Empowering Young Writers: Writing Workshops

The Writing Workshop slideshows provide an overview of basic writing concepts and story elements. They are works-in-progress, but we trust they are developed enough to give a good idea of their intent and direction.

The Writing Workshop: Focus on Dialogue slideshow was created as a prototype, complete with a companion educator guide and supporting materials, to demonstrate the quality of the finished supporting materials that will be created for each slideshow. The Writing Workshop Focus slideshows will eventually include shows offering in-depth discussions of characterization; plot; setting, time, and place; descriptive writing, etc. Additional slideshows will demonstrate how these storytelling elements are equally important in fiction and nonfiction writing.

This section currently includes the following slideshows. Click on a slideshow title or scroll down to see all the Writing Workshop resources.

Each slideshow will be accompanied by an educator guide to ensure teachers are able to maximize the content with their students. You can check out these draft versions of each slideshow by clicking the right arrow.

To view each slideshow in its biggest size, first click the icon in the bottom-right corner to open the slideshow in a new window. Then click Start Slide Show and use the arrow keys on your keyboard to advance the show.

Note: The time required to initially load each slideshow will vary depending upon the speed of your computer. Older computers may require you to wait a few seconds for each slideshow to load.

For detailed instructions on starting and viewing the slideshows, click here.

Story Basics: What Is a Story?

Following are links to the resources supporting the “What Is a Story?” slideshow:

Getting Started: Power Words
First Version Sent to Publishers in 2022

Editor’s Note: The below slideshow is the first version sent to publishers for review in 2022. In early 2023, that slideshow was divided into two shows for easier use in the classroom. The first version will be removed when the final version of Empowering Young Writers is published this year.

Getting Started: Power Words
Revised Version Part I

Getting Started: Power Words — Let’s Write
Revised Version Part II

Getting Started: Show Don’t Tell
First Version Sent to Publishers in 2022

Editor’s Note: The below slideshow is the first version sent to publishers for review in 2022. In early 2023, that slideshow was divided into two shows for easier use in the classroom. The first version will be removed when the final version of Empowering Young Writers is published this year.

Getting Started: Show Don’t Tell
Revised Version Part I

Getting Started: Show Don’t Tell — Let’s Write
Revised Version Part II


Story Elements: Structure
(Beginnings, Middles, Endings)

Story Elements: Characters I
(Major and Minor Characters)

Story Elements: Characters II
(How Characters Determine Story)


Story Elements: Plot I
(Plot Definition and Types of Conflict)

Story Elements: Plot II
(“The Note” Interactive Story)

Story Elements: Plot III
(Plotting Hint: Start on the Day That’s Different)

Story Elements: Plot IV
(Plotting Hint: Withhold Information)

Story Elements: Setting I
(Time, Place, and Sensory Language)

Please review the following slideshows with your students before presenting the Story Elements: SETTING (Time, Place, and Sensory Language) slideshow:

Story Elements: Setting II
(Comparing and Contrasting)

Story Elements: Setting III
(Researching Time and Place)

Story Elements: Setting IV
(Research. Let’s Write)


Writing Workshop Focus: Dialogue

Following are links to the resources supporting the Dialogue slideshow. Similar resources are planned for all slideshows.