(EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT – Nov. 6, 2026) — From journalism and comic books to songwriting and filmmaking, Austin High School seniors explored different forms of storytelling during “The Writers’ Block,” an event designed to connect students with local writers and creative professionals.

Held Wednesday, Nov. 4, the event was part of El Paso ISD’s It Starts with a Book initiative, presented by El Paso ISD Libraries. Students had the opportunity to meet local authors, journalists, professors, artists, and other professionals while exploring workshops covering a variety of creative fields.

Among the offerings was a journalism workshop led by local journalist Stephanie Valle, who introduced students to the process of developing and publishing a news story.

Austin High School senior Miranda Marmolejo participated in the workshop and said she was impressed by how engaging the experience was.

“I was surprised at how well-spoken our workshop guest was. She kept us on track and was very engaging, so I was interested in learning about what she was teaching us even though I don't plan on studying journalism,” Marmolejo said. “We also did an assignment with her where we tried to learn how to publish our own news story. It was very interesting.”

Marmolejo hopes to attend The University of Texas at El Paso or El Paso Community College after graduation. She is interested in pursuing a career as a state trooper or in law enforcement.

Although journalism is not her intended career path, the workshop gave her a new perspective on how the field connects with other professions.

“I did find it interesting how journalism works with each organization, even law enforcement. It was eye-opening how the partnerships work,” she said.

For Valle, the workshop was an opportunity to remind students that writing remains an important skill, regardless of the career they choose.

“I love the concept of this Writers’ Block workshop. As we become more reliant on digital devices, we become disconnected from putting our thoughts on paper. And so, I love the idea of getting these students to write,” Valle said.

She also emphasized the importance of writing as a form of self-expression and encouraged students to think critically about the information they encounter online.

“Another thing I taught students was to be mindful of facts and how we consume news and information, and a lot of that is done through social media, so I think it's important to talk to students about that,” Valle said.

Katherine Harrison, El Paso ISD's Coordinator of Library Media Services, and who helped organize the event, said the idea was to get students thinking about different career fields after high school.

“We want students to see that reading and writing open doors to new ideas, opportunities and career paths,” Harrison said. “By connecting students with local professionals, we hope to inspire their creativity, encourage them to explore their interests and show them how important these skills are beyond the classroom.”

Students also had opportunities to explore other creative disciplines, including comic books, picture books, young adult literature, songwriting, filmmaking and more.

The event brought together local professionals, including journalists Stephanie Valle and Sara Sanchez; authors Yasmín Ramírez, Tim Z. Hernandez, Evelyn Perez, Luisana Duarte Armendáriz and Leslie Rush; comics and zine expert Brianna Anderson; bookstore owner Arianna Castor; English professor Brad Jacobson; songwriter Jenna Ivey; and filmmaker Rocío Adame of Femme Frontera.

Through opportunities like “The Writers’ Block,” EPISD's It Starts with a Book initiative encourages students to explore reading, writing and creative expression while connecting classroom learning with professionals and possibilities in their own community.