One of my favorite things about being a writer is being able to share my love of word-smithing with other people, especially kids and teens. Whether you are an elementary student or a retiree, I can help you tap into your Inner Muse and draw your story out. I also like showing aspiring--and even seasoned--writers that nonfiction doesn't mean boring. I've taught scores of people how to take their passion about a subject and turn it into a PAID magazine clip.
Music to Massage
the Muse
(appropriate for 3rd grade and up)
This one-hour workshop uses music to inspire even the most reluctant students to write. It covers:
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Creative writing jobs outside of books and magazines--"Somebody had to write what's on the back of the cereal box you were reading at breakfast this morning." |
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The writer's life--"I get red ink and have to do rewrites on my work too." |
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How to use different forms of music to inspire even the most reluctant students to write. From techno to classical to just plain weird, I have a stash of unusual music guaranteed to massage the muses of students young and old. |
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Spiderwebbing--By connecting the students' music-inspired ideas, I help the class form a backbone for a story. |
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Flash fiction--Using the 5 W 's, I help students begin to flesh out the skeleton story into a full piece. |
Writing This one-hour workshop covers basic writing skills in both fiction and nonfiction. It includes:
• You've written the next best seller. Now what do you do with it? • How to write an attention getting query letter. • How to format your manuscript. • How to decipher editorial calendars and guidelines. • How to get your foot in the door and create your own possibilities. Contracts, Kill Fees, and Rights, Oh My!
101:
Marketing Your Muse
(appropriate for teens and adults)
What's the Scoop:
How to Write Fun, Informative Nonfiction
(appropriate for 3rd grade and up)
This one-hour workshop covers:
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Finding the scoop--How to uncover stories people want to read about. |
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"Just the facts, ma'am."--How to sort facts from gossip. |
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Get to the point already--Using the 5 W's and an H in an inverted pyramid format to structure your article. |
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Learning how to write a newspaper article from scratch using a fun story featuring the students' teacher. Strong emphasis is placed on the editing and revision process. |
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This workshop is a great springboard for teachers wanting to start a class (or grade) newspaper. |