By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Union City Middle School students who were chosen to attend the 2025 Young Writers Conference at UT Martin were given a simple piece of advice.
Practice, practice, practice.
UCMS 8th graders Maxxwell, Smith, Rhealyn Laster, Peyton Kendall, Hillary Campbell, and Ella Jean Hayes listened intently to the advice of keynote speaker James E. Cherry – a published author from Jackson.
Cherry encouraged the large group of students to journal daily, be avid readers, and be observant.
Attendees also went to a pair of workshops with the following topics:
- How writers work
- Journaling and writing reviews
- Designing and writing in a perfect world
- Crafting character through speech
- How villains can show us what it means to be a hero
At the end of the day, each student shared through “Open Mic” a writing from the day.
“I received compliments from the workshop coordinator regarding our 8th graders,” said UCMS Career Explorations teacher Rhonda Clendenin, who chaperoned the group. “Our students were the youngest ones to participate, as they were in workshops with high school-aged kids from South Fulton and Peabody.
“At the end of the day, they were excited about what they had learned and were anxious to share with their ELA teacher.”