Workshops
donalee Moulton is a professional educator. She has taught communications and writing-related courses for all levels of government, the private sector, nonprofits, and universities. Below is a description of some of the workshops she can provide related to writing books. Visit her business website for a list of other workshops she can provide.
Crafting a Successful Synopsis
If you’re looking for an agent or a publisher, you’ll need a synopsis that sets out what your book is about, how it differs from others, and how it is similar to others. The synopsis also introduces publishers and agents to you, your writing style, your approach to the work, and to what readers can expect from your book.
In this workshop for new and emerging writers, we will explore:
what should go in a synopsis and why
how to break the rules with care (and flair)
Participants with a draft or in-progress synopsis will be encouraged to present it and receive helpful feedback.
Editing For Clarity, Conciseness, and More
Drafting is the first step on the road to great writing. Editing is essential.
In this workshop for new and emerging writers, we will explore:
two key types of editing: substantive editing and copy editing
common editing issues and how to address them
the role of an editor in the writing process
how to have an effective (and positive) relationship with your editor
how to recognize commonly missed editing errors
Participants will role up their sleeves and tackle editing exercises.
Grammar, Punctuation, and Proofreading
Grammatical errors, punctuation gaffs, and misspelled words are more than embarrassing. They can change the meaning of a sentence, and they say something about the quality of your work -- and the care put into the writing.
In this workshop for new and emerging writers, we will explore:
the most common grammatical mistakes and how to avoid them
the accurate use of punctuation and why readers care
tips for proofreading to avoid nasty typos, dangling modifiers, and abject embarrassment
Writing A Strong Query Letter
Agents and publishers require a query letter. But they want more than information -- they want to be drawn into your work and to have confidence in your ability.
In this workshop, we will explore:
the elements of a query letter
the tone and focus of the query
what not to include
the difference between a query and a synopsis