WritersCorps Apprentices is an after-school program for advanced writers, ages 16 to 22, who seek a community of writers. The WritersCorps Apprentices usually meet once a week after school to write together. They also go on field trips, work on annual publication projects (like this one), and participate in readings and other WritersCorps events.

We are looking for creative and committed individuals to join our group and to contribute to our new mapping and writing project. This project involves exploring the city and neighborhoods we live in, and finding new ways to experience and share our own unique vision and version of San Francisco.

Of course, we will do a lot of creative writing. But we will also go on field trips, explore the city, create collages and art, and use cameras and recording equipment to create our own interactive website and published anthology.

To apply:

1) Students must have a teacher, counselor, or mentor recommend them for an apprenticeship.

2) Please download and fill out this application (Word file):  WritersCorps Apprentice Application

3) Email completed applications to rick.delia [at] writerscorps [dot] org
Or mail them to: WritersCorps, 25 Van Ness Ave Suite 345, San Francisco, CA 94102

Applications are due November 22.

Questions? Call: 415-252-2546 or 415-252-4655

Young people, take note! Teenquake 2011 is right around the corner and this year they are co-hosting a writing competition with Figment.com for 13 to 18 year olds in the Bay Area. Teenquake will be running contests in four different categories — fiction, fantasy, poetry, and mystery. Entrants can submit writing for one, two, three, or all of the categories. There will be twenty finalists in total (5 for each category), and first, second, and third place winners will be chosen for each category by our fabulous author guest judges, and those authors will present the winners with awards and prizes at the Teenquake Awards Ceremony on October 14 in San Francisco.

This contest is moving fast – you only have until 7pm EST on September 18^th to enter, so don’t delay! More details can be found here.

Our friends at Intersection for the Arts just launched their Youth Art Workshop, which was designed to create a space for young people who live, work, learn, and play in this community to be empowered as leaders, innovators, and artists. The Youth Art Workshop includes a collaboration with a few organizations, including WritersCorps, Oasis for Girls, YMCA, and Larkin Street Youth Services.

WritersCorps teaching artist Carrie Leilam Love will be leading a writing workshop for young women from September through December that explores identity, architecture, and urban landscapes via visual art and writing. The workshop culminates in a performance reading on December 9.

The Youth Art Workshop will also include a slew of other opportunities and special workshops for young people. For more information, go here.

Soda sucks but young people still drink it. Join a California-wide youth driven guerrilla marketing campaign, launched by New America Media in San Francisco, and pitch your best message that sodas damage your health. Use whatever format you like that can be replicated by social media — such as poster art, sticker design, rap/spoken word, video/animation.

The contest is for 14-21 year olds in California. This is their chance to talk back and be one of 5 winners of $1,000. You can find the guidelines here.

TILT (Teaching Intermediate Literacy Tools) works in schools and community programs to teach youth the fundamentals of moviemaking and media literacy. WritersCorps is happy to be partnering with them for our upcoming film festival. They’ve also got a lot going on, and here are some of their upcoming events.

On February 17, in collaboration with Cinemagic, TILT presents a special visual effects workshop with Brian Freisinger, who has been involved with the visual effects industry and worked on films like “Avatar,” “Serenity,” and “The Matrix Revolutions.”

Also, TILT is accepting applications for the 2011 Generations Film Workshop this spring. This is a free, intergenerational beginning video production class for LGBT youth and elders. Generations filmmakers have their collaborative film screened at the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival and receive guest filmmaker passes to the festival, as well as a stipend for participation in the workshop. To download an application, go here.

For more information on TILT’s upcoming workshops, go here or e-mail bernadette@ninthstreet.org.