As a relatively new member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers (coming up on 5 years), I’ve enjoyed learning about the organization’s history from the newsletter and interviews with founding members. 40 years is nothing to sniff at, especially in this age of shortening attention spans and shifting loyalties. But if we want RMFW to survive and thrive for another four decades and beyond, we’ve got some recruiting to do.
Sue Duff, our Youth Program Coordinator, has been working tirelessly to spread the word about youth programming and scholarships to this year’s conference. In the past, transportation has been an obstacle for many of our potential participants and she is pursuing accreditation from the state education department to make our conference an official field trip option which would cover the cost of busing. But there is more we can all do to reach potential young writers.
My own oldest child turns sixteen this summer and is already excited to attend CO Gold in September. I asked her for tips on how to spread the word to her peers. She recommends:
- Word of mouth promotion. Teens (like the rest of us) are more likely to retain and act on information from trusted sources like friends, family members, and teachers. Reach out to the young people in your own life: relatives, friends’ kids, students. Even if you’re not sure they are into writing, encouragement from a writer they know and admire might be all they need to get interested!
- Social Media. Post like crazy. Since most of these potential new participants don’t yet follow RMFW, think of other places to advertise, like community and school newsletters, websites and profiles (with permission, of course).
- Tell them five times. Do that ten times. Then repeat. My daughter openly admitted she and her friends are over scheduled, easily distracted and often disorganized. Anyway, the more you encourage the teens in your life to check it out, the more they’ll feel genuinely welcomed. Or just annoyed. But hey, even if they give RMFW a chance simply to shut you up, at least you got them in the door.
Consider what first drew you to writing. No matter how old (or young) you were, I’m guessing that spark came from one of two sources: a beloved book or person. It’s time to fan those flames in the next generation and not just for the sake of our organization’s future. It is our call and privilege to inspire, mentor and support future storytellers.
For more information on youth programming, please reach out to me or Sue Duff. Thank you in advance for helping!
What a great opportunity to share our craft with the next generation. Thanks for the reminder to spread the word!