Fun fact, I love to teach! If I wasn’t a writer, I’d probably be a teacher. As a result, I try to share what I know as frequently as I can. Below is a short list of the workshops, author visits, and one-to-one coaching opportunities that I offer. Don’t see what you are looking for? Feel free to reach out and ask!
Author Coaching and Consulting
Sometimes you just want to ask someone who’s been there! I can help you understand the publishing landscape, find the right readers for your book, navigate author events, and brainstorming creative ideas to help you hook readers. Or, if you are just looking for a little accountability, you can join my weekly write-ins. For more information on author services, check out this page:
Author Visits
Would you like me to stop by your book club? Feel free to reach out and we’ll see what we can do to have me attend either in person or on zoom.
Similarly, if you are a school or university who would like to arrange a workshop, let me know. I’d be happy to share past workshops I’ve offered, discuss the programming you’d like to offer your students, rates, and other details.
Writing Workshops
Supporting Cast Secrets: Building Unforgettable Side Characters
Every hero needs a sidekick, rival, or best friend who steals the scene! In this workshop for teen writers, you’ll learn how to create side characters who leap off the page with personality, purpose, and depth. We’ll explore how to craft compelling relationships that drive the plot and give your supporting cast their own goals and quirks—because the best stories aren’t just about the main character. Whether you’re writing the loyal best friend, the mysterious mentor, or the frenemy everyone loves to hate, you’ll discover techniques to make every character in your story unforgettable.
Don’t Forget Grandma!: How to Include Grandparents and Elders in Your Work
Many young people live in intergenerational households and communities, which makes including grandparents and elders in your work a great way to help readers connect with your stories. In this presentation, we’ll discuss how and why you should write flawed, funny, and fabulous grandparents. I’ll also share research on how grandparents and elders are most frequently portrayed, how the elders I’ve interviewed see themselves, and how they feel about their portrayal across media. Finally, we’ll dive into tips and tricks that you can use to include grandparents and elders in your work.
What people are saying about the workshop:
Refreshing, thought-provoking, enjoyable, and encouraging. What a wonderful presentation!
Thank you for reminding us to make our elder characters more three-dimensional in our stories. Wonderful session! Thank you!!
Hooked on a Feeling: Tropes in Romance Novels
Romance has a reputation for being a tricky genre to write. But, once you know the building blocks of the genre and understand reader expectations, your story will fall into place and win readers’ hearts and minds. In this presentation, we will go over the basics of romance, including what makes a romance novel a romance novel, reader expectations and romance sub-genres. Finally, we will explore one of the most important romance writing tools—tropes—and the many ways that you can use them in your story. The audience should leave the presentation with a basic understanding of the core components of romance novels, a concept of romance subgenres, what it takes to meet romance reader expectations, as well as how to use tropes (or subvert them!) in order to sweep readers off their feet.
From Awkward to Awesome: Networking for Writers
Let’s face it: networking can be awkward. However, it’s also the backbone of the book industry. The good news? Networking can be learned!
This course is designed to equip writers with the essential skills and strategies needed to build a robust professional network. We’ll debunk common networking myths and mistakes, learn how to set effective networking goals, and dive into the dos and don’ts of social media networking. Additionally, we’ll explore cold outreach and share tips to enhance your small talk skills for fostering meaningful connections.
By the end of this course, you’ll have strategies to navigate the literary world with confidence and purpose. Join us to transform your networking approach and open doors to new opportunities!
Addie Woolridge 