Need a speaker for your conference or writing workshop? Putting together a panel or professional development day? Lindsey has 20 years’ experience teaching creative and academic writing, and she loves to share practical tips that make the process more efficient—and more fun! Lindsey has worked with teachers, librarians, and writers of all experience levels, and can present on anything from research for writers to teaching with children’s nonfiction. Contact her to discuss the possibilities.
Now scheduling 2023/24 visits to celebrate Lindsey’s newest science book,
Polar: Wildlife at the Ends of the Earth!
Nonfiction can be anything, as long as it’s accurate. This session will demonstrate how to pair reference management software with the organizational features of Scrivener, creating a powerful, effective system for tracking facts. You’ll never lose a source—or type your own bibliography—again.
“What’s your book about?” is the second-most-common thing people ask a writer – just after “Where do you get your ideas?” But before we can tell other people, we have to be able to tell ourselves. Knowing what the book is really about lets us research efficiently, revise strategically, and avoid time-consuming tangents… producing a final draft that’s concise, cohesive, and effective. In this presentation, I share the coolest animal facts that aren’t in The Boreal Forest, and explain exactly why I cut them. Then, we’ll walk through each draft of the book’s opening scene, exploring the step-by-step-decision-making process of rewriting. Throughout the program, two-minute challenges will give students a chance to apply these techniques to their own manuscripts. Note: This program can be adapted for elementary, for junior and senior high, and for adult audiences.
Nonfiction for children, that under-appreciated workhorse of the literary world, is currently undergoing a Renaissance. Print resources, especially in STEM fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, are more innovative – and useful – than ever. Did you know, for example, that breaking news in science frequently appears first in children’s books? Canadian authors are at the leading edge of the trend, producing ground-breaking, award-winning books that turn fact-finding into an adventure, and stimulate critical thinking skills with first-rate scholarship. In this session, we will shine white-hot laser beams on contemporary trends, explore how to evaluate science-related children’s books and determine how to highlight them in your collection. You’ll also receive a hot-off-the-press annotated list of science-related books by Canadian authors, keyed to curricular topics.
Why do we forget some stories, while others stay with us for years? Be they nonfiction, fiction, or poetry, stories with staying power are the ones that make us feel. This workshop explores the connections between language and emotions, teaching writers how to manipulate their reader’s response. Students will harness the emotional resonance of vivid words and figures of speech, bringing their descriptions to life. In the full-day version of this program, students will apply what they’ve learned in creating a new piece of writing. Readers will laugh, cry, and remember their words forever.
As a science writer, I take notes on about 10% of the research material I read for a given project. About 10% of the information in those notes appears in the final book. This session will explore the hidden 90%, beginning with an introduction to primary and secondary sources. Next, we’ll discuss strategies for vetting our research into emotionally-loaded environmental issues—like climate change—in the age of Google and the era of “fake news.” The second half of this program will give participants a chance to ask questions about any aspect of creative or academic writing, sharing strategies and receiving expert advice for approaching challenges they’ve experienced in their own work.
Are you a knowledge junkie? The person your friends trust to explain things clearly, and make them fun? Nonfiction publishers dramatically outnumber fiction publishers, and they are hungry for unique, kid-friendly content – especially when the subject is science!
In this session, you’ll discover the wide – and wild! – world of writing about science for kids. Discover age groups in children’s writing, and learn to target your topics for any group. Explore the three major streams of science publishing, and find your perfect fit. Learn where to get the fresh ideas and information that editors are really looking for. Bring your notebook – and your questions!
Don’t know the difference between a cover letter and a query letter? Unsure when to send an outline and when to send a synopsis? Mystified by writer’s résumés? You’ve finished your masterpiece, now learn what happens next. We’ll discuss how to submit your work to publishers, what to look for in a contract, and how to deal with the agony of rejection. We’ll also explore the differences between traditional and self-publishing, and what you should know before deciding to go it alone.
On site visits: Lindsey lives in Ontario, Canada – travel expenses may be added to the cost of the visit.
Virtual visits: Available platforms include Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Facebook or YouTube Live. Contact Lindsey for details. Lindsey can accommodate schedules in a range of time zones.
On site visits: $350 + HST for up to 1 hour $600 + HST half day $900 + HST full day (4 hours) Travel and/or accommodation fees may also apply. Discounts may be available for multiple bookings in the same geographic area.
Virtual visits: $300 + HST for up to 1 hour. $200 + HST for each additional presentation on the same day, to a maximum of 4 hours.
Contact Lindsey to discuss dates and pricing. As a member of The Writers’ Union of Canada, she is eligible for funding support through the Ontario Writers in the Schools Program and the National Public Readings Programs.