Because of online meeting platforms like Zoom, Facebook, and Streamyard, distance is no longer a factor for author visits. A few years ago I conducted a virtual workshop and talk for a library in Seward, Alaska, while sitting behind my desk in Chicago! Here’s a one-minute video clip from the event. We were talking about my writing process, and I was asked whether I outline.
ANATOMY OF A CRIME NOVEL
They say that writing a publishable novel is 5% inspiration and 95% perspiration. In this hands-on day-long session I developed for both beginners and intermediate writers, you’ll “sweat it out” by exploring the elements of craft that make a crime fiction novel impossible to put down.
Whether you write cozies or hard-boiled, PI or amateur sleuth, you’ll learn how the effective use of plot, narrative, voice, setting, character, dialogue, and suspense can take your work to the next level.
The workshop focus is on the practical as opposed to the theoretical, so be prepared for plenty of exercises and discussion.
Included afterwards is a critique of 20 pages from your manuscript, provided it’s submitted less than 30 days after the workshop. Libby will edit the pages using “track changes” and will discuss her comments by phone.
What attendees have said:
“Excellent. Well-organized. Great exercises!”
“Good insights. Helpful hands-on. Right on target!”
CRIME WRITING: “BODY PARTS”
Libby’s workshops can be adapted to one-hour sessions that focus on one or two elements of crime writing (which is why we call them “Body Parts”).
Building Suspense is her most popular presentation. Building suspense is an essential element of fiction, no matter what genre one writes. In this interactive workshop Libby explains how to do it and illustrates tangible techniques you can apply to your writing right away.
Dialogue, Plot and Research is popular as well. All three elements are critical to a writer’s success, and Libby covers them thoroughly.
HISTORICAL PRESENTATIONS
Libby has developed one-hour Power Point talks based on her research for Havana Lost, A Bitter Veil, and Max’s War
- History of Cuba
- Culture of Iran
- The Ritchie Boys of WW2
SELF-PUBLISHING
Libby has created a workshop on self-publishing based on her blogpost “The Six Steps of Self Publishing.” The workshop includes how to do it, how much it really costs, and how to promote your book(s) and your brand once the book is on the market.
WRITING LITE TIPS
A series or 50 writing tips (see them here) have been adapted into a one-hour workshop for writers at any level. They focus on the craft of writing and, in some cases, the etiquette of being a writer.
More light-hearted than the other workshops, Writing Lite also includes a live presentation of videos originally written for NANOWRIMO. You can find those here.
BOOK CLUB & LIBRARY VISITS
Libby is happy to talk to Book Clubs and Library audiences who may have read her books. In the past she has spoken about these novels:
Easy Innocence
An Eye For Murder
Havana Lost
A Bitter Veil
War, Spies, And Bobby Sox
Nobody’s Child
Jump Cut
A Bend In The River
Doubleblind
Max’s War
If you work in a library, you might be interested in The Last Page, a novella Libby co-wrote with David J. Walker. It’s a cozy mystery, and, of course, the authors murder the library director. It’s available on her store in ebook and audio.
For all workshops, contact Libby here.