Speaking

This is my favorite shot of an audience at one of my sessions. Thanks for capturing this, OmniUpdate.

Since 2008,  I’ve presented at more than 70 conferences and/or was a guest or a guest host of industry-related webinars and webisodes about social media, storytelling, and content strategy in higher education, small business, and publishing. I also regularly speak or give workshops for alumni networks, writers’ groups, and local businesses to show how social media and a digital presence can aid in nearly every aspect of one’s professional life. (Available topics listed on this page.)

If you’re interested in booking me for your event, please continue reading for topic ideas and contact information.

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Here is a list of upcoming events, past events and, lastly, a list of topics on which I can speak. A look ahead and a look back…

Future Speaking Engagements & Appearances (2024):

• Sept. 2024 – HighEdWeb Annual Conference

Past Events: 2024

• January 8-12 –  Maslow Family Graduate Creative Writing Program at Wilkes University, winter residency, co-taught resume/CV class in the Careers track.
• March 13-15 – CUPRAP Spring Conference, Lancaster, PA; co-panelist for “Working Smarter: How External Partners and Students Can Boost Collaboration & Creativity”
• April 11-13 – Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group’s 2024 The Write Stuff Conference; participating in agent/editor pitch session and panel (at time of adding this event, the organization’s website was down, but here’s their blog, which also offers info.)
• May 8-10 – Nonfiction Author’s Association annual online conference

Previous Years: Past Presentations, Workshops & Appearances:

Here’s an archive of past speaking engagements; if you’d like more details about the content of these presentations, contact me.

[su_spoiler title=”2023 Appearances”]

• Oct. 24 – Getting Found: Discovery & SEO for Writers, Hippocampus Magazine’s How-To Tuesdays, Online
• Oct. 19 –  Melanie Brooks in Conversation with Donna Talarico (author event, open to the public) – Pocket Books, Lancaster, PA
• June 21 – Summer residency, Maslow Family Graduate Creative Writing Program at Wilkes University (Lit Fest reading; introductions)
• Aug. 1 – Leadership Workshop: Storytelling from Leadership Lancaster – facilitator
• Aug. 12 – A Night of Nonfiction: Debut CNF Author Readings & Panel from Hippocampus Magazine (online) – host
• Aug. 13 – HippoCamp Minis (Part I & II) from Hippocampus Magazine (online) – host and speaker
  • Also individual session speaker for: Accessibility & Inclusivity for Content Creators
• Sept. 23 – Conversations & Connections at Temple University (a writer’s conference form Barrelhouse) – guest editor
• Oct. 8-12 – HighEdWeb Annual Conference, Buffalo – attendee/volunteer

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[su_spoiler title=”2021 Appearances”]

• Oct. 2-5 – UCDA Conference, Denver, Colorado – main stage presentation (“The Art and Science of Storytelling in Higher Education”
• Oct. 24 – Nov. 4 (weekly, Thursdays) – Writing the Reported Essay Workshop, Pennsylvania College of Arts & Design (PCA&D) (rescheduled for fall) – cancelled
• June 19-25 – Summer residency, Maslow Family Graduate Creative Writing Program at Wilkes University (various classes related to publishing/marketing)
• July 15 – Accessibility & Inclusivity for Creators, Pennsylvania College of Arts & Design (PCA&D) – held online
• July 22 – Aug. 4 (weekly) – Writing the Reported Essay Workshop, Pennsylvania College of Arts & Design (PCA&D) (rescheduled for fall)
  
• Aug. 13-15 – HippoCamp: A Conference for Creative Nonfiction Writers – conference director and moderator for various panels
• April 17-22 – Belize Writers Conference, session called “Build Your Credits, Build Your Cred: Literary Magazines & Literary Citizenship”
• April 28 – Association of Journalists & Authors (ASJA) annual conference (held online this year) – “Panel: Freelancing in Higher Education”
• Feb. 9 – Rebecca Fish Ewan in Conversation with Donna Talarico: Doodling for Writers (Online, through Midtown Scholar)
• February 4 – 25 (weekly) – Writing Memoir for Beginners Workshop,  Pennsylvania College of Arts & Design (PCA&D) – held online

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[su_spoiler title=”2020 Appearances”]

• January 4-11 – Winter residency, Maslow Family Graduate Creative Writing Program at Wilkes University (various classes and sessions related to marketing)
• March 26-30 – AWP 2020 in San Antonio, Texas – exhibiting with Hippocampus Magazine & Books at Book Fair (Association of Writers & Writing Programs)
• April 2-4 – UCDA Creative Summit, Denver, Colorado (University and College Designer’s Association) – COVID-19 cancellation
• April 20 – ASJA Annual Conference, New York City – representing Books by Hippocampus at Client Connections portion (American Society of Journalists and Authors) – COVID-19 cancellation
• June 13-21 – Summer residency (moved online for COVID-19), Maslow Family Graduate Creative Writing Program at Wilkes University (various classes and sessions related to marketing)
• June 24 – UCDA Essentials Webinar Series – “The Art & Science of Storytelling in Higher Ed” (reg. fee req.)
• Aug. 14-16 – HippoCamp: A Conference for Creative Nonfiction Writers, organizer/moderator/host – COVID-19 cancellation
• Oct. 10 – Push to Publish by Philadelphia Stories (online) – editors panel
• Nov. 6-7 – Belize Writers Conference (online) – “Start Me Up — Beginnings.”

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[su_spoiler title=”2019 Appearances”]

• January 5-13 – Winter residency, Maslow Family Graduate Creative Writing Program at Wilkes University (various classes and sessions related to marketing)
• March 26-30 – AWP 2019 in Portland Oregon – exhibiting with Hippocampus Magazine & Books at Book Fair
• May 6 – ASJA Client Connections, New York City – representing Books by Hippocampus
• June 14-22 – Summer residency, Maslow Family Graduate Creative Writing Program at Wilkes University (various classes and sessions related to marketing)
• July 23 – Lancaster Story Slam emcee
• July 25-27 – WP Campus, Portland – giving a lightning talk on content mistakes and how to fix them
• Aug. 23-25 – HippoCamp: A Conference for Creative Nonfiction Writers, organizer/moderator/host
• Sept. 5 – Truth/Lies: An Evening with Bassey Ikpi (moderator)
• HighEdWeb 2019 – Milwaukee (post-conference writing workshop)
• Nov. 8 – Millersville University Literary Festival (literary citizenship panel)

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[su_spoiler title=”2018 Appearances”]

• January 7-14 – Wilkes University Creative Writing Program winter residency – plenary session on web and social media to build author platform + social consultations by appointment.
• Feb. 22 – Pennsylvania College of Art & Design – “The Importance of Audience Engagement” workshop (open to public; paid course)
• Feb. 24 – Publishing Careers Symposium, Rosemont College (Pa.)
• March 7-10 – AWP 2018, Tampa – exhibiting at Table 544 with Hippocampus Magazine & Books; co-hosting offsite event
• April 10 – An Evening with Sands Hall at Midtown Scholar Book Store, co-sponsored by Hippocampus (I led the conversation on stage with Sands)
• April 22 – Guest reading at Jim Warner’s event for “Actual Miles” book-signing event at Library Express in Scranton, PA from 1 – 3 p.m. (details here)
• April 28 – Conversations in Publishing at Rosemont College (Pa.) – highlighting Lanternfish Press (moderator)
• May 17 – Pennsylvania College of Art & Design – “The Art and Science of Storytelling ” – paid workshop in the continuing education department  (details)
• June 17-22 – Wilkes University Creative Writing Program winter residency – plenary session on web/social media to build author platform + social consultations by appointment. (for students)
• July 12-14 – WPCampus in St. Louis – Flash session, “All Work and No Fun? Nonsense.: How Creativity, Curiosity, Surprise & Play Help Us Work”
• July 26 – Pennsylvania College of Art & Design – “Developing a Social Media Branding & Style Guide” – paid workshop in the continuing education department  (details)
• July 29 – Aug. 3 – Norman Mailer Colony at Wilkes University- Marketing for Writers (one-week course)
• Aug. 9 – Pennsylvania College of Art & Design – “Navigating Negativity: What To Do When Things Go Wrong” – paid workshop in the continuing education department  (details)
• Aug. 24-26 – HippoCamp 2018, Lancaster; conference organizer/moderating panels, etc.
• Oct. 13 – Push to Publish at Rosemont College, presented by Philadelphia Stories – editor’s panel and editor’s speed dating
• Oct. 21-24 – HighEdWeb 2018, Sacramento, CA. – leading post-conference workshop, “Copy That” and giving a lightning round talk
• Dec. 6 – Elizabethtown College – guest speaking in a creative nonfiction class (private)

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[su_spoiler title=”2017 Appearances”]

• February 3 – Leadership Lancaster’s Leadership Advantage, session on communication tools and audience engagement
• February 8-12 – AWP, Washington D.C. – exhibiting with Hippocampus Magazine and Books
• February 10 – Selected Memories Book Launch (part of AWP 2017)
• Feb. 11 – AWP panel on grassroots writing conferences
• Feb. 25 – Rosemont College’s Career Symposium for the MA in Publishing and MFA in Creative Writing programs – gave a talk called “My Publishing Journey” and also sat on a publishing experts panel.
• June 1-4 – Nonfiction NOW, Reykjavik, Iceland (attending only, not presenting)
• June 15 – Lancaster Marketing Group meeting; moderating a discussion on professional development – Pennsylvania College of Art & Design in Lancaster
• June 16-24 – Wilkes University Creative Writing Program summer residency – plenary session on web and social media to build author platform + social consultations by appointment.
• July 11 – Pennsylvania College of Art & Design – “How to Create Content that Sizzles” workshop (open to public)
• July 14-15 – WordPress Campus, Buffalo, NY – “Interview Like a Journalist, Write Like a Marketer: How to Tell Stories with Heart and Accuracy”
• July 25 – Pennsylvania College of Art & Design – “Importance of Audience Engagement” workshop (open to public)
• Aug. 4-5, PA Writer’s Conference at Wilkes University – moderating panel, “You’ve Got a Friend in Pennsylvania… Lit Mags”
• September 8-10 – HippoCamp 2017, Lancaster; conference organizer/moderating panels, etc.
• Oct. 8-11, HighEdWeb, Hartford, CT – “Interview Like a Journalist, Write Like a Marketer: How to Tell Stories with Heart and Accuracy“
• Nov. – Lancaster Story Slam “Grand Slam” guest judge
• Dec. – Fear No Lit’s Page Match – contestant

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[su_spoiler title=”2016 Appearances”]

2016

• Jan. 5 – ABC (WHTM)’s Good Day PA live appearance, double segment (view recording of live show) (social media etiquette)
• Jan. 9-15 – Wilkes University Low-Residency Creative Writing Program (various talks, social media and nonfiction)
• Jan. 12 – The Pennsylvania State University -keynote speaker, private staff training meeting (storytelling in higher ed)
• Jan. 9-15 – Wilkes University Low-Residency Creative Writing Program (various talks, social media and nonfiction)
• Feb. 5 – Leadership Lancaster’s Leadership Advantage – session presenter (communication planning)
• Feb. 10 – NYU, speaker, private staff training meeting via webinar (Words, Words, Words)
• Feb. 23 – Lancaster Story Slam, theme: social media (video)
• Feb. 25 – ABC (WHTM)’s Good Day PA live appearance
• March 15 – Brandywine Valley Writers Group (West Chester), speaker
• March 30-April 3 – AWP Annual Conference (Los Angeles), exhibitor for Hippocampus and Wilkes/Etruscan Press
• April 8 – The Tom Bigler High School Journalism Conference at Wilkes University
• April 11 – Wilkes University Department of Communication Studies, various talks
• April 26 – Lancaster Story Slam, theme: respect (video)
• June 9 – Fear No Lit Reading Series (Dogstar Books, Lancaster, Pa.), featured reader (creative nonfiction)
• June 12-15 – Elements Web Conference at Penn State (presenting at two sessions: storytelling and writing for the web)

• July 15-16 – WP Campus, Sarasota, Florida (session on storytelling)
• June 18-24 – Wilkes University Graduate Creative Writing Programs’ summer residency – plenary session on web and social media to build author platform + social consultations by appointment.
• July 26 – Lancaster Story Slam, host; theme: career opportunities
• Aug. 12-14 – HippoCamp: A Conference for Creative Nonfiction Writers – organizer, host, emcee, moderator
• Oct. 8 – Push to Publish, from Philadelphia Stories at Rosemont College
• Oct. 16-19 – Higher Ed Web 2016, Memphis, Tenn. (post-conference workshop on storytelling) and session about writing – “Words, Words, Words: How to Create Sizzling Content.“
• Nov. 4 – Pennsylvania College of Art & Design (PCAD) – content workshop

Nov. – Lancaster Story Slam, Grand Slam judge

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”2015 Appearances”]

2015

Presenting about Words, Words, Words at NEPA BlogCon 2015. Photo courtesy of NEPA Scene.

• Nov. 15, 2015 – Third Point Press’ Adult Spelling Bee – Tellus 360 – contestant
• Oct. 17, 2015 – Moore College of Art & Design – Women in the Arts Leadership Conference – speaking on personal branding for professional success
• Oct. 20, 2015: Columbus, Ohio chapter of National Nonfiction Authors Association meeting – postponed until 2016
• Oct. 25, 2015 – Elizabethtown College, Career Services’ Senior Career Transition Conference – speaking on using LinkedIn and social to make connections – postponed until spring 2016 semester
• Oct. 4-7 – HighEdWeb annual conference, attending/committee member; presenting three-hour-long pre-conference workshop, Words, Words, Words.
• Oct. 10 – Philadelphia Stories Push to Publish Conference – speed-dating editor and creative nonfiction panelist
• Sept. 12, NEPA BlogCon, East Stroudsburg, Pa. – “Words. Words. Words.”
• August 7-9 – HippoCamp: A Conference for Creative Nonfiction, conference organizer – event host and panel moderator
• July Lancaster Story Slam – “Boiling Point”
• June 22-27, Wilkes University Creative Writing MFA Program 10th anniversary residency; reading creative nonfiction Sunday evening and creative nonfiction panelist
• June 19-21, CASE Multimedia Workshop, Washington, D.C., presented “From Print to Screen: The Evolution of the Magazine” and served on social media panel
• May – Lancaster Story Slam – “Road Trip” theme
• May 16, 2015 – Pecha Kucha Lancaster #4, Tellus 360, Lancaster, Pa. – “Things I Underscored in 2014”
• May 8, 2015 – Higher Ed Live – Communication United: Social Media and the Web (watch here)
• May 6, 2015 – Lancaster Literary Guild creative nonfiction workshop, guest speaker in final class (requires registration in entire series)
• April – Lancaster Story Slam – “Love Hurts” theme
• April 7-11 – AWP in Minneapolis, exhibiting on behalf of Hippocampus Magazine
• March – Lancaster Story Slam “Good Vibrations” theme
• March 11 – CUPRAP Conference (co-presenter with Liz Braungard, Wendy Sheaffer and Danilo Yabut) – building an in-house, integrated creative team, Hershey, Pa.
• Feb. 5 – Leadership Lancaster’s Leadership Advantage (co-presenter with Liz Braungard, repeated session) – integrated marketing, Lancaster, Pa.
• January – Lancaster Story Slam – “Embarrassing Moments” theme
• Jan. 24 – The Triangle’s Adult Spelling Bee, Lancaster, Pa.

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[su_spoiler title=”2014 Appearances”]

2014

• The Triangle presents StorySlam: “It Happened at the Library” (winner) – PA Library Association Conference after-hours event, Lancaster, Pa.
• HighEdWeb Portland – October 2014 – “No Better Time than ‘NOW’: Telling the Story of How We’re Telling the E-town Story“presented on building on online news website
• The Web Conference at Penn State — State College, Pa., June
• Tom Bigler High School Journalism Conference — Wilkes-Barre, Pa., April
• Higher Ed Experts Online Content Conference — March
• OmniUpdate OU Campus User Conference — Anaheim, Calif., March
• CUPRAP Conference (opening session panelist – multimedia storytelling) — Hershey, Pa., March
• CASE District II (co-presenter) — Baltimore, Md., February

OmniUpdate’s OU Campus User Conference 2014 | Photo Courtesy the OU Gang.

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[su_spoiler title=”2013 Appearances”]

• HighEdWeb 2013 — Buffalo, N.Y., October
• mStoner webinar (co-presented) on integrated campaigns — “InteGREAT! Using Print, Web, and Social to Engage Prospective Students” — August (watch now)
• The Web Conference at Penn State – State College, Pa., June (live streamed and recorded, watch here.)
• Penn State Social Media Summit – State College, Pa., May
• .eduGuru Summit – online conference, March

The social media mistakes presentation at High Ed Web was packed and a hit!

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”2012 Appearances”]

2012

• HighEdWeb 2012 — “No Such Thing as TMI: How to Create a Culture of Sharing” — won best in track! — Milwaukee, Wisc., October
• CIC College Media Conference  — Washington, D.C.
• eduWeb 2012 — “No Such Things as TMI: How to Create a Culture of Sharing” — Boston, June 2012
• OmniUpdate OU Campus User Conference — Universal City, Calif., March 2012

I won best of track (content/social) at HighEdWeb 2012. Better known as The Red Stapler Award.

[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler title=”2011 Appearances”]

2011

• HighEdWeb 2011 — “Multimedia Storytelling” — Austin, October
• Tom Bigler High School Journalism Conference — April

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[su_spoiler title=”2010 and Earlier”]

2010 and earlier

With the exception of the October 2010 event, the following events were during my time working in eCommerce and while I was still an active contributor to local publications, hence the focus of some of these talks. However, most of these talks are indeed relevant to the areas on which I speak and present today. My marketing and communications experience has continued to evolve as I moved from print and broadcast media, to ecommerce, to higher ed and, now, as an independent creative professional.

• Small businesses and eCommerce, Elizabethtown College’s S. Dale High Center for Family Business, October 2010
• Social Media and Small Business, Wilkes University Small Business Development Center, June 2010
• Social Media in Networking, Wilkes University Recent Alumni Program, February 2010
• Using Social Media to Get Published and Make Connections, Where Books Begin, December 2009
• Social Media & Public Relations Workshop, Zebra Communications (student-run PR firm at Wilkes University), October, 2009 – (NOTE: This led to me adjuncting at Wilkes on this topic.)
• NEPA Non-Profit Summit (part of blogging panel), 2009
• The Business of Blogging — Woodlands Inn and Resort Mixer Series, 2009
• Social Media for the Anti-Social Writer, Wilkes University Low-Residency MFA program, summer residency, June, 2009
• Freelance Writing Opportunities, Tom Bigler High School Journalism Conference at Wilkes University, Spring 2008
• Solid Cactus Ecommerce Boot Camp: PR – Offline Media for Online Business – 2007
• Solid Cactus Ecommerce Boot Camp: “Creative Content Kingdom” co-presented with Cory Brin (recap here) – 2008
• Solid Cactus Ecommerce Book Camp: Session on our company’s then-new features, co-presented with Scott Sanfilippo – 2007/8
• Freelance Writing While in College, Dr. Andrea Frantz’s Magazines & eZines class, Wilkes Univeristy – Spring 2007

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Available presentations/topics:

I can tailor a presentation or workshop to fit almost any need, but I prefer to speak to small businesses, institutions of higher education, and community-benefit organizations who are serious about digital/integrated marketing. I also speak to creative writing programs and literary groups and publishing organizations about running a magazine, social media for writers, personal branding for writers, and writers’ websites and blogs.

These are just a few topics:

• Storytelling in Higher Education
• Creating Content that Sizzles
• Writing Across Platforms
• Building a Digital Identity for Writers
• Writers’ Websites – Why You Need One
• Becoming an Expert in Your Field

Note that there were additional talks not included here, mostly guest-speaking engagements in classroom settings; for the sake of brevity, I focused the more recent entries on this page on conferences.

For more information or to request me for an event or workshop:

[su_button url=”https://donnatalarico.com/contact/” size=”5″ icon=”icon: envelope-o”]Request Info Now[/su_button]