What is Aspiring Writers Camp?


Aspiring Writers Camp will be held on June 12-15, 2023.

High school students interested in creative writing are encouraged to register for this four-day camp.

Registration Deadline! Sign up by May 28, 2023.

Students will receive quality writing instruction from King’s professors in a supportive environment. Students will discuss craft, complete writing exercises, and participate in readings.

Camp will begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 3:00 p.m. Participants may learn about Poetry, Fiction, Comedy Writing, Science Fiction, The Soundtrack to Your Life, Will’s Rules for Writing, or the Exploration of Visual Art and Design in Theatre. Class size is limited to fifteen, and students will work with the same instructors throughout the camp.

What are the classes?

Jennifer Judge Yonkoski

Poetry 1

Woody Guthrie once observed, “All you can write is what you see!” In this class, we will practice writing down what we’ve seen in the past and what we currently see, using these observations as inspiration for poetry. Great writing is grounded in images, and we will pay close attention to how we use the things of life to arrive at wisdom. We will take poetry out into the world, so plan on spending time outdoors. Be sure to bring a hard-backed notebook for writing.

Poetry 2

If you have already taken Poetry 1 in 2022 and would like to write more poetry, Poetry 2 will offer additional guided practice in writing poetry (new exercises and sample poems). First year camp attendees who are particularly interested in writing poetry can register for both Poetry 1 and Poetry 2.

Instructor: Jennifer Judge Yonkoski has been writing seriously since she was in high school. Her poems and essays have been published in literary magazines, and her poem “81 North” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She teaches King’s students how to write young adult and fantasy novels, plays, flash fiction, short stories, poetry, and essays.


Corine Coniglio

The Soundtrack of Your Life: Writing Memories and Using Music as a Muse

Imagine creating a beautiful, independent, artsy film of your life by thinking through the soundtrack of your life. What are the key songs that would animate the soundtrack of your life? These songs not only set a stage for telling our stories, but they also help provoke memories of meaningful moments in our lives. These moments and the music that accompanies them are provocative points of entry for your writing. This course will help you explore the soundtrack of your life and guide you through brainstorming and methods for using the memories and the music to enrich your own writing of poetry, prose, or drama. Each student will be guided to create original work in connection with our exploration of music and memory. 

Instructor: Corine Coniglio teaches writing, literature, education, and sections of College Seminar focused on the complex topic of love. She enjoys helping students recognize their own potential and engaging with them to challenge assumptions and develop critical skills while having fun. 


Megan Lloyd

Will’s Rules for Writing
Yes, that Will. Will’s Rules for Writing explores what William Shakespeare may teach us about writing today. Sure, he’s a white guy, dead for over 400 years, but somehow his words remain accessible to the 21st century. By examining how he ignites an audience, borrows from then betters others, paces his plots, and completely understands character, we, too, may become bards ourselves.

Instructor: Megan Lloyd teaches Shakespeare, Medieval and Renaissance literature, and is the author of Speak it in Welsh: Wales and the Welsh Language in Shakespeare.


Robin Field

Fiction 1
You know that story you’ve had in your head? Now’s the time to start writing it! In this class we will learn how to create compelling characters, describe the worlds they inhabit, and portray the dilemmas they face. Whether you’re imagining a pioneer out West, a survivor of the zombie apocalypse, or a character just like you, you’ll be ready to bring those characters onto the page.

Fiction 2

If you have already taken fiction with Robin Field in 2022 and would like to write more fiction, Fiction 2 will offer additional guided practice in writing fiction. First year camp attendees who are particularly interested in writing fiction can register for both Fiction 1 and 2.

Instructor: Robin Field has been writing stories since she learned to type at the age of seven, and she hates happy endings. She has published short stories in the literary magazines such as The Long Story, Orange Blossom Review, Isele Magazine, and The Dalhousie Review. She teaches contemporary literature and professional writing at King’s.


Mike Little

Science Fiction

Although science fiction is set in the future, or an alternate present, or an alternate past, it’s really always about the actual present. Asking us to think about ourselves in the future or some other reality, science fiction invites us to think about ourselves in the here and now. We will work on developing characters, writing effective dialog, blending narration with dialog and exposition, and thinking about how the ideas of today lead to the world of tomorrow.

Instructor: Mike Little teaches science fiction and contemporary American literature courses, as well as a range of writing courses including technical/business writing, travel writing, and science writing.


Dave Reynolds

Making the Scene: An Exploration of Visual Art and Design in Theatre

We will explore how an understanding of art, design, and aesthetics help to create the spectacle of theatre. Students will study various elements of art and design and the work of famous visual artists and designers. We will discuss how the concept of spectacle is an essential element of drama and how creative writers might think about it in a way that elevates it above mere setting. The course will apply hands-on theatre design and fabrication methods, along with conceptual discussions that will ultimately culminate in each student curating their own visual creation that supports and enhances some of their writing.

Instructor: Dave Reynolds is the chairperson of the theatre department at King’s College where he wears just about every hat a theatre artist can wear: scenic and lighting designer, technical director, stage director, and educator. Various credits include: Miss You Like Hell (Director ), Angels in America: Perestroika (Best Director of a Drama 2018 NEPTA Award), Pippin (KISS Theatre Design), Ragtime (Set/Lights/Sound/Video), Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play (Set/Lights/Props), and August Osage County (Best Set Design 2019 NEPTA Award). 


Elizabeth Guarnieri Powers

Comedy Writing

This is an introduction to the different mediums of comedy writing (particularly Sketch Comedy). Students will practice not only their performance skills but their writing skills by writing and presenting a reading of an originally written sketch. Previous performance experience is preferred (live/film performance, classes) but NOT required.

Instructors: Elizabeth Guarnieri Powers is an international performer and acting instructor whose career has taken her all over the East Coast and to the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Beth received her Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Regent University and is currently an adjunct theatre professor and acting coach at King’s College. She has performed in over 40 independent short films and TV spots as well as on stage. Notable stage roles include Roxy in Chicago, Medea in Medea, Beatrice in The Servant of Two Masters, Ms. Ritter in She Loves Me, Kate in Taming of the Shrew, Botard in Rhinoceros, Masha in The Seagull, Curley’s Wife in Of Mice and Men, and Ophelia in Hamlet.

Jahmeel Powers

Jahmeel Powers is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre at King’s College.  Originally from Michigan, he has most recently directed two shows at Kings: Sweat, and One Man Two Guvnors. He also directed the one-woman show, No Child at Gaslight Theatre. He has worked as an actor for a few local theatres including: PTPA, Intrepidus Theatre Lab, Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre.

How can you attend AWC?

The cost of the 4-day camp will be $75. Lunch and snacks will be provided. The deadline for registration is May 28, 2023.

Register online here

Or students may register for the camp by filling out the Aspiring Writers Camp 2023 registration form and mailing it with a check made out to King’s College to:

Jennifer Yonkoski
Department of English
King’s College
133 North River Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711

For more information, please contact Jennifer Yonkoski at 570-208-5900, ext. 5487 or jenniferyonkoski@kings.edu.