I’m writing a first draft and reminding myself that I’m simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.
~ Shannon Hale
As a reader, writer, editor, educator, and librarian I bring over two decades of book knowledge to my workshops. I studied theatre, journalism, and creative writing. I have over twenty publications from essays in writer’s guides, to anthologies, to novellas, to full-length books. As an Indie Author Coach and Advisor, I not only share my writing and editing expertise, but guide authors through the process of deciding what publishing model works best for them: Traditional, Indie, or Hybrid.
Below, you will find a list of workshops I have in my repertoire for both adult and teen audiences. The length of time listed is the briefest I can be for that specific presentation. Most will be slide presentations, some are hands-on-workshops, but many can be both depending on the time allotted and the number of participants registered. If there’s a specific topic you’d like me to speak on that is not listed below, I am open to working with you on a specialized workshop/seminar.
Please message me using my contact page (see the tab at the top) or directly email me if you already have my information. I look forward to working with you either in person, or online.
10 COMMON MANUSCRIPT MISTAKES [2hrs+]
Elements to consider when revising your first draft. Discover what content and stylistic editors look for during a first pass of your manuscript and how to tackle these things yourself, first.
CHARACTER SOUNDTRACK [2hrs+]
Exploring character through the use of lyrics. Using lyrics from a song that best fits/describes your character, we will work on bringing depth and background to any character in your work.
DETAILING YOUR MS (Manuscript, Not Mustang) [2hrs+]
Discover a variety of ways of adding more of the “right” details to your manuscript to avoid info dump while still having a rich story.
DEVELOPING DYNAMIC VILLAINS [2hrs+]
How to create three-dimensional antagonists. As writers we can’t forget that the villain is the hero of their own story. Weave in believability with desires, motivation, flaws, and moral code.
DIVERSIFYING CHARACTERS [2hrs+]
Having a wide representation of characters is important for a global community. Learn how to be inclusive without leaning on stereotypes or speaking with someone else’s voice.
FOLLOWING RABBIT HOLES & CHASING PLOT BUNNIES [2hrs+]
A hands-on workshop where we look at hiccups and roadblocks in your current work-in-progress to see how taking time to follow the idea-rabbit down a variety of holes can work to your advantage.
GENRE BENDING & BLENDING [2hrs+]
A deep-dive into the most popular genres, their similarities and differences, and how to use multiple genres to bring fresh flavour to your writing while still being marketable.
The INSIDE TRACK ON EDITING [3hrs]
Explore 20 myths about editing and editors. Look at the different types of editors and why a proofread is only one step in a long process of revisiting & revising your work.
INTEGRATING SUBPLOTS WITH CHARACTER ARCS [2hrs+]
Subplots can be more than just a fun/interesting things for your characters. Learn how to integrate your minor diversions into your major story arc through deeper character development.
IT’S IN THE DETAILS [45min+.]
A streamlined hands-on micro version of DETAILING YOUR MS, where I go through the workshop-only portion with participants to help hone their writing awareness of the 6 senses. You read that right… 6 senses 😉
PREPPING FOR NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) [2hrs+]
Whether you’ve tried to write 50K words in a month before or this is your first time, I take you step-by-step through how to prepare your mind, body, ideas, and supporters for this monumental task.
QUERYING ABOUT QUERY LETTERS [2hrs+]
Benefit from my own experience crafting query letters, agents I’ve spoken with who have critiqued queries live, and my own perspective as an acquisition editor. Learn the structure and analyze real queries before tackling/revising your own.
SELF-PUBLISHING BY: YOURSELF [9hrs+]
In this thorough, in-depth, hands-on workshop that takes place over three or four sessions, I walk writers through the steps for how to Indie publish a short story or reader magnet. Bring an edited MS and experience DIY first hand.
SLAYING THE SYNOPSIS [2hrs+]
When you query agents or publishers, quite often you’re asked for a “one pager” or a 1-3 page synopsis of your entire book. Discover how to slice your story into manageable parts as we work to refine and condense your masterpiece.
YOUR FIRST 2 PAGES [3hrs+]
Readers and agents alike can learn a lot about you and your story from just the first two pages. I touch on story craft, sentence craft, and editing craft to help you hone in on what’s working well, and what might need a little TLC.
Contact me to discuss options that will work best for you. From in person to online to seminars, workshops, readings, Q&As, and more.
Fees/honorarium TBD.
Author MJ Moores 