Karlyn Coleman is an award-winning writer, teacher, and teaching artist based in Minneapolis. She is the author of nine YA novels under the pen name K.R. Coleman and two picture books, Where Are All the Minnesotans? and The Great Get-Together. Her short fiction has appeared in journals including Sycamore Review, Water~Stone Review, and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. A former teacher, bookseller, and publishing professional, she now inspires writers of all ages to discover their voices and believes deeply in the power of stories to connect and build community.
Teaching Artist Statement
I believe everyone has a story worth telling, and my role as an artist is to inspire writers of all ages and abilities to discover and share theirs. I design experiences that go beyond the page, inviting participants to engage with storytelling through words, images, sound, and touch. Using writing prompts as a foundation, I weave in the rhythm of music and the textures of the natural world—stones, leaves, water, wind—as tools to spark imagination and unlock creativity.
Whether guiding children, teens, or adults, I create spaces where stories can be both written and illustrated, allowing each voice to emerge in its own unique way. My approach emphasizes play, sensory exploration, and the power of connection. Storytelling, after all, is not just about recording what happened—it’s about feeling, imagining, and seeing the world through new perspectives. At the heart of my work is the belief that when we tell our stories, we affirm our place in the larger community and help others feel less alone.
Program Offerings
Workshop
Soundtrack and Stories
Music is one of the most powerful tools for storytelling, capable of sparking imagination, evoking emotions, and guiding the rhythm of a narrative. Sound Tracks and Stories is a flexible creative writing program where students use musical soundtracks as inspiration to develop their own original stories. By listening closely to different scores and reflecting on how sound shapes emotion and action, students learn to translate what they hear into vivid, compelling writing. This workshop is designed to get creativity pumping and introduce students to the joy of writing through music. This workshop is great for upper elementary, middle school, high school, adults, and older adults.
Residency
Sound Tracks and Stories
Music is one of the most powerful tools for storytelling, capable of sparking imagination, evoking emotions, and guiding the rhythm of a narrative. Sound Tracks and Stories is a flexible creative writing program where students use musical soundtracks as inspiration to develop their own original stories. By listening closely to different scores and reflecting on how sound shapes emotion and action, students learn to translate what they hear into vivid, compelling writing.
Through this program, students will gain:
- Creative writing skills: developing characters, crafting dialogue, and building tension.
- Storytelling techniques: understanding pacing, plot structure, and mood.
- Critical listening skills: analyzing how sound and rhythm influence meaning.
- Confidence and self-expression: sharing original work in a supportive community.
- Collaboration and empathy: engaging with peers’ writing and perspectives.
Sound Tracks and Stories gives young writers the tools to turn their ideas into powerful stories—equipping them with creative and communication skills they can carry into school, community, and beyond.
Sound Tracks and Stories is designed to welcome students with a wide range of abilities and learning styles. While the core focus is on writing, drawing is intentionally incorporated as an alternative and complementary mode of expression. Students who may struggle with writing or need additional ways to process ideas can sketch scenes, map out storyboards, or create visual representations of characters and settings while listening to music. This allows every student to engage with the class content and express their creativity, regardless of literacy level or learning differences.
The program is highly adaptable to participant needs:
Flexible Assignments: Students may choose to write, draw, or combine both in response to music prompts, ensuring multiple entry points for creativity.
Varied Delivery Methods: Instruction includes listening, discussion, demonstration, and hands-on activities to support auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners.
Adaptive Pacing: Longer, week-long sessions allow students to build skills gradually, while shorter single-session workshops keep the pace energetic and accessible for diverse groups.
This residency is great for upper elementary, middle school, high school, adults, and older adults.
