Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.
– Joseph Pulitzer

Sharon’s workshops, courses and presentations can help you get past writer’s block, dig beyond the surface of your writing, and make your words sparkle. She has been teaching writing workshops since fall 2010. Her fees are reasonable.

Workshops, Courses, and Presentations

Sharon’s Whole She-bang of Workshops, Courses,  and Presentations focus on… Memoir Writing, Fiction Writing and Free-fall Writing.  Presentations related to her books, also her workshops are held in libraries, community centres, bookstores, at writing group meetings, etc. Check out her roster of writing presentations and workshops, which include…

Presentations and Workshops Currently Offered in 2024

Presentations

In her presentation When Fact and Fiction Collide, author Sharon A. Crawford introduces the nun who jumped books. Using clips from her memoir The Enemies Within Us and her novel Beyond Faith, Sharon will discuss how this supposed faux pas happened, why she wasn’t worried about being sued, any ramifications that could happen, and better ways to get Ms. or Mr. Nasty from fact to fiction. Q & A and books available for sale.

First presented at the Writers and Editors Network (WEN) Breakfast Meeting October 21, 2023

The Plot Thickens -an Evening of Author Readings

Mini version at Toronto Sisters in Crime  with Sharon A. Crawford, plus  Alice Fitzpatrick, Lynne Murphy, and Carolyne Topdijan also presenting from their books  7 p.m Sept.19, 2024 on Zoom. More info at 

https://torontosistersincrime.ca/

Workshops Offered

Memoir as Creative Non-fiction

First presentation of this workshop was held at the S. Walter Stewart Library in Toronto on October 16, 2018. Very lively and engaged writing group and we all learned a lot about when a  memoir is creative non-fiction and when the story is creative non-fiction but not memoir.

Workshop since updated using some newer books and focuses on more participant involvement. Post pandemic workshops held in 2023.

Memoir is the personal side of creative non-fiction.

– – Lee Gutkind, author of You Can’t Make This Stuff Up and the godfather of the creative non-fiction movement

Can memoir be creative non-fiction? In this workshop, author and editor Sharon A. Crawford explores the many forms of Creative Non-fiction and Memoir and how they can intersect. Excerpts from published works will be used to start a discussion. Through writing exercises, participants will get the chance to begin their own creative non-fiction memoir and get a quick critique. For adults. Drop-in. Space is limited

New from  2023

Sharon’s What If? Writing Workshops

What If: Using the Six Senses to Launch Your Memoir  

In this What If Workshop, author Sharon A. Crawford uses the six senses – taste, smell, touch, sight, hearing, intuition, and their related emotions to help participants choose the memoir they really want to write, then develop it. Workshop combines studying published memoir excerpts (includes Sharon’s published memoir), discussion, exercises including writing the memoir beginning, handouts – workshop outline covering the ABC’s of writing the memoir, research, using real names or pseudonyms, etc.

Still Available

This one was taught October 13, 2022 at Kennedy/Eglinton Library branch of Toronto Public Library

What if? From Idea to Short Story

 

 

Where do story ideas originate and how do we craft them into a short story? Join Beyond series author and editor, Sharon A. Crawford in this interactive workshop. Using participants’ story ideas, Sharon will take them on a fiction journey from finding story ideas to developing a plot with compelling characters, to begin writing the story. Participants will also look at how Sharon’s short story “Porcelain Doll” (Beyond the Tripping Point, Blue Denim Press, 2012) developed by blending real life with imagination. Includes writing exercises and handouts.

Using Pictures to Create Your Memoir

This workshop is being revised. Stay tuned for details

 

WORKSHOP ATTRACTED 34 participants April 16, 2019

In this memoir-writing workshop, author and editor Sharon A. Crawford shows how old photos, news stories, ads, streetscapes, and pictures etched in your mind can help create your memoir. Includes how to do picture research and research kick-started by pictures. Through discussion and writing exercises with feedback, you will get a start on your memoir.

 

Workshops include:

Developing Compelling Characters and Dialogue in Fiction

Author and editor Sharon A. Crawford uses characters and excerpts from her short story collection, Beyond the Tripping Point and novels Beyond Blood and Beyond Faith to show how to create memorable characters from real life, imagination and osmosis. Using the “show not tell” principle, Sharon lets her characters show how their dialogue, actions and inner thoughts make them real and create a powerful story. Includes writing exercises. Private Investigator Dana Bowman, the main character in the Beyond mystery series, makes an appearance to help.

Crafting the Crime Fiction Novel

Do you dream of committing murder – legally between the book covers? Sharon A. Crawford, author of the Beyond mystery series, can show you how. In this four-session interactive course, Sharon follows the golden rule of fiction – “show not tell”. Learn how to create compelling characters and dialogue, scary settings, and plots filled with suspense and murder. Handouts provided. Be prepared to write and receive feedback.

Free-fall Write into Prose and Poetry

Freefall Writing is writing wherever your emotions take you without stopping to edit. Using a word, phrase, sentence, sound or object, author and editor Sharon A. Crawford will get you freefall writing. You will read your writing out loud and we will discuss where it came from, then turn it into the beginning of poetry or prose (fiction or nonfiction). Good for unlocking writer’s block. Notepad and pen or laptop required.

Crafting the Short Story

Learn the basic techniques to blend plot, character, point of view, dialogue, narrative, setting, style, voice and length to write a short story that sparkles.

Getting Your Memoir off the Ground – four sessions

Always wanted to write your family’s story or your story but need some motivation and guidance? Author, editor and writing instructor Sharon A. Crawford will get you writing your story. Using prompts such as the six senses to kick-start your memory, sharing your stories, looking at published memoirs, and doing fun exercises, these hands-on sessions will take you into the nitty-gritty of writing the memoir. You will learn how to organize your memoir’s content, do research and work it into your memoir, deal with family flak, and not only start writing your memoir, but write some chapters and receive feedback. Handouts provided. Bring photos and other memorabilia if you wish, pen and paper or the electronic equivalent. You will be writing.

More information on workshops or to have Sharon do a workshop for your group or organization email Sharon words@samcraw.com  Sharon also teaches one-on-one writing workshops and does customized writing tutoring sessions online. Again email words@samcraw.com  for more information and to book one of Sharon A. Crawford’s workshops.