Meet Charlee

Upcoming Events

 

Nothing scheduled at this time.

Workshops & Library Talks

I love to talk to writers and readers and can speak on a broad range of topics. This page lists some of the workshops and library talks I’ve given in the past.  If you’re interested in inviting me to speak to your group, please drop me a line through the contact page.

Library Talks

Is Self-Publishing Right for Me? Presented to Alachua County Librarians in 2016

Getting Started in Self-Publishing. Presented to patrons of Alachua County Libraries in 2016

Workshops

Tech for Writers Mini-Workshop
A quick introduction to online tools that are useful to writers, including cloud apps, Kindle tools, and spreadsheets.
Presented to First Coast Romance Writers in 2016

Keeping Your Love Scenes Fresh
If you’ve written more love scenes than you can count on one hand, you may be tempted to close your eyes and think of England when you begin to type yet another love scene. Maybe as a reader you read romance anticipating a great love scene or two and want to make sure your love scenes are worthy of your own eager readers. In this workshop we’ll talk serious shop about stepping back from putting Tab A into Slot B and hoping for the best. You’ll get concrete, actionable techniques to make writing love scenes fun and take your love scenes to a new level of O-so-good. WARNING: while all aspects of the workshop will be handled with dignity, grace, and tact; there will be frank talk about sex and sexual fantasy (and likely a few bad puns).
Presented to First Coast Romance Writers and Volusia County Romance Writers in 2016

Embracing Love Scenes
Presented with Priscilla Oliveras

Short Description: The thought of writing a love scene often has the power to make a writer moan, and not in a good way. Covering the role, types, and elements of love scenes this workshop will arm you with the tools and tips you’ll need to tackle love scenes with passion and excitement.

Long Description: This is a G rated workshop, suitable for all authors. We’ll arm you with the tools you need to build the love scene that is right for your book. We’ll talk about sensuality and sexual tension, defining each and discussing how they can make a difference in your work. We’ll discuss ways to use your love scenes to strengthen your book’s world-building, plot, emotional story arc, and pacing. We’ll take you through the craft techniques specific to love scenes and offer tips for you the author to feel more comfortable with these special scenes. Don’t let the thought of writing a love scene make you moan with dread. Join us for a workshop designed to arm you with the tools and tips you’ll need to tackle love scenes with passion and excitement.
Presented to Tampa Area Romance Authors and Central Florida Romance Writers in 2015
Presented to First Coast Romance Writers and Volusia County Romance Writers in 2016

Balancing Emotion and Pacing for Unforgettable Fiction
Presented with Priscilla Oliveras

Charlee and Pris at TARA

Charlee and Pris at TARA

Authors know that emotion is the key to engaging readers in the story, but we’re often urged to trim backstory and inner dialogue and focus on driving the story forward. This workshop will provide practical tools to get that critical emotion on the page without bogging down your story. Balancing emotion and pacing will deliver the emotional impact your story needs to keep readers turning pages and push a scene or novel beyond competent to unforgettable.
Presented to Tampa Area Romance Authors and Central Florida Romance Writers in 2015

“One of the most useful workshops I’ve been to all year. The concept that you could actually use your characters’ emotions to affect your pacing was eye-opening, and “the emotion checklist” invaluable.”
~Author Lorena Streeter

Creating Tension, Deepening Conflict, and Building Momentum
Presented with Priscilla Oliveras

Tension, conflict, and drama engage your reader in the story and push a scene or novel beyond competent to unforgettable. Giving your reader memorable characters in terrible trouble– whether the trouble is a marriage in ruins, a murderer on the prowl, or a threat to the character’s sense of self—will deliver the emotional impact that will keep them turning pages. This workshop will provide practical techniques to tap into emotion, create tension, deepen conflict, and build momentum at every stage of the writing process from plotting to polishing.
Presented to Ancient City Romance Authors in 2015

“Everyone thoroughly enjoyed your talk and got a lot out of it. Even the pubs where talking about the good ideas they got from your talk.”
~Dolores J. Wilson, author of  Big Hair and Flying Cows