Jen McVeity
Creator and CEO
(Pronounced MacVeety, rhymes with graffiti)Jen’s passion for writing is evident in her enthusiastic presentation. A thorough knowledge and understanding is shared step by step.
– Annette Stinson
Jen is the author of over 20 books, and her novel Dreamcatcher was a popular Year 7 novel studied in schools. It won the Family Award, the Environment Award – and the award for the most stolen book from the Hawaii State Library.
Back in 2005, Jen was on the presenting circuit, teaching ‘wannabe’ authors strategies for writing. It dawned on her that the author techniques she was teaching to adults could be applied equally well to children. Children are never really taught how to write a story, they are just expected to do it. They are taught the standard ‘formula’ (introduction, 3 paragraphs proving it, conclusion repeating everything just written) and nothing else.
Bringing together her author techniques and teaching background, Jen created the Seven Steps as a practical and fun program to inspire students to enjoy writing!
Jen’s credits include:
- National Literacy Champion
- Churchill Fellow – promoting the books of over 40 Australian authors to New York publishers
- International Chair of the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators (SCWI), the largest writing organisation in the world
- 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 The Educator Hot List finalist
- 2013 Telstra Business Women of the Year finalist
- Keynote speaker at 50 conferences across Australia, Asia and the US.
Most importantly, Jen is an ex-teacher – so you can always count on practical materials and resources you can start using in the classroom tomorrow.
Extreme Sports
An adventurer at heart, Jen plays beach volleyball in Australia and the USA. She’s hiked the Grand Canyon, jumped out of planes, worked as a ski instructor in Austria, performed on a circus trapeze and travelled around the world five times. She calls this research for her writing … her family call it having a good time.
