I'm available for virtual visits to your school!
Comics Presentations
My talks are interactive presentations that use pages from my books to explore the considerations creators make when constructing a comic. With a lot of humor, I use colorful and fun comic book images to demonstrate the following concepts and structural tools:
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Research
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Introductory sentence
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Point of view
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Setting and characters
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Style and tone
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Revisions
With time for Q&A, each presentation scales in both length (30-50 minutes) and subject matter depending on your schedule and interest, and is best for ages 7 through 12.​ I can speak with small groups or large assemblies.
"Both in print and in person, Jason uses wit and approachability to make complicated topics accessible and fun. He achieves the impossible in his presentation, which actually gets the students excited about the nonfiction writing process, with the quixotic elements of polar bears, libraries, and comic books."
-Patrick Mongeau, Teacher, Burbank Elementary, Belmont, MA
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"Jason's fabulous way with the students had them learning through laughter. It was so cool to watch them fall into silence as he broke down the real decisions that go into making a nonfiction graphic novel. My 3rd grade students are now busy doing research and creating nonfiction graphic novels after getting inspired by the visit!"
-Jennifer Reed, Library Teacher, MA
Story Workshops
Full of writing and drawing exercises, my "Story Builder" workshops are group collaborations that guide students through the process of creating their own worlds, characters, and stories. Together we explore our own fantasy world, then learn about the characters who inhabit it, and finally uncover the key to starting their stories.
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Build Your World
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Build Your Character
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Start Your Story
These three 1-hour creative writing workshops work best as a series and are designed for classroom-sized groups ages 8 through 12.
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"Each workshop was engaging and fun on its own, but the majority of the children joined more than one and together created worlds, characters, and ultimately a unique storyline to move forward with. I received a snail-mail thank you note from one of the young participants who loved the programs so much he left his summer camp early to join the last session. Jason's thoughtful preparation, his encouraging demeanor, and his background as a cartoonist make his programming truly unique. We can't wait to have him back in the future!"
- Chris Morrison, Youth Services Librarian, Stow, MA
Speaking fees
​Single session or virtual visit: $350
Two sessions: $550
Three sessions: $750
Writing workshop series: $1000
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A discounted rate may be available for Title 1 schools. Please contact me for more information.
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Please use the form below or email jyviola@gmail.com to schedule a visit.