Honing Your Pitch:  Making The Most Of Your Editor/Agent Appointment

Workshop Type:  Career
Length:  Material can be tailored to fit either a 1 or 2 hour slot

Short Description:  A how-to workshop developed to help writers prepare for the infamous 10 minute pitch session with an editor or agent. 

Topics covered include:

• How to prepare for the session
• Specific details of what info to include (and not include) in your pitch
• How to deliver your pitch
• What to do after the session

Handouts (available on request)

• A complete bulleted outline of topics covered
• Examples provided by published authors on their existing releases will be provided

Backstory: Weaving It In Without Slowing The Pace

Workshop Type:  Craft
Length:  Material can be tailored to fit either a 1 or 2 hour slot

Short Description:

• First - Know Your Characters’ Backstory
  • Why character backstory is important
  • What purpose it serves in making your book more memorable
• Second - Track Backstory Elements
  • Why you should keep track of backstory
  • A quick how-to discussion on using the tracking worksheet, including an example from my own work for illustrative purposes
  • Taking it to the next level:  Mining external backstory events to provide context and layer in additional color/realism
• Third - Weaving It Into Your Story
  • Deciding WHAT to include
  • Deciding WHEN to reveal it
  • Deciding HOW to reveal it most effectively
    • A detail discussion of seven different methods, along with pros and cons of each and examples from published works and movies for illustrative purposes.

Handouts (available on request)

• A complete bulleted outline of topics covered
• A template and working example of a backstory tracking chart

Secondary Characters: Running the Gamut from Walk-ons to Scene Stealers

Workshop Type:  Craft
Length:  45-60 minutes

Short Description:  This workshop is interactive, a mix of lecture with opportunity for audience participation in discussing and interpreting the sample passages/scenes.

• Define what a secondary character is
• Discuss the three key functions of secondary characters
• Discuss the three broad classifications of secondary characters
• In depth discussion of the many roles secondary characters play, utilizing examples from well-known books and movies. 
• Illustrate the effective use of these key functions, classifications and roles to enhance and further the main plot.

Handouts (available on request)

• A complete bulleted outline of topics covered
• Tip sheet with “DOs and DON’Ts”

Telling Details - Adding color and life to your story

Workshop Type:  Craft
Length:  45-60 minutes

Short Description: Discuss how to use the right details to add color and vividness to scenes.  Includes:

• A checklist covering the key dimensions of setting, character and mood
• A filter to help you choose just the right details for your particular scene
• A technique that enables you to skillfully weave these select details into your scene in an unobtrusive manner

Handouts (available on request)

• A complete bulleted outline of topics covered
• Copies of examples used to illustrate various points”

Taming The Butterflies:  Workshop Presentation Skills

Workshop Type:  Career
Length:  55-90 min (can be tailored to fit allotted time slot)

Short Description:

Workshop will cover the following elements:

• Some of the benefits of presenting workshops
• Selecting a topic and finding an audience
• Understanding audience expectations as well as your subject
• Scripting your workshop
• Tips for effective practice sessions
• “Glitch Control”
• Delivery considerations
• Wrap-up - leave on a high note
• Handouts (available on request)
• Two page bullet list of topics covered
• One page list of references for follow-up study

Understanding The Stakes: Making Every Scene Count

Workshop Type:  Craft
Length:  45-60 minutes

Short Description:  Tips and techniques for ensuring that every scene in your manuscript pulls its weight and propels your story forward

• Understand what ‘episodic writing’ is and why it should be avoided
• Describe the various purposes a scene must serve
• Discuss tips for building more muscle into your scenes
• Discuss how to test your scene to see if it serves a story purpose

Handouts (available on request)

• A complete bulleted outline of topics covered
• Copies of examples used to illustrate various points”