Schreibwerkstatt 2024

Do you love stories and enjoy writing them? Niklas Böhringer, a children’s book author from Malsch („Der Ruf des Grizzlybären“) is offering a writing workshop in October for students ages 9 and up at the Villa Federbach Youth & Family Center. Over the course of two sessions, you’ll learn about the work of an author and how to bring your own story from imagination to paper. Finally, on November 12, you’ll have the opportunity to read your story aloud on stage at the “Villa Leseabend” or have it read by guest speakers.

Block 1

The first session of the writing workshop at the Villa Federbach Youth and Family Center was a complete success. After a brief round of introductions, we jumped right in and explored the unique characteristics of dialogue in a story and what to keep in mind when writing. Using building blocks as an example, I playfully demonstrated to the children how time can be stretched, compressed, or condensed. To illustrate narrative perspective, I literally made a fool of myself. The hand puppet, a passionate first-person narrator—you could also call him an egotist who only talks about himself—embodied the first-person perspective. Another stuffed animal represented the third-person narrator, and the flying piglet symbolized the omniscient (authorial) narrator, who hovers above the action, sees and knows everything, and can delve into every thought.

After this first theory session, the eager young writers were able to start writing their own stories right away. Armed with pens and paper, the first stories were already taking shape. I know this all too well: as soon as you put pen to paper to write, time suddenly seems to fly by and—poof—it’s over. The kids felt the same way. Our first writing workshop session was over far too quickly, but their beaming faces told me it was a complete success. A big shout-out to my little writers—you all did a fantastic job, and I had an incredible amount of fun. I’m already looking forward to our next session, when we’ll dive into your stories and get creative.

Block 2

The second writing workshop session was also a huge success. I’m really proud to be working with such a wonderful group. Everyone is participating enthusiastically and showing great enthusiasm.

This time, the focus was on expressive and lively reading aloud, to present the stories on stage in the best possible way. The children’s stories about animal and magical adventures were truly worth seeing, and I’m already looking forward to the reading evening, when the proud authors will have the chance to present their stories to the audience.

🗣️ „Ich freue mich!“, stieß er begeistert aus. 🗣️ „Ich kann es kaum erwarten“, fügte sie in halbem Singsang hinzu. 🗣️ „Oh, aber irgendwie bin ich aufgeregt“, bemerkte er bibbernd.

That’s exactly what we focused on: making the dialogue as lively as possible. How fast does a character speak, what is their tone of voice, and most importantly, how is the sentence emphasized? Whiny, excited, shouting, happy…

And on stage, the children will show what they’ve learned, transporting their audience into their stories and taking them on an exciting adventure.

Gemeindeanzeiger Malsch

Zeitungsartikel im Malscher Gemeindeanzeiger: Seite 1

„Vorlesewoche in der Villa Federbach“

Block 3

Who’d like to spend an evening diving into our children’s imaginations? To take a journey back in time to Julius Caesar and into the jungle? To meet wicked fairies and talking stuffed animals? Niklas Böhringer’s writing workshop wrapped up last week, and many fascinating stories were created. At the reading evening at the Villa Federbach Youth Center, excerpts from these stories will now be presented on the “big stage” by the authors themselves or by guest speakers.

Preparations for National Reading Aloud Day are in full swing. With the final organizational details sorted out, we’re joyfully heading toward the exciting finish line, where the excited elementary school children are already waiting for us. I am incredibly happy and grateful to be part of such a great team—consisting of the Youth Center and the Family Center—and to help bring this wonderful event to life. It is perfectly complemented by the excellent collaboration with the two Malsch elementary schools, Hans-Thoma-Schule and Johann-Peter-Hebelschule.

We’ve already had two successful sessions of the writing workshop I lead, where fourth graders had the opportunity to write their own stories—free from school grades and expectations. Here, the young writers were able to let their creativity run wild.

Right now, I’m hard at work writing the presentation cards for the third and final session of the writing workshop: the big reading event, where the students can present their stories on stage themselves or have them read aloud by guest speakers. I’ll also have the opportunity to read from my book to some of the third-grade classes at the two elementary schools in Malsch, alongside other wonderful authors—something I’m really looking forward to.

Barbara Pfeil will also be there to introduce the children to the world of emotions with her “Gefühleschatz” book. There are plenty of other great activities in store for our young visitors.

Can you believe it? That fantastic article by Ms. Röwer actually made it onto the front page of the Malscher Anzeiger. I’m speechless!

Reading Week for National Read-Aloud Day at the Villa Federbach Youth and Family Center:

• Author Readings

• Writing Workshop

• Kamishibai Performances

• Children’s Books on the Theme of “Emotions”

It felt like two seconds, yet the evening lasted two hours—two hours of pure enjoyment. The reading event marked a wonderful conclusion to the writing workshop at the Villa Federbach Youth and Family Center in Malsch, where the young authors had the opportunity to present their own writings on stage. It was a resounding success, and the children’s beaming eyes said it all!

The audience, too, seemed more enthusiastic. One after another, the young authors immersed the curious listeners in their exciting and fantastical adventures, all of which were very well done.

When the young stars of the evening received their gifts on stage, they once again received their well-deserved applause. They read their own stories aloud or had them read by wonderful guest readers. Among the guest readers who lent their voices to the stories were two winners of this year’s reading competition, which was held at the Villa. Ms. Haas from the Johann-Peter-Hebel School and Ms. Cramer from the Hans-Thoma School also each read a story.

Geschichten aus der Schreibwerkstatt 2024

As a surprise, the children were presented with a book. But not just any book—no: we had all the stories collected into an anthology and published as a book titled „Geschichten aus der Schreibwerkstatt: Bunte Abenteuer“ This way, they could proudly hold their very own book in their hands, in which each of them is represented with a story.

In this very special anthology, I am serving as editor for the first time. It also includes a story I wrote myself when I was in fourth grade.

A world full of fantastic adventures and great dangers that the heroes of these stories must face. Written by fourth-grade students in the writing workshop. Brave warriors, cuddly heroes, strong-willed slaves, and fiery dragons: a centuries-old battle between good and evil, a journey to another world, and a rather hectic Christmas adventure—because, oh, it’s Christmas!
Dive into the fantastic world of children, whose vivid stories will touch, enchant, and amaze you!

For the first time in the role of host, I found myself on stage as well, introducing the children and their stories—one of which I read myself. And since I owed it to my childhood self, I also read a story I had written when I was in fourth grade.

Thanks to the wonderful collaboration with the Malsch elementary schools Hans-Thoma-Schule and Johann-Peter-Hebelschule, the evening was a complete success. This marked a spectacular highlight for the writing workshop—one that definitely calls for a repeat!

A brief glimpse into the successful (preview) reading evening hosted by the writing workshop at the Villa Federbach Youth and Family Center in Malsch, where the children had the opportunity to present their own stories on stage in front of an audience.

MAZ

Zeitungsartikel im Malscher Wochenmagazin MAZ: Seite 8-9

„Eine Bühne für kleine und große Geschichten“

* This project is funded under the Children and Youth Participation Grant Program of the Baden-Württemberg Children and Youth Participation Service Center (SKJB). The SKJB is funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, and Integration using state funds allocated by the Baden-Württemberg State Parliament.