| Dr. Katherine Higgs-Coulthard is an Assistant Professor in the Education Department at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Past-president of ICTE, and a teacher consultant for the Hoosier Writing Project, an affiliate of the National Writing Project. Dr. Higgs-Coulthard’s passion for story informs her research on the teaching of writing, her work as a teacher educator and YA author, and her advocacy for teen writers. In 2013, she founded the Get Inked Teen Writing Conference, which offers opportunities for teens to write alongside published YA authors. Her YA novel, Junkyard Dogs (Peachtree Teen, 2023), highlights issues of teen poverty and homelessness. |  |
Get Inked: A Writing Conference Just for Teens by Catherine Higgs-Coulthard
The first time I went to a writing conference was like stumbling upon a hidden universe. Not only did I discover the existence of other people who loved writing as much as I did, but here they were, gathered together talking about the craft of writing! Until then, I had been sitting alone in bookstores and coffee shops, trying to find my way through my own stories with very little guidance. Attending that first conference changed everything for me. I had found my affinity group and, with their support and encouragement, I have gone on to become a published Y/A author.
However, the most important thing that came from attending my first writing conference wasn’t that eventual publishing contract. Don’t get me wrong, that was pretty great. More importantly though, attending a writing conference stirred in me the deep belief that writers should not have to wait until they are adults to participate in growth-oriented conversations about the craft of writing with other writers. When I was a teen, there were no opportunities for high school writers to meet the writers they idolized, or even to meet other kids who like to write. Young Author Conferences began to spring up in the 1990s, but nearly all young author conferences focus on students in grades k-5. Writing opportunities tend to fall away once students reach high school. There are so many opportunities for teens who enjoy music, theater, art, or sports, why not offer something similar for teen writers?
To fill that gap, I decided to create a teen writing conference. The dream was to create a place where creative teens would be surrounded and supported by published authors and other teen writers. Teens would be recognized before they walked in the door as strong writers and provided with choices about which aspect of writing they would like to work on.
So, if you know a teen who writes–even if they don’t turn in a single school writing assignment, but you’ve caught a glimpse of their song lyrics, epic graphic novel sketches, or D&D campaign–send them to the Get Inked Teen Writing Conference. More information is below.
Space is limited!
*Need-based scholarships available
Space is limited!
*Need-based scholarships available
Saturday, February 22nd In-Person Conference
Held on the campus of Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN
Held on the campus of Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN
- SEVEN Y/A authors, including NYT Bestselling Author Trang Thanh Tran, Tracy Bilen, Heather Meloche, Christine Webb, Kim Bartosch, Tracy Korn, and Kat Higgs-Coulthard (Hey, that’s me!)
- SEVEN additional experienced presenters/writers, including NY Editor Kortney Nash, Lisa Renfro, Cindy Williams Schrauben, Tammy Layman-Hall, Kate Spina, Megan Twietmeyer, and Gail Flynn.
- Attendees receive copies of two signed books
- Get Inked Notebook
- Lunch experience in the college dining hall (Did I mention latte and ice cream machines?)
Saturday, March 1st Virtual Conference
Held virtually on Zoom
Held virtually on Zoom
- EIGHT Y/A authors, including NYT Bestselling Author Trang Thanh Tran, Jean Alicia Elster, Barb Shoup, Mary Ann Moore, Christine Webb, Kim Bartosch, Heather Shumaker, and Kat Higgs-Coulthard (Hey, that’s me!)
- SEVEN additional experienced presenters/writers, including Professional Writing Coach, Erin Brown, Kate Spina, Alex Higgs-Coulthard, Cindy Williams Schrauben, Tammy Layman-Hall, Gail Flynn, and Storyteller Extraordinaire, Kevin Cordi.
- Attendees receive copies of two signed books
- Get Inked Notebook
- Shipping for books and materials is included
For more information:
Visit saintmarys.edu/events
Or
Contact Kat Higgs-Coulthard, author of Junkyard Dogs and Associate Professor of Education at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN [email protected]
Visit saintmarys.edu/events
Or
Contact Kat Higgs-Coulthard, author of Junkyard Dogs and Associate Professor of Education at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN [email protected]
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