Wheat & Laurel gives teenagers a chance to see their work in print and receive monthly feedback and critique sessions
CAMROSE, Alta. — As a bookish kid growing up in rural Saskatchewan, Amielle Christopherson searched for a community of kids like her.
She attended Sage Hill’s Teen Writing experience, a week-long writing camp held in Moose Jaw, Saskatoon and Regina. For three summers she spent time meeting teens who liked to write.
“It was nice to meet other young people who had a deep passion and love for the written word,” said Christopherson, who now lives in Saskatoon.
“Overall, it was like a boost of confidence that I could come from a small rural community and I could be a writer and I wasn’t as odd and alone as I thought I was.”
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It may have been teenage angst, but it was comforting to know there were other “oddballs” around the province who were like her, she said.
While she connected with other writers, the camp didn’t offer a consistent way to stay connected year round.
It was while studying as a business student at the University of Alberta’s Augustana campus in Camrose, Alta., that she launched Wheat & Laurel, a magazine for teens. Just as important as seeing their words in print, Christopherson offers a monthly feedback and critique session that focuses on offering the writers suggestions to improve their writing in a safe environment.
“I want to give youth an opportunity to have their voices heard.”
By encouraging teens to submit their writing, Christopherson hopes they will gain skills and confidence about their writing.
“For the young authors, it is very intimidating to send your work out.”
Since she launched her magazine in 2018, Christopherson has worked with 30 writers and 23 have been published in the two issues of the magazine. The next issue is expected to come out in January.
Every writer who is published is paid for their work, as is the artist whose work is chosen for the magazine cover. A grant by the Camrose Arts Council helped pay for the printing of the first two issues, but Christopherson is looking for more financial help to cover the costs of printing and distribution of the upcoming issues.
While living in Alberta, the magazine’s focus was on Alberta teens. Since moving back to Saskatchewan, she has expanded her focus to include rural teens in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
“The focus is on rural because that is where the lack of funding and support is.”
At the beginning of the month, the young writers submit their stories. The stories are read, critiqued and later in the month, during a live session, the group discusses each piece of writing.
The teen writers learn to not take the criticism personally but to focus on the suggestions and those performing critiques learn how to offer advice and strengthen their own writing.
This year about eight teens regularly submitted their writing for monthly discussions.
Now that she has graduated from university, Christopherson has written letters to teachers and librarians to encourage teens they know to submit articles to the magazine and help young teens find her group of supportive writers.
