Classroom Visits / Workshops / Library Visits

Pat will come prepared with games and writing exercises tailored to the age, writing level and interest, and to any specific requests by the teacher or the students.

Pat's favorite topics are:

1. CREATIVITY! What is it? Why does everybody talk about it? How do you get some? Or if you already have some, what the heck do you do with it?
2. SENSORY DETAIL! What is that, and what does it have to do with writing? Make it fun!
3. REVISION! Why are teachers always going on about revision? The fun ends once you've written the story, right? Wrong! The second layer of fun begins when we get a chance to Re-Vision the story. Go deeper – go broader – go for the laughs or the meaning – whatever is most important to you, revision is the time to grab it and seal it into your writing.
4. FAVORITE BOOKS! What are yours? What makes a book good? Some books are like eating potato chips and some are like a full-course meal. Some are pure dessert. Which do you like best? Why bother with a balanced diet?
5. FICTIVE DREAM! What does that mean? How do you find one? Or make one? Or if you already have one and are having trouble getting back to it, how can you slide in and out whenever you want?

These topics can be tailored to adults, teens, or children. Fees are variable; for more information, please contact the author at pschmatz5@yahoo.com.

Comments on Pat's classroom visits and workshops:

Pat captivated the students when she visited, beginning her visit by telling a story that showed the importance of sensory words in writing. After some follow-up writing in class I mailed a collection of their writings to Pat, and she took the time to comment personally to each of them about their strengths. This made a huge impact on the students, knowing that an award winning author saw what was good in their writing.
Robbi Weil, 5th/6th grade teacher at Talmud Torah

Pat conducts her workshops with a professional ease. Her passion for writing and love of the craft are contagious.
Sara Akin, SCBWI member

• Excellent presenter! Excellent ideas to get the creative juices re-flowing.
• Pat is a good speaker who really wants to help her audience.
• Awesome! I have a story because of her!
• She has a great stage presence.
• New way of looking at things for many of us – well organized and executed.
• Food for thought and self-challenges to get the creative juices flowing.
Evaluation comments from SCBWI members following Pat's 2009 Fall Conference Breakout Session on "Creating the Fictive Dream"

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