Welcome to ACatOfNineTales.com
The online hangout of author and blogger, Jon Gibbs
The online hangout of author and blogger, Jon Gibbs
Jon Gibbs (jon@acatofninetales.com) is the current
'Author in Residence' at Lakehurst Elementary School,
Lakehurst, New Jersey, where he teaches his
Fun with Fiction program to Grades 3 - 8.
If you'd like information on how to book the Fun with Fiction
program for your school, please scroll down to the FAQ section
at the bottom of this page.
FUN WITH FICTION
Classroom talks for Grades 3 and up (Duration 40 mins each)
In this fun, interactive series of workshops designed for the classroom, Jon Gibbs walks students through the many stages of writing a story. The secondary goal of each module is to get students more interested in reading, and to encourage them to make up stories of their own.
Module 1 - Creating Colorful Characters
Why do some characters come alive on the page while others get forgotten?
Using examples from well-known books and movies, Jon runs through some of things which make story characters stand out from the crowd. Afterwards, students work with Jon to create one of their own.
Module 2 - Brilliant Beginnings
What makes a great story opening?
Students choose their favorites from a selection of different openings to the same stories. They discuss what influenced their decisions, then work with Jon to make the opening lines from some of their own stories even better.
Module 3 - Perfect Plotting
When is a story not a story?
After looking at some of the essential ingredients found in every story, Jon works with students to recognize them in some well-known books and movies.
Module 4 - Terrific Titles
Does the title matter?
Students review some story/book titles to see whether the title alone would make them want to read more, then work together to come up with some potential titles of their own.
Module 5 - Dynamic Dialogue
What should I make my characters say?
After a look at why 'realistic' dialogue isn't truly realistic at all, Jon works with students to create some fast-paced dialogue for a fictional character they've created.
Module 6 - Excellent Endings
How do you know the story's over?
Using examples from well-known books and movies, Jon explains the importance of proper story and chapter endings. Students share some of their personal favorites and discuss why they like them so much.
Modules 7 to 12 (for Grade 5 and up)
Module 7 - Fantastic First Drafts
What's the difference between a first draft and a finished story?
After walking students through some of the more common approaches to writing a story, Jon works with the class to map out some rough ideas.
Module 8 - Perilous Predicaments
What's a page turner and how do you write one?
Jon discusses the basic elements which make for a compelling story, then works with the class to identify those elements in well-known books and movies.
Module 9 - Tremendous Transformations
How should characters change as a result of the story?
After explaining how a character's transformation makes a huge impact on the reader, Jon works with students to examine how the heroes and heroines in some of their own stories might change.
Module 10 - Contentious Conflict
What is story conflict and why is it so important?
Using examples from well-known books and movies, Jon explains how conflict in a story is much more than characters arguing, then works with students to come up with some potential conflicts to use in their own stories.
Module 11 - Splendid Sidekicks
How do you use secondary characters?
Using examples from well-known books and movies, Jon explains the value of secondary characters in a story, then works with students to recognize how those characters are used in their own favorite books and movies.
Module 12 - Riveting Revisions
What do you do after typing 'THE END'?
Jon explains why, for writers, THE END is really just the beginning, then works with the class to create a plan of action they can use for their own work.
How much do you charge for school presentations?
My 2012 prices for classroom/assembly presentations are as follows:
First session of the day $50
Second session of the day $30
Third session of the day $20
I don’t normally do more than three classes on the same day, unless your school is more than about an hour’s drive from my home in Manalapan (Monmouth County, NJ).
Many authors charge schools several hundred dollars per visit. Why are your prices so low?
'Author in Residence' at Lakehurst Elementary School,
Lakehurst, New Jersey, where he teaches his
Fun with Fiction program to Grades 3 - 8.
If you'd like information on how to book the Fun with Fiction
program for your school, please scroll down to the FAQ section
at the bottom of this page.
FUN WITH FICTION
Classroom talks for Grades 3 and up (Duration 40 mins each)
In this fun, interactive series of workshops designed for the classroom, Jon Gibbs walks students through the many stages of writing a story. The secondary goal of each module is to get students more interested in reading, and to encourage them to make up stories of their own.
Module 1 - Creating Colorful Characters
Why do some characters come alive on the page while others get forgotten?
Using examples from well-known books and movies, Jon runs through some of things which make story characters stand out from the crowd. Afterwards, students work with Jon to create one of their own.
Module 2 - Brilliant Beginnings
What makes a great story opening?
Students choose their favorites from a selection of different openings to the same stories. They discuss what influenced their decisions, then work with Jon to make the opening lines from some of their own stories even better.
Module 3 - Perfect Plotting
When is a story not a story?
After looking at some of the essential ingredients found in every story, Jon works with students to recognize them in some well-known books and movies.
Module 4 - Terrific Titles
Does the title matter?
Students review some story/book titles to see whether the title alone would make them want to read more, then work together to come up with some potential titles of their own.
Module 5 - Dynamic Dialogue
What should I make my characters say?
After a look at why 'realistic' dialogue isn't truly realistic at all, Jon works with students to create some fast-paced dialogue for a fictional character they've created.
Module 6 - Excellent Endings
How do you know the story's over?
Using examples from well-known books and movies, Jon explains the importance of proper story and chapter endings. Students share some of their personal favorites and discuss why they like them so much.
Modules 7 to 12 (for Grade 5 and up)
Module 7 - Fantastic First Drafts
What's the difference between a first draft and a finished story?
After walking students through some of the more common approaches to writing a story, Jon works with the class to map out some rough ideas.
Module 8 - Perilous Predicaments
What's a page turner and how do you write one?
Jon discusses the basic elements which make for a compelling story, then works with the class to identify those elements in well-known books and movies.
Module 9 - Tremendous Transformations
How should characters change as a result of the story?
After explaining how a character's transformation makes a huge impact on the reader, Jon works with students to examine how the heroes and heroines in some of their own stories might change.
Module 10 - Contentious Conflict
What is story conflict and why is it so important?
Using examples from well-known books and movies, Jon explains how conflict in a story is much more than characters arguing, then works with students to come up with some potential conflicts to use in their own stories.
Module 11 - Splendid Sidekicks
How do you use secondary characters?
Using examples from well-known books and movies, Jon explains the value of secondary characters in a story, then works with students to recognize how those characters are used in their own favorite books and movies.
Module 12 - Riveting Revisions
What do you do after typing 'THE END'?
Jon explains why, for writers, THE END is really just the beginning, then works with the class to create a plan of action they can use for their own work.
FAQ'S ABOUT FUN WITH FICTION
How much do you charge for school presentations?
My 2012 prices for classroom/assembly presentations are as follows:
First session of the day $50
Second session of the day $30
Third session of the day $20
I don’t normally do more than three classes on the same day, unless your school is more than about an hour’s drive from my home in Manalapan (Monmouth County, NJ).
Many authors charge schools several hundred dollars per visit. Why are your prices so low?
I write middle-grade fiction. It's in my interest to build a long-term relationship with schools. After all, that's where my target audience is.
Are you willing to help with fund-raising for the schools you work with?
Yes. Among other things, the schools keep 100% of the profit from any of my books sold through them.
How do I book you for an event?
Just drop me a line (jon@acatofninetales.com) and I'll get back to you ASAP.