yourself, you haven't
written."
~Eudora Welty
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At NCTE/ALAN in San Francisco (left to right): Jean Duprau (The City of Ember), Joyce, Gail Giles (Shattering Glass), Kevin Brooks (Kissing Rain) |
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Joyce has spoke at several conferences and served on numerous panels. Her presentations can be tailored to specific groups and organizations or to particular age groups and/or focus on special topics that are related to the author's books, such as making difficult decisions and living with the consequences of one's choices. She often speaks about topics related to the craft of writing.
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Joyce McDonald taught creative writing workshops at Drew University for several years and is currently on the faculty of the Brief-residency MFA in Writing Program at Spalding University. She is available to run writing workshops for both adults and children. Workshops are designed to teach aspiring writers the basic elements of fiction writing (characterization, plotting, pacing, etc.) while helping them to enhance their creative potential. |
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Through her power point presentation, Joyce shares a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a professional writer. She reveals the creative influences, the struggles, and the real-life events that inspired her stories. She also offers an informative talk on how books are made and suggestions on how students might develop their own creative writing skills. A question and answer period follows. One day school visits usually include three assembly presentations. Autographing sessions and individual classroom visits can be arranged as time allows. |
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Joyce is also available to run writing workshops in your classrooms. (The standard program can be adjusted to meet the needs of your students.) Fee: For schools within sixty miles of Joyce's home in Forks Township, PA, the fee for a one-day author visit is $1350. The same fee applies to conferences. For schools outside a sixty mile radius from Joyce's home, the fee for a one-day visit is $1500, plus lodging, and mileage or transportation expenses. The same fee applies to conferences. |
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Joyce McDonald earned bachelor's and master's degrees in English from the University of Iowa and a Ph.D. in English from Drew University. She has taught at East Stroudsburg University and Drew University, and for nine years she taught fiction writing in the Creative Writing Program at Drew. She currently teaches in the Brief-residency MFA in Writing Program at Spalding University. She is available for writer-in-residence programs in middle schools, high schools, and universities. Joyce also runs special in-training programs for teachers of creative writing. |
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MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS Programs can be adapted to involve the entire student body, or specifically to creative writing students who have an interest in pursuing writing careers. Class size is negotiable depending on the type of program. Residencies are for three, four, or five-day periods. Longer residencies will be considered. Three-day residencies Over a three-day period, Joyce McDonald will work with students to enhance their creative writing skills. On the first day, students learn methods for developing characters through a number of writing exercises. On the second days, the focus is on plot and action. Day three the discussion is on the revision process. Students are encouraged to share the work they have produced during the three-day session, on a volunteer basis, and receive suggestions and comments from Joyce. Four-day residencies The four-day residency is similar to the three-day program but explores the elements of fiction writing in more depth. In addition to character and plot development, students learn how to create mood and atmosphere through setting. A more in-depth discussion of the effective uses of dialogue is also part of the four-day program Five-day residencies This week-long intensive course in creative writing covers the previously mentioned fictional elements, plus discussions and writing exercises on point of view, theme, and the use of time. More emphasis will be placed on the revision process and critiquing. |
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After-School-Book-Club Discussions Joyce enjoys meeting with students in informal after-school or evening book club discussions. This special program offers a 45 minute power point presentation on the real-life stories that inspired her YA novels, a 20 minute question and answer session related to the presentation and the writing life, and a half hour open discussion on the book the students have read for their book club meeting. Fee: For schools within 60 miles of Joyce's home in Forks Township, PA, the fee is $800.
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