April 27, 2009
new-fangled school (and other place) visits

Now that everyone is on the bandwagon for this newfangled contraption we like to call the Internet, it’s time to say goodbye to such archaic activities as going to airports and driving on freeways and sitting alone in Ramada bars listening to local experimental jazz bands. Unless you like that sort of thing. The wave of the future? Virtual visits! You heard it here first. Okay, not first. But you know what I’m saying. The point is, virtual visits are more affordable for the host, and take away less of an author’s writing time, and still give us both the advantages of live interaction. Win-win-win! Or is that win-win-win-win?

I made this little video to give you a sense of what a virtual visit would feel like. All you have to do is imagine my head projected at 100 times its actual size in your classroom. Coooool.

For more information, visit my page at the Skype An Author network. (And note the special deal for the first 2 requests I get!) Oh, I neglected to mention in my “what you’ll need” list on the video: computer WITH webcam. Also I want to throw in this link from author/teacher Kate Messner, who successfully hosted a virtual visit with Laurie Halse Anderson awhile back…

Beam me up, Scotty!

(Sorry. I promise not to say that again.)

Published in live action sara

3 comments for this post

  • Bill | April 28, 2009 | 7:29 pm

    Hey Sara — what a great idea! The ability to converse directly with young readers and classes is pretty neat. (Your mention of being viewed only “above the waist,” combined with your easy use of hand gestures and concern for body-image issues, may speak to filming youself standing up so that viewers get a more complete sample of your presence.) I hope you get takers on this!


  • Sara | April 29, 2009 | 10:15 am

    Me, too!
    I’m not AGAINST being seen, but the main problem with being that far away from the web cam is that the built in computer microphone would have trouble picking up the audio. I could do a silent little dance, though… :)


  • Bill | April 29, 2009 | 5:44 pm

    A little dance — sure! It was just on seeing your sample teacher’s demo that the close-up of a head-and-shoulders view, which works well on a laptop, seemed to loom overlarge on a classroom screen.


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