One of the great things about writing is the opportunity to share with the kids for whom I write.

Meeting with them, talking to them and getting them to realize their own potential and possible passion for writing is something that gives me great pleasure.

Below are some examples of workshops I have created for these visits (My presentations can also be tailored to your needs):

FOR KINDERGARTNERS:

PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS – LET’S CREATE A BOOK: There’s nothing like a good book to start a class out right. So that’s how we’ll begin. Following the reading, we’ll create our own story, using a storyboard. We’ll discuss how every story needs three things: a setting, characters and a problem. Finally, let’s get our hands dirty with a good old-fashioned art project relating to the book!

FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLERS:

WHAT A CHARACTER: Just what is an author’s life like? Where do I get my ideas? Did you know that some of my best ones came right from my own backyard? I’ll tell all my little secrets, and then we’ll play dress-up. Using Halloween costumes, we’ll create our own character. No cheating by using old-favorites like Little Red Riding Hood! Originality only! By the end, you’ll come to understand that no character is one-sided, that the most interesting ones are the ones with the most unusual traits and that an author knows more about her character than a reader will ever learn.

FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS AND OLDER KIDS:

WHO WANTS TO BE A WRITER? Let’s begin by discussing what a writer’s life is like, how family can give you GREAT stories, how revisions work and the process of producing a book. Then let’s see who wants to be a writer. How much do you REALLY know about books and writing techniques? Stumped? You can “ask the audience”, “phone a friend” or get a 50/50 chance at the right answer! Who will go all the way?

SURVIVOR:. Can you survive the writing process? Come hear how a writer thinks up her ideas, what her day is like and how a book is ultimately produced. Then try your hand at it yourself. Classes are divided into teams and given challenges to see if they can survive the research, the writing and the editing that are all a part of an author’s daily life.