Success tastes best when it’s shared.
For your conference, Hester Bass will create a presentation customized for your attendees, or you may choose from the following titles.
"I Think I Can: A (Librarian's/Teacher's/Beginner's) Guide to Writing for Children"
Librarians and teachers know so much about kids and stories that with the right tools, many of them could write meaningful, entertaining, and publishable books for children. Plunder an author's toolbox for tips on idea development, enhance your knowledge of story structure, and learn how to find and fill the niches lacking in your collection. Teachers and librarians who dream of reading their own work at Storytime will be prepared to go home and start writing! (Can be tailored for librarians, teachers, or beginning children's writers.)
"Who was Walter Anderson?"
In this BookTalk, learn details of Walter Anderson's life not found in The Secret World of Walter Anderson and go behind-the-scenes to learn how an author, illustrator, and publisher work together to produce an award-winning book.
"Putting Your Passion on Paper"
Learn to engage a reader by putting more of your passion on the page. In this hands-on workshop, writing exercises help you dig deeper for details that will place your reader squarely in your writing. Ensnare the senses and keep your readers up at night!
"Whatever You Do, You Write"
No matter what one chooses to do in life, writing effectively is one of the keys to success. Students and professionals of all ages can benefit from the top ten things a writer needs to know to communicate ideas clearly and efficiently.
"Unlock the Secrets of Journaling"
Walter Anderson kept a journal as a constant companion, and that's how the public discovered much about this very private man - through his writing. Learn to use different methods of journaling to capture dialogue, fleeting thoughts for later plotting, or simply to reveal your true self.
“The Three Ps of Author Promotion: Professionalism, Persistence, and Paper”
Learn how to effectively promote yourself and your work before the sale and after publication. We’ll discuss business cards, brochures, web sites, media interviews, school visits, book festivals, and more. Acquire the tools you need to get your name in front of the decision makers who can lead you to more sales and appearances.
“Fly as a Writer: Join the WRENS”
Fly in the face of rejection! Use the WRENS system to motivate your writing even if your mailbox is full of form letters, or you have only a few minutes a day to devote to your craft. Success is the address of those who finish what they start, and have the courage to persevere.
Lights! Camera! School Visits!
A memorable school visit can have a profoundly positive impact on a child's love of reading, art, and books. Learn to use exercises from theater training to boost your confidence, add pizzazz to your appearances, and be entertaining as well as educational.
"Research: The R That Can Turn Contacts into Contracts"
You've just met an editor who you think might be interested in your work. Learn how to target your submission and meet their editorial needs through research. The resources are already at your fingertips.
"Query Letters: It Takes a Big Hook to Catch a Contract"
More and more publishers are closing their doors to unsolicited submission and accepting only query letters. When you're fishing for a contract, or trying to catch an agent's attention, learn to bait your query letter with a big hook!
"Honing Your Home Run Pitch"
You never know when opportunity will knock, so be ready to answer the call. Learn to craft a one-line, a one-paragraph, and a one-page pitch for every story you write to catch the attention of busy editors and agents.
"Inhabit Your Characters"
Learn from theatrical character study exercises how to "be" your characters. Once a writer inhabits a character's skin, decisions regarding dialogue and action become so much easier. Think like an actor and think like your character!
“Be a Spider: Use the Web to Your Advantage”
The internet can be a powerful ally for networking and research, if you know how to use it. Whether you’re writing manuscripts, finding markets for your work, crafting targeted queries, or preparing submissions, the web is a sea of information. This presentation is your surfboard.
Contact Hester Bass for more information regarding honoraria, travel expenses, and availability. She is based in Huntsville, Alabama.
Hester Bass is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Authors Guild, the Children's Literature Assembly (CLA) and the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents (ALAN) of the National Council of Teachers of English.
Contact Hester Bass by e-mail or at:
Hester Bass
P O Box 222
Owens Cross Roads AL 35763-0222
