Delaware Festival of Words inspires teens about books and publishing

Do you know a Delaware teen who loves to read, their nose always buried in a book? Or one who is always sketching the characters and worlds they’ve dreamt up? What about one who dreams of becoming a published author?

On Saturday, Dec. 2, at St. George’s Technical High School, Delaware teens can spend the entire day meeting published authors, gaining tips of the trade and inspiration, at the Delaware Festival of Words.

“Witnessing students react to authors like rock stars and embrace their ideas while forming their own makes me confident that the power of words will flourish!” says librarian and attendee Suzanne Smith.

Each year, a group of Delaware teachers and librarians organize this small grassroots event to engage secondary readers with diverse literature, writing techniques, and the world of publishing. It’s open to any middle or high school student in Delaware, their teachers and librarians. And it is totally FREE. The Festival provides lunch and buses upon request. Even better, teens leave with books and swag. 

In the past, the Festival brought in big YA Lit names like Walter Dean Meyers, banned author Emily Danforth, Jason Reynolds and Kwame Alexander. At its peak, upwards of 200 participants would come from all over the state. 

But in 2020, like all public events, COVID brought the Festival to a screeching halt. In fall of 2020, the Festival pivoted, offering virtual workshops, book clubs, and author talks over a one-week period. 

In 2022, the Festival resumed in person, bringing in show-stopping keynote speakers K.A. Holt, who writes award-winning novels-in-verse, and Yamile Saied Mendez, whose book “Furia” was a Reese’s YA Book Club selection.

This year, the Festival is reinventing itself once again. The theme is “Reading Local.” Teens can attend workshops and author panels taught by successful authors and members of the industry who all live within a two-hour radius. With this year’s format, there’s no author students won’t connect with. 

High schoolers will be interested in learning from Nicole Gabor, whose book “Catwalk’‘ is about an aspiring model who becomes New York’s new “it” girl, or Kelly Lidji, whose ghost story “Maggie, I Have Your Baby” is based on a local Delaware legend. 

Our middle schoolers will be interested in learning from fantasy writers Ryan Gebhart and Aggie L. Jae. For any teen interested in writing children’s books, David Teague and Kent County author Abraham Keys will discuss the creation of their picture books.

Upon registration, teens pick between a variety of interactive workshops. Writers will be interested in workshops such as creating believable characters, constructing a ghost story, and incorporating the six-step story arch. Artists will be interested in using the technique of repousse to create an illuminated letter, and creating a world map for a fantasy novel. Poets and spoken word artists will be wowed by a Poetry Out Loud performance.

Teachers and librarians can connect with UD LibSearch staff, to learn the most effective way to research in the state. They are invited to learn alongside their students. 

The Festival was founded in 2000 by Peggy Dilner, who worked at the Educational Resource Center at the University of Delaware after retiring as a librarian for Colonial School District. She thought Delaware teens deserved a literacy event, and the Delaware Department of Education and the University of Delaware agreed. When Dilner retired, Christy Payne took on the role and continued to grow the Festival until 2015, when current director Andrea Rashbaum took over.

To date, Festival of Words Delaware is the only literacy event for teens of its kind in the state of Delaware. It’s in its 23rd year and going strong!

A teen only has to attend once, and they are hooked. 

“The Festival of Words has been an amazing experience,” said student Gabby. “It’s a great way to meet new people who also love to read or write, and the chance to meet and talk with authors is something you will never forget.”

Know a teen who’s interested in attending? The event takes place on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at St. Georges Technical High School in Middletown. Teens should register at www.festivalofwordsde.com. Teachers and librarians who are interested in securing free transportation to the event for their cohort of students should email festivalofwordsde@gmail.com.

Carrie Simpson teaches English at the Tatnall School and is a volunteer organizer of Delaware Festival of Words.

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