Renowned Author Chris Tebbetts Visits Fenn for Assembly and Writing Workshops

On Wednesday, January 28, author Chris Tebbetts joined the Fenn community on campus for a special assembly and a few creative writing workshops. He shared his love for writing, his path to becoming a successful author (boasting collaborations with James Patterson, for one), and the creative process that inspires his work. Tebbetts is most famous for his book Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (which was later made into a major motion picture). His other works including the Stranded series, written with Survivor host Jeff Probst, as well as his most recent release, Dr. Zeus, are also quite popular. 

Understanding well his middle school audience, Tebbetts also engaged with the Fenn boys in an exercise that asked them to create sound effects to bring to life segments of his writing from his book Dr. Zeus. They responded with enthusiasm and excitement around what the creative process can look like for authors and illustrators.

Sandwiched around this special assembly, fourth and fifth grade English classes enjoyed breakout writing sessions with Chris, developing creative scenes and characters inspired by prompts that challenged them to think outside the box. 

"This visit has been inspiring," said Tebbetts reflecting on his time at Fenn. "The boys have been so polite and engaging. Today's visit really reminded me of what I love about these moments: seeing the boys eyes light up when they share their thoughts and ideas. I can't wait to come back."

Thank you to the Parents Association and English Department Chair Jill MacKinnon for arranging and supporting this memorable visit.

To learn more about Chris Tebbetts and his works, please visit https://www.christebbetts.com.