Tag: Editing

Clendenan, Megan (Vancouver, BC)

An award-winning author of both non-fiction and fiction, Megan Clendenan lives in Vancouver, BC. She is a member of the Writers’ Union of Canada and presents in English to grades 3 through 9. Her books have STEM, environmental, social justice, innovation, inclusion, sustainability, friendship, and perseverance themes.

In-person rates: $250 for one one-hour session, $450 for two, $675 for three, $900 for a full day (four sessions). Travel fee if outside Metro Vancouver of $0.50/km. Virtual visit rates: $150 for a one-hour session, $125 for each additional session on the same day.

Megan loves writing non-fiction that explores the connections between history, society, and the environment. She is the author of three middle-grade nonfiction books: DESIGN LIKE NATURE:BIOMIMICRY FOR A HEALTHY PLANET, which earned a starred review from School Library Journal (2021, co-authored with Kim Ryall Woolcock), FRESH AIR, CLEAN WATER: OUR RIGHT TO A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT (2022), which won the 2023 Green Earth Book Award, and CITIES: HOW HUMANS LIVE TOGETHER (2023). She is also the author of a middle-grade novel, OFFBEAT (2018). When she’s not writing or reading, Megan is often running or biking on her local trails, or learning how to grow food in her backyard.

Presentations for Grades 3-9

Problem-Solve with Nature

Can we learn from nature to solve environmental problems and live in better harmony with our world? Yes, yes we can! In this presentation drawing from DESIGN LIKE NATURE, students have an opportunity to learn about the exciting new science field of biomimicry and how it can help us adapt in the face of climate change. Students will have the chance to use their creativity to sketch their own biomimicry invention.

Best for grades 3-6

What Makes a City a Good Place to Live?

Drawing from CITIES: HOW HUMANS LIVE TOGETHER, this presentation looks at the history of cities and how they can be more sustainable and inclusive places for all people to live. Students will discuss what makes an ideal city, and learn about issues like food security, population growth, transportation, renewable power sources, and safe water. Includes interactive and hands-on activities.

Best for grades 3-7

Exploring Positive Ways to Create Change

Drawing from FRESH AIR, CLEAN WATER: OUR RIGHT TO A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT this presentation introduces social and environmental justice and kid activists from around the world. The presentation is grounded in hope and includes interactive activities that give students a chance to learn about activism, human rights, government systems, laws, equality, and citizen science.

Best for grades 4-8

From Spark to Fire: Developing Story Ideas

How does a book get from the kernel of an idea to an entire story? In this workshop, Megan explores how sparks of ideas are fueled into stories and the creativity behind that process. She uses writing prompts that get students’ creativity revved up! She also talks about being an author and saves time for Q&A.

Best for grades 6-9

Write, Rewrite, Repeat!

After you’ve written your first draft, the fun of revising begins! This presentation focuses on techniques for revision, and that it can be a fun part of the creative process. Megan will use examples from her published books and show students her early drafts, the editing process, and then the final product. She also talks about being an author and saves time for Q&A.

Best for grades 6-9

For in-person visits, connecting her Mac laptop to a projector is helpful. For virtual visits, Megan can use Zoom or Google Meet, and she can adapt to other platforms. Screen sharing helps her show fun examples! Megan prefers to present in either the classroom or the library. 35-40 max group size preferred for one session.

Contact Megan to book a visit:

    Payne, Mary Jennifer (Toronto, ON)

    Mary Jennifer’s rate is $300 plus HST per session, plus travel from Toronto. For multiple visits within the same day (maximum of 4), each session is $250 plus HST. Virtual visits via Zoom are $200 plus HST. Each session is 60 minutes long. Author readings with a Q&A and/or writing workshops are available for booking.

    Jennifer Payne is an internationally published writer who’s widely known for her YA fiction, including her contributions to the award-winning Boldprint and Timelines series and her Daughters of Light trilogy. Her novels often centre around the themes of gentrification, poverty, climate change, prejudice, marginalization, resilience, etc. and feature strong, female protagonists. Mary Jennifer’s YA hi-lo novel, Enough, was praised by CM magazine as a book that, “In trying to address issues of poverty, race, and gender, the author creates a thought-provoking tale that would be useful for opening up reflection and/or discussion around inclusivity and social struggle.”

    Mary Jennifer Payne is an internationally published writer who’s widely known for her YA fiction, including her contributions to the award-winning Boldprint and Timelines series and her Daughters of Light trilogy. Her novels often centre around the themes of gentrification, poverty, climate change, prejudice, marginalization, resilience, etc. and feature strong, female protagonists. Mary Jennifer’s YA hi-lo novel, Enough, was praised by CM magazine as a book that, “In trying to address issues of poverty, race, and gender, the author creates a thought-provoking tale that would be useful for opening up reflection and/or discussion around inclusivity and social struggle.”

    Sample Writing Workshops (These can be tailored to relate more directly to my
    novel and the characters/themes therein):

    There Are Two Sides to Every Story…. You’ve heard the phrase, “There’s always two sides to a story,” right? In this workshop, I’ll unlock your imagination and allow you to give voice to those characters that didn’t get their fair shake at the spotlight in their original narrative. From Voldemort to Cinderella’s stepsisters to Anansi the Spider, the sky’s the limit in terms of who you can bring to life. Step into your character’s shoes and tell the story from his/her point of view. The workshop leads into discussions around marginalization and the inclusiveness (or lack thereof) within different narratives. This workshop will incorporate fun improvisation to get us warmed­ up. Suitable for ages 10 and up.

    Believe in Me! How to Create Realistic Characters in Your Stories. Your protagonist and antagonist, as well as your entire cast of characters, need to come alive on the page in an authentic way. Like everyone, each of your characters is a mix of complex emotions and characteristics. And they have a backstory that motivates them to behave in particular ways in different situations. This workshop will help participants really develop their characters. From deciding your protagonist’s favourite food to his/her greatest fear, you’ll end this session with a character that is “fleshed ­out” and real enough to step off the page. This workshop will incorporate drama exercises such as hot-­seating as the character being developed to help get the creative juices flowing. Suitable for ages 10 and up.

    Create, Collaborate, Celebrate! Many modern workplaces are collaborative. In this fun and fast-­paced workshop, participants will collaborate in groups of two to ­three to develop a story from a current news headline. Each story will be shared and celebrated at the end of the session. After briefly plotting some of the elements of your story, you and your partner will take turns writing sentences (or paragraphs, if you’re really daring!) to bring your narrative to life. During our sharing of work at the end of the workshop, there will be an opportunity to discuss what worked, what frustrated us, and what sparks of discovery were made along the way. Suitable for children aged 10 and up.

    Book editing and coaching for writers is available as well.

    Contact Mary Jennifer to book a visit…