RedBird-RedOak ~ A Unique Writing Community

Built by acting couple, Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, Ten Chimneys was a haven for creative minds in the heyday of American live theater.  Because the Lunts were so widely loved and respected, “anyone who was anyone” in theatre, arts, and literature wanted to come to Ten Chimneys to be with and work with the Lunts.

Turns out, some of tomorrow’s up-and-coming writers fall into this category. Red Oak welcomed 15 young writers, grades 7-12, for a week of writing exercises, community and fun.

The week began with a tour of the estate to learn why Ten Chimneys is such a special place.  Each room and vista held inspiration for our young writers.  ”It’s so cool to think that I’ll be writing in a place where pulitzer prize-winning playwrites once wrote,” commented one participant.

We broke the ice with “To Look at Me You’d Never Know,” (who’d guess our docent had been rock climbing in Iceland?!?) an animated bus stop improv game and a brainstorming a list of our guilty pleasures.

Writing exercises helped us to jumpstart a new piece of writing or look at a current piece of writing in a new way.

“Sacred writing time” gave us a chance to exhale and really drop down into our well of ideas to craft poetry, fiction and memoir.

Later, under the “watchful eye” of Alfred and Lynn, we shared our work with our Writers’ Circle for feedback and support. The coaches commented on how well the writers used each other’s thoughts and ideas to make their pieces stronger with each draft.

Author/editor, Ann Angel, reminded us that we have earned the right to call ourselves “Writers” (as opposed to telling others we’re trying to be a writer).

“A writer is someone who is consciously engaged in the creative act of writing,” she told us. That certainly describes our camp participtants!

She walked us through an exercise that helped us think about the broader themes of our writing and how we might craft a story based upon one of those “big ideas.”

Before we knew it, we were rehearsing our pieces to be shared with our audience for the Friday Writers’ Showcase.  It was amazing to hear the wide variety in the work — from light-hearted poetry to dark, serious fiction, and everything in between.   Way too soon, we were saying “So long!” But we take comfort knowing that we can see each other again next year! Write on…