WORKSHOP TOPICS
Bodies and Books - An Author
Talk
Bodies and books make a perfect
combination as shown when the author shares stories of her writing
adventures. Learn how I reacted to a tour of the morgue.
What does a crime lab really look like? Find out if I was nervous when the farmer took his gun out the glove
compartment of his truck. All this and the answers to your
questions about how I craft the Kyle Shannon series. Includes
readings from the novels, book sales and signing.
Million
Dollar Advance
Was Martha Stewart
worth that $2 million publishing advance she received for The
Martha Rules? Did her publisher make
any money? What famous writer received only $1,500 and went on to
make millions? Take the quiz to match celebrities with their
publishing contract advances and then get the answers in this
eye-opening and entertaining peek inside the publishing business.
Investigating “Turn of the Screw”
“Law & Order: Criminal
Investigation” meets Henry James in this exploration of the events
at Bly Manor. Considered a psychological thriller or horror story
with Freudian undertones, this novella is also filled with mystery.
Can you figure out who really did what to whom?
Crime Scene at the Library
CSI Miami is the most
popular television program in the world. People are fascinated
by forensic science. In this program, Erica Deadbody is the
subject of a death investigation. Evidence is collected and
delivered to the crime lab. What six basic questions are the
initial forensic examinations designed to answer? What
forensic tests on run on the evidence? Learn the answers as
Linda Mickey takes you inside the crime labs and the work they do in
the real world.
Introduction to Fiction
Writing - Parts 1 and II
Part I - Character, Point
of view, and Dialogue
Part II – Setting and Plot
These are the basic
elements of fiction. Learn what role each plays in the development
of a story and what components a writer should consider within each
element. Can fictional characters be based on real people? What is
point of view and why is it important? Is dialogue the same as
talking? How much descriptive narrative is too much? What is
plausibility?
These workshops
give beginning writers an opportunity to explore fiction writing
essentials with an eye to applying these fundamentals to their own
efforts.
The Business Side of Writing – Part
I – Starting Out
When is writing a business instead of a hobby? How does the
publishing industry work? What is a writer’s place in it? What
publishing options are available and what are the consequences of
those choices? What does the small print in those contracts really
mean? The answers to these questions are vital to every writer
considering publication and sale of their work.
The Business Side of Writing – Part II – Setting Up and Maintaining
the Business
Must writers incorporate?
Is an attorney necessary? Is an accountant needed? What taxes have
to be paid and when? What role does marketing play in the
business? What is an annual business review and why must a writer
do one? Part II examines forming a business and keeping it healthy.
Facing the Five Fears of
Writing
What
gets in our way when we try to write? What stops us from doing what
we want to do? A look at five problems all writers face and some tips for overcoming those obstacles.
Click to
listen to an excerpt.
Web Design
for Amateurs
A non-technical examination
of the key elements of Web site design including what makes an
attractive site and what to avoid. Understand the basics of why a
site works and get tips for creating a site that is so interesting,
visitors don’t click out. Intended for those who do it themselves
or who plan to hire a designer.
Click to
listen to an excerpt.
Interviewing
Techniques
Are you responsible for hiring new employees for your department or
your employer? The hiring process is an investigation and the
recruiter is a detective. This workshop reminds employers of
important clues to watch for when hiring. It also helps the job
seeker understand those clues and present them so the hiring manager
discovers them.
Communication in
Business – Getting Your Point Across
Do you get the answer you expect when you send out an email? Do
people return your telephone calls? Do you cringe when you need to
write a letter to a client or a vendor? Communication in business
is not the same as personal communication. A poorly phrased text
message or an untimely cell phone ring can be costly. Learn simple
rules that will help you avoid these common problems. Gain a
reputation as a good communicator…a good business person.
So You Want to Start a
Business
When is it time to talk to an accountant? Do you need an
attorney? What taxes have to be paid and when?
This workshop examines the business side of independent ventures.
It may not be fun but it's absolutely necessary for those who plan
to run their own businesses, whether selling books or consulting
services.
Watch
a video clip of Linda facilitating a panel:
Dial-up Version
Broadband version
