invite deb!

Learn from the masters! We’ll explore and play with formats, voice, characters, plots, and themes of picture books. When every word counts, what do you cut? When should you rhyme? How do you revise? Bring your questions and your favorite picture books for this inspiring, quick-paced time to play!

This has been a long-time library favorite!

Writing for children is not  for hares. It takes time! Pull on your running shorts and stretch yourself. Shorten your learning curve and get in the race with this inside information. These tips on writing, revising, and submitting children’s manuscripts will boost tortoises out of the slush and back on track toward the finish line.

“Where do you get your ideas?” Finding answers to this near-cliché question asked of authors is more important than you might imagine. Let's fill your Mason jar with ideas and inspiration from memories, emotions, imagination, and a few more surprise tips! Get ready to catch, collect, and select your best ideas before they flit away!

Experiencing highs and lows as creators is universal. But dealing with it alone, we don’t always see that the stories we most need to revise may be the ones we tell ourselves. We judge others from the outside and ourselves from the inside. Deep dive into the effects of habits, patterns, and inner dialogs to clarify your directions, align your actions, and reclaim your creativity for greater joy, meaning, and success.

This may be my most popular workshop yet 

for webinars and writing conferences.

Writers are magicians. We pull rabbits out of hats, heroes from certain death, and stories out of thin air. Amaze yourself as new manuscripts appear or works-in-progress transform before your very eyes. Learn “tricks” to add tension in your manuscripts and “tips” to reduce tension 

in your writing life. Magic wands included!

Successful school visits require skills that aren't always second nature to non-teachers. In addition to years of being a teacher and an author of kids' books, Deb has been on both sides of the school-visit process—hiring presenters and also being a presenter and writing-teacher-in-residence herself.  For successful author visits, you'll need to keep these TIMES in mind: Teach, Inspire, Manage, Evaluate, & Succeed! Deb is uniquely qualified to help you plan and prepare for school visits.

Individual school visit coaching

 is also available. Contact Deb!