Workshops

 I believe that we were all created by the Creator in His image, therefore there is a bit of His creativity in all of us. It sometimes takes a little nudge, a spark, or an idea–let me show you and your young writers where to find it!

G.R.O.W: Parents – It is so easy to forget ourselves. When we were young, we had dreams—grand ideas of what we wanted to be when we became adults. Those plans were planted in our hearts at a young age, and then . . . we grew up . . . we forgot. We put aside that seed to be mothers, wives, and homeschoolers, but the dream never really left us. Well, mommas, it’s time to say, “I’m ready to grow!” Whether it’s something you have wanted to do your whole life or something new that has recently dug into your every thought, join me for a moment of encouragement, strategy, and seed watering as we set out to grow our dreams into reality.

Homeschooling Through Adversity: Parents – Whether it’s illness, finances, or the significantly unexpected, adversity has a way of finding us. As homeschoolers what affects our daily life, also affects the education of our children. We have a tendency to react in one of two ways: shut down or shut it out. But what if there was a way to homeschool through adversity, to use the moment as a means to successfully continue the education of our children? Join me as I share my story and the wisdom I gained while homeschooling through adversity.

Marvelous Middles: Parents – I have been told that it takes a special person to work with middle school aged students. Well, I’m happy to be that special person. I truly have a heart for those marvelous middle schoolers. If you have a hesitant writer in your house or a zealous author to be, join me for the tips and tricks that have worked during my years as a public school teacher, in my own home as a homeschool mom, and in a co-op setting to engage and encourage middle writers to create with the written word.

Marvelous Middles: Parents and Students Grades 4 to 8 – Whether your student has dreams of being a published author, cringes when asked to create a piece of fiction, or draws a blank every time they sit down to write, join me for the tips and tricks that have worked during my years as a public school teacher, in my own home as a homeschool mom, and in a co-op setting to engage and encourage middle writers to create with the written word. Student participants will leave with helpful hints for plot and character building as well as the ability to have their ideas included in a published short story.

From Inspiration to Publication: Grades 4 to 8 – Encouraging both the hesitant and engaged writer to reach their full potential in creative writing. This is a workshop for students (grades 4 to 8). Whether you have dreams of being a published author, cringe when asked to create a piece of fiction, or draw a blank every time you sit down to write, From Inspiration to Publication is an interactive demonstration and discussion that will provide participants with helpful hints for plot and character building. The workshop will end with a question/answer session about the publishing process.

Twisted History: Grades 4 to 8 – There is a place where fact meets fiction. Learn how to effectively weave historical elements into a piece of fiction by looking at some of the bizarre locations and people in our culture. (Area 51, Harry Houdini, Winchester Mystery Mansion, Ignatius L. Donnelly, the Coral Castle etc.) We will discuss local urban legends, folktales, and contemporary fiction to find the truth behind the fiction. By the end, each student will have the beginnings to write a piece of twisted history.

 Creator of Worlds: Grades K to 8 – As writers, we have the ability to create worlds outside of our own, but how do we make them believable? Students will combine reality with imagination to create a world unlike any other. They will discuss the importance of time, mood, location, and geography. This includes a discussion on genre and the ability to create unique writing by crossing the boundaries of setting and genre. (Ex: a science fiction story that takes place in the old west). *This workshop can be broken down by grade level and presented in a manner that is age appropriate: K-2, 3-5, 6-8

Character Creator: Grades K to 8 – It is not always easy to create believable characters in unbelievable worlds. We will dig into all aspects of characterization from their physical appearance to their motivation in order to create a character worth writing about. We will also discuss the importance of secondary characters, characterization etiquette, and language.*This workshop can be broken down by grade level and presented in a manner that is age appropriate: K-2, 3-5, 6-8

From Flat Line to Plot Line: Grades 4 to 8 – Bring your writing to life! Students will learn how to combine the elements of character and setting to create the basis for their story. Students will also learn how to use imagery and detail to enhance the believability and uniqueness of their story.

Rest My Warfare: In 2008, we went from owning vacation homes to frequently visiting the food pantry at our church. In 2012, my father was instantly killed in a bicycling accident. In 2014, my daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor. In 2015, I declared rest to be my warfare. I would love to share with you my heart and how a few simple conversations with our Father brought me through it all.

Want to know more? Contact Lauren here!