Topics for Writers

 

 

Are you planning a multi-day writers’ conference or a one-day seminar?

 

Mona Hodgson is available to serve as a keynote speaker, instructor for a continuing course, and/or workshop leader. Since Mona began writing for publication 24 years ago, she has participated in more than 75 writers’ conferences and seminars as a student, a faculty member, or as the director.

 

Mentoring other writers in a conference environment is one of Mona’s favorite things to do

(when she’s not writing). Whether she is leading a comprehensive class, teaching a workshop, giving a keynote address, or critiquing manuscripts, she draws from her experiences as a novelist, children’s author, magazine writer, poet, and newspaper columnist to offer practical instruction, inspiration, humor, and encouragement.

 

“I cannot thank you enough for everything! Your classes, encouraging words, time and guidance is exactly what I needed.” Wendy

 

“I so enjoyed your Children’s Track classes at the Florida Christian Writers’ Conference. Your information and presentation was excellent. It really cemented in my mind that children’s writing will be a huge part of my ministry.” Melinda

 

“I am so grateful to have been in your Writing for Children Track at the Mount Hermon Conference. You have the unique gift of letting your personality come through as you instruct.” Tricia

 

“Thank you so much for teaching the Beginner's Basics class at the Write-to-Publish Conference.  The information you presented was organized and so practical. It was so encouraging when you shared how God has worked in your life.” Julie

 

“Thank you for being the closest thing to a mentor to me this week. I credit you with opening my eyes to the larger picture of writing articles (as well as books).” Laura

 

“Thank you so much for your class. I really needed that boost to do some rewrite on my first children’s book.” Evelyn

 

 

Publishing  Credits Include:

 

Ř      Two Brides Too Many, the first historical novel in The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series with WaterBrook Press/Random House.

Ř      Two Rich For A Bride, Book two in The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series with WaterBrook Press/Random House.

Ř      Twenty-eight children’s books, including: Real Girls of the Bible: A Devotional (Zonderkidz),   Bedtime in the Southwest (Rising Moon Books, 2004), and six Zonderkidz I Can Read books.

Ř      Several hundred articles, poems, and short fiction for adults and children in more than 50 periodicals, including such publications as: Decision, Focus on the Family, Clubhouse Jr, Highlights, Pockets, The Upper Room, and The Quiet Hour.

Ř      Contributions to 11 books for adults, including: A Hand to Hold by Lauraine Snelling (Revell, 2004), Silver and Gold: Stories of Special Friendships (NavPress, 2003), The Story Jar (Multnomah Publishers, 2001), the chapter on writing poetry for The Complete Guide to Christian Writing and Speaking Second Edition (ACW Press, 2001), a poem in God’s Vitamin “C” for the Hurting Spirit (Starburst Publishers, 1997), and God’s Vitamin “C” for the Spirit (Starburst, 1996).

Ř      For two years, Mona wrote a weekly newspaper column, Letters from Home, printed in her local newspaper in Arizona, The Verde Independent, and three other newspapers.

Ř      Her poetry credits include dozens of poems published in such publications as Decision, Campus Life, Highlights for Children, Clubhouse Jr, Inklings, Living With Teenagers, Standard, Pockets, Mature Living, Purpose, The Cross & Quill, and The Christian Communicator.

 

 

Faculty Credits Include:

 

Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference in California        

Florida Christian Writers Conference

Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference

YWAM (Youth with a Mission) School of Writing in Texas

Wrangling with Writing Conference in Arizona

Montrose Christian Writers Conference in Pennsylvania

Write! Canada Conference in Ontario, Canada

Write to Publish Conference at Wheaton College in Illinois

Glorieta Christian Writers Conference in New Mexico

American Christian Writers Conferences in several states

Food for the Hungry Public Relations Conferences in Arizona

Texas Christian Writers Conference in Texas

Inspirational Writers Alive! in Texas

Sandy Cove Christian Writers Conference in Maryland

Colorado Christian Writers Conference

Various other writers’ groups

 

 

Other Industry Involvements Include:

 

Ř      Professional memberships in the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA), Society of Southwestern Authors, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Pikes Peak Writers Group, Romance Writers of America (RWA), Christian Authors Network (CAN), and Arizona Reading Association.

Ř      Former poets’ columnist for The Christian Communicator and for the Cross & Quill.

Ř      Graduate of the CLASS (Christian Leaders, Authors, and Speakers Services) Seminar.

Ř      Founded and directed of the annual Glorieta Christian Writers Conference in New Mexico for five years, 1997-2001.

Ř      Founded and directed the Central Arizona Christian Writers Workshop, 1993-1995.

 

 

Industry Awards Include:

 

First Place in Historical Fiction, 2008 Genesis Contest, ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).

Donna Goodrich Writing Award, American Christian Writers Conference in Phoenix, 2006.

 First Place award, unpublished novel; Second Place award, unpublished poem; and Third Place award, screenplay from the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers’ Conference (2005).

              A Writer of the Year award from the American Christian Writers’ Association (1996), several awards for poetry and articles at the Biola Writer’s Institute (1991, 1992), and two Writer of the Year awards at the Arizona Christian Writers’ Seminar (1988, 1989).

 

 

 

Keynote for General  Session

 

Four P’s Wrapped in Two G’s or What Writing Requires

This talk or series offers a humorous, encouraging, and inspirational look at the writer’s life. Mona uses humor and honesty blended with plenty of practical tips as she examines the need for Passion, Professionalism, Patience, and Perseverance. This topic lends itself well to a single session or to a two, three, or four session series, 40-50 minutes each.

Note: This topic is adaptable for general market writers’ conferences as well as for conferences specifically designed for Christian writers.

 

Me , A Writer?

With humor, honesty, and practicality, Mona examines the Call, the Reason, the Response, and the Role of a writer. This topic lends itself well to a single session or to a two, three, or four session series, 40-60 minutes each.

Note: Me, A Writer? and What Writing Requires serve well together as a two-four talk set.

 

 

Comprehensive  Classes

These comprehensive sessions are designed for 4-8 hours of class time.

 

Build a Tree  House: Writing for Children
 

This interactive course offers an overview of writing books for children and writing for children’s magazines, including age group divisions, various fiction and nonfiction formats for magazines and books, tips on writing well for children, and comprehensive marketing information.

 

Get Started: Writing for Publication

These sessions will help the beginning writer learn to recognize, test, develop, and focus ideas; define good writing; foster their creativity; set up record keeping; decipher publishing business lingo; learn the value of and how-to’s of marketing; format manuscripts for submission; understand rights; write compelling query letters; compile a strong book proposal; and more.

 

 

Workshops

These sessions are designed for 45-minutes to 120-minutes each.

 

For Fiction Writers

 

Draw Readers into Your Story with Word Pictures*
     Discover how the use of figurative language and imagery can deepen your characterization and story world, add layers to the plot, and heighten tension. This workshop will include a look at the literary colors available to us in metaphor, simile, personification, and sense appeal.

 

Getting to the Middle of Your Novel*
     The idea and the want to is there . . . maybe even the first couple of chapters. Now what? This interactive workshop will provide you with the practical tips and hands-on examples you need to proceed with your story.

 

Write Articles to Promote Your Novel

     Learn how and where to mine your stories for the topics that could help you engage new readers through nonfiction articles.

 

Characters: You Must Know Them to Love Them (or Not)
          How well do you know the main character in your story? How about your secondary characters? Participants in this interactive class will learn about different types of characters as well as how to get to know their characters well enough to plot the story.           

Plot: Story Building Blocks for Fiction Writers
          A solid story contains a beginning, a middle, and an ending. How will you know if your story has all the necessary components? This popular workshop provides you with the building materials you need to lay the foundation for a strong story that will attract readers.

 

* Lends itself well to a two-hour session or two-part workshop.

 

 

For Children’s Writers

 

Writing Books For Young Children *
     Come to this workshop for an overview of how to write and sell board books and picture books.

 

Writing Books For Young Readers  *

     This class offers a comprehensive look at Early Readers and First Chapter Books: What they are, their audience, favorite types and topics, an overview of graded readers, book proposal components, and submission format.                                                  

 

Story Building Blocks for Children’s Writers *

     This popular class provides a hands-on exercise in creating characters and story problems that appeal to the intended audience.

 

* Lends itself well to a two-hour session or two-part workshop.

 

 

For Beginning Writers

Writing Word Pictures That Draw A Reader *
     Come learn the value of drawing on figurative language and imagery for your prose through symbolism, metaphor, simile, personification, alliteration, homonyms, onomatopoeia words, and using sense appeal.

Cinching Your Nonfiction *
     ”Show, don’t tell.” “Active versus passive.” Class participants will learn basic elements of self-editing—how to tighten and strengthen their writing with a hands-on polishing session that involves a sample of their own work.

Great Break-In Markets *
     Discover the markets and formats most open to new freelance writers and learn what and how to write for them. Learn what shorts and fillers are, why editors and writers like them, how to write them, and how and where to market them. Come to this workshop to discover who, what, when, where, why, and how of writing for the periodical markets.

* Lends itself well to a two-hour session or two-part workshop.

 

For Poets

Finding A Home For Your Poem

      Come to this workshop to find out what poetic forms and styles editors look for, how to format your poems for submission to an editor, and to receive other valuable tips for getting your poems into print.

Writing Word Pictures That Draw A Reader *
     Come explore the use of figurative language and imagery in your poetry and prose. This workshop will include a study on symbolism, metaphor, simile, personification, alliteration, homonyms, onomatopoeia words, and using sense appeal.

Writing Poetry In Good Form *
     Are you looking for word play? Participants in this class will discuss, discover, and try out various poetic forms, including free verse and haiku.

* Lends itself well to a two-hour session or two-part workshop.