I do a limited number of in-person and virtual author visits each year. "There are three rules for writing the novel. -Somerset Maugham
School & Library Visits & Presentations => See short presentation excerpts here. Writer in Residence => Art & Writing Workshops => Speaking Engagements =>
Availability and more info, email only: claycarmichael@gmail.com Please book early; available dates are few and fill up fast.
Clay Carmichael studied English and journalism and graduated summa cum laude in Creative Writing from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is the author-illustrator of three picture books and two novels. She has given hundreds of presentations and taught thousands of young writers and artists. She lives with her sculptor-husband Mike Roig in Carrboro, NC.
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While I spend most of my creative time writing and illustrating, I enjoy meeting my readers. When I do, my emphasis is writing and illustrating as processes. Revision is key, where the real magic happens, where sketched-out stories and characters gradually-- through revising--come to life, deepen, and, if a writer-illustrator is lucky, leap off the page. During author visits I talk about the process of writing and illustrating a particular book: picture books for the younger readers and my novel "Wild Things" for grades and up. Finally, curricula come and go, but the elements of good writing, thoughtful revision and research, and careful proofreading never change. This is true whether I'm writing fiction or nonfiction, a story, a novel, an essay, a book review, or a research paper. I've written them all. The tools I use for each may vary, but my goal of clear, economical, thoughtful, and vivid writing is the same across all forms.
School & Library Visits/Presentations See short presentation excerpts here. One-half day, either morning OR afternoon, within 25 miles of Chapel Hill, NC; two 40-minute sessions max: $500. Full day, within 25 miles of Chapel Hill, NC, three 40-minute presentations max: $1000. Out-of-town (more than 25 miles from Chapel Hill, NC), full-day only: $1500.00 + all travel and accommodations. Virtual short readings and Q & A; Thirty minutes or so, starting at $200.
Writer in Residence My aim is to foster good writers, period. Good writers grab the reader's attention from sentence one and keep it until the last word. That's the idea whether you're writing a novel or a book report. I show my students tools I've learned from writing, reading, editing and studying with other writers. For residencies, I write an original story or personal narrative to model techniques including structure, character, conflict and plot/narrative development. I stress the importance of revision. As homework, students write original stories. We read and talk about each others' work in class the next day. This simultaneously develops writing, editorial, listening and presentational skills. Writer in Residence: Maximum of three consecutive classes per day, morning OR afternoon. Grades 3-adult. Fees vary. Travel is additional beyond 25 miles.
Art & Writing Workshops Workshops are custom enterprises. I've taught illustration, and many types of creative writing, including picture book making, story writing, and poetry, which I studied and wrote in college. Grades 3 through adult. Travel extra beyond 25 miles. Samples of past workshops here.
Speaking Engagements For a sample, read my talk from the NC Lit Festival here. Fees vary. Travel and accommodations additional. |
