Author Presentations
Breathing Life into Characters (1 hour)
Discussion: Author will discuss how a character goes from being a simple
thought to someone almost real enough to touch, using a character creation list and
other aids.
Activity: Students will get a chance to create their own characters and tell the audience about them.
From Pen to Publication (1 hour)
Discussion: Author will discuss how a book comes into being, from the
first time a writer sits down with a blank sheet of paper to the point where the
book is sitting on the shelf.
Activity: Students will be given time for a question and answer session
(if the Q&A session runs long, that is fine)
Let's Write a Story (75 minutes)
Discussion: For first 15 minutes, author will discuss basic story formatting
with students, from problem introduction to conflict to resolution. Remaining hour will be
devoted to activity.
Activity: Students will, as individuals or in groups, create their own short story
based on prior knowledge and discussion.
Best story (with sensible conflict and resolution) wins a special prize!
An Author's Life (1 hour)
Discussion: Author will discuss what exactly goes on in the average year of
an author, explaining about booksignings, school visits, interviews, conferences, etc.
Activity: Students will be given time for a question and answer session
(if the Q&A session runs long, that is fine)
Rejected! (1 hour)
Discussion: Author will discuss one of the hardest aspects of the publishing
business, dealing with rejection, be it from agents, editors, or even the public.
Author will provide helpful tips on how to deal with rejection and the emotions that
accompany it.
Activity: Students will be asked to anonymously submit one rejection story
from their past (this can be done and typed up even before the author arrives).
Author will read some of the stories out loud and the students will provide advice
on how to cope with that situation.
Author Lunch* (45 minutes-1 hour)
Author will eat lunch (meal provided by school) with up to 10 students/faculty
members and discuss whatever is on their minds (as long as it isn't too personal); a
nice reward for excelling students.
For Author Visit Fees, click here
For Author Visit Guidelines, click here
To set up your visit, email me at jo_whittemore@hotmail.com
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