Invite author Rayne Lacko to visit your book club, classroom, event, in person, or online meeting platform. Rayne brings energy and excitement to the creative process. She engages students of all ages with questions to spark ideas, offering proven strategies for creative writing, editing, and experiencing the self as a worthy artist. Through group discussion, one-to-one feedback, thought-provoking handouts and slideshows, participants will ignite enthusiasm, and reinvigorate a “stuck” idea – or begin a fresh, new project. Rayne believes everyone has a story inside, and works with each student to uncover his or her voice.
“Every segment you addressed was crystal clear and well-organized. You packed so much storytelling wisdom into a short space! I especially liked the fact that you included seemingly “obvious” things that we’d expect most writers to know, but then you hung other critical considerations on those branches. So for me, the whys of all the things you mentioned were answered–just by the way you presented them.
Once you started, your own passion for story took over. What I noticed was the strong, lively energy pouring out of you, and how you directed that energy to each person around the table. Your teaching presence reminded me of the velocity in your writing in Radio Head–nothing superfluous or unfocused, everything needed and carrying its message. You are a good teacher!” – Jennifer Hager, acclaimed book editor
Writing Topics for 8th – 12th Grade
Rayne enjoys engaging young writers in positive, idea-sparking exchanges on the challenges and rewards of creating short stories and longer prose. Her topics result in fresh words on the page and renewed energy around the creative process. She can lead discussions about:
- Types of novel structure
- Crafting dynamic, multi-dimensional, sympathetic characters
- Brainstorming story conflicts and how to resolve them
- Using story-writing and memoir for self-healing and problem-solving
- Revision techniques: Polishing your work
- Ask the writer: Discuss the process of writing, and learn what it’s like to turn daydreams into stories.
Free downloadable materials!
Grief, Loss and Letting Go (a 3-part creative writing journey)
Fun activities for younger students:
- Write a short story or scene using a found object as a prompt. Rayne will prepare a personalized collection of treasures to share with the group. You’ll learn how to use them to create a story or a character outline.
- How to write and illustrate a story using only three sheets of paper.
- Play with music! The participants select a favorite song, and the group re-writes it: Choose a new setting, replace the “hero,” or turn a tragic, dark song into a happy one–whatever works! Students will swap out nouns, use antonyms to change the tone, and find synonyms to make the song their own.
Dream Up Now
The DREAM UP NOW workshop is a fun, arts-based, social-emotional journey for students aged 12-18 that can be organized as a standalone pop-up camp, or six-week series. Workshops are custom designed by theme, desired outcome, or the specific needs of nice teen groups.
Teens feel a wide range of sometimes-overwhelming, often-fluctuating, intense emotions. To help teens understand, manage, and channel their emotions into passion for the life they want to live, this guided journal with a convenient lay-flat design includes:
- 36 creative activities encouraging teens to create, draw, listen to music, and put pen to paper as they process emotions, discover more about themselves, and pursue what they want out of life.
Dream Up Now offers a safe space for creative self-expression of all emotions, both positive and negative. Every emotion is valid in this journal, and teens are encouraged to move from dark (negative) to light (positive) emotions. Learn more at www.DreamUpNow.com
Book Clubs
Rayne’s debut novel, Radio Head, features Shelby Rey, a young woman who believes she can hear music inside others, just by touching them. She offers open-ended discussion topics for Book Clubs, ranging from music appreciation to the consequences of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and addiction. RADIO HEAD Book Club Questions
Author and magazine editor, Rayne Lacko, has published short stories and interviews in Gravel, Skyline, Wordhaus, and Mixtape Methodology. Her story, “Like Father, Like Son was recently named Best of Wordhaus 2015. Rayne co-facilitates a teen writing program, and filled-to-capacity summer intensive camps. She’s interested in learning about what your students are working on, and how she can help. Rayne creates custom, grade-specific activities for students in 1st through 12th grade.
To invite Rayne Lacko to read, speak, or lead a workshop or retreat, please contact her:
