SCHOOL and LIBRARY VISITS

I do full-day, half-day, and single class visits in person and via video/web call.

"Jamie's visit to my classes was a huge boost to my students' morale. As both a writer and a human, she confronts real world issues with a level of frankness and authenticity that allows students to connect with her almost immediately. Without a doubt, her insights and experiences opened up new ways for my students to think about why reading, writing, and stories matter in their everyday lives. After her visit, even some of my most reluctant readers couldn't wait to get their hands on a copy of Wasted Pretty."
— Eliot White, teacher, McCaskey High School

WORKSHOPS

How to Be a Literary Citizen - Creating a Literary Community
For all the talk about writing being a solitary act, many writers will tell you that community’s where it’s at. Lots of writers have ready-made communities in their lives, whether it’s on the lit mag staff in high school or around a workshop table in grad school, but how do you, and why should you, create a community outside of academia?

Writing for Reluctant Teen Readers - Why Bother?
This workshop answers the questions:
— What is a “reluctant” teen reader?
— What can writers do to engage them?
and
— Why should writers care about these readers who often get left behind?

Live Storytelling - Basic Tips and Tricks
I have experience prepping “non-storytellers” for their first on-stage storytelling experiences. This workshop covers the “why” and “how” of storytelling.

“Jamie Beth Cohen held a writing workshop for a group of domestic violence survivors in preparation for a special night of storytelling to honor Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Most of these women had never told their stories publicly, let alone written them down, and working with Jamie helped them tell their personal stories of survival and healing. She was so generous with her time and energy. Not only did she spend several hours walking through how to deliver a compelling story and giving tips on writing, she also took the time to review drafts the survivors wrote. She gave these women tools they would not have had otherwise and it showed in the way their stories were written and the confidence with which they were delivered. If you need someone to conduct a writing seminar, I highly recommend you work with Jamie. She is organized, patient, thorough, and professional.”
— Dana G.

CONSULTATIONS

Do you want to write a book? Or place an essay in a major market? Is everyone always telling you you have a story to tell but you’re not sure how to start? Let’s chat!

“As a former newspaper reporter, I have experience in writing a lot of content and doing so quickly. But I was definitely out of practice! I've spent the last few years working on children's picture books and young adult novels and also teaching writing at a Pennsylvania community college. I had a perfect idea for a time-sensitive personal essay, but no idea what to do next. What would have taken me ages to figure out, Jamie helped with in a few hours! She suggested a couple publications that might be a good fit, read the piece, offered amazing feedback, and helped me craft a pitch. As a result, my essay was picked up by Parents.com within days. Working with Jamie proved the best experience, and I strongly recommend her!” — Tamara G.

***

"Jamie really knows her stuff. I got in touch with Jamie when I was deciding whether to pitch my children’s nonfiction book to agents, or try to fund self-publication through Kickstarter. Jamie set up a half-hour Zoom call with me. We went over the structure of the book publishing industry, from the big five publishing houses to university presses to vanity presses, and we talked about my goals for my book.

”We had a second call after the conclusion of my successful Kickstarter campaign, in which we talked about self-publishing options and book marketing. She wrote up detailed notes based on our conversations, and emailed them to me after we chatted. Both times we talked, Jamie listened carefully to my concerns, and made thoughtful suggestions that helped me move forward in my book publishing process.”
— Kate Seldman, author of For Those About to Rock: A Kid’s Guide to 50 Legendary Musical Acts