Mentoring, Editing, & Teaching
I deeply believe that everyone can learn to write and, if they work hard enough at it, can produce work worthy of publication. For me, that is simple truth. I have developed a number of workshops and lectures derived from this belief and patented for writers as well as educators. See a list of the available options below.
View my curriculum vitae for my credientials. If you are interested in my services as a teacher or speaker, contact me about your interest.
View my curriculum vitae for my credientials. If you are interested in my services as a teacher or speaker, contact me about your interest.
For Writers
Narrative and language are universal human birthrights. You have the talent it takes to write and publish. There is no one right way to learn—other than perhaps learning in every way one can—but if you think I can help you as a writer, I’d like to do so. Below is a list of the teaching services I offer. Because writing is my top priority and I work at a college as well, I sometimes have more time than at others. Thus, I cannot promise that my services are always available. But I can and do promise that if you contact me, I will do everything possible to help you in your own maturation as a writer.
Manuscript Critiquing
I offer detailed feedback on both your story and your writing, or will focus on any aspect of your text you chose. My comments address both comprehensive aspects of the story and writing and line comments throughout the electronic copy of your submitted manuscript. I also include feedback based on my experience in publishing and awareness of current markets. When desired and possible, I will meet with writers either in person or via teleconferencing to discuss their work. I charge a flat rate of $40/hr for this service.
Initial Consultation
For those interested in exploring whether working with me would be of interest to them, I offer a special deal on a fifteen-page critique and in-person/teleconferencing meeting for $80. My feedback meetings with writers typically last between 1 1/2 and 2 hrs for the first 15 pages of text, so writers usually save at least $40 during this initial consultation over my standard critique rate.
One-on-One Mentoring
A writer is not a type but an individual. Because of this, I’m convinced no class or manual on writing will ever offer as much as a relationship. This service combines intricate feedback on writing with more comprehensive instruction for clients as writers seeking to publish. This includes personalized writing exercises and feedback, review of multiple texts, and consultation on both marketing and promotion, with multiple conferences either in person or via teleconferencing. This service has a base rate of $40/hr adjustable according to the particular needs of an individual writer.
Group Instruction
While I am huge proponent of working with writers one on one, group instruction is invaluable in its place as well. I enjoy teaching workshops, leading critique groups, and similar group activities, and have a number of prepared presentations and workshops. If you would like me to come teach or speak to a group, please contact me with the details. Prices will vary according to activity and travel, but my standard fee of $40/hr of my time spent is a good estimate of my rates. Below is a list and brief description of my prepared workshops. I am eager to prepare new presentations upon request, so if you have something in mind that isn’t covered below, please contact me with the proposal.
Best Beginnings
Learn three versatile and powerful techniques to grab a reader’s interest on your first page, first paragraph, even first line—and
even better, learn to use all three in unison for greater effect. This workshop involves lecture, discussion, and analysis of multiple texts from the American Book Review’s list of top 100 novel opening lines—as well as a few other favorites of mine thrown in—and a detailed explanation of how I constructed a few of my own story beginnings. Those working on their own story beginnings also receive help from the group and myself. For writers and students of literature; 1 hr+.
Conflict and the Narrative Mechanism
Explore the nature of story—why it exists, what it is, and how to craft it. Learn how the individual parts of narrative, such as conflict, perspective, structure, identification, and more work together for effect. Story is an engine; learn not only the nature of each piece but how to fine tune them together to create a high performance machine. My most essential and highly recommended workshop, the presentation involves lecture, discussion, writing exercises, and direct help crafting the stories of individual participants. For writers and students of literature; 2 hrs+.
Damsels in Distress and Beefcakes with Broadswords: Understanding the Cliche Cycle
Cliches steal power and meaning from stories, which is commonly recognized while the intricacies of how and why this happens are poorly understood. Learn the cycle of cliche formation, adoption, and rejection and why the cycle is unavoidable due to the nature of language and human cognition. Then apply that understanding to acquire a variety of tools and strategies to identiy, avoid, and deliberately and constructively use cliche in your writing. For writers and students of literature; 1 - 2 hrs.
Make Your Networking Work
A simple, realistic look at how to act and interact in the writing community to advance your publishing objective. For writers and students moving into the publishing sphere; 1 hr+.
The Point of View Overview
Learn the different components of point of view, the many options and varieties within each, and what opportunities and
limitations these give writers. This comprehensive workshop on point of view clearly outlines the technical craft aspect of this
communicative element with additional information on artistry. For writers and students of literature; 1 hr+.
The Problems of Premise: Where Do I Find My Story?
The nature of a story premise and it's role in successful creative production is one of the most widely misunderstood and mythologized aspects of storytelling. Learn the role premise typically plays in creativity as well as how to stimulate your brain to produce more and better premises and to critically refine and build upon those premises once they are realized. For writers and studetns of literature; 1 hr+.
Triple-duty Writing: How to achieve all three narrative actions on every page and in every paragraph
Between the front and rear covers of any story only three things happen—the three actions of narrative. Learn what they are and, more importantly, the key to using all three simultaneously at every point in your story to create an experience too gripping for a reader to put down. This workshop involves lecture, discussion, and extensive writing exercises and feedback. For writers and students of literature; 2 hrs+.
Voice and Style
What are they and how does one get them? Learn the answer to these questions through exploration of your own and others
writing, including diverse styles that earned historical and contemporary publishing success. A toolkit of strategies, exercises, and perspectives to discover and develop your own voice and style. For writers and students of literature; 1 hr+.
Writing Personal and Family History
How do you write personal or family history so that someone will actually want to read it and enjoy doing so? Learn what written personal history can and cannot do and a step by step method for turning memories, journals, and other historical artifacts into a rich and interesting written record. For those interested in personal and family history with little or no writing experience; 1 hr+.
Best Beginnings
Learn three versatile and powerful techniques to grab a reader’s interest on your first page, first paragraph, even first line—and
even better, learn to use all three in unison for greater effect. This workshop involves lecture, discussion, and analysis of multiple texts from the American Book Review’s list of top 100 novel opening lines—as well as a few other favorites of mine thrown in—and a detailed explanation of how I constructed a few of my own story beginnings. Those working on their own story beginnings also receive help from the group and myself. For writers and students of literature; 1 hr+.
Conflict and the Narrative Mechanism
Explore the nature of story—why it exists, what it is, and how to craft it. Learn how the individual parts of narrative, such as conflict, perspective, structure, identification, and more work together for effect. Story is an engine; learn not only the nature of each piece but how to fine tune them together to create a high performance machine. My most essential and highly recommended workshop, the presentation involves lecture, discussion, writing exercises, and direct help crafting the stories of individual participants. For writers and students of literature; 2 hrs+.
Damsels in Distress and Beefcakes with Broadswords: Understanding the Cliche Cycle
Cliches steal power and meaning from stories, which is commonly recognized while the intricacies of how and why this happens are poorly understood. Learn the cycle of cliche formation, adoption, and rejection and why the cycle is unavoidable due to the nature of language and human cognition. Then apply that understanding to acquire a variety of tools and strategies to identiy, avoid, and deliberately and constructively use cliche in your writing. For writers and students of literature; 1 - 2 hrs.
Make Your Networking Work
A simple, realistic look at how to act and interact in the writing community to advance your publishing objective. For writers and students moving into the publishing sphere; 1 hr+.
The Point of View Overview
Learn the different components of point of view, the many options and varieties within each, and what opportunities and
limitations these give writers. This comprehensive workshop on point of view clearly outlines the technical craft aspect of this
communicative element with additional information on artistry. For writers and students of literature; 1 hr+.
The Problems of Premise: Where Do I Find My Story?
The nature of a story premise and it's role in successful creative production is one of the most widely misunderstood and mythologized aspects of storytelling. Learn the role premise typically plays in creativity as well as how to stimulate your brain to produce more and better premises and to critically refine and build upon those premises once they are realized. For writers and studetns of literature; 1 hr+.
Triple-duty Writing: How to achieve all three narrative actions on every page and in every paragraph
Between the front and rear covers of any story only three things happen—the three actions of narrative. Learn what they are and, more importantly, the key to using all three simultaneously at every point in your story to create an experience too gripping for a reader to put down. This workshop involves lecture, discussion, and extensive writing exercises and feedback. For writers and students of literature; 2 hrs+.
Voice and Style
What are they and how does one get them? Learn the answer to these questions through exploration of your own and others
writing, including diverse styles that earned historical and contemporary publishing success. A toolkit of strategies, exercises, and perspectives to discover and develop your own voice and style. For writers and students of literature; 1 hr+.
Writing Personal and Family History
How do you write personal or family history so that someone will actually want to read it and enjoy doing so? Learn what written personal history can and cannot do and a step by step method for turning memories, journals, and other historical artifacts into a rich and interesting written record. For those interested in personal and family history with little or no writing experience; 1 hr+.
For Educators
As someone who works with college writers every day, I am all too acquainted with the number of students our system is “educating” who have never written anything in which they invested themselves and who have little concept of writing beyond a shallow performance according to seemingy arbitrary standards dictated from a teacher. I handle the crisis cases. In an attempt to share my experience and help educators improve the learning experience of students at all levels, I offer the following presentations.
Goosebumps, Great Expectations? Potaeto, potahto, tomaeto, tomahto...
Why the only poor story is a story not read
Excavate mounds of favorite stories to discover their common universal foundation; explore how Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung teach that every story has its Darth Vader—and who plays the role in Pride and Prejudice; and learn why archetypes and universal narrative make storytelling and narrative literacy the foundational skill of all learning and education. For educators at every level and students of literary and educational theory; 1 hr+.
Simple, Strange, Sophisticated, and Stupid Questions for Smart Kids (and Kids at Heart)--The game show that teaches more than you ever wanted to know about writing and writers, some of which you will certainly regret later
Originally developed as a competitive assembly for older children and teens, adult participants have so enjoyed it that I now offer the presentation to anyone who may be interested. This trivia game about children’s literature and its writers is both fun and educational, giving a glimpse into history, the nature of creativity, the business of publishing, and more. For ages 8 and up; 1 hr+.
What Is My Institutional Literacy Culture?
Learn the heirarchy of healthy literacy cultures from the traditional, and literacy inhibiting, "culture of performance" to the universally desired "culture of empowerment." Using this knowledge, you will assess your institution's current literacy culture and engage in a guided, collaborative, and critical problem solving session to improve that culture so as to better meet your institutional goals and mandates. For institutions and organizations ranging from schools and libraries to families; 1 hr+.
Writing IS Thinking: Using writing to teach metacognition
Writing is an incredibly complex thinking process involving both creative and analytical thought. This presentation addresses how and why the act of writing, especially stories, trains the brain into greater capability at many modes of thought and better awareness of one’s own learning. For educators interested in deeper pedagogy and theory; 1 hr+.
Goosebumps, Great Expectations? Potaeto, potahto, tomaeto, tomahto...
Why the only poor story is a story not read
Excavate mounds of favorite stories to discover their common universal foundation; explore how Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung teach that every story has its Darth Vader—and who plays the role in Pride and Prejudice; and learn why archetypes and universal narrative make storytelling and narrative literacy the foundational skill of all learning and education. For educators at every level and students of literary and educational theory; 1 hr+.
Simple, Strange, Sophisticated, and Stupid Questions for Smart Kids (and Kids at Heart)--The game show that teaches more than you ever wanted to know about writing and writers, some of which you will certainly regret later
Originally developed as a competitive assembly for older children and teens, adult participants have so enjoyed it that I now offer the presentation to anyone who may be interested. This trivia game about children’s literature and its writers is both fun and educational, giving a glimpse into history, the nature of creativity, the business of publishing, and more. For ages 8 and up; 1 hr+.
What Is My Institutional Literacy Culture?
Learn the heirarchy of healthy literacy cultures from the traditional, and literacy inhibiting, "culture of performance" to the universally desired "culture of empowerment." Using this knowledge, you will assess your institution's current literacy culture and engage in a guided, collaborative, and critical problem solving session to improve that culture so as to better meet your institutional goals and mandates. For institutions and organizations ranging from schools and libraries to families; 1 hr+.
Writing IS Thinking: Using writing to teach metacognition
Writing is an incredibly complex thinking process involving both creative and analytical thought. This presentation addresses how and why the act of writing, especially stories, trains the brain into greater capability at many modes of thought and better awareness of one’s own learning. For educators interested in deeper pedagogy and theory; 1 hr+.
If you are interested or have questions about any of the above presentations, or would like to request something unique, please get in touch with me by going to my contact page.