I love to teach. I was an 8th-grade English teacher, I was an instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature, and now I do school visits and present at writers’ conferences, both nationally and locally. My goal is to inspire writers, sure, but to equip them to act on that inspiration by giving plenty of practical tips, examples, and handouts.
Topics
- Putting Together a Picture Book Poetry Collection
- Basics of Children’s Poetry
- Feel the Beat: Scan Your Poetry or Rhyming Picture Book
- Rhyme and Nonfiction: A Great Match
- Writing on Demand: Breaking into the Educational Market
- The Nonfiction Book Proposal
- The Publishing Middleman: Working With Book Packagers
- Multiple Choice: Writing Assessment Materials
- Making a Living from Words
- From One Timid Promoter to Another
I have plenty of other topics I’m comfortable presenting about. I’ve been on panels, co-presented, led lunchtime quizzes and events…If you have specific needs, just ask. I’ll let you know what my experience is in that particular area and whether I’d be a good choice to lead a session on it. (And I’ll be very honest. I have no desire to lead a session that I’m not totally comfortable with!)
References
“Just a note to say thank you for your outstanding contribution to the summer conference! Your workshops received glowing reviews on our evaluation forms.”
Jamie Melissa Weiss, Conference Coordinator, Annual international conference
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
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“You had a nice mix of resources, examples and critiques…I especially appreciate your feedback and critique — your style was constructive and non-threatening…[T]hank you so much for inspiring me to write more.”
Quinette Cook – Minnesota SCBWI
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“I want to thank you for the part you played in getting me a contract with Capstone. [At a Loft event] you talked about the process of submitting to Capstone and other publishers. I still have your handouts!…I just submitted my final ms a couple of weeks ago. My contact over there said my initial letter to them was ‘perfect,’ and that is mainly due to your advice from the Loft session.”
Lissa Johnston – South Carolina