Immerse yourself in a two-day literary odyssey—where stories unfold, poetry speaks, and creativity takes center stage. Inkwell Gathering is a vibrant celebration of the written and spoken word, bringing together authors, poets, storytellers, and dreamers. 

Invites:

9th- 12th Graders

Venue:

In Schools

Dates:

December 2025

Duration:

2 Days

Application Requirements

  • Open to all school students.
  • Students may participate in multiple events under Inkwell Gathering.
  • Each team is required to have one adult advisor, preferably their teacher.
  • Some events allow individual participation, while others require teams (please refer to Submission Requirements below for more!). 
  • Contact information, including email addresses, must be provided for all team members and the adult advisor

Day 1

Author Talks & Readings

  • This is an individual event.
  • Activity:
    • Authors share insights into their writing journey, process, and challenges.
    • A moderator will lead a Q&A session focused on writing and publishing.

Show, Don’t Tell (Writing Workshop)

  • This is an individual event.
  • Activity:
    • Participants engage in a collaborative storytelling exercise, passing pages to continue each other’s work.
    • A story prompt challenge, where students write a 200-300 word short story based on unique prompts.
    • A writing instructor will provide feedback and techniques to enhance descriptive storytelling.

Book Pitching Competition

  • This is an individual event.
    • A single chapter (1500-2500 words) from a novel in progress.
    • A 1-page synopsis explaining the novel’s plot, genre, and themes.
  • Presentation:
    • Participants will pitch their novel to a panel of authors, editors, and publishers.
    • A Q&A session will follow, where judges assess originality, storytelling, and marketability.

Day 2

The Classic Remix (Theatre Competition)

  • Team: A maximum of 10 participants per team.
    • A 5-minute script sample mixing two or more classic literary works.
    • A brief concept summary (250-500 words) explaining the creative choices.
  • Performance:
    • Teams will perform their adapted script live.
    • The final verdict will be determined via a voting system, ensuring fair evaluation. However, the teams cannot vote for their own schools.

Slam Poetry

  • This is an individual event.
    • Poems must be original to the poet (aka the student) and can explore any theme or emotion.
    • Participants will perform their poetry live in front of an audience.

Prizes