I Would Love To Visit!
As a former English teacher, I love talking to students and teachers about books and words and writing. I am especially excited to share with you my journey to publication and to answer your questions about That's What Friends Do.
If you would like to have me visit your school, library or bookstore, please email me at cath.barnhart25@gmail, or reach out through my Say Hello page.
Below are some of the presentations and workshops I offer.
Presentations
How Did You Think of That?!
Where do stories come from? How do writers find inspiration and ideas? In this presentation, I will talk about my sources of inspiration for That's What Friends Do as well as where I find new ideas for writing.
From First Draft to Final: The Joy and Value of Revision
I will share with students the many types of revision involved in taking That’s What Friends Do from a first draft to a published work. I will talk about the value of peer editing and writer’s groups, how the narrators and story structure changed over the revision process, and the value of editorial feedback, sensitivity readers, line edits and copyedits.
Workshops
You Tell Your Story, I’ll Tell Mine: A Study of Perspective
Together, we will review types of point-of-view and identify the point-of-view used in That’s What Friends Do. Studying the stairwell scene, which is described by both David and Sammie, students will analyze how perspective affects each character’s experience of that scene. Students will then write the hallway scene from another character’s point of view. Extension activity: students will write their own dual narrator scene.
Revision: A Professional Writer's Process
After reviewing what revision means and the different goals of revising, I will share with students my revision toolbox. We will look at how I used my toolbox to revise a scene in That's What Friends Do. Using what they have learned, students will help me revise a scene from my current work-in-progress.
Characters Change
We will review the types of characterization as they are used in developing David’s character in That’s What Friends Do, and look at characterization in action in other middle grade works. Students will create their own fictional character using types of characterization and character desires and goals.
Book Club
I am available to join your book club to talk about That's What Friends Do.