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Why Your Teens Need Writing Conferences

By on June 13, 2025   /   Articles, For Teachers  
Neal Shusterman, Margaret Peterson Haddis, Marissa Meyer present on a panel at youth writers conference

Writing Conferences

I had the opportunity to volunteer at a writing conference for teens this year, and it was incredible! I seriously feel like that was an understatement. I hadn’t brought my own kids because I signed up to volunteer last minute and I didn’t realize how amazing it would be. Now I want every school and family to know about these opportunities.

Author speaking to teens at writers conference

Haddix Inspires Young Writers

The conference I attended is called StoryCon, previously known as Teen Author Boot Camp. This is only one of multiple writing conferences for kids in my state (there are also conferences for adults and some specifically for educators). I am willing to bet that there are some in your area as well, so I want to help you find them.

Why Should I Go To a Writers Conference?

  • First off, they are so much fun! The energy there from the speakers, volunteers, and attendees is amazing.
  • Interacting with friends. Whether you bring them with you or make them there. It is always fun to have friends who have an interest in books like you.
  • What’s that you say? You’re not interested in writing? Then this next reason is for you! You may discover some new skills and interests you didn’t know that you had. And even if you aren’t into writing, if you are a reader it is so cool to hear from these amazing authors about how and why they write.
  • Which brings me to my next point. These conferences are so inspiring. Margaret Peterson Haddix is up there in all humility saying things like, “and when you get published, because you will get published…” If we’re speaking honestly, it is hard work to get published, and here we have an author who has really made it in the publishing world, standing up there encouraging YOU! Believing in YOU! These presenters were so motivating that even if you just have a tiny seed of interest in writing, they will help you water and grow that seed into something more.
    Neal Shusterman, Margaret Peterson Haddis, Marissa Meyer present on a panel at youth writers conference

    After the panel presentation teens had the opportunity to ask questions

  • For you teachers who are looking for opportunities for kids to do something good (in addition to maybe the great athletic opportunities offered), this is why you should organize a group from your school to attend a writing event! Can you imagine getting a group of students from your school excited about books! What would that look like to you? How would it feel for you to have made a difference to these kids in developing an interest in writing talents?
  • Develop skills. What if you’re not a writer… yet? That is why you are going to this conference. My friend, we all start somewhere and some of these events will have times for you to start right then and there learning and applying what you are hearing.
  • Meet authors and get some of your books signed! This conference I attended had some incredible names that I already knew and loved. Neal Shusterman. Marissa Meyer. Magaret Peterson Haddix. Shannon Hale. Brandon Mull. Jennifer A. Nielson. Dhonielle Clayton. Janet Sumner Johnson. As well as some that I got to meet and discover a new love for. Kaela Rivera. Frank Cole. Aubrey Hartman. Rena Barron. And so many more.
    Meeting author Jeff Kinney

    Meeting the author of Diary of a Whimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney

  • So get signed up. Sit with your friends (or new friends). Get fired up about writing. Set some practical goals. And then take the energy from the conference and keep it going in your life. Extra advice – come again next year. You don’t want that new little seed to shrivel up and be forgotten. There will be new authors presenting with new things to inspire you with.

How To Find the Best Writers Conference for You

I found out about this conference through a writer friend, but the first and easiest thing to day is to go type this phrase into your favorite search engine: writer’s conference in (add your state). Also check with local universities to see if they have any conferences, camps, events. Sometimes they don’t name them ‘writing conference’ so it can sometimes take some digging. You might try other phrases like: teen writer (switch it to writing), teen writing camp, books for young readers, conference with authors of children’s books (or middle grade or young adult). Another place to ask is your local library, they sometimes know about these events. Or ask your school/school district. These conferences often reach out to school districts to share their information and not all of it gets passed on. I’m going to pick some random cities around the US and do these searches and see what we come up with here:

Clearly this does not cover every state and every option for teens. And there are even more options for educators, librarians, and other adults interested in writing or fostering a love of reading/writing. But hopefully some of these links will get you excited to start your own search of what might be available or your area.

What if I Can’t Afford to Attend a Writers Conference?

There are often scholarships available through the conference itself. You could also check into funding through your school PTA, district offices, or seek out local sponsors. This conference I was at offered a significant discount if you brought of group of 10 or more people. Even if you are just an interested parent you could contact your school to help get a group organized or create a homeschool (or book or writers club) group to qualify for the discount. This event even offered a complimentary educator pass for the teacher accompanying the group of students. Believe me, adults will love attending their own classes or being a part of the contagious spirit of the event.

Next year I am going to this same writers conference, but this time I am taking all three of my kids who are old enough to go. I know there are writers conferences, camps, and events for teens (and others) interested in writing in most states. So you should start taking advantage of some amazing opportunities.

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STEM Tuesday– Cephalopods — In the Classroom

By on June 10, 2025   /   Cephalopods/Mollusks, STEM Tuesday  

 

Oooh, this month’s theme is cephalopods! I’m always amazed but the things octopuses and squids can do—escape aquariums, camouflage in an instant, mesmerize predators with flashing colors, and so much more. I even read that octopuses can sometimes grow a ninth arm when they are injured!

There’s so much to amaze kids too. And while they are not in the classroom right now, here are some activities to get kids thinking about cephalopods and learning more about them!

 

Ink! 100 FUN Facts about Octopuses, Squid, and More by Stephanie Warren Drimmer

You can’t go wrong with National Geographic. This very visual book introduces readers to a variety of squids including cuttlefish that camouflage themselves and octopuses that outsmart their predators. The text is written by experts with first hand experience and includes many fun facts. It’s both educational and entertaining.

Activity: Octopuses and squid are a lot alike in many ways, but they do have some key differences. Use the facts found in this fascinating book to create a game to test players’ knowledge of these different kinds of cephalopods. Use index cards and write a fact on one side. Or print a picture or draw a diagram of a squid or octopus body part. Take turns guessing if the fact or image is that of an octopus or cephalopod. Whomever gets the most correct wins the game!

 

Amazing Octopus: Creature from an Unknown World, written by Michael Stavaric, illustrated by Michele Ganswer

This book takes a unique approach. It explores and views octopuses as otherworldly, almost as aliens. The text and original, black and white illustrations really capture the magic and mystery of these creatures. It introduces this topic by first talking about the evolution of all sea creatures, to provide context.

Activity: What if octopuses DID come from another world? What would that world look like? What would an octopus spaceship look like? Imagine that world and make a list of details about it (their homes, their favorite places to eat, their communities). Imagine their spacecraft, too. How different would it be from our spacecraft? Then make a short comic about these alien octopus astronauts traveling to Earth long ago. Use some free comic panel templates. You can find some here:

 

Giant Squid: Searching for a Sea Monster by Mary M. Cerullo and Clyde F. E. Roper

Part science textbook, part detective story, this Smithsonian book recounts biologist Clyde Roper’s search for a real-life sea monster. Readers will enjoy unearthing clues about the giant squid as they follow along with Roper’s ocean adventures. Cerullo’s text is full of facts and accompanied by a variety of eye-catching images, including both black-and-white illustrations and up-close photographs.

Activity: It’s not easy studying sea creatures and scientists have to be creative with how they study them. One method is to use a Crittercam, a camera described in this book. The scientists used a Crittercam on a sperm whale to try to capture the elusive giant squid on camera. Watch a few videos showing how this is done. It takes many steps and tries to complete successfully. Then write a step-by-step process for attaching a Crittercam to a sperm whale. This is a a good exercise in describing a process in a simple way when writing about a topic. Include diagrams if you’d like and share it with a friend. Ask: Does this make sense? Do you think I left a step out? What is confusing?

Here are some videos to watch:

Karen Latchana Kenney is a children’s author and editor who loves creating all kinds of STEM books and classroom content. Find her at https://www.karenlatchanakenney.com/.

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Interview with Cassidy Wasserman about Graphic Novel ON GUARD!

By on June 9, 2025   /   Author Interviews  

Today, we’re excited to have Cassidy Wasserman with us on the Mixed-Up Files. I had the pleasure of reading her graphic novel On Guard!, which is releasing tomorrow, June 10!  I also got to interview her about the book, her inspiration and process, and more. Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us, Cassidy!Cover of On Guard by Cassidy Wasserman

 

The author’s note in the book shares that the original seed for this story was about a friend breakup but slowly became about the relationship between mothers and daughters. The line you shared about the real story finding you along the way was lovely, and I wondered if you could talk more about how the story on the page came to be. How did you know when that shift needed to happen?

When I started writing On Guard!, I was focused on Grace and Ava, and how they grew apart. As I wrote, I dug deep into the feelings I experienced in middle school that were likely to be a more universal experience for readers. The story of my parents’ divorce was prevalent in my mind, and I realized that there was a natural through line between Grace, Ava, and Grace’s mom. I decided the shift in focus had to come from Grace starting that school year all on her own, where her struggles at home and school are now completely intertwined. Not only do we see her struggling at home while butting heads with her mother’s personality, but even at school she’s faced with how much she believes her mother liked Ava more than her.

 

There is a lot of your own story inside of Grace’s (and it’s awesome that you’re both artists!). How did you approach weaving parts of your own life into the narrative?

I feel the best stories come from personal experiences. I approached adding these parts of my life to Grace’s story by picking the ones that felt the most relatable, and the ones that I hadn’t yet seen told. I mention in my author’s note that I didn’t get to see relatable stories of mothers and daughters growing up, and it was important for me that this feeling of alienation from your maternal figure would come through. I wanted to ensure the story was true to my lived experience.

 

Relationships are handled deftly in your work, whether it’s Grace with her mom, Grace with her dad, or Grace with her friends, old and new. It was fascinating to see how you gave all of these relationships space in the book—both in the text and in the art itself. Could you tell us how you balanced these threads?

It all comes down to pacing, and making sure every story is intertwined with another. Grace is going through quite a lot, and all of those relationships need their time on the page. I like to let the art tell the story where I can. When you can let a reader sit with a silent panel or two, it can have a big impact. I found that when the plotlines organically developed to suit the needs of Grace and the story, they all started to naturally click into place.

 

One of my favorite lines was when Grace admitted she mostly just wants to hold a sword—who doesn’t? There were many other powerful moments that came through analogies to fencing, like when Grace realizes she can only control her own moves, not her opponent’s. Could you tell us about how you got into fencing? Did that experience give you the idea for this book?

I could talk about fencing all day! When I was a kid, I read The Spiderwick Chronicles, and the sister in that book fences. Ever since then, I’d hoped to be able to do it myself someday. I didn’t get to fence in school, but after college I joined a local club. Epee just happened to be the only weapon they taught, as my coach was a collegiate women’s epee coach. (Go, Wellesley!) It worked out nicely, because epee is the simplest weapon to explain. Foil and saber have a few more rules. I was in love with the sport from the moment I walked into the club and heard the bell guards ringing. I had been mulling over a story about my “Ava” for a while, and after I starting fencing, it became clear.

 

You mentioned you’ve always loved to draw and read. Are there any favorite books or artists that have profoundly shaped you as an author-illustrator?

Lucy Knisley is a big influence on me when it comes to graphic novels. Her travelogues were my favorite thing to bring around in art school. I’ve also pored over Jen Wang’s artwork in The Prince and the Dressmaker a million times, and anything from Tony DiTerlizzi. Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol is also one of my favorites. The biggest influence on me as a writer, though, has to be Rick Riordan. I am a Percy Jackson kid through and through—it holds such a special place in my heart.

 

You’re also passionate about video games and work as a UX/UI artist. Do video games influence your creative process or storytelling?

Yes! Some of my favorite plots and stories to study are video games. The Last of Us in particular is incredible—I love how it deals with difficult topics and gray areas. My coworkers teach me to be a better artist and listener every day. As a UX/UI artist, I care deeply about accessibility and inclusion, and that naturally follows me to creating comics. Things like: Are the colors on the page workable for someone who is color blind? What about the font—is it easy to read for those with dyslexia? These are important questions when it comes to both comics and video games!

 

It sounds like book two for Grace is already underway! Will we get to see more fencing as well as more of Asher and Nia?

Yes! I cannot wait to dive deeper into their stories.

 

Do you have any other projects in the works we can get excited for?

I can’t say just yet, but stay tuned—I’m excited to show the world what’s next.

Cassidy Wasserman

If you could give writers any advice on how to keep writing even in the face of rejection or overwhelming odds, what would it be?

Keep going! Your story is worth telling—we need new perspectives on life. Take breaks when you need to and be kind to yourself, but don’t give up. Getting your story out there is sometimes about having it resonate with the right person, so writing something that is meaningful to you will always be worth that initial rejection.

No MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so here it is!

Favorite place to write? My office!

Coffee or tea? Coffee, coffee, coffee!

Superpower? I want the chalk zone powers, where whatever you draw becomes real. I would draw myself so many ice cream sundaes.

Dream vacation? The Australia Zoo!

Dream job when you were a kid? I specifically wanted to be a “veterinarian, and an artist on my lunch breaks.”

House pet? Dogs and cats

 

Learn more about Cassidy and her projects at her website: https://www.cassidywasserman.com/

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