Category Archives: Professional Development

Now available on demand: The Secrets of Show, Don’t Tell

The Secrets of Show, Don't Tell: A Webinar for Writers (On Demand) Presented by Kathy MacMillan. KathyMacMillan.com.

Recording access is now available for my most popular writing workshop, “The Secrets of Show, Don’t Tell” – and for a limited time, it’s on sale for only $30.00!

In this 3.5 hour workshop, I break down what it really means to “show, don’t tell” in relation to every aspect of your writing from character development to plot, and in every stage from manuscript to pitch. With examples across categories and genres, I share my “Showing Secrets” – actionable revision steps that you can use right away to breathe new life into your writing.

You will receive recording access information by email within 24 hours of order. You will have access to the recording for 30 days.

Let’s get showing!

Purchase Summer Reading Bundle and Get 40% Little Hands Signing in Preschool Storytimes!

Purchase this: Summer Bundle: Summer Reading Special 2026 & Summer Signs – 2 Little Hands Signing Professional Development On-Demand Webinars (2 hours total). And get 40% off this: Little Hands Signing in Preschool Storytime. Monday, August 3, 2026. 2-4 PM Eastern/1-3 PM Central/12-2 PM Mountain/11 AM-1 PM Pacific. Online session via Zoom (2-hour webinar). Includes recording access. Presented by Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S. StoriesByHand.com/webinars.

For a limited time!

Purchase the Summer Little Hands Signing in Storytime Bundle (a steal at $60.00!) and get 40% off your registration for Little Hands Signing in Preschool Storytime!

Continue reading Purchase Summer Reading Bundle and Get 40% Little Hands Signing in Preschool Storytimes!

Librarian and Teacher Resources for NITA’S FOOD SIGNS

I’m so excited to share with you these resources for using Nita’s Food Signs in the classroom or storytime!

Nita’s Food Signs Teacher/Librarian Guide (printable .pdf)

 

Video Demonstration of the Signs in the Book:

 

Nita’s Food Signs Storytime with Author Kathy MacMillan (in Spoken English with Closed Captions)

Nita’s Food Signs Storytime with Author Kathy MacMillan (in American Sign Language)

 

More Resources for Signing with Young Children:

Little Hands Signing Storytime & Craft Ideas

Little Hands and Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together

Resources for Signing with Babies and Young Children

Resources for Signing in Storytime or the Classroom

Resources for Educators and Librarians

Picture Books about ASL and Deaf Culture

Hear This!: Use That Microphone, Already

photo of a microphoneIt happens again and again: a speaker is asked to use a microphone, and they say, “Oh, I don’t need it. I have a [teacher/pastor/camp counselor/fill-in-the-blank supposedly loud profession] voice.”  (I even had a clergy member at my own parent’s funeral try to pull this!)

But guess what? It has nothing to do with how loud you (supposedly) are, and everything to do with your audience’s comfort and access. Some people can hear high sounds, some low, and some need you to use the microphone to help drown out background noise. And just because people can hear you when you shout “Can you hear me?” at the top of your voice, that doesn’t mean that they can comfortably listen to you for five or ten or sixty minutes when your voice, tone, and pitch go up and down in the course of normal speaking.

Continue reading Hear This!: Use That Microphone, Already