Marilyn Helmer, Author and Storyteller

Presentations
on
Writing for Children and Adults

Please read on for a brief outline of the presentations I offer for both children and adults.

Presentations for Children (school groups)

For Children, Parents and Teachers

For Adults

If you would like to have me visit your school, writers' group or organization, see the Fees and Bookings section at the bottom of this page.

Presentations for Children (School Groups)

Let's Read!

This 30 minute program is designed for Nursery, Home School and Kindergarten groups. With a brief introduction between each, I read a picture book, a magazine story and a poem and I tell a story. The presentation introduces the children to a variety of literary experiences and reading material. I bring along some visuals which capture their attention too.

Ideas - Where Do Writers Find Them?

This interesting and informative presentation will appeal to Grades 1 - 6 students. I talk to the children about where to get ideas for writing, giving examples from my published books, stories, poems and articles. I read and storytell these, using visuals such as puppets and other attention-grabbing props for the younger children. The 1-hour presentation includes a 10 minute question and answer period at the end.

For Grades 1 - 3 students, I focus on my picture books, ending the presentation with a fairy tale and some riddles.

For Grades 4, 5 and 6, I include my two published novels and end by discussing how you go about getting your writing published.

For Children, Parents and Teachers

Storytime - Sharing Time

This is a presentation which children and adults can enjoy together. Using reading and storytelling techniques, I demonstrate how parents, teachers and children can make storytime a happy and fun-filled sharing time with books, fairy tales, poems, songs, jokes, riddles and storytelling.

For Adults

Writing for Children - the Rewards and the Realities

Geared to teachers, literacy and writing organizations, seniors and general interest groups, this tell-it-like-it-is presentation outlines the joys and pitfalls encountered on the road to becoming a successful children's writer. It is accompanied by practical hints from my own experience in making a career of writing for children.

The Writer Wears Many Hats - Exploring Different Genres

Why not don one or several writers' hats and try something new? This presentation encourages writers, both published and unpublished, to try their pens at poetry, articles, short stories, writing contests, retold folk and fairy tales, picture books, novels and fillers such as riddles, tongue twisters and anagrams. Although most of the examples given are from children's literature, the advice is the same for all writing, for ages 4 to 94.

Fees and Bookings

For information about fees and to book a visit please contact me at: marilyn@marilynhelmer.com

or
phone 519 843 2572.