Workshops

I am happy to speak to your group or present (and customize) a workshop.   Email me for more information.
Coming up in January 2021:
Engaging Beginnings, Middles, and Endings when Writing for Children & Teens (open to all), WriterHouse
Session One: Sunday, 1/24/21,  1:00 – 2:30 pm EST
Session Two: Sunday, 1/31/21,  1:00 – 2:30 pm EST
Members: $62, Nonmembers: $67
​Online registration  
Whether you’re writing a picture book, chapter book or novel for young readers, what are the elements you need for a great beginning? How much is enough to introduce the story and what is too much information? How do you manage the murky, meandering middle without getting sidetracked by beautifully written scenes that don’t move the story forward? How do you craft that powerful, satisfying, memorable ending? In the first class we’ll talk about the tools to create your beginnings, middles, and endings. For the second class, you’ll bring your new beginning, your outline or game plan for the middle, or your revised ending.
Coming up in February and March 2021:
Beginnings, Middles and Endings!  Whale Rock Workshops
​Two part workshop (more advanced than January workshop)
Session One: Sunday, 2/28/21,  3:00 - 4:30 pm EST
​Session Two: Sunday, 3/7/21,  3:00 - 4:30 pm EST
$110
Register
Whether you’ve completed a picture book, chapter book or novel for young readers, revision can feel like a daunting task. Join me to examine whether your beginnings, middles and endings are doing what they need to do. Does your beginning grab a young reader? Does your middle stay on track? Is your ending powerful, satisfying, and memorable? In part one, students will explore the tools to hone  beginnings, middles, and endings. In part two, students will bring revised beginnings, a game plan for the middle, or a new powerful ending.
 
This workshop is one of ten amazing workshops full of the craft, revision, and business inspiration you need to move your writing career forward. View the full Winter Workshop Series on Whale Rock Workshops’ website. 

SAMPLE WORKSHOPS

Be SASSY:  Writing with SASS - especially good for teens and tweens

We'll learn how to:
SNAG your reader
ACT your character
SHOW your story
SHAKE things up
YOUR voice is critical!

​How to Make Your Writing Feel Authentic

This workshop focuses on the craft of writing and the concrete tools you can use to make your writing more believable, more real, and truly "authentic."  We will answer the following questions and do a few fun, easy exercises.
  1. What does it mean to be "authentic?"  Writing from the heart.
  2. What is "grounding?"  Setting your stage with the right props.
  3. How well do you know your characters? Making characters multi-faceted.
  4. How real and believable is your plot?  Crafting a story your audience can buy.
  5. Have you found your own "voice?"  Why voice is critical, and finding yours.

​Getting in Your Character's Skin

Do you want to write characters that pop right off of the page?  Characters you and your readers really care about?  We'll talk about how to get in your character's skin and create him or her from the inside out.  We'll do some fun, easy exercises while we cover the following elements of "character building:"
  1. Your character's history that the reader will never know.
  2. What your character looks like physically, including gestures and clothing.
  3. Your character's likes and dislikes, quirks and habits, friends and enemies.
  4. Living and being your character.
  5. Using empathy to get under your character's skin.
  6. Your character's driving force (this is usually related to the plot of the story).

​Real Research

Research is critical to writing an authentic story, whether it's a novel or a picture book.  We'll talk about a wide variety of research and how it powers your story.
  1. Traditional research
  2. Observation
  3. Interviews
  4. Experts
  5. Artifacts
  6. Experience

Recent Events

Engaging Beginnings, Middles, and Endings when Writing for Children & Teens (open to all), WriterHouse, 1/24/21 & 1/31/21, 1 -2 pm EST (see details at left)
Beginnings, Middles and Endings!  Whale Rock Workshops, 2/32/21 & 3/7/21, 3-4 pm EST (see details at left)
COVID Survival Mode!
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