Author Workshop

One of the most common questions / comments I get about being a published author is “how do you BECOME an author” or “I want to be an author too!” There is literally no age cut off for these comments either (maybe worded differently- but you get what I mean).

So I created a classroom/group workshop where we go from an idea, build it to a book and finish with a professionally printed / published product! I explain how becoming an author and writing for an audience is a bit different to story writing and assist/give clear steps and programs to use to get that polished final product. I also talk about my experience and have activities about marketing, advertising and costs to create a complete experience in what it’s like to be a self published author (for relevant audiences).

Thanks to my experience and hyperfocused learning of becoming a published author, my workshops are fluid to my audiences needs. From 5 year olds to adults, I explain processes in relevant terms, include or omit details and tips to keep the experience engaging and exciting for the audience.

For child aged workshops / classroom experiences I work through a collaborative story building experience, followed by character studies and development. Younger kids who may struggle building a story, we focus on what they have been learning and build a reflection / quote style book to maximise experience. For older, more conceptualised authors, I give more guidance, allowing them to move autonomously through the steps and create their own independent prouduct.

After we talk about art and illustrating, I use my books as an example as well as other notable author illustrators. I talk about illustrating mediums, sourcing artists, art styles, and character continuity. I can show software programs and editing processes to get books ready for production. All the way through to a file that is given to a publisher for professional printing, for the younger audiences I follow through myself and create a professionally printed product for each attendee to take home to their family.

What happens in a workshop?

Why book these workshops with me?

With being a self published author (which I know can be seen as a taboo in the publishing industry), I have sold over 10 000 copies of my first book in it’s first year - which is seen as a miracle in self-published realms… I have proven that you do not need to be an influencer with high follower count, or need a large publishing house, to become a successful author.

With every pro, there is a con- and I can talk about the hardships of being an author, being the illustrator, and being self published. My workshops will help navigate your idea through these hurdles to becoming a conceptualised product and setting you up for ideally a similar experience I have had. I created these workshops to break down the gatekeeping I experienced continually in my own endeavours to publish a book, to make this experience more acceptable and normalised for aspiring writers.

And for the kids, imagine being a published author/illustrator in Primary School, it will make it not only will it make it feasible but easy as an adult to become an author through aspirating their dreams, goals, and creativity for their future.

  • It’s such an exciting experience for the students, I hope you get to share it with the world!

    The "How to Be an Author" workshop presented by Nell provided students with a unique learning experience.

    Students had opportunities to make inferences and connections to their own experiences while collaboratively authoring a class story.

    Nell’s passion and enthusiasm for her craft fostered student’s creativity and inspired the students passion for storytelling, empowering them to explore their creative potential.

    The students are excited to witness their stories and illustrations come to life in a published book.

    Having an authentic application for their writing has been incredibly motivating.

    Our workshop with Nell has left the students excited and eager to continue their writing journeys.

    K. Hawkes

  • I just wanted to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH for coming today. It was lovely the way you spoke to the parents, they have all said how amazing you are!

    G. Morgan

Acts of Empathy

An Out of this World Surprise

Want to book a workshop?

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