Young author Camryn Garrett led a fun writing workshop for Upper School students in the library on Friday, March 10, as part of her presentation, “Writing as a Teen: What You Need to Know.”

An Early Start to Writing Career

Garrett, who grew up in New York, was selected at age 13 as a Time for Kids reporter. She overcame her shyness by interviewing people such as Warren Buffett. At age 15, she retained a literary agent. After some rewriting, her first book was published when she was just 16. Her debut novel, Full Disclosure, received rave reviews. Garrett was named one of Teen Vogue’s 21 Under 21 in 2019 and one of Glamour‘s College Women of the Year. Garrett recently graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Her most recent book is a YA rom-com, Friday I’m in Love. It is the story of a queer teen, Mahalia Harris, who wants to hold a “Coming Out Party” when she turns 16. During her presentation, Garrett said, “I wanted to write a coming out story that was happy.”

Mood Board Workshop for Storytelling Inspiration

Sitting at tables around the library, students began work on “mood boards.” Garrett explained that filmmaker Sofia Coppola uses mood boards as inspiration for her films. Garrett distributed thick magazines, scissors, glue, and construction paper and asked the students to cut out pictures that inspired them. They quickly and enthusiastically went about the project while Garrett spoke about how she became an author, what she wished she had known, what they should know if they want to be authors, and what she likes about being a published author.

Advice for Aspiring Writers

Garrett explained that she started her career writing “fan fiction” for Lemonade Mouth. After becoming a published author, she came to realize that “publishing is about money and business decisions.” Being an author is a full-time job, she said, and many authors burn out. There is a “ton of rejection” in getting a book published, she cautioned. But she added, “Whether or not you are published is not a reflection on your worth.”

A student asked, “Where is a good place to share your work?”

Garrett responded, “With friends first,” but she also suggested submitting work to a school literary magazine.

Garrett invited students to come up to the microphone and share their mood boards. She would then suggest a narrative that might be inspired by the pictures the student had chosen.

At the end of the presentation, Middle School students arrived. Copies of Friday I’m in Love were there for the students and Garrett very kindly offered to sign the books while she chatted with the students.