Susan Forest

Inspire your audience with the magic of story, by inviting Guest Author, Susan Forest, to your school or function.

Guest Author with Grade 3 students

School Visits

In addition to being an author and editor, Susan has 28 years’ experience as classroom teacher and will work with your staff to develop age-appropriate book talks or workshops on the topic of your choice. Some possibilities include:

• Book talks / lecture / discussion / Q&A
• Revision: how to add depth and detail, eliminate the irrelevant, and build action, setting and character in prose
• Using drama to deepen students’ experience of story, sensory detail, and structure, in preparation for writing
• Planning and storyboarding fiction
• Dialogue: interweaving action, description and thoughts to show setting and character while forwarding meaningful dialogue and furthering plot

From M. Veronese, teacher at Chaparral School in Calgary: “Thank you again for today and ALL of the sessions you planned and worked through with my class. The students are so motivated. You really have a talent inspiring young writers.”

From H Lytwyn, teacher at William Reid School in Calgary: “Having a published author was an inspiration for the students.”

From L Iverson, student of “A Novel Approach” the year-long novel-writing course at the Alexandra Writers Centre: You have an amazing talent to see things clearer than I ever do. I can not even put words to it, but I appreciate it so much, especially when it’s my work your talking about. It’s like you bring a new lens and focus to things I have not yet learned how to see. It was because of you that I re-wrote a turning point chapter. I had Arie removing her gloves because I knew it needed to happen, but until you pointed out that finally her character was being pressed to change, I sincerely did not see it that way. It changed how I proceeded – great!

Readings and Conventions

Invite Susan to read aloud from her published or upcoming works, or to join your convention as a speaker or panelist.

Adult Education

Susan is available to teach beginning to intermediate writers in either lecture or workshop-style classes. Topics can include:

• Basics of writing: structure of the short story or novel; character, setting, plot and theme
• Self-editing and revision for strong prose: language choice; point-of-view; voice; balancing action, description and internal monologue
• Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror: conventions and techniques
• Support for your writing: finding time; working with writers’ groups; working with editors
• Business of Writing: cover letters, organizing submissions, synopses, meeting agents and editors, pitching, contracts, taxes and self-promotion

Past Appearances

• Calgary Young Writers’ Conference: guest author (student category) annually since 1990
• Schools: Vista Heights Elementary School, Kingsland Elementary School, Montgomery Junior High School, Dr. E. P. Scarlett High School,Chaparral Elementary School, William Reid School (French Immersion–I can do presentations to young students in fairly fluent French) Calgary, Canada
• Writers’ Conventions: World Science Fiction Convention (Denver, Montreal, Reno, Chicago); World Fantasy Convention (Calgary, Columbus, San Diego, Toronto), When Words Collide (Calgary), ConVersion (Calgary), KeyCon (Winnipeg), SF Contario (Toronto)

Upcoming

• When Words Collide (August 9-11, 2013)

Fee Schedule (School Visits)

• Current: $150.00 per half day, plus travel expenses if outside of Calgary (travel, hotel, per diem)
• September, 2013: $200.00 per half day, plus travel expenses if outside of Calgary (travel, hotel, per diem)

PLEASE NOTE: Planning sessions with teachers are