Speakers Bureau
Nebraska Writers Guild
The Nebraska Writers Guild is proud to offer the expertise of member volunteers for presentations to both 1) General audiences such as civic, religious or public institutions and 2) Schools including public and private elementary schools, secondary schools and collegiate programs.
Look on the Speakers list for members willing to make their own arrangements for speaking engagements, including topics to be discussed. Direct e-mail addresses can be accessed by clicking on the potential speaker’s name. Contractors will contact speakers privately and NOT through the Guild. Disclaimer: The Nebraska Writers Guild is NOT responsible for the contract for either party nor for the material and opinions of the speakers.
IMPORTANT: Please note that individuals may contract for a speaking fee if they are sharing their specific knowledge and inspiration while promoting their work and merely mentioning their affiliation with the Nebraska Writers Guild. However, if the contractor requests the PRIMARY focus of the presentation be on the Nebraska Writers Guild, no speaking fee or honorarium may be paid, since NWG is a registered Non-Profit 501-C (6) Corporation. Both recovery of travel expenses and the opportunity to provide books for sale CAN be negotiated and are excluded by the non-profit restrictions.
Speakers for General Audiences
Minimal expectations
1. Professional appearance, courtesy and manner
2. Audience-appropriate material as agreed to by speaker and contractor
3. Preparation and practice for an organized presentation, including time limit
4. Prior agreement of arrangements such as fee, travel, food, arrival and departure times, contact information, handout copying, book sales.
Example topics (but totally up to the speaker)
- The Writing Life
- How to Research
- The Dirty Work of Editing
- Differences between Poetry and Prose
- How to Get Published, or Not
- Writing from Life’s Experiences
- How to Write Romances . . . Westerns . . . Mysteries . . . for Children . . . etc.
Speakers for Schools
Minimal expectations
1. Professional appearance, courtesy and manner
2. Audience-appropriate material as agreed to by speaker and contractor
- Essential: Know instructor expectations and age/class level
3. Preparation and practice for an organized presentation, including time limit
4. Prior agreement of arrangements such as fee, travel, food, arrival and departure times, contact information, handout copying, book sales.
5. NWG does offer teams for hour-long presentations.
Example topics (but totally up to the speaker)
- How I Plot a Story
- Using Active and Colorful Words
- Why Spelling and Grammar are Important
- How to be a Life-long Storyteller
- Never Write about “The Happy People of the Happy Village”
- Writing is Never Perfect
- Creating Characters Everyone will Remember
- How I Write a Novel . . . a Poem . . . a Screenplay . . . a News Story