School Visits/Events
School Visits
As a creative writing teacher for The Writers Circle, I am known for comprehensive yet entertaining workshops:
- “Tara Lazar is very knowledgeable.”
- “Excellent! Full of information and extremely motivating.”
- “She even answered questions I did not know I had!”
- “Great insights and such a wealth of info.”
And now I am available for school visits!
HOORAY! (I am so excited. I hope you are, too.)
I can tailor a program to meet your specific classroom needs, or you can choose from these workshops/presentations:
- A Storm in Your Brain: Brainstorming and idea-generating exercises to expand your students’ imaginations and help them create exciting stories.
- From Lightbulb to Nightlight: How a picture book is made, from first idea to finished book.
- Don’t Lollygag, Lollapalooza!: Explore fun, tongue-twisting words and expand vocabulary through word games like “Monster Mash-Up” and “Onomatopoeia Olympics”.
My programs typically run 40-50 minutes including a question & answer period. Or, I can accommodate your time slot(s).
Recommended grade range is Kindergarten through 4th grade. Preferred location is the NJ-NY metro area, but I may be able to travel further. Sponsor’s expenses include presentation fee, transportation, lodging (if necessary) and meals. (I recommend hosting a small “author lunch”. I’ll dine with lucky students who win a contest you create.)
Beginning in the 2013-2014 school year, I will be able to offer readings and signings of my debut picture book, THE MONSTORE. Schools can order copies direct from my publisher at a discount and I’ll sign and personalize each one.
Please inquire at tarawrites (at) yahoo (dot) com for a program brochure, fees, availability, and to discuss your specific needs.
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Events
I’ll be at the following conferences/events in 2013:
NJ-SCBWI Annual Conference
June 7-9, 2013
Princeton, NJ
(Presenter)
The Bookworm Book Signing
October, 2013
Bernardsville, NJ
Date/time TBA
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Skype Visits
Yes, I can do Skype Visits! I will be offering free visits as well as in-depth fee-based programs. Stay tuned for more info or inquire at tarawrites (at) yahoo (dot) com.
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Book Reviews
I occasionally review picture books and middle-grade novels on my blog. If you’d like to send a book for review, please contact me first at tarawrites (at) yahoo (dot com). Please note that I only review books I truly enjoy (and those I have time for). So I cannot guarantee a review, but I never post a negative review.
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Manuscript Critiques
Occasionally I’ll offer free critiques on this blog, so be sure to subscribe via email so you don’t miss out!
While I don’t offer fee-based critiques at this time, I will donate critiques to auctions and charitable causes. In the past I’ve donated to the Kidlit Cares auction for Sandy relief, the Bridget Zinn Auctions, the Kidlit4Japan event, and Jean Reidy’s “Light Up the Library” auction. Please contact me if you’d like me to donate a critique to your event.
Please do not send me your manuscript unsolicited. Due to time constraints and legal concerns, I cannot open it nor critique it.
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21 comments
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March 9, 2009 at 9:00 pm
CA
I look forward to visiting your blog for added inspiration.
April 8, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Taylor Beisler
Nice!
Keep writing; that’s definitely the key!! 
I just recently became a YA author and that was some hard work right there, but it was truly worth while. 
Hope your writing becomes a success!
God bless,
Taylor J. Beisler
www.taylorbeisler.com
www.eloquentbooks.com/ArintSaratir-WarriorsLight.html
May 2, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Robin Tyndall
Thanks Taylor! I love your site! (Mine is dull.) I am an aspiring YA and kidlit writer but I love flash fiction (just entered the WOW contest). Your site reaffirms I’m not alone in the journey.
May 13, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Donald Saxman
I found your site when we bid on the same critique on the Bridget Zinn auction. What kind of high tech marketing did you do?
I’ve published about 80 non-fiction technology market reports over the years and my day job is a proposal writer and business analyst. But what I REALLY want to do is publish science fiction. I’ve published a few SF role playing games over the years but (as I bet you already know) none of this is the same if you love fiction writing.
Anyway, I’d be happy to exchange any information on non-fiction writing, especially technology analysis, and can assist in getting this kind of thing published through a non-fiction writer’s co-op (see www.stix-market-research.com).
I’m pretty good at this, but am pretty bad at marketing my YA-ish science fiction novels and could use all the help I can get in this area (see www.thesestrangeworlds.com).
Maybe there’s somebody out there who is a marvel at YA marketing who badly wants to get into tech analysis (seems unlikely, but I can dream).
June 2, 2009 at 10:47 am
Vicki
Hi Tara
Congrats on all of this! I didn’t realise you wrote. Hope to bump in to you sometime and catch up on the kids.
Vicki
July 6, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Taylor
Hi there! I just now saw your comment! I’m so sorry…life is really busy.
And, thank you about my site! Yours is not dull at all; it’s clean-cut and nice to look at…believe me: a lot of people get all caught up in a bunch of fancy stuff and it looks crazy. This is nice! That’s so great that you are an aspiring YA author; you’re right: you are definitely not alone out there! Keep writing! I hope to see your name on a book shelf some day!
God bless,
Taylor J. Beisler
July 29, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Nina Aksell
Hi. I just found your blog and want to thank you for this great resource. I’ll be popping by regularly.