+ WORKSHOP 1: "Help—I Need Some Ideas!"
Where do ideas even come from?
Sometimes the hardest part of writing can be deciding what to write about—but anyone can be their own Idea Factory, as long as they know a few story-sparking tricks. In this hands-on workshop, I’ll show students how to pull ideas out of thin air, and begin turning those ideas into stories.
FORMAT: In-person OR virtual
SUITABLE FOR: Grades 3rd through 8th; groups of up to 50 students
LENGTH: 45-60 minutes
REQUIREMENTS: Each student will need a writing implement, paper, and a writing surface
BONUS: By the end of the workshop, students will have started a short story of their very own—and teachers will be provided with resources to help them finish it, as well as a list of my tried-and-true brainstorming prompts
CURRICULUM TIE-INS: Building blocks of writing; brainstorming; story idea generation; creative writing; short story writing
FEE FOR VIRTUAL WORKSHOP: $500 (for in-person fees, see "IN-PERSON VISITS")
---
+ WORKSHOP 2: "Fabulous Stories From Real Life"!
How do you turn fact into fiction?
One of the best ways to generate stories is to pull from your own life—I do it all the time! Plots, settings, characters, and whole scenes can be inspired by things you’ve experienced in the real world. But when you’re writing fiction, you need to know how to take those real-world experiences and translate them onto the page. In this workshop, I’ll teach students how to shape their inspirations into un-put-down-able page turners.
FORMAT: In-person OR virtual
SUITABLE FOR: Grades 3rd through 8th; groups of up to 50 students
LENGTH: 45-60 minutes
REQUIREMENTS: Each student will need a writing implement, paper, and a writing surface
BONUS: By the end of the workshop, students will have the beginnings of their very own short story, and teachers will be provided with resources to help their students finish their stories, along with lots more methods to drum up story inspirations
CURRICULUM TIE-INS: Building blocks of writing; brainstorming; story idea generation; elements of fiction vs. non-fiction; creative writing; short story writing
FEE FOR VIRTUAL WORKSHOP: $500 (for in-person fees, see "IN-PERSON VISITS")
---
+ WORKSHOP 3: "Taking Characters from 'Flat' to 'Fat'"!
What makes us care about a character’s story?
Crafting round characters—ones who are relatable, likeable, and flawed all at once—is my favorite part of writing, and I’m happy to share all my tricks! In this interactive workshop, students will learn the many elements that go into creating characters so round you’ll want to reach out and hug them.
FORMAT: In-person OR virtual
SUITABLE FOR: Grades 3rd through 8th; groups of up to 50 students
LENGTH: 45-60 minutes
REQUIREMENTS: Each student will need a writing implement, paper, and a writing surface
BONUS: By the end of the workshop, students will have created a strong character of their very own, and have all the pieces they need to start that character’s story. Teachers will be provided with resources to continue the lesson after the workshop is over, including ways to help students finish their short story
CURRICULUM TIE-INS: Building blocks of writing; brainstorming; story idea generation; character creation; creative writing; short story writing
FEE FOR VIRTUAL WORKSHOP: $500 (for in-person fees, see "IN-PERSON VISITS")
---
+ WORKSHOP 4: “'Revision' Is Not a Dirty Word!"
Let’s re-write the way we think about re-writing
For many kids (and adults too!), the most odious part of writing is rewriting. And that’s completely normal—after all that hard work, who wants to rip it up? Fortunately, I’m one of those strange birds who actually likes revising, and I’m just itching to share this enthusiasm with your students! In this workshop, I’ll transform your students’ conception of revision, demonstrating how writing a book is like putting together a puzzle. By getting a chance to revise an early draft of one of my stories, students will learn why “brief” is nearly always better, and when and how to axe the parts of their stories they’re clinging extra-tight to.
FORMAT: In-person OR virtual
SUITABLE FOR: Grades 3rd through 8th; groups of up to 50 students
LENGTH: 45-60 minutes
REQUIREMENTS: Each student will need a writing implement, paper, and a writing surface
BONUS: Teachers will be provided with resources to continue the lesson, including methods to help students edit their own (and each other’s) work
CURRICULUM TIE-INS: Building blocks of writing; brainstorming; story idea generation; revision; “author’s toolbox” of literary devices; creative writing; short story writing
FEE FOR VIRTUAL WORKSHOP: $500 (for in-person fees, see "IN-PERSON VISITS")
---
+ CUSTOM WRITING WORKSHOPS!
Craft the perfect workshop for your students!
If you are interested in having me teach a workshop on a writing-themed topic not mentioned above, I’ll be happy to create a custom workshop around your specific needs.
FORMAT: In-person OR virtual
SUITABLE FOR: Grades 3rd through 8th; groups of up to 50 students
LENGTH: 45-60 minutes
REQUIREMENTS: Each student will need a writing implement, paper, and a writing surface
BONUS: Free teacher resources to continue the lesson into the classroom and beyond
CURRICULUM TIE-INS: You choose!
FEE FOR VIRTUAL CUSTOM WORKSHOP: $600 (for in-person fees, see "IN-PERSON VISITS")
---
