By Jesse Kebler, Special to the Blog
Write YOUR Story teaches the art of narrative and the creativity of storytelling in a collaborative and supportive environment, and results in the kids having a book written and illustrated by them to share with family and friends. Now entering its 14th year, WYS is the creation of Julia Douthwaite Viglione, PhD. Bringing together groups of youngsters ages 7-12 to read, write, and learn about the power of storytelling, WYS started when Julia was a professor of French at the University of Notre Dame and followed her when she moved back to her native Seattle.
The Spring 2026 workshop marks the first time Write YOUR Story has been hosted in N. Seattle, having been based in West Seattle and the International District previously. This year’s theme is “Secrets and their Undoing,” and the reading materials will be Rumpelstiltskin, by the Brothers Grimm, and The Witch of Fife from the collection Celtic Tales. The kids will take what they learn about narrative arcs, story tropes, and more (using more age-appropriate wording and with plenty of explanation, of course!) and put it to use in rewriting the storyline in their own words.
Along with teaching at Notre Dame from 1991-2018, Ms. Douthwaite Viglione is the author of several books, most recently The Frankenstein of 1790 and Other Lost Chapters from Revolutionary France (Univ. of Chicago Press, 2012). Her children’s books include The Frankenstein of the Apple Crate and A Spooky Tale of Spring, or How the Grumpy Mom Got her Cheer Back (non-affiliate links for information only, please shop local when possible). She has been leading writing workshops for children since 2010, saying that working with kids is truly a labor of love and provides creative energy and happiness for her ongoing work as an artist and quiltmaker for Honey Girl Books & Gifts.
Registration is now open for Spring term, with classes running for 12 weeks, Sundays from 4:00-5:00 pm, beginning February 22, 2026 (no class on Easter Sunday, April 5). All sessions will be held in the University Heights Community Center (5031 University Way NE Seattle, WA 98105), in the Dance Studio, room 104. The workshop is free of charge.
For further information or to register, please visit the workshop website, or email Julia at [email protected].