A new workshop at the Rapid City Public Library provides writing support and a stage for young poets. The teen-oriented events are scheduled through October.
The first event will offer writing basics for teens. Then two weeks later, the library hosts a read-aloud poetry slam.
Baylee Schultz is the events and teen service librarian. She said the workshops will help poets find their voice.
“The first one is going to be basically a workshop - a creative writing workshop," Schultz said. "Basically, introducing them to poetry, the creativity behind it, the nuances of writing poetry, and how it can be arranged.”
Schultz is a poetry fan. She said it can help young people express their developing worldviews.
“It’s a great forum for self-expression," Schultz said. "It’s a way for them to write how they see the world, let us know what they’re feeling, not directly but through what they feel comfortable with. Giving us how they view the world and how they view themselves.”
While the poetry slam focuses on events for teens, Schultz said parent involvement can be essential.
“Poetry isn’t really for everyone, I understand that, but maybe parents can listen to what their kids are writing, what they’re saying, and have a better understanding of what their kid is feeling," Schultz said. "It’s just a different way of their kids speaking to them.”
The poetry workshops will take place on October fourth and eleventh, and the slam is scheduled for October eighteenth.