The workshops' goal is to teach children and teenagers the writing skills and techniques necessary for good character and plot development in writing fiction. According to Friends member Rita Baum, some 45 students participated in last year's workshops, and many asked for the series to be repeated.

Local author and Friends board member Martha Stockton Alderson will teach the workshops, along with three experienced colleagues of hers from the California Writers Club. Her first novel, Spirits at War, was inspired by the 10 years of research her parents uncovered about one of the family's famous ancestors, Commodore Robert Field Stockton of New Jersey, who served in the U.S. Navy during the War of 1812 and later became a U.S. senator.

Alderson, who holds bachelor's degrees in psychology and speech and a master's degree in speech pathology, has won recognition in several literary contests, including the William Faulkner Writing Contest and the 10th annual Jack London Writers' Contest.

"Opening the world of writing to young people is an exhilarating experience. You don't have to pull it out of them—their imaginations are free, and there are no critics in their heads saying, 'Don't say that; it's stupid!' " Alderson says.

The first workshop, which will be held on Jan. 25, is for children ages 8­12. The March 29 workshop is for 13- to 16-year-olds, with a final workshop on April 26 for those 8­12. All workshops take place at the Los Gatos Neighborhood Center, 208 E. Main St., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a half-hour break for lunch. Participants should bring their own lunches; the Friends will provide drinks and cookies.

The workshop cost is $15 per child. Registration forms are available at the Los Gatos Public Library, located at 110 E. Main St. For more information, call 408.399.5700.