L.E. Sterling (also published under pen names L. E. Vollick and Erin Vollick) is the author of multiple novels spanning contemporary, fantasy, science-fiction, dystopian and romance genres. Her hit Young Adult series, the True Born Trilogy (Entangled Teen) was optioned for television by Glamazon Pictures. True Born, the first novel in the trilogy, was recognized internationally with the 2017 Athena Award® in Young Adult literature. Sterling has appeared at several international literary events, including Book Con (NYC), the LA Times Festival of Books, and Science Fiction/Fantasy convention Ad Astra (Toronto).
L. E. Sterling holds both a B.A. (York University) and M.A. (Concordia University) in Creative Writing, as well as a Ph.D. in Literature (McGill University). A former CEGEP and University instructor of Creative Writing, English Literature and English Composition, Sterling has more than twelve years of experience in leading both small and large classes, including Creative Writing workshops. Additionally, she has both founded and led communications portfolios for not-for-profits, including ten years in senior communications roles at the University of Toronto. For more than five years, she was editor-in-chief of the internationally admired alumni magazine, U of T Dentistry.
YA Through the Ages
YA continues to take the book world by storm! In this presentation, award-winning YA author L. E. Sterling breaks down what makes YA so compelling for so many (hint: YA is not just for young adults) and will stroll audiences through a short history of the YA story. Beginning with Shakespeare and culminating with the contemporary era (with The Outsiders and Catcher in the Rye) and the absolute explosion of popularity in YA after Twilight and into the current era, with The Hate U Give, this presentation will touch on some of the themes of YA novels, and why the Young Adult market continues to resonate with readers - young and old - around the globe.
Novel Essentials: The Art & Craft of Long Form Fiction
Instructor L. E. Sterling, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Have you had an itch to write a novel, but haven’t known how to tackle such a large project? Now is the perfect time to dust off your ideas! Novel Essentials is a boot camp for budding writers eager to turn their novelistic dream into a reality. From iron-clad structures and story tropes to the ins-and-outs of how character motivation pushes a great plot, this 10-week intensive workshop will impart professional tips and tricks-of-the-trade essential to bringing long-form fiction to life.
The course will focus on practical knowledge not covered in your typical writing workshop: initial idea development; a deep dive on novelistic structure; how to build the perfect plot; character development and motivation; scene development; and how to handle secondary and tertiary characters, to name a few. Each week, you will learn one or more essential techniques and/or theories, as well as participate in short, practical exercises that will help you build your novel. As elements are mastered, you will have opportunities to develop and workshop your original novel concepts.
While an emphasis will be placed on long-form writing, all writers looking to master essential elements of fiction writing are encouraged to attend. You do not require prior workshop experience or an idea for a novel to take this course. Participants interested in developing commercial fiction of all kinds (ie. romance, science fiction, fantasy, mystery) are more than welcome!
YA Through the Ages
YA continues to take the book world by storm! In this presentation, award-winning YA author L. E. Sterling breaks down what makes YA so compelling for so many (hint: YA is not just for young adults) and will stroll audiences through a short history of the YA story. Beginning with Shakespeare and culminating with the contemporary era (with The Outsiders and Catcher in the Rye) and the absolute explosion of popularity in YA after Twilight and into the current era, with The Hate U Give, this presentation will touch on some of the themes of YA novels, and why it continues to resonate with readers - young and old - around the globe.
