Young Authors Conference

A person presenting to seated students in a classroom with a projector screen displaying a slide on writing; the caption below the picture reads, "This experience helped me learn many new things about different ways of writing! -Young Authors Conference Student"
A speaker presents to students in a classroom with a slide titled "Character Description" displayed on the screen; the caption below reads "This was so much fun! I really dug deep into my imagination. - Young Authors Conference student"
A large audience listens to a panel of speakers on stage at the Young Authors Conference in an auditorium; the caption reads, "It was super fun, want to do it again! Loved it! -Young Authors Conference Student"
An author speaks to attentive students in a classroom; the caption reads, "The sessions were all really thoughtful, challenging, and practical. -Young Authors Conference teacher"
An author presents to young students in a classroom; the caption reads, "I love the enthusiasm all the presenters use to engage all of these young writers -Young Authors Conference Teacher"
An author hands a paper to a student in a classroom while kids sit at their desks; the caption reads, "I love that you challenge kids like me to be a writer -Young Authors Conference Student"
2026 Theme & Keynotes
2026 YAC Flyer
2025 Impact Report
Register

The March Young Authors Conference date has been moved from March 20 to March 19. Please email Betsy Narr with questions.

The Young Authors Conference (lovingly, YAC) is a one-day field trip for grades 4-8 that takes place at Bethel University’s main campus. Hundreds of students spend the day learning from and writing with professional Minnesota authors. They leave with new strategies, ideas, and skills to become stronger writers.

Breakout sessions are engaging, interactive, and informative. A variety of topics have been offered over the years, including poetry, journalism, spoken word, short stories, memoirs, playwriting, songwriting, and more. Students attend a keynote and three breakout sessions. Live music, an open mic, and a book fair keep students busy and engaged during the day. Review the Minnesota Academic Standards alignment for YAC.

Registration

Registration fees are based on BrightWorks membership status. To find out if your school/district is a member, please see the updated membership list.

March
19,
2026

Register

Brightworks Member: Early Bird $42/student
($44 after December 23, 2025)
Non-Member: Early Bird $56/student
($58 after December 23, 2025)

Tickets will be mailed the week of February 10th

8:30 am – 1:35 pm
Bethel University,
Arden Hills

May
26-28,
2026

Register

Brightworks Member: Early Bird $42/student
($44 after March 4, 2026)
Non-Member: Early Bird $56/student
($58 after March 4, 2026)

Tickets will be mailed the week of April 21st

8:30 am – 1:35 pm
Bethel University,
Arden Hills

2026 Theme: Stories Only You Can Write

Today, and every day, your voice matters. No one else can write the stories that are in your head and heart. Only you can share the things you’ve felt, the experiences you’ve had, and the ideas that are important to you. Your knowledge, feelings, and opinions intersect in stories that no one can tell quite like you can. Celebrate your imagination, sharpen your skills, and share your creativity with other writers at the 2026 Young Authors Conference!

A person sits on a dock by a lake at sunset with books, birds, and conference text.

2026 Keynote Authors

Woman with long dark hair smiles, sitting with arms crossed in a black and white portrait.

Ari Tison
May 26 & 27

Ari Tison (Bribri) is the Pura Belpré Award, Amelia Walden Award, and Walter Dean Myers-winning author of Saints of the Household (2023). Her poem “The Storyteller Gets Her Name” has been included in national K-4th-grade curriculum, reaching over 5 million young readers. Her forthcoming Young Adult novel is Together We See, and her first co-edited anthology with Ty Chapman Witness are both forthcoming in 2026. Ari teaches at Hamline University with the Writing for Children and Young Adults graduate program.

Smiling man in sunglasses and denim jacket, wearing a headband, in profile outdoors.

Ty Chapman
March 20 & May 28

Ty Chapman is an award-winning author and poet based in Minnesota. He is the author of many children’s books and the poetry collection, Tartarus. Additionally, he co-edited the poetry anthology, Witness (2026), with his friend and collaborator, Ari Tison. He has published poems through The Academy of American Poets, Water~Stone, and more.

Ty has received fellowships from the McKnight Foundation, Cave Canem, The Center for Arts + Social Justice, and The Loft Literary Center. He holds an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

At the Young Authors Conference, students…

Are challenged and encouraged to be better writers.

Leave with new strategies, ideas, and skills to become more confident in their writing.

Learn that strong writing skills are important in life.

Supporters

SparkPath would like to thank the following organizations whose support helped make four days of the 2025 Young Authors Conference fantastic for Twin Cities students:

Logo of Bethel University, featuring a torch with flame and "1871" on a blue background.
BrightWorks logo featuring a gear icon and the text "BrightWorks, A Minnesota Service Cooperative" in blue and gray.
Logo of The Friends Minnesota Center for the Book with a stylized orange and yellow book symbol on the left.
Logo of Red Balloon Bookshop with a red balloon and blue outlined clouds above the text.
Smead logo with three slanted red lines and tagline "KEEPING YOU ORGANIZED" in purple text.
The Wells Fargo logo with yellow text on a red background.

Questions?

For more information about how your students can participate or if you are interested in presenting, contact Katie Wenzel at 612-638-1554.

White text including an "S" and "P" intertwined and an upright pointing arrow to the left

© 2025 SparkPath, Inc.


SparkPath@brightworksmn.org
612-638-1500
2 Pine Tree Drive, Suite 101
Arden Hills, MN 55112
EIN: 41-1948020

SparkPath is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that presents its programs in collaboration with BrightWorks, a Minnesota Service Cooperative. BrightWorks member districts/schools save 30-50% on SparkPath registration fees. For more information, visit www.brightworksmn.org.

white text "brightworks"