First, I’d just like to say thank you for being a part of our community. I’m genuinely grateful to share this journey with you. Together we’re building a space where youth can develop their unique creative voice and truly thrive.
Secondly, I’d like to thank all of our Summertime Sparks participants. I feel so honored to have the opportunity to see what’s lighting you up this summer, and I’m thrilled to witness all the ways that you’re showing up for your creative practices. Thank you for sharing your work with us!
Special Summertime Sparks Shoutout to Lara K., age 10 — author and illustrator of The Story of Bunny!
Lara, I’m blown away by The Story of Bunny!
I love how you took us along on Bunny's whole journey—from her (literal) origin story to the moment when she finds a home in the world. We may be members of a different family of mammals, but I think so many of us would find it relatable. Who hasn't felt like Bunny at times, wondering if they're special enough or if they fit in?
When Bunny figured out what she was meant for, it gave me chills! You nailed it—being there for cuddles, comfort, and friendship is beyond important.
And that ending! "She's special because she's BUNNY." Embracing who we are and learning that we are intrinsically valuable is such a powerful experience. I know a lot of people, kids and grownups alike, who could learn from Bunny's story.
Your drawings are awesome, too; they’re so expressive and really bring Bunny to life!
Lara, you should feel super proud. You're writing stories with real depth and heart. And just like Bunny, your stories can reach out to someone and give them comfort. In a sense, stories too can offer readers a special type of friendship, a camaraderie of sorts. So keep writing, keep drawing, and keep sharing your ideas with the world. I can't wait to see what you come up with next!
And taking a page out of Bunny’s story, if you will, our final Summertime Sparks Dispatch is all about embracing who we are and sharing our unique creative voices with the world. So without further ado, I bring you…
Summertime Sparks Dispatch #3:
Show us your world!
Look, I know it's scary to put your work out there. But trust me: we need your voice! Your weird, wonderful, unique way of seeing the world? That's gold.
So what if your first draft is messy or your art style isn't quite there yet? That's how everyone starts. And the greats you admire? They were beginners once, too.
Don't obsess over being perfect. Just create.
Write the story that’s burning inside you.
Paint those wild ideas in your head.
Share that poem you're not sure anyone will get.
Because here's the thing: your experiences, your imagination, and your particular brand of creativity matter. It’s exactly what someone out there needs to see or read.
So go for it. Be brave. Show us your world!
Prompt
For our third and final Summertime Sparks dispatch, we’re calling on you—the storytellers of the future—to share your creative work with us. All themes and genres are welcome. It doesn’t matter if you identify as a poet, painter, photographer, or something else entirely. The only requirement is that the work is your own and that you love it.
Click on the button below and send us your sparks by August 19, 2024, at 11:59 PM PST to be featured in our next newsletter, and published in our Summertime Sparks Anthology.
P.S. Don’t forget, two members of the Creative Youth Collective are leading very important fundraisers right now, and there’s still time to contribute! Zoe is over halfway to making her fundraising goal to write the sequel to her novel, Farewell, and Amar is making record progress in his Read-a-Thon fundraiser, too! Please consider contributing whatever you can and sharing their campaigns with others who might be interested in supporting two young writers’ dreams.