S. Joan Popek has taught college level writing classes, private and public seminars, and workshops. She is regularly invited to present sessions on fiction and publishing at writers' conferences across the nation.
 

 Writing Realistic Dialogue
In a lecture/discussion format, Joan discusses various techniques to help the author to suspend the reader's disbelief through the use of realistic dialogue. This presentation includes the use of punctuation to affect reader perception such as the proper use of dashes and ellipses.  This presentation can be from one to two hours long and is suitable for beginning, intermediate, and advanced authors.

 Writing Flash Fiction
In a lecture/discussion/hands-on workshop, Joan discusses how to write a complete short story --- with characters, setting, conflict, and resolution --- in 99 words or fewer. This is an excellent exercise in word economy and an excellent technique for seeing the elements of fiction at work in a confined space. This presentation is best when presented in one hour, can be expanded to fit a longer time frame that includes audience participation and actual hands-on workshop time in which we fashion our own flash fiction story.  This presentation is suitable for beginning, intermediate, and advanced writers. 

 Science fiction--How has it changed?
This is a combination lecture/multimedia presentation that includes comparisons of past science fiction authors with today's contemporary authors and detailing the differences/similarities between the two as well as incorporating formats and plots that work for today's audience.
 

Writing for Electronic Publishers
In a lecture/discussion format, Joan focuses on certain questions: What exactly is electronic publishing?  Where is it headed? Is there a future in it?  How is writing for electronic publications different from writing for traditional print publications? What can you do to break into the market? This presentation is designed for a one hour session and is suitable for beginning, intermediate, and advanced writers. 

Self Promotion
This is a combination lecture/multimedia presentation that includes using the internet as a tool to promote your work.  Many popular and famous authors are turning to the internet to promote their work.  Joan discusses the good and the bad points as well as offering pointers about where to go for free or inexpensive advertising. This presentation is designed for a one hour session and is suitable for beginning, intermediate, and advanced writers. (This presentation also works well in conjunction with the Writing for Electronic Publishers presentation for a more extensive work shop lasting approximately two hours.)