Sarah L. Thomson: Creating Worlds to Explore

Presentations - Middle & High School

All presentations allow time for Q&A

DOWNLOAD a school visit information sheet.

Dragons and More: A Fiction Workshop
Grades 4-5, Fiction

After reading from my middle grade fantasy, Dragon’s Egg, I talk about myth and folklore and how they can be used to inspire stories. The students and I pick a mythical creature (perhaps a unicorn or a mermaid) and discuss what we already know about it and how an author might change existing legends to come up with a idea that’s fresh and original. The students try a writing exercise about an imaginary animal of their choice. (45 minutes)

Imagine: A Poetry Workshop
Grade 6, Poetry

After reading my poetry collection Imagine a Night, I discuss the writing process with an emphasis on editing and revision. The students write their own poems and try revising them. Great for poetry units and creative writing classes. (45 minutes)

Secrets Revealed:  A Fiction Workshop
Grades 7-12, Historical Fiction
I read a selection from my novel The Secret of the Rose (set in Elizabethan London) and discuss how history can provide inspiration for fiction and how secrets can provide momentum for a plot. The students try a writing exercise using the idea of something hidden. Great for creative writing classes and units on Shakespeare. (45 minutes-1 hour)

Fees
In Portland, Maine: $150 per presentation
Outside of Portland, Maine: $600 per day (four presentations a day), plus travel expenses

Contact information: slthomson@earthlink.net