About Teaching Ethos

I am the author of contemporary fiction for 8-12s, currently pursuing a PhD in Creative Writing. My PhD topic focuses on folktales and the neuroscience and psychology of trauma and healing.

Whether I am mentoring a new writer or helping an experienced author get through a revision, I strive to combine enthusiasm and practical guidance in my teaching. I love to help a struggling creative find the angle or inspiration they need to make their story the best it can be.

I have previously worked with Now Novel, Write Academy, WriteOnCon, and many others as a mentor and speaker.

Prepared Talks

Workshop: Using the Science of Trauma in Creative Writing

Most stories contain an element of trauma. Find out ways to develop your plot and characters by looking at the latest in our understand on the impact of trauma on young people. This lecture has a focus on the Adverse Childhood Experience Quiz and the Resiliency Quiz.

Workshop: Exploring Familial Trauma and Dynamics to Develop Your Character

There’s a cliché about absent parents in kidlit, but family is much more important to childhood development than you might think. Using It Didn’t Start with You and other resources for mapping family dynamics, we explore your character’s family and the ways their upbringing will have positive or negative impacts on their story.

Workshop: How to Identify Your Story’s Core

This workshop is an adaptation of How Plot and Narrative Strengthen Stories. Through guided prompts, participants are helped to create a compelling set of questions and answers that will reveal the heart of their story.

Workshop: How to Identify the Moment that Everything Changes

In this workshop, I talk about how to find your novel’s opening — one of the hardest parts of the process, if you ask me. I give an introduction, then release the viewer to do writing exercises. I also read and discuss some examples.

General Q&A

I am also very comfortable taking on general question and answer sessions, whether they are about my books in particular or broader writing/publishing topics.

Developing Specific Talks

I am also happy to develop a talk based around specific requests. Just ask!

Get in Contact

You can email me at alyssamhollingsworth@gmail.com or use the form below. I look forward to hearing from you!