Teaching & Speaking
About
I believe in meeting students where they are and seeing how far they can go.
Learn more about booking author visits for adult or kid audiences.
Experience
Faculty/Mentor, Augsburg University - Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Mentor, AWP Writer to Writer Mentorship
Mentor, Loft Literary Center’s Mentor Series
Librarian & adjunct faculty (graduate and undergraduate), St. Catherine University
Teacher (3rd, 5th, 7th), Various K-12 schools (CA, WI)
Teaching Artist/Writing teacher, Loft Literary Center, ModernWell, Springboard for the Arts, and Minneapolis Community Education
School visits at various K-12 schools and higher education
Education
BS Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison
MLIS, San Jose State University
Certificate in Copyediting, San Diego State University Extension
Sample Lectures & Classes
I have experience teaching all ages in a variety of settings. See below for sample classes for both adults and children. Contact me for more information on bringing me (virtually or in person) to your organization.
For adults
Photo: Devon Cox
Identify Yourself
Talk about my hispanic/latina identity and how representation in children’s literature matters.
Presented at: Minnesota Department of Education Lunch & Learn
Where do I come from (and does it matter)?
Talk about identity and belonging and how our stories fit into the broader landscape of the US.
Presented at: UW-La Crosse, Hispanic Heritage Month; Carleton College Convocation; St. Catherine University Women’s Center; U of MN-Duluth
Making the Unbelievable Believable: Magical Realism in Creative Nonfiction
How can nonfiction writers harness the power of the fiction tool of magical realism? Examples of using elements of magical realism in nonfiction
Presented at: HippoCamp Nonfiction Conference; Augsburg University
Memory and Writing
An overview of how memory works and how memory informs all kinds of writing, not just memoir. Examples using text from Magical Realism for Non-Believers.
Presented at: Keynote at Creative Writing Festival, Normandale Community College
Submitting to Literary Journals
Scan of literary journals and other places for publishing writing, and discussion of how to submit to publish your work
Taught at: St. Cloud State University; Loft Literary Center
Creative Nonfiction
Classes include readings, writing prompts and exercises, workshopping, and sharing
Taught at: Loft Literary Center; Augsburg University; More Than a Single Story/Hennepin County Library; Write On Door County; ModernWell
Book Club Visits
Did your book club or group read my book(s)? I’d love to join your discussion. I can visit your book club in person (within the Twin Cities) or virtually (online). Free of charge.
“I walked way from the class feeling like I could actually be published. I think it might be the first time I truly believed it.”—Valerie, writing student
For children and teens
Get a Job (high school)
Story of my journey as an artist and how aspiring artists make choices to lead to art as vocation.
Presented at: Perpich Center for the Arts High School
Memory and Writing (grades 4-8)
An overview of how memory works and how memory informs all kinds of writing.
Presented at: Keynote at Young Author’s Conference
Sticking with it: From Fishing to Journals (grades 3-5)
Talk for kids about What If a Fish and the writing process
Presented at: Reading Rock Stars, Texas Book Festival; Center for Fiction, New York City
Keeping it real: Writing from real life (grades 4-8)
Class for kids about getting inspiration from experience
Presented at: Young Authors Conference, Success Beyond the Classroom; Public school visits
Book Club Visits
Did your book club or group read my book(s)? I’d love to join your discussion. I can visit your book club in person (within the Twin Cities) or virtually (online). Free of charge for groups that purchase classroom sets.
“Anika is an inspiring instructor.”—Loft Literary Center student