Photo by Camila Quintero Franco
Speaking & Events
I love speaking about writing, especially to young authors. If you would like to invite me to speak at your school or event, please get in touch.
I’ve given classes, workshops, and talks to children, teens, and adults about a variety of writing-related subjects, including:
How Your Writing Can Help You Survive School and School Can Help You Supercharge Your Writing
Have you ever found yourself bored out of your mind in a class you care nothing about, eyes glazed over, waiting anxiously to be set free?
Frustrated that you can dominate a Harry Potter trivia competition, but are unable to memorize what you need to know for next week’s science test?
Have you listened attentively to a teacher and taken extensive notes, only to find that by the next day you’ve forgotten everything? Do you struggle with awkward social situations because those pesky real life people don’t act anything like your favorite book characters?
In this class, you’ll learn how to use your love of writing to help you with every aspect of school, while also forcing the most boring of required courses to enhance and supercharge your writing skills.
Photo by Camila Quintero Franco
How to Stay Motivated as a Writer When You Hate Writing
If you are the kind of person who LOVES to sit down at the keyboard and churn out thousands of words a day and has to drag themselves reluctantly away from their writing at night...this class isn’t for you.
Does the fact that you want to be an author, but dislike writing, mean you’re doomed? NO!
If you were a REAL writer, wouldn’t you find writing to be effortless? NO!
If you have to force yourself to write a measly 100 words a day, shouldn’t you just quit now and save yourself the embarrassment? NO!
Learn tricks, hacks, and techniques to stay motivated, combat anxiety, and overcome excuses so that you can achieve your writing goals.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema
Genetics and Evolution for Creators
How can understanding the principles of genetics and evolution help your fantasy world feel more believable?
If the planet were to suddenly heat up, would all of our children evolve to have thicker skin? If we lived on a world of floating islands, would we all grow wings?
Learn more about genetics and evolution in just one hour than you remember from all those months of high-school biology.
Photo by Maxime Bouffard
The Fine Art of Handwavium
How can you make the made-up science in your science fiction sound more believable? How do you balance making the science in your book sound realistic without boring your audience to death with the details?
In this class you'll learn how much real science needs to be included in your science fiction to make it work, and where to go to figure out the parts you don’t understand.
Photo by Aditya Saxena
Writing and Mental Health
Writing can be a lonely, gut-wrenching process. The good news is, it’s one of the few times in your life where listening to the voices in your head can be beneficial.
Learn not only how the writing process itself can help your mental health, but also ways to stay motivated, avoid imposter syndrome and toxic perfectionism, and most importantly—surviving book critiques with your self-esteem still intact.
Photo by Yannic Läderach
Upon My Word: Regency Research Methods
What color did the Royal Navy wear when they fought the French? What’s the worst place to get lemonade in Regency London? What’s the difference between Regency and Victorian, and why does it matter?
Most importantly, where can you go for authentic sources when it seems like everyone is a Regency romance blogger with different opinions?
Learn the answers to these questions and more from Lee Falin, Jane Austen’s cousin (well…her eighth cousin, six times removed), and the host of the My Cousin Jane podcast.
Photo by gordie jackson