaches writing classes for kids and teens.
Through a generous grant from the NC Arts Council, I will be leading a writing residency for 13 days at Glade Creek School. A big thanks to the Alleghany Writers and their Writing Across the Curriculum program for helping to bring this wonderful opportunity to the young writers in their community. It’s going to be amazing!
Come out to McIntyre’s Books 2nd annual Whirlikids Book Festival, where I’ll be playing emcee and you can meet loads of your favorite children’s book authors.
Do you have an idea for a picture book or a novel for kids or teens? Do you dream of getting it published?
In this one-day workshop, you’ll learn all about the art and business of children’s book writing. What appeals to young readers? What are publishers looking for? How do you submit to agents and editors? The publishing world can often be confusing. John will break it all down for you and set you on the right path.
Editors and agents always say they’re looking for writers with a unique voice. Let’s develop your distinctive storytelling voice. It begins with point of view and tense, but there’s SO much more, especially by bringing in your personality and passions.
This one-day workshop will help you explore writing in different narrative voices to find what works for you and your story. Through exercises that will stretch the imagination and deepen your craft, you’ll leave with a better approach to captivating readers.
Occasionally you need to make sure the various elements of your book are working. Whether it’s point-of-view or character development, the plot structure or raising the stakes in individual scenes, we’ll get you on the right track.
THe Harvin Clarendon County Library in partnership with Manning Elementary School are sponsoring a free county-wide literacy night where I’ll be giving a special presentation for writers and readers of all ages.
Hope to see you there!
Looking forward to presenting to all my friends at Manning Elementary.
Looking forward to presenting to all my friends down in Pender County, NC.
Start 2019 inspired and full of new approaches to dreaming up your best story! Whether you are published or yet-to-be published, writing a novel, picture book, or graphic novel, ALL are welcome and will benefit from this magical Saturday retreat.
Join me and authors Kelly Starling Lyons, Katy Munger, Howard Craft, Anna Jean Mayhew, and Lyn Fairchild Hawks for a benefit to support literacy In Hillsborough. Readings and lots of fun!
Shop small town local and join in a literary extravaganza. I’ll be with lots of Hillsborough authors including Lee Smith, Allan Gurganus, Jaki Shelton Green, among tons of others for this all-day program with readings, signings, and a reception at 5 pm where you can chat with all your favorite Hboro authors.
For more info, visit Hillsborough Local Author Book Fair.
Spark your young writer’s imagination! Author John Claude Bemis will be teaching writing classes this fall 2018 for kids and teens.
KIDS WRITING CLASS: Weekly class for ages 9 – 13 on Tuesdays from 4:30 – 5:45 pm, Sept. 4-Nov 13. The eleven-week session is $150. Young writers will engage in fun activities to turn ideas of the imagination into stories on paper. They’ll learn how to come up with wildly creative characters, settings, and plots and deepen their understanding of the storytelling process. Students will share writing, as well as discuss stories and books. No homework or out of class assignments. The class is lots of fun with a supportive, friendly environment.
TEEN WRITING CLASS: Twice monthly class for homeschool teens from 10 am – noon on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, Sept. 5-Dec. 5. The seven-week session is $140. The class is structured around independent student writing—either short pieces or a longer, evolving novel. Students will share their writing and get constructive, supportive feedback. Lessons will be built around needs assessed from the student writing primarily with a focus on character development, plot structure, narrative point of view, and handling backstory, exposition, and “showing rather than telling.”
All classes will be held in Hillsborough. Space is limited.
John Claude Bemis is a former classroom teacher turned author with his M.Ed. in Literacy. He was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award from UNC-Chapel Hill for his work with young writers. John was chosen as the Piedmont Laureate for Children’s Literature. He is the author of seven books for young readers. For more information, visit his website at johnclaudebemis.com.
To register or find out more information, please contact John at johnclaudebemis@gmail.com
This is my favorite writing retreat every single year. I lead a weeklong intensive on WRITING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS up in the inspiring and gorgeous mountains of western North Carolina. If you're serious about writing for young people, you have to join us! You'll love having your creative well filled as we take a deep dive into crafting stories that captive the imaginations of children and teen, make leaps and bounds with your manuscript, and get a better understanding of how the YA and children's book publishing world works.
For more information or to register visit: Table Rock Writers Workshop.
If your young writer is looking for a summer camp, I'll be a visiting artist for one week at Camp New Hope, leading writing sessions for campers of all ages. Of course, lots of other activities going on all week in a beautiful woodsy setting. And lots of other exciting artists presenting other weeks throughout the summer.
To register or for more information, visit Camp New Hope.
I'll be giving a special presentation as part of the Greensboro Bound Literary Festival at the Civil Rights Center and Museum that you and your young writer or reader will love. Hope to see you there!
I'll be lead a session on Children's Book Writing 101 to help those who are interested in getting into the field of writing books for children and young adults.
To register or for more information, visit Write Now! Conference.
I'll be leading a special workshop and moderating a panel for the 2018 NCRA conference.
I'm honored to be the featured speaker at Joyner Library's 13th Annual Librarian to Librarian Summit at ECU.
McIntyre's Books in Fearrington Village (outside Chapel Hill) is putting on their first annual children's book festival. So many amazing authors and illustrators will be there. I'll be joining Angela Dominguez, Karina Yan Glaser, and Stuart Gibbs for a fun program. Book signing and chatting with the authors to follow. Bring the whole family!
I'll be presenting a workshop on "How Writers Create Stories for Young Readers" and moderating a panel on NC's newest children's book authors. Hope to see you media specialists at the 2017 NCSLMA conference.
I'll be on a panel discussing retellings and how I turned the traditional Pinocchio story into a Da Vinci-punk fantasy-adventure for young readers.
Alan Gratz (REFUGEE and BAN THIS BOOK) & I will be joining forces for a fun evening talking about our latest books and possibly arm wrestling at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NC.
For more information visit: Alan Gratz and John Claude Bemis at Flyleaf
Join me for an inspiring writing retreat in the mountains of North Carolina where I'll be leading a weeklong intensive on WRITING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS. Whether you're writing picture books or novels for tweens or teens, you'll love having your creative well filled as we take a deep dive into crafting stories that captive the imaginations of young readers.
For more information or to register visit: Table Rock Writers Workshop.
Help me celebrate the release of the 2nd book in the Out of Abaton series, LORD OF MONSTERS. Music, giveaways, refreshments, entertainment, reading, and signing. Books will be for sale from Purple Crow Books or bring your own copies to get autographed.
The wait is over! The second book in the Out of Abaton series, LORD OF MONSTERS, officially comes out today in great bookstores everywhere!
Pinocchio's and Lazuli's adventures continue, this time in the fantastical realm of Abaton where more dangers, more mayhem, and a ridiculous number of monsters are waiting for them.
More info coming soon about when I'll be presenting.
More information soon on when I'll be presenting.
I'm excited to be visiting Bridgeton, Creekside, Gurganus, and Edward Elementary schools in Craven County, NC.
I'm happy to visit Sylvan Elementary in Alamance County, NC.
The Hillsborough Gallery of Arts in downtown Hillsborough, NC has a special show with artworks all inspired by THE WOODEN PRINCE. I'll be doing a reading and talk on Sunday, March 5th at 4 pm. But the works will be up all of March. Fans of the book won't want to miss the amazing paintings, sculpture, and jewelry all based on Pinocchio's magical adventures.
For more information visit: Hillsborough Gallery
Looking forward to being with all those wonderful South Carolina educators for the SCIRA Conference! More info on when I'm presenting soon.
Join me and best-selling author Megan Shepherd as we discuss our latest books. Megan's latest release THE SECRET HORSES OF BRIAR HILL is a powerful and heartfelt story of a girl trying to return an injured winged horse to its world behind the mirrors of Briar Hill hospital.
It'll be a fun evening of swapping stories and talking about the magic of writing and reading!
More info at Flyleaf Books.
I'll be joining all my wonderful NC librarian peeps at the NCSLMA conference. Hope to see you there!
Looking forward to presenting, autographing books, and meeting all you teachers and librarians at the Louisiana Reading Association.
