The online hangout of author and blogger, Jon Gibbs
'Author in Residence' at Lakehurst Elementary School,
Lakehurst, New Jersey, where he teaches his
Fun with Fiction program to Grades 3 and up.
In addition to making regular appearances with NJAN
(New Jersey Authors' Network) at panel/Q&As in
libraries around the Garden State, Jon also gives solo
presentations on writing and blogging.
For booking details, please scroll down to the FAQ section at
the bottom of this page.
GENERAL WRITING TALKS
10 THINGS EVERY WRITER SHOULD KNOW (Duration 60 mins)
The world of publishing has changed. What with the e-Book revolution, the increasing popularity of self-publishing and the rise in the number of e-zines (web-based magazines), there are more roads to publication than ever before.
Whichever route you choose, there are things you should know and steps you can take which will make your journey easier, help you to improve your work, and (in the case of those looking for traditional publication) get that acceptance letter much faster.
Join New Jersey author, Jon Gibbs, for a fun, informative discussion on the ten things every writer should know.
Plus, there may be candy.
12 COMMON MISTAKES WRITERS MAKE (and how to avoid them)
(Duration 60 mins)
It's good to learn from your mistakes, but even better to learn from other people's.
In this fun, interactive presentation, New Jersey author, Jon Gibbs, shares some of the more common mistakes made by writers as they attempt to find their way through the modern minefield which is today's publishing industry.
Plus, there may be candy.
SCHOOL VISITS
"I ARE A WRITER!" School assembly talk (Duration 45 mins)
An informative (and hopefully entertaining) Powerpoint presentation for larger groups. This talk is geared towards school assemblies. Students learn a little about what goes into writing a novel, and get to see the publishing process from the writer's side of the book.
FUN WITH FICTION
(see Fun with Fiction Page for fill details)
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.
BLOGGING TALKS
HAVE BLOG, WANT READERS (Duration 60 mins)
In this fun, interactive presentation, author and blogger, Jon Gibbs, takes you through the who; why; what; where; when and how of blogging.
From the easy bit, starting one up, to the hardest part, getting people to actually read it, Jon will share some of the proven techniques he used to develop his own blog, An Englishman in New Jersey (http://www.jongibbs.livejournal.com), which is now read in over thirty countries.
Plus, there may be candy.
IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU - A Tactical Guide to Successful Blogging
(Duration 60 mins)
Why do some folks seem to have a knack for getting people to read their online journal when so many don’t?
In this two-hour workshop, author and blogger, Jon Gibbs, will show you how to achieve the ‘Writer’s Balance’ (ten parts self- promotion: one part self-publicity) on your online journal, and provide a 22-page, step-by-step guide to getting the best out of the most underused, or misused, tool at a writer’s disposal.
Attendees will leave the workshop with a better understanding of how to write eye-catching blog entries, develop a loyal readership, and successfully promote themselves and their work online by applying the same techniques Jon used to develop his own blog, An Englishman in New Jersey (http://jongibbs.livejournal.com), which is now read in over thirty countries.
FAQ'S ABOUT JON'S PRESENTATIONS AND WORKSHOPS
How do I book you for an event?
Just drop me a line (jon@acatofninetales.com) and I'll get back to you ASAP.
How much do you charge for non-school presentations and workshops?
Generally speaking, whatever you normally pay your speakers will do just fine, with the following exceptions:
If you’re inviting me on behalf of a library, my presentation is free, though I do ask to be allowed to sell my work afterwards.
If you’re inviting me on behalf of a writing group (or other organization) which doesn’t collect a membership fee and there’s no charge for attending the event, my presentation is free, though I do ask to be allowed to sell my work afterwards.
Do you currently have any talks or presentations lined up?
Yes. Click here for an up-to-date listing of where I'll be over the coming months.