by Matt Dembicki
Powhatan School in Boyce, Va., will host its 4th Graphic Novelists Workshop on
Friday, March 3, from 12:30 to 4:30 pm. The workshop costs $25 per participant
and is open to all students in grades 3rd through high school are invited to
attend. Participating students will attend sessions with each of the presenting
graphic novelists and have the opportunity to use what they have learned to
create their own graphic novelette. Registration for the workshop is online at www.PowhatanLibraryOnline.com
Presenting graphic novelists include Hobbes Holluck, Carolyn Belefski and Art
Hondros.
Below, we chatted with Tracie
Chloel Lane, library media specialist at Powhatan, who has spearheaded
the annual workshop.
How did the idea for
these comics workshops originate?
Several years ago, one of my students came across Trickster, and bought a copy
for our library. The donation was quickly followed with a “Ms. Lane, you should
get this guy to come visit our school.” Engaging my investigative skills, I
logged into Facebook, and typed Matt Dembicki into the search feature, thus
beginning my side job stalking graphic novelists and authors so I could lure
them to our school. The resulting author visit ignited our students. Our graphic
novel collection was born. And an idea formed. The following year, we invited
Matt back and asked him to bring a couple friends. It was our first Graphic
Novelist Workshop @ Powhatan School.
 |
| Tracie Chloel Lane |
The workshop format is really great for the participants. Author visits are
wonderful. They give students the opportunity to meet and learn about the
authors of the books they read and love. A workshop takes that visit to a
deeper level. It gives young people the opportunity to learn from people who
are writing the stories that feed their brains and fires up their imaginations.
The workshop gives them the opportunity to see themselves as the writer, the
illustrator, the creator of books. It demystifies the experience of having a
byline on the cover of a book. It gives our children and teens the opportunity
to see themselves in that role.
Our Graphic Novelist
Workshops spawned our writing workshops that take place in the fall.
What’s been the reaction among the students, teachers, parents?
This is the fourth
year we have hosted the Graphic Novelist workshop at Powhatan School. Every
year, we have more students and alumni coming than the year before. Several of
our students have produced their own graphic novels. One of our young novelists
has gone on to sell his work and another is heading off to Virginia Commonwealth
University in the fall to study Communication Arts. Our parents and teachers
love anything that gets kids reading more, writing more, and enthusiastic about
the process.
You always look for ways to add a new spin to the program. Can you briefly
outline what you’ve done in the past and your ideas for the upcoming program in
March?
 |
| Art by Carolyn Belefski |
Our base group of participants come every year. A new spin on the workshop is
essential. Our participants want to build on the skills and knowledge they’ve gained.
We host different novelists each year. The novelists are active participants in
determining what skill will be shared and how it will be taught. We coordinate
this through a private Facebook group that gives current and previous
presenting novelists and editors the opportunity to communicate ideas and
experiences with each other. That helps mix things up a bit.
This year, I want to
take it a step farther. I want to publish a collection of the works of the
children and teens that participate in the workshop. To facilitate this goal,
we’ve invited a former editor of the Magic Bullet to participate this year.
If other teachers and
librarians might be interested in adapted a similar program at their school or
library, what advice would you give them on how to get started?
First, they need a Matt.
Matt helps me find the up-and-coming (and already there) graphic novelists and
editors that I invite to our workshop each year. Visit another graphic novelist
workshop. Our program is open to our students and the community at large.
Visiting teachers and librarians are welcome at our Workshop (though I may put
them to work).
What has been the
most challenging part of the program?
 |
| Art by Hobbes Hillock |
Funding. For the
first three years we offered the workshop free or with a small fee for
expenses. This year, funding has made it necessary to charge a $25
registration fee to cover the costs.
