Elizabeth Lyon Guest Author/ Instructor

Thousands of writers who have read Elizabeth Lyon’s two books, or who have attended her workshops at conferences, clubs, and classes, have had their writing careers boosted. Everyone who has met Elizabeth knows how fervently she believes in the Golden Rule of writing, "Always support the writer." Mentor to 30 writers in the three critique groups that meet at her house on a weekly basis, Elizabeth has become coach and guide as much as editor and teacher. With 20 years experience with writing groups, critique systems, and group process, she believes that all critique should provide specific, positive feedback first, and then and only then, constructive criticism. Lyon’s acclaimed, first book, Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write, in its second edition, updated and revised, is described as a "bestseller," the "standard on proposal preparation." Literary agent Jean Naggar describes Lyon’s second book, The Sell-Your-Novel Toolkit as "a masterly work that belongs on every writer’s bookshelf." A popular public speaker, especially in the West, Lyon has been a keynote speaker for the Austin Writer’s League, the Idaho Writer’s League, Surrey Writer’s Conference (British Columbia), and for the Oregon Librarian Association. Recognized as a compelling, down-to-earth teacher with practical, organized craft instruction, Elizabeth Lyon has been a repeat guest at many conferences: Pacific Northwest Writers Conference (Seattle), Western Washington Writers (Olympia), Willamette Writers Conference (Portland), Surrey Summer & Winter Conferences, and at California’s Cuesta College Writer’s Conference in San Luis Obispo. In 2000, she received rave reviews as an instructor and workshop presenter at the Southwestern Writers Conference in Alburquerque (New Mexico), and for the first NovelFest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin sponsored by Gardenia Press. Elizabeth also takes her own Festival of Writing workshop on the road, teaching 8-10 workshops over 4-5 days to groups that invite her. Described by Gail Provost, widow of the much-respected columnist, writing teacher, and novelist, Gary Provost, as "amazingly similar in teaching style and philosophy to Gary," Elizabeth Lyon was a guest speaker, author, and editor at the 1999 and 2000 "Writer’s Retreat Workshop" in Kentucky, and will return for the 2001 retreat. Lyon has been a contributing writer to Writer’s Digest Magazine, and her articles have been reprinted in their yearbook of best articles. Currently at work developing a 12-book series of books for writers, Elizabeth is represented by literary agent Meredith Bernstein. Born in Ohio, raised in Arizona, schooled in California, Elizabeth found home in Eugene, Oregon, where she lives with her two children, and her "borderline" collie. Visit our books page for more information and to order books by Elizabeth Lyon.