UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS…
January 20, 2024
Missouri Romance Writers of America Chapter
From the GET YOUR BOOK WRITTEN SERIES…
Writing with Consistency & Passion: Five Practical Ways to Start — And Keep Going Strong
Private Speaking Engagement, Free for Members Only; Contact Luis Rosas
Saturday, January 20, at 11 AM CT/noon ET
MOWRA — the US RWA Chapter that keeps coming back for more! I love meeting with you guys via our Private Group Zoom Sessions and look forward to our time together. If you’re reading this and you, too, have a private group — and you’d like me to come and speak/present to your group on any topic, new or established — simply reach out to me here. (Let’s make it happen.)
PAST PRESENTATIONS…
May 12, 2023
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association
Nebula Conference (panel moderator)
The 2023 Nebula Conference
(Visit the website here) (and here)
Author Branding for Introverts and Imposters
Date: Friday, May 12, 2023
Time: 7 PM ET/6 CST/5 MST/4 PST
Authors in traditional publishing, indie publishing, and self-publishing are all expected to do a tremendous amount of the lifting in their own promotion. This part of the job of being an author stirs lots of emotional issues for many authors. This session will explore how to identify your own brand as an author and harness the power of enthusiasm to bypass imposter syndrome and prioritize self-care while finding your audience. Erin M. Brown, MA/MFA moderates the panel.
Saturday, April 15, 2023
Missouri Romance Writers of America
St. Louis MORWA Online Presentation
(Visit their website here)
How to Be a Consistent, Productive Writer
(aka How to Feel the Passion & Get it Done!)
Date: Saturday, April 15, 2023
Time: 12 Noon ET/11 CST/10 MST/9 PST
Like most authors, balancing life with writing isn’t always easy — and sometimes, writing takes a back seat to whatever’s going on in our lives. How do you get back to writing after a long break or a dry spell? What’s the Magic Pill of Motivation? And how can you become a consistent, productive, on-fire writer with multiple books published?
Come and find out how to be a consistent writer with Erin, a 16-book author who published through raising many children and working part-time jobs, and who now writes four books a year while working a full-time writing day job. Learn “tricks” for how to get back to writing after a “dry spell”; how to get fresh ideas (and dust off some old ones); and how to build resiliency so you can stay in the writing groove and get not just one book written — but many!
For information, email Luis Rosas at lerosas.author@gmail.com
Get Inked 2022 (For Teen Writers)
Saturday, December 3, 2022
Michiana Writer’s Center Online Conference for Teen Writers
Do you know a teen in grades 7–12 who has an interest in writing? Or maybe a student who struggles with academic writing? If so, the Get Inked Teen Writing Conference is an amazing opportunity for them. Get Inked is an inclusive, safe space for teens to workshop their writing with like-minded peers and published authors.
Just $70 per student, Get Inked provides teen writers the experience of attending the type of event typically reserved for adults. From keynote speakers to hands-on breakout sessions, students will get to spend time with published authors and have a chance to improve their own writing skills.
For more information… Visit
https://sites.google.com/view/michianawriterscenter/teen-writing-conference/get-inked-2022?authuser=0
Apex-Writers.com
APEX International Fiction Writer’s Group
The Plot and Structure Master Guide (For Advanced Writers):
How One Simple Document Can Make Your Story’s Structure Stronger
1 HOUR VIRTUAL MASTER CLASS — MEMBERS-ONLY PRESENTATION
Monday, November 28, 5:30 PM ET
“Erin, tonight’s seminar was not only awesome, it answered so many questions for me. Thank you so much for sharing with us.” ~ Jan
“Thank you so much for the presentation. It was excellent, and I learned a lot… I needed your wise words.” ~ Sandra
“I loved this! So helpful. Thank you!!!” ~ JC
“Thank you — Your talk was especially helpful and timely. I have been stuck on my first novel for some months and am hopeful you have given me the key to find the missing sections and move on. I hope we have you on again.” ~ Kenton
“What a fantastic Zoom meeting!! Wow. I’m in the middle of exactly this! holy cow. I’m gobsmacked — here I go… back into my story!”
“That was a fantastic presentation you gave for the strategy meeting tonight. Absolutely one of the best I have heard… Thank you, Erin!” ~ Brenda
APEX International Fiction Writer’s Group
Apex-Writers.com
1 HOUR VIRTUAL MASTER CLASS (a members-only presentation)
Monday, September 26, 7:30 PM Eastern Time
Dialogue Tag Power Moves: How to Write Crisp, Meaningful Dialogue Tags that Help — Not Hurt — Your Story’s Pace, Emotional Connection, and Power
A National Presentation for the
Washington Romance Writers 2022
In The Company of Writers
Retreat and Conference (Virtual)
April 29-May 1, 2022
2 1/2 HOUR MASTER CLASS
Saturday, April 30, 12:30—3:00 Eastern Time
The Plot and Structure Master Guide: How One Simple Document Can Make Your Story’s Structure Stronger
OPEN SIGN UP @ https://washingtonromancewriters.com/retreat/
January 9, 2022…
Michigan Chapter hosted — Online — NATIONAL webinar presentation for SCBWI…
SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2022 @3:00 PM Eastern/2:00 central/1:00 Mountain/12:00 Noon pacific
to register, visit SCBWI.org michigan or contact isabel at ohagenib@gmail.com
Session Title: Creating Wonder: Sure-Fire Ways to Make Your Story Fascinating, Enticing, and Memorable
What draws readers to your story—and makes your book something that people simply can’t put down? Story experts come back to one element that tops them all: “wonder.” What is wonder—and why is it such an important ingredient to make your book a bestseller? Whether it’s within your characters, plot, scenes, description, or settings—according to best-selling Hollywood writers and story experts such as David Farland, wonder is one of the top elements that binds a successful story together and makes readers want to spend time with your characters and world. Come and find out what wonder is, how to make it work in your story, and how to keep readers talking about your book and wanting more. Your presenter, Erin M. Brown, has an MFA in Creative Writing, Genre Fiction; has coached numerous writers and edited story to representation and publication; has been a judge for writing contests for 20 years, including with the international Romance Writers of America (RWA) Vivians (formerly Ritas); has presented to writers at conferences since the 80s; has worked with a Hollywood A-lister on writers room creation for a television series; has 10 books published; and has created over 50 writing courses for all ages, including courses at three universities. We look forward to seeing you there!
October 5, 2021…
A presentation at the Washington Romance Writers’ Mini Workshop Online on Writing Dazzling Dialogue: How to Make your Dialogue Crisp, Credible, and Captivating.
INTERNATIONAL/ONLINE CONFERENCE
FOR READING TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND PARENTS —
The Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative’s 32nd Literacy for All Conference 2021, held virtually this year from October 16-23, 2021.
Session Title: 10 Blow-Your-Mind, Revolutionary [Teaching] Changes that Fire Up Joy, Deepen Engagement, & Multiply Reading Results
When it comes to teaching reading, are we missing something? Research says YES. But here’s the problem: Because eye-opening and revolutionary answers within medical, psychosocial, and educational fields have NOT been clearly shared, synthesized, and integrated (in both curriculum development and teacher education), powerful how-to truths for teaching reading have barely trickled into our classrooms. With recent profound global events, we’re now at a crossroads where we must integrate research truths cross-functionally—or we’ll lose a generation of learners. We know the impact that reading has on all of learning… and it’s time to take research-based action to open the floodgates of reading success.
Michigan Chapter Online Conference
April 23-25, 2021
Registration is Now Open! Register here
Session presenter, Saturday, april 24, @1 PM ET
Session Title: The Plot and Structure Master Guide: How One Simple Document Can Make Your Story’s Structure Strong
From MFA programs, to Pixar movies, to LA writer’s rooms — patterns of structure, plot, and character development show up time and again. Throughout the ages, master storytellers and researchers have shown us that story is more than a simple three-act structure. But does using a specific story structure help or hurt the way that we create story? Does story mapping, outlining, and meeting specific plot-point targets slow us down, creating cookie-cutter stories — or does story mapping speed up the creative process — and actually make us more creative? Finally, is there such a thing as a “great map” that can help us develop our stories more easily? Join this session for story structure wisdom and hands-on takeaways — including a Master Map distilling plot and structure guidelines from the likes of Joseph Campbell, Blake Snyder, Michael Hauge, Houston Howard, and more.
A friend of mine who attended the Spring Conference sent me an email before the recordings were taken down–“Be sure to watch Erin’s session,” she said, “–one of the best!” I told her I saw it live and that I agreed with her!Best,Isabel
Online Webinar
November 8, 2020, 3 PM (Eastern Time)
Key Speaker
Session Title: Writing Dazzling Dialogue: How to Make Your Dialogue Crisp, Credible, and Captivating
Our story’s dialogue can be a powerful tool that dynamically engages our reader — or a deadly weight to our story’s pace and power. What makes “good dialogue” and “bad dialogue”? How do we write great conversations on the page? And perhaps most importantly, what writing-dialogue mistakes must we absolutely avoid to make our dialogue smooth, easy, and believable? Come to this webinar and learn the Top 10 Dialogue Assassins (what to avoid), the Three Simple Tricks to Dynamic Dialogue Tags (“magical” must-do’s), and how to make our story’s conversations on the page real, captivating, and powerful — so our readers engage with our story, stay in our storyworld, and become loyal readers who share our stories with others. For information, contact Dave Stricklen at Stricklen@gmail.com.
Interested in bringing this webinar to your group?
Here’s what attendees said…“Just spectacular! You do so much for our region. I hope people realize that you know your webinars that you give us are so full of amazing information that we can apply right away. And that’s a real treat. So I just want to thank you!” — Jodi McKay, Co-Regional Advisor, SCBWI Michigan
“Really great information — really well done. You know, you can tell that you’re used to doing this. So thank you so much.” — Dave Stricklen, Grand Rapids Shop Talk Director, SCBWI Michigan
“I had no idea dialogue played such a strong role in the planning of a book. Thank you for this!” — Jackie L.
“Great things to implement — Thanks!” — Celeste T.
Online Webinar:
Drawing with Your Imagination & Words
With Mark Kistler’s Fine Arts Academy
October 22, 2020, 7:30 PM (Eastern Time)
Online, via Zoom!
Key Speaker
Join an hour of “hands-on fun” with Erin at the Emmy Award Winner Mark Kistler’s Online Art Academy! Learn the power of words, use your imagination, and learn how to use your senses and words for storytelling!
“This was awesome! Amazing! Fascinating! Lots of learning, new ideas, and fresh ideas… and fully engaging!” ~Mark Kistler, October 22, 2020
Grand Rapids Shop Talk
July 14, 2020, 7 PM
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Key Speaker
Session Title: The Plot and Structure Master Guide: How One Simple Document Can Make Your Story’s Structure Strong
From MFA programs, to Pixar movies, to LA writer’s rooms — patterns of structure, plot, and character development show up time and again. Throughout the ages, master storytellers and researchers have shown us that story is more than a simple three-act structure. But does using a specific story structure help or hurt the way that we create story? Does story mapping, outlining, and meeting specific plot-point targets slow us down, creating cookie-cutter stories — or does story mapping speed up the creative process — and actually make us more creative? Finally, is there such a thing as a “great map” that can help us develop our stories more easily? Join this session for story structure wisdom and hands-on takeaways — including a Master Map distilling plot and structure guidelines from the likes of Joseph Campbell, Blake Snyder, Michael Hauge, Houston Howard, and more. For information, contact Dave Stricklen at Stricklen@gmail.com.
Traverse City Shop Talk
April 19, 2020
Traverse City, Michigan
Key Speaker
Due to stay-safe, stay-in-place guidelines, this event was held online for SCBWI members…
Session Title: Make Your Book a Page-Turner: How to Ramp Up Conflict and Create Raving-Fan Readers
Imagine: Your eyes dart across the words—your breath quickens—your fingers hover, ready to turn the page—because the story’s hero is in deep trouble, and you want to know—what’s going to happen next? Readers seek the rush of “a book we can’t put down” and authors long to create pulse-thumping stories with raving-fan readers. But exactly how do we make it happen? The answer is in conflict—arguably the number one attribute at the heart of what makes a story great. Join this workshop and learn best-selling authors’ conflict-ramping secrets while we tap into tropes, tips, and techniques that can help you finally create that slam-dunk storyline you’ve always imagined. Whether crafting a picture book, creating a middle grade story, or composing a YA novel, you’ll walk away from his workshop with actionable ways to make your story a page-turner.For information, contact Heather Shumaker at heather@heathershumaker.com.
Interested in bringing this webinar to your group?
Here’s what attendees said…Thank you! Very valuable information! – Angie V.
Thanks, Erin! This was a great inspiration for me! I can’t wait to get writing. 🙂
– Rachel F.This has been fantastic! What incredible tools! Thank you so much! – Rhonda A.
Excellent! Thank you for all the info and resources. – Beth
Thank you very much. This was so helpful! – Andrea A.
Thanks again so motivating – learning so much! – Roxy P.
Thank you for doing this, it was very helpful! – Rebekah
This is wonderful! Taking lots and lots of notes! Thank you. so much. This has been amazing! – Suzy G.
It was great – thanks! – Arjun Y.
Thank you, Erin, for great info today! – Betsy
Excellent! Great eye opener!
Thank you. So much good info! – Mary Z.
It’s wonderful! This is wonderful! Taking lots and lots of notes! – Julia R.
This is amazing! Thank you so much, Erin! Whew! So much information and so valuable! – Elizabeth M.
I was only able to watch part of the live [online] webinar on April 19th [2020] and I have spent the last week going through the replay. I have so many notes!! I wanted to thank you for the presentation — you were so generous with your slides, notes and time! I’m primarily a picture book writer, but I got so much out of your presentation. Thank you again for sharing with our [regional chapter of] SCBWI! — Mary Kalorian-Zychowicz (Monroe, MI; May 2020)
PAST EVENTS…
CANCELLED March 11, 2020,
due to health precautions surrounding COVID-19
March 27-28, 2020
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Panel Speaker: March 27, Session Block 2A – 11:45 am-12:30 pm
Panel Moderator: March 28, Session Block 7B – 11:30-12:15 pm
Speaker, Friday Session Block 2A – Using Genre to See the World More Clearly
Authors have the unique ability to help readers imagine and truly see different realities — to grow our worldview, world consciousness, and care for people, places, and perceptions leading to positive change. This panel will discuss how we can, through story and craft, provide the mirrors, windows, and doors that let children see possibilities and hope for today — and for the future. With Leslie Helakoski (Are Your Stars Like My Stars?), Buffy Silverman (On a Snow-Melting Day: Seeking Signs of Spring), Supriya Kelkar (Ahimsa) and Erin M. Brown. Moderated by Jay Whistler.
Moderator, Session Block 7B – How to Pitch a Manuscript
How do you know when you’re ready to pitch your book, and how to you polish that pitch? What are agents and publishers looking for in manuscripts? Join authors Angeline Boulley (Firekeeper’s Daughter, forthcoming), Heather Schumaker (The Griffins of Castle Cary), agent reader Jay Whistler and publisher Dara Beevas of Wise Ink as they answer
these questions and more. Moderated by Erin M. Brown.
For information, contact KidLitCon@gmail.com.
Superstars Writing Conference
February 4-9, 2020
Colorado Springs, CO
Scholarship Winner
For information on the 2022 Superstars Writing event, contact marie@wordfire.com.
KAST a Spell One-Day Conference
October 20, 2019
Workshop Presenter
Session Title: Make Your Book a Page-Turner: How to Ramp Up Conflict and Create Raving-Fan Readers
Imagine: Your eyes dart across the words—your breath quickens—your fingers hover, ready to turn the page—because the story’s hero is in deep trouble, and you want to know—what’s going to happen next? Readers seek the rush of “a book we can’t put down” and authors long to create pulse-thumping stories with raving-fan readers. But exactly how do we make it happen? The answer is in conflict—arguably the number one attribute at the heart of what makes a story great. Join this workshop and learn best-selling authors’ conflict-ramping secrets while we tap into tropes, tips, and techniques that can help you finally create that slam-dunk storyline you’ve always imagined. Whether crafting a picture book, creating a middle grade story, or composing a YA novel, you’ll walk away from his workshop with actionable ways to make your story a page-turner. For information, contact Isabel O’Hagen at ohaginib@gmail.com.
Lansing Area Shop Talk
September 22, 2019, 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Lansing, Michigan
Key Speaker
Session Title: How to Introduce a Character—According to the
Pros: Examples from Famous Authors and Easy-to-Use Templates to Make Your
Character Intros Shine
It has been said that both plot and characters are what make a book
marvelous to read and enjoy—and some say characters are the *foundation* of
story. If that’s so, then it stands to reason that character introductions
are critical to our stories. Is there a special way to introduce
characters—to create enchantment at that *exact *moment when the character
walks onto the page? How can our character introductions immediately endear
our characters to the reader? Join us as Erin presents interesting (and
surprising) patterns and “formulas” for introducing characters on the
page—with examples from best-selling authors Judy Blume, Lois Lowry, Rick
Riordan, Roger Zelazny, and James S. A. Corey — with easy-to-remember
patterns to introduce characters in ways that captivate readers. For information, contact Ann Finkelstein at annf1234@gmail.com.
Michigan and Indiana Writer’s Retreat
October 5-7, 2018
Pokegon, Indiana
Workshop Presenter
Session Title: The Plot and Structure Master Guide: How One Simple Document Can Make Your Story’s Structure Strong
From MFA programs, to Pixar movies, to LA writer’s rooms — patterns of structure, plot, and character development show up time and again. Throughout the ages, master storytellers and researchers have shown us that story is more than a simple three-act structure. But does using a specific story structure help or hurt the way that we create story? Does story mapping, outlining, and meeting specific plot-point targets slow us down, creating cookie-cutter stories — or does story mapping speed up the creative process — and actually make us more creative? Finally, is there such a thing as a “great map” that can help us develop our stories more easily? Join this session for story structure wisdom and hands-on takeaways — including a Master Map distilling plot and structure guidelines from the likes of Joseph Campbell, Blake Snyder, Michael Hauge, Houston Howard, and more.
Focus, Create, Repeat -- With Author, Writer, & Speaker Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA 