Presentations for Students
These presentations are suitable for small groups
(up to 50) and can be tailored to upper elementary, middle school, or high school students.
Please allow 50 minutes or one class period for each presentation. I can schedule up to four
presentations in one day.
The Dictionary Game
In this group writing exercise, we will randomly select five
words (no cheating) from the fattest dictionary available. Using those five
words, we will begin a story that has all the basic elements a good story
needs:
setting
character
plot
story
problem
backstory
By the time we finish our story beginning, everyone will be
asking the question that’s music to any writer’s ears:
“What happens
next?!”
But we’ll interrupt that request to define and explore those
story elements, so we can learn how and why they make a story irresistible (and
prove that students can write their own irresistible stories, with or without a
really fat dictionary).
How an Idea Becomes a Book
Using samples from my books, I show the stages in
creating a book, from rough draft to revisions to finished book. I talk briefly about research techniques and how students can use them in their own projects.
There will be time for a question and answer period.
Every Life Tells a Story
A more in-depth exploration of researching and writing a
biography, using Sacagawea as an example. We discuss how to choose the best sources, and what to do if sources
provide conflicting information. We talk about how to find interesting
information that brings the past to life, and how to use creative writing
techniques to add spark to the story.
The Writing Life
"Where do you get your ideas?"...
"Do you know the ending
of a book when you start writing?"... "Can you tell me how I can be a
writer too?"...
I'll talk about the
challenges and joys of the creative process.
Presentations for Adults
These presentations are for adults who want to get acquainted
with the world of children's books, and can be hosted by libraries, book
clubs, or other community groups. Allow about an hour for formal presentation,
and another hour for informal chat.
Writing and Publishing Books for Children
An overview of the world of
children's books and what it takes to break in to a profession that's extremely
competitive but highly rewarding. There will be time for
Q&A at the end.
Presentations for Writers
I give these presentations at writers' conferences and
workshops:
Your Foot in the Door: Query Letters that Work
How do you get editors to read your stories even at "closed
houses"? With a great query letter! Learn when to send a query, what
information to include, and how a query is different from a cover letter.
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