Programs and Presentations for Writers

Candice Ransom has written more than 100 books for children in every genre, from preschool books to young adult fiction, board books to biographies.  She has presented lectures and workshops and performed manuscript critiques at dozens of writers’ conferences.  She earned her MFA in writing for children at Vermont College (2004) and her MA in children’s literature at Hollins University (2007).  A former adjunct professor at Spalding University’s MFA writing program, Candice is currently on the faculty of Hollins University’s MA/MFA children’s literature program.

Candice can speak on any topic with regards to writing for children. Here is a sampling of her programs.

WORKSHOPS

“Chapter Books: Not Just Short Novels” – The author of 40 chapter books, Candice gives an overview of the requirements of transitional readers and how chapter books fulfill those needs.  Participants will learn fundamental differences between chapter books and middle grade novels, how to create a larger-than-life character, and how to stretch an idea into a chapter book series.  Handouts, bibliography, exercises.

“So You Want to Write a Picture Book” – Based on her university course and follow-up tutorial, Candice (author of a dozen picture books), walks beginning writers through the elements of a successful picture book.  Participants learn basic rhythm and rhyme techniques, the Big Idea, the four cornerstones of structure, and elements of language.
Exercises include analyzing texts and creating a storyboard and a dummy.

“Can This Marriage Be Saved? Keeping the Passion Alive Between You and Your Novel” – Writing a novel is like falling love, but the honeymoon is often over in the middle.  Participants will learn how to keep their novel’s interest from drifting away, how to stay tuned to their novel’s feelings by listening to what their characters are really saying, ho to spend quality time with their book, and how to renew their vows.  Handouts and fun exercises.

“Mid-grade Novels Rule!” – Candice, who has written nearly 40 mid-grade novels, feels fiction for eight- to twelve-year-olds forms the backbone of children’s literature.  Participants will learn to develop their idea into a workable “day planner.”  This workshop is based on Ransom’s own notebook formula and her university course.  Handouts, exercises.

“Think Inside the Box:  How Mixed-Media Art Can Jumpstart Your Fiction” –
Participants will learn to create assemblages—art projects—that incorporate elements of their work-in-progress.  Projects use simple, inexpensive materials and supplies such as craft cigar boxes and picture frames.  Expanding text into collages or a “book-in-a-box” is not dependent on being a “good artist.”  Candice has taught mixed-media art in a local scrapbook store, where she was also a designer, and her MA thesis, a memoir, was accompanied by 20 mixed-media assemblages. PowerPoint.  Handouts.

“‘Dear Author, When Is Your Next Book Coming Out?’ or How to Create Irresistible Series – As the author of several successful series, (Time Spies, Boxcar Children) Candice teaches participants how to develop an idea into a pitch page, a synopsis, and a proposal.  Attendees also learn how to set up the series in the first book.
Handouts, exercises.

“Beyond the Facts:  Writing Nonfiction for Children” – Candice, who has written 15 nonfiction books, broke into the field with nonfiction articles in children’s magazines.  Whether writing books or articles, nonfiction is always needed.  Participants will learn how to find ideas, how to use the Internet as a springboard for research, where to find primary resources, and how to organize facts.  Handouts, exercises.

“The Not-So-Easy Reader: How to Crack the Emergent Reader Code” – Easy readers, a vital step in the journey of the beginning reader, are more difficult to write than they appear.  Candice, author of 8 easy readers, analyzes the texts of successful easy readers.  Participants will learn to create character-driven stories and use distilled, crystalline language.  Handouts, exercise.

INSPIRATIONAL TALKS

“Bad Economy, Canceled Books, Fired Editors, Serious Illness:  A Year in the Life of a Successful Writer Whose Career Went Kaput” – Suppose your career suddenly ended?  In her 30 years as a children’s books writer, Candice experienced ups and downs but nothing like the tidal wave that hit her in 2008.  With no work for the first time in 30 years, she wrote a book for herself.  The novel guided her through dark days and gave her the strength to reinvent herself. 

“The Merlin Perplex: Living My Life Backwards” – The story of why Candice began an MFA in writing for children when she had 80 books published, and why she followed it with an MA in children’s literature.  In this humorous talk, participants considering or in an MFA program will learn what Candice did with her degrees (a children’s lit diet book to shed graduate school pounds) and the joys (dorm life) and difficulties (sharing bathrooms) of going back to school after the age of 50.

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