- Schools and Libraries
- Skype Visits
- Writing Workshops for Adults
- Conferences, Conventions, and Festivals
EXTRAS:
- Download a FREE Common Core aligned teacher’s guide for Hook’s Revenge and The Pirate Code.
- Download a FREE Giraffes Ruin Everything fingertip pet printable
Schools and Libraries
Please click here for a printable flyer—includes scheduling and pricing information.
AUTHOR PRESENTATIONS
Giraffes Ruin Author Visits In this presentation for younger students, I share behind the scenes details about my new picture book, Giraffes Ruin Everything. Includes information on research (and some amazing giraffe facts), using real life experiences to create stories, and brainstorming—together, we will come up with, and act out, other occasions that might be ruined by inviting a giraffe. We’ll round things out with a reading of Giraffes Ruin Everything and Q&A. Adaptable for classroom or assembly groups. Duration: 30 – 45 minutes, Grades K – 2
Ahoy There! Meet Heidi Schulz In this fun and interactive presentation, and with the help of my pirate bo’sun (a student I enlist to dress as a pirate and assist me), I present information on drafting and revision, the behind the scenes work that goes into making a book, and how to succeed as a writer, followed by Q&A. Adaptable for classroom or assembly groups. Duration: 45 – 60 minutes, Best suited for grades 3 – 8
Five Steps to Lucky In this general assembly presentation I will outline five steps each person can take to put them in the right place to be “so lucky” when it comes to realizing their dreams. This humorous and motivational talk is best suited for high school and college students. Duration: 45 – 60 minutes, Grades 9 – 12+
WRITING WORKSHOPS, 45 – 60 minutes each
It’s Alive! Building Characters That Leap Off the Page In this engaging and collaborative workshop, participants will play Dr. Frankenstein as they learn what parts go into building a great character. They will work through a series of exercises designed to help them create their own. Grades 3 – 12
Through the Wardrobe: Writing Settings that Transport Your Reader Students will learn techniques to make their settings come alive, including: using sensory details, looking beyond the obvious, and observing with your characters’ eyes. Attendees will also explore developing character through the lens of setting. This session is interactive. Attendees should come prepared to write. Grades 3 – 12
You Write Funny: Humor Writing Tricks of the Trade Students will learn the important role humor can play—even in serious books, and explore different humor styles and writing techniques guaranteed to bring the laughs. Grades 5 – 12
Raise Your [Authorial] Voice! Authorial voice can be a tricky concept. At the end of this session, participants will be able to answer: What is “voice”? How does it vary from person to person and/or work to work? How can writers develop their own? Grades 5 – 12
Classroom Visits For full-day school visits, one of the workshops above can be swapped for two 30-minute informal visits with individual classrooms, where the students can spend the time asking me more in-depth questions, or learning how to effectively and positively critique each other’s writing. Grades 5 – 12
Now scheduling for the 2021 – 2022 school year. Email Heidi Schulz to reserve a time.
VIRTUAL AUTHOR PRESENTATIONS
All of my in-person presentations listed here may be adapted as virtual visits. These are full-length presentations that include visuals.
Availability: flexible – Email Heidi Schulz to request a time. Time: 45-60 minutes Cost: $400
Skype Visits
For Schools, Libraries, and Book Clubs:
If you are interested in booking a virtual session, please read through this section, then email to request a time.
15-minute Virtual Q and A Sessions
I am happy to provide a free 15-minute Q&A via Skype to your class or group. These visits are intended for groups who have read one or more of my books and, with instructor guidance, have prepared questions ahead of time.
Cost: FREE (one per school, per year – additional sessions may be scheduled as paid visits)
Virtual Author Visits – Full Presentation Plus Q&A
These longer sessions are similar to my in-person author visits and writing workshops. They’re 40-45 minute sessions that begin with a 25-minute presentation on the writing process, using a book of your choice as a focus title and discussing writer’s notebooks, brainstorming, outlining and planning, research, drafting, revision, and the publishing process. We wrap up with 15-20 minutes of Q&A with students. These sessions are available via Skype or other video conferencing services.
Or, if you prefer, any of the workshops listed above may be adapted as virtual visits. These are full-length presentations that include visuals.
Time: 45-60 minutes
Cost: $400
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Writing Workshops for Adults
I love presenting to writers. Please see a sampling of some of the workshops I have done below. If there is another topic you are interested in having me address, I am happy to develop something for you. Please contact me to discuss.
Percy Jackson or Katniss Everdeen: Key Differences Between Middle Grade and Young Adult It is often difficult for writers to determine whether their manuscript should be categorized as middle grade or young adult. Join author Heidi Schulz to learn about and discuss key differences between the two, including how such things as voice, language, romance, and serious issues/content might be handled.
Clearing the Air: Writing Middle Grade Humor that Goes Beyond Fart Jokes In this writing craft session with middle grade and picture book author Heidi Schulz, come prepared to learn humor writing techniques, the important role humor can play—even in serious books, and why too much of the low hanging fruit might make you sick.
Through the Wardrobe: Writing Settings that Transport Your Reader In this workshop, author Heidi Schulz will teach techniques to make your settings come alive, including: using sensory details, looking beyond the obvious, and observing with your characters’ eyes. Attendees will also explore developing character through the lens of setting. This session is interactive. Please come prepared to write.
From Sale to Launch: A Debut Author’s Survival Guide Join author Heidi Schulz for a humorous and informative discussion about everything from announcing your deal to your book’s first sighting on the bookstore shelf. Learn what to expect between sale and launch and how to navigate your way from edits to author appearances, good and bad reviews, and what to do if—no, when—you misspell a name while signing a book.
Finding, and Keeping, Your Hook Explore what captures writers’ attention, and keeps their hands on the keyboard, what things threaten to impede creativity, and how to avoid them.
All of my in-person presentations listed here may be adapted as virtual visits. These are full-length presentations that include visuals.
Availability: flexible – contact me to request date/time.
Time: 45-60 minutes
Cost for virtual visit: $400
Conferences, Conventions, and Book Festivals
I love to attend conferences and festivals. I am comfortable sitting on or moderating panel discussions on a variety of topics, including, but not limited to, writing for children, reimagining classic stories, writing humor, inspiring reluctant readers, and various aspects of writing craft. I am also available for solo or group presentations to adults or children, public speaking, book signings, and more. Please contact me to discuss.