Karen spafford fitz biography definition
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Karen offers story cues to test characters’ reactions, with students plunging their new protagonists into the genre of their choice: mystery, fantasy, historical fiction, sci-fi… oh my!
Grade 6: “Grade Six PAT Prep”
You know the standardized writing test that grade six students (and teachers) fret about all year? This lively workshop focuses on building a story around the theme of having to prove your innocence.
Bring your inner zookeeper and your wild sense of imagination as we write a high-stakes adventure story!
Grades 3-7: “I Didn’t Do it!”
Have you ever been accused of doing something you didn’t do? It was impossible to walk across her bedroom without stubbing a toe on Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and Trixie Belden.
Eager to read more, Karen went on to study English Literature and Education at Queen’s University.
We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Karen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
My parents excelled at DIY (“do it yourself”) long before that expression was commonplace, and long before YouTube videos were available for guidance.
And while this might not have been their intention when they opted to raise us on a farm, I believe this environment helped nurture the creativity and the work ethic that helped shape my writing career.
Karen, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I was born in Kingston, Ontario and for many years now, I have lived across the country in western Canada.
What mayhem follows when your creature escapes from the zoo? Please talk to her about the writing session you would like her to offer your students!
Some of Karen’s writing workshops include:
Grades 3-6: “Hullabaloo at Spafford-Fitz Zoo”
Congratulations on your new, fantasy career: Zookeeper at Spafford-Fitz Zoo!
Using Karen’s story prompts and the roll of a dice, create your own imaginary animal. It was impossible to walk across her bedroom without stubbing a toe on Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and Trixie Belden.
Eager to read more, Karen went on to study English Literature and Education at Queen’s University.
My family also enjoyed music and after I learned some basic ukulele chords in sixth grade, my dad helped me retune an old guitar so I could practice playing my makeshift “uke” at home. The session concludes with a ten-minute question and answer session.
Grades 7-9: “Show Me Some Emotion” (50-60 minutes; offered in English, or in French/English)
This presentation opens with a discussion about how building powerful emotions into your stories will hold readers spellbound from the earliest scenes of their stories, until the exciting conclusion.
Using excerpts from her young adult novels, Karen illustrates writing techniques which will increase story intensity as various emotions clash.
Non-creatives might also be surprised to learn that:
• The publisher generally has the final say on the book title.
Karen Spafford-Fitz
Karen Spafford-Fitz grew up in an old limestone farmhouse near Kingston, Ontario where her early training as a writer involved reading thousands of books.
(He also finds greater maturity along the way!) Although DOG WALKER is a humorous book, it contains some serious, heartfelt moments. It concludes with Karen’s original French song, “J’entends les animaux,” which is suitable for English and French Immersion students.
Grades 4-6: “Picking On Your Protagonist” (50-60 minutes; offered in English, or in French/English)
Karen emphasizes the importance of creating a well-rounded main character, or protagonist, who has a problem.
She taught elementary and junior-high students in Toronto and Edmonton for eight years before she began writing her own stories. I’ve always been a voracious reader and in my earlier career as an elementary and junior-high teacher, I saw firsthand the profound impact books have on young people. Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Throughout my creative journey, I’ve learned that many book decisions which I previously thought were made by authors are actually determined within the publishing house… by the publisher themselves, the marketing team, or the editorial staff.
Karen also enjoys speaking to students about the inspiration for her books, the joys and challenges of being an author, and how to craft stories from students’ interests and experiences.
Karen Spafford-Fitz
Karen has limited availability and is considering all requests on a case-by-case basis.
Presentations
Presentations – offered virtually and in-person:
Kdgn-Grade 3: “Finding Your Inner Superhero” (45 minutes; offered in English; musical conclusion in French)
Karen draws students into story-building by tapping into their personal experiences at home, at school, and in their communities.
Students will encounter the twists and turns that might befall a protagonist struggling to overcome problems and to survive—whether they live in a modern-day world, a past world, or an imaginary world.
Grades 5-9 “Spafford-Fitz Spy School”
After introducing Spy School Lingo 101, Karen will welcome hew new student spies into the world of ‘Whodunit and Why.’ In a step-by-step process, students will unravel the strands behind a dazzling high-stakes theft… then share their brilliance by writing their own mystery story.
Grades 5-9 “Superhero, Utter Fiend, Everybody In Between”
The session opens with a deep-dive into character traits (positive, negative, and in-between).
Kids, teens, and reviewers were enthusiastic about it, and I immediately began working on my next book.
My seven novels that followed DOG WALKER were more serious, and they addressed issues such as parental abduction, domestic violence, teen exploitation, and youths in the criminal justice system. I agreed to rewrite it and where one of the scenes in the first version involved a wild teenage party, I turned it into a birthday celebration with some awkward dancing and minor food fighting.
(Spoiler alert:they will pick up a pen!) The session concludes with a question and answer session.
Workshops
Writing workshops presented in-person only: (in English; maximum 30 students; 50-60 minutes):
With eight years of classroom experience, Karen is happy to tailor her workshops toward students’ interests and needs.
My publishers have, however, given me the opportunity to revise the back-jacket blurb.
• If publishers and editors like the writing and the general story concept an author submits to them, they sometimes ask the author to rewrite the story in fairly significant ways.