Youth Online 2011

Youth Online 2011 (Archived)

The Youth Online (YOL) project is a writing program developed by the New England Writers' Centre to take writing skills to youth in the region—particularly in isolated areas—via the internet.

Tutors for 2011

From left to right: Linda Jaivin, Michael Sharkey, Fiona McDonald, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Miles Merrill, Sophie Masson, John Heffernan, and Lesley Sly.

Full details of the program for both Primary Schools and High Schools, and biographies of the tutors.

For a list of schools that have participated in the Youth Online Program so far, and to read some of the children's stories click here.

Benefits of the program to children:

access to professional writers that would not otherwise be able to visit the area
specific skills for particular projects
teachers can incorporate this professional input into class projects
direct contact with writers inspires and encourages
provides insight into the life of a writer
opportunity to learn technical skills in
- drafting
- editing
- publishing
- developing voice and characters
- understanding point-of-view
- how to use dialogue
- how to turn personal experience into something broader
- improving the school newspaper
developing communication skills through interviewing
encouraging reading, discussion of stories, and extending reading ability


John Marsden, takes an interactive creative writing workshop from Melbourne with around 1,000 children in New England and other areas of NSW in the 2010 Youth Online program	Armidale City Public School - taking part in the interactive creative writing workshops in the 2010 Youth Online program	Children at Armidale City Public School, taking part in the Youth Online creative writing program in 2010.

Thanks to Melissa Wood, Relieving Implementation Officer for Department of Education & Training, Armidale NSW, for facilitating the workshops.

top

The New England Writers' Centre is assisted by the NSW Government through Arts NSW.