Simon Rose's Blog, page 212

Summer Camps in Calgary

[image error] Throughout the school year, I offer presentations, readings, Author in Residence programs and conduct workshops for children at schools and libraries all across Canada. During the summer months, I am available for presentations and workshops at summer camps, delivering interactive, lively and fun filled sessions for children in grades one to six in Calgary and the surrounding area. You can learn more about my summer camp programs here.

I cover many of the topics listed on the Presentations and Workshops page of my website, but am very flexible and am always happy to discuss your organization's specific needs and requirements.

In recent years, I have appeared at many community camps as a visiting author and presenter, in addition to my work with local organizations, which you learn more about here

For further details and availability, please contact me directly at sorcerersletterbox@gmail.com.

Study Guides and Classroom Resources

Each of my novels can provide teachers with a wide variety of ways to explore projects in the classroom with their students and study guides for The Alchemist's Portrait, The Sorcerer's Letterbox, The Clone Conspiracy, The Emerald Curse and The Heretic's Tomb can be found here on my website. The study guides are by no means exhaustive and teachers are always welcome to use the books as they see fit. The Fun Stuff and Puzzles page features word searches related to the text and character names in each novel, plus teachers can access the Super Scavenger Search where the answers to a series of mind boggling questions are hidden in different pages all over my website. Class sets of books are always available from me directly at discounted prices, depending on the number of books ordered.

Manuscript Evaluation and Editing Services

Have you written a novel, picture book or short story? Have you shown it to every one of your family and friends, who have all given their wholehearted endorsement? Are you now wondering if your work will appeal to a publisher, looking to take that next step but in need of professional advice? I offer a variety of services to writers, such as online workshops for adults, online workshops for children and young adults and manuscript evaluation. I will evaluate both full manuscripts or just a short synopsis of your story, along with the opening chapter. Having your work independently evaluated gives you an unbiased opinion, helping you to tighten your manuscript and fix problems you may have overlooked.
Having your entire manuscript reviewed by a professional can be pricey, especially if your novel comprises hundreds of pages, but my manuscript critique service is very affordable . For my basic service, I review the first chapter of a piece of work, double spaced, not to exceed ten pages, plus a synopsis of up to three pages. For picture books this may include the entire text, depending on the length of the story. The evaluation will include a written report of up to three pages, as well as suggestions and comments on the text itself, unless you object to that. I am also happy to answer any specific questions in relation to what publishers may or may not like to see in the story. Based on this, you may then decide to have the entire piece evaluated, to help you prepare for submissions to publishers. Examples of fees and more details on my editing services are available here on my website.

Funny Money - Unusual and Fascinating Currency @ Dark Roasted Blend

Check out my article,  Funny Money - Unusual and Fascinating Currency, at Dark Roasted Blend, a look at the wide variety of interesting, odd and occasionally bizarre paper money and coinage from around the globe. Dark Roasted Blend is among the finest locations online to find the weird, the wonderful and the fantastic, crammed with great articles, stunning photography, plus fabulous new content which appears daily.

Words4TheWebwise – Copywriting and Website Design and Development.

Working With a Designer
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As a designer, working with authors, I have noticed a few things that we can all agree on that will make things go smoother. I work with wide range of clients in a broad array of industries, and each one needs a slightly different approach. All people are different and to be honest all people need different approaches. But when it comes to working with a designer, here are a few tips:
Figure out who your readership is first Who is it that your books appeal to? Think of age groups, income levels, social backgrounds, anything that would characterize the people who you sell to (yes, you're in sales). The target market of any piece is the first thing to consider as it affects the nature of the piece, taglines, language, graphics and layout.
Make sure there is a contract in place There are a thousand ways any contract can go, and when you put two creatives in a room, things can explode! So to prevent the ideas from bouncing off the walls and making collateral damage out of everyone and everything, draft a contract and stick to it. This keeps expectations realistic.
Be briefAuthors like to write, and most like to talk too. Unfortunately, when it comes to business communication, an anecdotal epic on exactly how you came across your latest epiphany may not be all that helpful. Brief and to the point wins the race!
Think outside of youWebsites, print materials and other design related items you use for business are really created with the end user or visitor in mind. The layout, usability and language have to appeal to them. A little objectivity goes a long way to making sure the arrow hits the target.
It's all about youWhile the target audience (readership) is the one you're trying to reach, you really are branding YOU. Think of what other people say about you and communicate that to your designer to give them an idea of what your brand really is.
Time and moneyRemember that the things that look simple are often very complicated while the things that look intricate and technologically alien can sometimes be very simple. For example, changing the colour of all headings in your website can take a few seconds, but removing one word from a printed document may take an hour to fix the domino-like typographical problems that it can cause. Ask your designer to explain what is involved in each step, but understand that spending 30 minutes on the phone explaining why a job took 15 minutes instead of 15 seconds is counter productive!
I hope this helps your next interaction with a designer, or indeed another creative professional, run more smoothly.  

I can be reached by e mail (Contact at nburmandesign.com) and Twitter (@nburmandesign). NBurman Design can be found online at http://www.nburmandesign.com and you can also visit my blog LifeImitatingDesign.

Creative Writing Class @ West Hillhurst Community in NW Calgary April/May

Join me for an exciting series of creative writing classes at West Hillhurst Community Centre on Fridays from 1.30 to 3.30 pm on April 8, 15, 29 and May 6, 13 and 20.

Spectacular Story Starters

What if you received a letter telling you you'd been accepted into a school for wizards? Or discovered a door into another universe at the back of your bedroom closet? Or a flying boy dressed all in green appeared at your bedroom window, inviting you to take a journey to a magical land? Perhaps you followed a rabbit down a hole and ended up in a bizarre underground universe? If you could travel back in time, where would you go? What would you do if you had a clone for the day? 
Learn where ideas come from and how writers turn them into stories in these classes guaranteed to provide inspiration, spark imagination and stimulate invention.

For further details on Spectacular Story Starters call 403 283 0464 ext 105 or e mail info@westhillhurst.com or visit the website at www.westhillhurst.com to register for these wonderful creative writing classes.

Writing Badges for Brownies, Guides and Pathfinders in Calgary and area

I am pleased to be working locally in Calgary with Girl Guides of Canada, and am available for lively, interactive and fun-filled creative writing sessions to help your brownies, guides or pathfinders attain their writing badges.
Topics covered can include where writers get ideas from, the writing process, story structure, time travel stories, character development, editing and revision, dramatic beginnings and cliffhanger endings, the importance of research and more. However, I am very flexible, able to adapt programs to the requirements of the various levels of writing badges and always happy to discuss whatever you feel will be best suited to your unit.

I am able to work with a wide age range and sessions are suitable for brownies, guides and pathfinders. The fee for a session is $120, plus GST. For further details on how I can assist with your writing badge work, please contact me directly at sorcerersletterbox@gmail.com.

PlayActing Camp this July with the Calgary Arts Summer School Association

[image error] PlayActing Camp will take place this summer from July 25 to 29 with the Calgary Arts Summer School Association at St. Vladimir's Cultural Centre, 404 Meredith Road NE (Memorial Drive and Edmonton Trail) in Calgary.
This half day program (either morning or afternoon) is for all students aged 7 to 11 (mornings) and 12 to 16 (afternoons). In this camp, participants will create their very own unique characters and write dialogue for them in a series of highly original, lively and fun-filled skits.

PlayActing Camp combines inspiration, imagination and invention, with elements of both writing and dramatic performance. In a fun-filled week, crammed with creativity and excitement, participants conceive their very own unique and highly individual characters, then write effective and engaging dialogue for their creations. In addition, a series of short original skits in several different genres using a variety of props and other dramatic devices will be performed throughout the week, all with an unexpected twist as camp participants connect the lives and personalities of all their characters together. All participants will develop a sense of mutual cooperation and partnership as a result of their collaborative efforts throughout the week.

Participants of this camp may also wish to attend the CASSA PlayWriting Camp on July 18 - 22.
Further details and registration information for PlayActing Camp can be found here.

Book Signing - Sunday, March 20, Indigo Books @ Crossiron Mills, Calgary

Join me this Sunday at Indigo Books, Crossiron Mills from 11 am to 3.30 pm. I will be signing copies of The Doomsday Mask, The Heretic's Tomb, The Emerald Curse, The Clone Conspiracy, The Sorcerer's Letterbox and The Alchemist's Portrait. 


The Crossiron Mills shopping mall is located just north of Calgary at  Unit 346, 261055 Crossiron Blvd, Rocky View, T4A 0G3. Hope to see you there. 

Coaching Program for Writers

Writing is by nature a solitary occupation and can be a lonely business, without the benefit of hordes of cheering fans on the sidelines. A professional writing coach is someone with whom you can consult, ask questions, send your work to and receive constructive feedback, a guide to help you with your writing as you try to build your career as a professional writer. A writing coach can help you conquer a stumbling block, help you to regain momentum and get back to your writing or make a start on a new project. 
My coaching program is designed to help you progress as a writer. You decide what you want to work on during a personalized, one on one relationship. For example, I can be your coach for just one month or we can establish a month-to-month arrangement, depending on your schedule and expectations. Just a few examples of topics we can cover during the coaching period are point of view, creating characters, developing dialogue, story structure, editing and revision, marketing and promotion and submissions to publishers. However, I am very flexible and happy to discuss your own unique requirements and areas where you feel that you may need the most help. 
In addition to coaching, on my website you can learn more about my other services for writers, such as online workshops for adults, manuscript evaluation and online workshops for children and young adults.