Request any of these workshops anytime; we can schedule them at your convenience, you can share with your circle of families and I will also publicize. Once four learners register, the workshop will run. Just email Debbie at deb@realistek.com.

One-time workshops are an effective way to see if a class with Debbie is a fit for your learner. They are also a fun way to keep the learning going over school breaks, summertime, and after school.

All pricing for one-time workshops:
- 2-3 students = $30
- 4+ students = $25

Writing Two-Sentence Stories
ages 8-12
one time, one hour

Are you looking for a lively, short-but-sweet challenge? Stories don't have to be long to be powerful. Learning to write two-sentence stories in your favorite genres allows you to focus on the important elements in a story. Through a combination of good examples, writing exercises and interactive games, we'll pinpoint the most important writing elements in two-sentence stories. Then, we'll use them to improve our stories and become better authors.

Prerequisite: Learners will need to be able to write two sentences independently in about five minutes. They are welcome to use voice recognition software or have someone at home scribe for them. Spelling and grammar need not be conventional, and limited one-on-one time with the instructor will be available.

Explode a Sentence
ages 8-12
one time, one hour


Do you have the fire power to take a basic sentence and explode it into a written masterpiece, filled with concise description and reader-magnetizing powers? You will after this workshop! We'll look at several basic sentence structures and see how we can make them work for our writing interests and styles, while keeping good grammar and connecting with the reader foremost in our minds. You'll never be tempted to write a boring sentence again, and you'll be less inclined to write run-on sentences or sentence fragments.

Prerequisite: Learners will need to be able to write one sentence independently in about three minutes. They are welcome to use voice recognition software or have someone at home scribe for them. Spelling and grammar need not be conventional, and limited one-on-one time with the instructor will be available.

Writing Two-Sentence Stories
ages 13+
one time, one hour

Writing two-sentence stories seems like a piece of cake (it sure is fun!) but the tiny tales do present some challenges. In this one-time, one-hour class, we'll learn about the characteristics of two-sentence stories by reading and analyzing the best of the best. Then, we'll discuss writing conventions and techniques that lend themselves to writing two-sentence stories. And of course, we'll play around throughout the hour with writing our own stories using what we've learned. Bonus(!): the skills we learn writing two-sentence stories can be applied to all kinds of writing, so you'll be a stronger author across the board.

Strong Writing Starts with Strong Sentences
ages 13+
one time, one hour

Using mentor texts, we'll explore impressive sentences of different structures and styles and determine what makes them exemplary. We'll try them out together and then you'll get to apply what you learned in your own writing. By the end of the hour, you'll have more knowledge of sentence structure, you'll be able to utilize sentence variety for more interesting prose, and you'll catch those fragments and run-ons before they weaken your writing.

Writing Authentic Dialogue
ages 13+
one time, one hour

Do you struggle making the dialogue in your stories sound natural? Do the sections of dialogue in your scenes break the flow of a story otherwise filled with visual imagery? This workshop will convert inspiration from famous authors into actionable writing tips to make your dialogue shine as brightly as the rest of your story. You'll learn all the tools to create authentic dialogue that adds characterization, imagery, and momentum to your story.