Pacific Coast Children's Writers Novel Workshop

What makes an event GR8, besides fun activities and food? People! That includes international teens who love stories—reading, writing, and watching them spring to life.

Step through the TeenSpeak portal to discover others who share your passion: lively writing instructors, a friendly New York editor/publisher and literary agent, adults writing middle-grade and YA novels who seek feedback from you.

Read what students are saying about our workshop. Below, see the staff who will inspire and guide you in this adventure.

TEEN-COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR Ann Angel was a contributing editor for Things I’ll Never Say: Stories About Our Secret Selves. She is the author of the 2011 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award, Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing, one of her many biographies. (Ann: “Janis gave me courage to be myself.”) A graduate of Vermont College's MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults, Ann has directed and taught writing in a college English Graduate Program. Her own YA novels are in the works!

BIOS to be added for 2022: Award-winning author Bridget Hodder and YA fantasy writer-instructor Aleese Lin.

“I love teens,” says TeenSpeak writing mentor Kathleen (Kat) Dougherty. “I’ve raised two of my own, and collected a few who thought they were mine.”

From the first breath of a story idea to a finished novel in need of direction, pacing or technique, Kat is ready to help you bring your story dreams to fruition. She has worked with both beginning and successfully-published authors on storycrafting, technique, and voice. Susan Brocker, New Zealand author of Brave Bess and the ANZAC Horses (true story), and six other middle-grade novels (HarperCollins NZ) says: “Kat’s extremely insightful comments on my new outline will help me on my journey.”

The past president of a local chapter of the Romance Writers of America, Kat adds a splash of romance to her Young Adult fantasy novels. She’s a veteran of many workshops, including Donald Maass’ “Writing the Breakout Novel” (same title as his renowned book). Since 2011, Kat has presented sessions for adults at the Pacific Coast Children’s Writers Workshop and has led other writing-craft workshops for adults and teens. She’s excited to read your story!

Maya Tantuwaya, age 19, has attended TeenSpeak workshops and retreats since age 13. Her fiction has been well-received by our New York faculty. This year will be her third in mentoring our younger teens. Maya’s leadership experience also includes counselor jobs at a ranch camp. In high school, she wrote for two literary publications, and performed her poetry at open mics she hosted.

I’ve enjoyed writing since I learned to spell. However, it wasn’t until sixth grade when my first novel, The Silken Blade, was conceived from an anime-inspired curiosity for feudal Japan, leafing through a tattered copy of the Tao te Ching, and a misinterpreted summer assignment for English. I set aside the fanciful and fragmented first chapters of older ideas and cleared the shipwrecked tea mugs off my desk to set forth on my drafting endeavor. After nearly a year of research and invisible swordplay in my room to envision my book’s fight scenes, I completed the first draft.

Currently, The Silken Blade is still under revision and has seen my many phases of writing growth and growth of outside interests. My protagonists have been inspired by my pursuits in Tang Soo Do martial arts, polo, Western horsemanship, embroidery, music, flower pressing, and poetry. But even as my characters round out in dimension, my goal for my novel remains: to inspire kids to forage for the fascinating stories in our history that textbooks have obscured and to kindle awareness of their worldly outlook.

I enjoy cooking, reining, running, reading, playing jazz guitar, and the steamy mugs of ginger jasmine tea that still clutter my desk.

“Maya was a big help with my story. I really enjoyed our beach walks, where
she encouraged me and offered expert, useful advice. She’s a natural teacher
and I'm so excited she’ll be a mentor again!” — Emily Armitage, four-year alum

Paige Dixon, age 19.5, has attended TeenSpeak workshops since age 10. This year, her novel’s opening chapter will be critiqued in an open clinic by our editor-agent faculty. Paige says, “TeenSpeak has always been, and continues to be, a wonderful experience. The people are awesome, the support fantastic, and the things we learn very useful. It’s a great, character-building weekend…

“This workshop fosters such a creative spree; it has always been encouraging and inspiring. I look forward to applying everything I learn to my post-workshop writing and editing. I’m really glad I don’t have to miss this now that I’m in college!”

Jynelle La Pointe is a fun, voracious reader and nature lover. With B.A. and B.S. degrees, she has taught Outdoor Environmental Education and Science to grades K-12. She’s also Director of the New Renaissance Center, a creative arts nonprofit organization. Jynelle plays several musical instruments and jams in ethnic music. She has also taught computers.

Jynelle’s artistry is visible in her woodworking, architect jobs, and comic-book making. (Did you know? Schools are incorporating graphic novels—“long comic books”—as part of their curriculum.) Jynelle may lead an optional teen session on “How to Write Stories for Artists to Illustrate.” Expect some surprises!

Jynelle has been a coordinator for all-ages pickup soccer; she enjoys mountain biking, aikido, and gardening. She also makes outrageous pumpkin pies. Jynelle’s husband Kyrod (camera shy) will co-chaperone. He and Jynelle share many of the above skills and interests. Bonus points to Kyrod for cuddling cats—currently their once-scrawny rescue kitty, Yuki.

Helen Pyne, MFA in Writing for Children and Teens, was a book editor at Doubleday and worked in public relations at Seventeen magazine. She has also authored two books in a teen mystery series (Ballantine), and is working on a new YA novel. A recent TeenSpeak instructor, Helen now mentoring students in creative, academic, and college application writing. See her interview.

Nancy Sondel has been an educator for 40 fun-filled years. She’s taught story- and skit-writing, music, and Spanish in California and Iowa schools, and English as a second language in Argentina and Spain. Nancy has published articles in local periodicals, Children’s Book Insider international journal, and an international pet bird magazine.

For 12 years, Nancy was founding director of a multidisciplinary arts day camp in Santa Cruz, California. She enjoys hiking, swimming, dancing, movies, and staying up practically all night.