I have been lucky enough to lead a few different writing workshops over the last couple of years, and to be a participant on various panels. I aim to hold more workshops in the future, particularly exploring military writing, graphic novels, memoir, and essay writing. Here’s my history:
2022
Proud To Be: Writing By American Warriors, Volume 10 panelist — Southeast Missouri State University-sponsored Q+A virtual panel and readings from the latest anthology. I read an excerpt from my nonfiction (Honorable Mention) essay “UXO.” (22 January)
2019
YCAA Creative Writing Workshop (Exploring the Senses) — Yeovil Community Arts Association-sponsored Creative Writing Workshop held at Yeovil Library in Somerset, England for students aged 9-14, this session focused on including sensory detail into each writing piece. The students explored sight, touch, taste, sound, and smell, and as the sixth sense, emotion. This three-hour writing workshop for children held in Yeovil, England was offered twice over the Easter holiday.
2018
YCAA Creative Writing Workshop (The Graphic Novel) — Yeovil Community Arts Association-sponsored Creative Writing Workshop held at Yeovil Library in Somerset, England for students aged 9-14, this session focused on the building blocks of storytelling, how to write (and draw!) a three-panel mini-graphic novel, and the differences between narrative prose and the graphic novel. Three-hour writing workshop for children held in Yeovil, England.
Graduating Student Panel — This panel provided an open forum for graduating students to offer advice to fellow grad students for surviving the final semester and making the most of the two years pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing studies. 1.5-hour graduate-level panel held at Goddard College, USA.
2017
From Soup to Nuts, How to Create a Graphic Novel in Three Hours — This workshop provided the nuts and bolts of creating a graphic novel, from deciding which script format works best to how individual panels should be arranged to creating visually effective page layouts. Three-hour graduate-level workshop held at Goddard College, USA.
The Teaching Practicum and Beyond — Panel participant discussing do’s, don’ts, and lessons learned from a semester of teaching middle-schoolers how to create their own graphic novels. Thirty-minute graduate-level panel held at Goddard College, USA.
Can We Talk About It Yet? — The hardest part about trauma is facing it. The workshop provided a forum to process, write, and talk about trauma affecting fiction and nonfiction characters. 1.5-hour graduate-level workshop held at Goddard College, USA.
Exploring the Five Senses — Humans are visual creatures, but writers should remember to tap into all of the senses: taste, touch, sight, smell, sound, and emotion. One-hour workshop for students aged 11-13 held at Buckler’s Mead Academy, England.
Graphic Novels for Beginners — Why did the chicken cross the road? The answer to this simple question – drawn in a few panels – marks the beginning of your career as a graphic novelist. One-hour workshop for students aged 11-13 held at Buckler’s Mead Academy, England.
Why I Joined and What I Do — Panel participant for the 2017 United States Senate Youth Program discussing why I joined the military and what my specific role as a pilot entails. Q+A session followed. One-hour panel for high school juniors and seniors (aged 16-18) in Washington, D.C., USA.
2016
Wake Up With Nature — A workshop held outside of the classroom which allowed participants to walk in the woods before starting their day, listening to – and being inspired by – the natural world. One hour graduate-level workshop held at Goddard College, USA.
BAM! A Conversation About Graphic Novels, Sequential Art, Comics, and Cartoons — Ever wonder what this whole boom in graphic novels is all about? And how this form differs from comic strips, cartoons, and sequential art? This workshop dug into all those burning questions and more. 1.5-hour graduate-level workshop held at Goddard College, USA.
2015
My Life as a Female Aviator — Panel participant at H.J. MacDonald Middle School’s Career Day speaking to at-risk girls about my experiences as a female pilot in the Marine Corps. Q+A session followed. Thirty-minute panel for students aged 10-13 held in North Carolina, USA.
Photo copyright Jakub Mosur Photography, 2017.
Captain Leatherneck 