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“I never realized that you can start a whole story just by looking at a single shoe.” – Bea
“I’ve always loved to write but haven’t had the inspiration to write anything since 5th grade. When you came, you reminded me of how fun writing can be and I am so excited to start up again.” – Meggie
“The author was very funny and goofy. I would like to be just like Adrian Fogelin when I grow up.”
“I really learned a lot and went home and shared it all with my family. I now look at books and stories in a totally different perspective. You taught me to write from the character’s point of view. I would like to be an author exactly like you when I get older.” – Jessica
“The author I think was kind of a kid. She had a wonderful imagination.”
“After school on Monday I rushed to my room and started to write a short story. It is about a girl who is painfully shy who runs away…” – Maura
And from a teacher: “I really appreciate the time you spent with us. Afterwards I began reflecting about where and how I can begin implementing some of the activities you shared. Not only were your ideas innovative, but you also worked so well with the kids! Thank you for making me feel refreshed and energized about writing and teaching fiction.” -- Julie Mattock
The Author Visit
To Arrange Any Visit Click Here
Invite me to your school for a day (or more). I work with students from third grade through high school. Because I prefer speaking to small groups (one or two classes at a time) I will do as many as six sessions in a day. A session typically lasts from forty-five minutes to a little over an hour, depending on the school’s schedule. Small groups allow for lots of interaction; everyone gets a chance to ask a question or make a comment.
Here are some of the things I cover in a session:
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How did I become an author?
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Where do my ideas come from?
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How do books get published? (I show a manuscript, editorial comments, a galley, an unbound book)
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What ingredients do you need to tell a story?
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Then comes the really fun part. The group creates a character. We then experiment with different plot forms such as the AHA! plot, or the JOURNEY plot. Participants often sit right down and spontaneously write the story immediately after the program. One class created a character named “Wilson.” The students demanded that Wilson be given a place on the seating chart. Those students had discovered what all authors know—characters are real.
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I read excerpts from my books, sometimes from a work in progress to give students a sneak peek of what's coming next.
Think Like an Author Creative Writing
Workshop
I designed “Think Like an Author” for a public
library in a poor rural community where the young people were deeply
suspicious of writing—even reading. Traditional creative writing
exercises just weren’t going to work. Instead, I presented the kids
with objects, pictures, smells. The “work” of writing turned into a
game. Confidence grew! Writing became cool! Before they knew it,
even the most reluctant writers in the group were creating wonderful
stories.
Prompts include wrapped boxes with mysterious contents, keys, a shard of ancient Indian pottery, a pair of wingtip shoes, scraps of colored paper, and an ancient book bearing the inscription: “Open with extreme caution. Ignore warning at your own peril.” Intrigued? Young writers are too.
Ideally, the workshop involves two, ninety-minute sessions. In schools, I need a minimum of an hour to expose the students to a sampling of the exercises. The exercises will vary from session to session. A media or reading specialist attending several sessions should be able to learn the program for later use.
“Think Like an Author” is enjoyed by writers age ten and up.
*Note: Some of the exercises from the writing workshop are done verbally during a typical school visit, giving kids a taste of the writing process.
A Life in Words:
Journal/Memoir Workshop
Want to live your life twice? Write it down. The value of
journal-keeping is hard to overstate. Our journals remind us of who
we were, they clarify our dreams, they leave a record that can be
passed on. The hard part is getting started. This workshop is about
beginning what becomes for many a lifelong journey.
To get things started I share some of my own journals, including my fourth grade lock-and-key special, the tiny notebook I kept in high school, my college journal (complete with illustrations) and the “writers’ journals” I now keep. A series of stimulating exercises help participants begin putting words on paper.
This program works particularly well as an after-school activity or as a Saturday or evening event at a public library. Especially rewarding outcomes occur when the group is inter-generational. Working as writing peers, young and old are equally enriched by each other’s experiences. Participants will need to bring photographs and personal mementos. This workshop is appropriate for middle school students up.
Click to see a bibliography of books for young journal keepers...
In-Service Workshops for Teachers and Librarians
Want to teach the “Think Like an Author” program yourself? I conduct
workshops that give teachers and librarians a fresh approach to
conveying the thrill of creative writing. You will receive a handout
detailing the exercises and many tips on getting imaginative work
out of any young writer.
The best part is that you get to write too. Participants will do the exercises they will take back to their school or library. Add a plate of brownies and you have a perfect half-day workshop.
I also teach my Journal/Memoir workshop as an in-service session. Bringing writing into the daily life of library and school staff will enrich teaching skills and life in general. People always tell me, “But I don’t have time!” My response is that if you don’t keep a journal you really don’t have time. It passes and it’s gone. It has been my experience that keeping a journal helps give a pretty chaotic affair (life) dignity and meaning.
This workshop is a genuinely enjoyable experience—in spite of the fact that we often need Kleenex.