Visits
Michael visits LOTS of schools, libraries and festivals every year.
To find out MORE ABOUT HIS TALKS AND WORKSHOPS keep scrolling.
To MAKE A BOOKING either contact Michael directly or follow these simple instructions …
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FOR VICTORIAN BOOKINGS
LAMONT AUTHORS
email: bookings@lamontbooks.com.au
phone: 03 8787 1700
Here’s their website.
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FOR ANYWHERE OUTSIDE OF VICTORIA OR AUSTRALIA
Email Michael by clicking here.
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BUT PLEASE NOTE: Michael CANNOT guarantee he’ll be wearing big white undies during his visit!
What Michael does when he visits
TALKS:
K-2
Michael performs hilarious, lively readings and stories that are drawn from both his books and his life.
Grades 3-6
Michael use funny images, video clips and lots of humour to explain where ideas come from, why ideas matter, his creative process, how to keep and use journals, and much more.
WORKSHOPS:
Grades 5-6 Workshops
The Instant Plot Machine
This is a fun workshop during which students discover exactly what a narrative is and how to use this knowledge to quickly turn any idea into a plot, complete with a satisfying ending, in just a few minutes. Several schools have reported that this simple, but powerful workshop has been particularly helpful for students writing narratives in test situations like NAPLAN.
Grades 4-6 Workshops
Write Better Right Now
This workshop includes lots of short, sharp prose-writing exercises focused on quality description and figurative language.
Grades 4-6 Workshops
Five Steps to a Perfect Picture Book
This is Michael’s simple, practical, five-step process to creating a picture book. It’s a process used by many authors and illustrators in their professional lives. There are also many tips and techniques shared that add fun and excitement to illustrated books. It’s an empowering and inspiring workshop that will get every child excited about making their own picture book.
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Grades 4-6 Writing Games
Classroom Writing Games
These sessions revolve around two hilarious and fully interactive writing games Michael has created for the classroom. It’s Michael versus The Class in games of Punctuation Baseball and The ‘No, Yes, No, or Maybe Game’. Punctuation has NEVER been so exciting. Writing better dialogue has never been so easy.
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Here are some snaps taken from recent talks …
Feedback from teachers, librarians and students
“Our Junior School really enjoyed and were inspired by Michael’s talk … the students loved hearing his funny, and sometimes gross, stories. They liked the way he talked about how ideas were like dreams – very slippery and could be lost or forgotten easily if they weren’t written down. The students are still raving about ‘slippery’ ideas and many are asking parents for journals to write their ideas in. Several of our Year 2 students went home the night of Michael’s presentation and wrote stories, bringing them back to proudly show their teachers the next day. I particularly liked the way Michael helped students to understand character development.” – Haileybury, Melbourne
“He told us how to write a successful plan and most of us have since written a great book. He was very funny with a lot of humour. All of level three are grateful for him so thank you Michal Wagner and all teachers who organised it.” – Lucas and Rhys, Kingston Heath Primary School, 3H
“I just wanted to say the kids are all over your books. I read Dog Wars with the 3/4’s and they LOVE it (as do I). Emily Rodda, Roald Dahl and Jeff Kinney have all been seriously overshadowed by the great Michael Wagner.” – Merryn Clift, Deer Park North Primary School
“I learnt that there are ideas everywhere you look and how precious ideas are.”
“I learnt that some people do 40 drafts instead of 1 or 2.”
“I learnt to always have fun with my writing.”
“Today I learnt how to get ideas to start a story and what to do if you can’t think anymore.”
“The children thought he was fantastic and he was very inspiring, especially for young boys who are reluctant to read.”
“Anyone who shares stories about frisbeeing nappies, self-gratuitous football commentary and conducts a game of corridor cricket in a library is a genius.”
“Very engaging, funny, couldn’t wipe the smiles off our faces.”
“Funny, inspiring, very entertaining.”
“Many students were inspired to start writing their own stories.”
“He had a wonderful rapport with all of the students.”
“Great audience involvement.”
After one visit Michael met former Prime Minister Julia Gillard and weatherguy Mike Larkham.