My Education

Given Hoffman’s Education in Writing and Communication:

(Psst, I’ll let you in on a secret, I’m older than I look.)

• Homeschooled ~ High School Diploma (2010)
• Worldview Academy ~ Certificates (2006, 2007, 2008)
• College Classes ~ Completed (2008-2010)
• Christian Writers Guild Writing for the Soul Conference(s) ~ Attended (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
• Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild – Fiction Writing Apprenticeship Course ~ Certificate of Completion (Writing Essentials, 2011), ~ Certificate of Completion (Apprentice, 2011), ~ Certificate of Completion (Journeyman, 2012), ~ Certificate of Completion (Craftsman, 2013)
• Ellerslie Discipleship Training ~ Certificate of Completion (2014)
• Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference ~ Attended (2017)
• Northwestern Christian Writers Conference ~ Attended (2017)
• Master Classes ~ Completed (2020-2021)
• Books on Writing and Communicating ~ Read (2012-2023)
• TED Talk Speakers on Communication ~ Listened To (2016-2023)
• Write To Publish Conference ~ Attended (2023)
• Communications Masterclass ~ Attended (2024)
• American Christian Fiction Writers Workshop ~ Attended (2024)
• “Conflict to Connection” Seminar ~ Attended (2024)
• Biblical Counseling Conference ~ Attended (2024)

---

Education in Writing and Communication (with descriptions/list of instructors):

Homeschooled

~ High School Diploma (2010)

Worldview Academy (Christian Apologetics Training)

~ Certificates (2006, 2007, 2008)

College Classes

Expository Writing

Research Writing

Interpersonal Communication

~ Completed (2008-2010)

Christian Writers Guild Writing for the Soul Conference(s) (In-Person and Recordings)

Instructors of attended classes:

~ Attended (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)

Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild – Fiction Writing Apprenticeship Course

~ Certificate for Writing Essentials (2011)

~ Certificate for Apprentice (2011)

~ Certificate for Journeyman (2012)

~ Certificate for Craftsman (2013)

Ellerslie Christian Discipleship Training

~ Certificate of Completion (2014)

Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference (In-Person and Recordings)

Instructors of attended classes:

~ Attended (2017)

Northwestern Christian Writers Conference (One day)

Instructors of attended classes:

Liz Curtis Higgs

Julie Klassen

Renee Swope

Keith Jones

~ Attended (2017)

Master Classes

James Patterson – Teaching Writing

R.L. Stine -Teaching Writing for Young Audiences

Margaret Atwood -Teaches Creative Writing

Dan Brown – Teaches Writing Thrillers

David Baldacci – Teaches Mystery and Thriller Writing

Aaron Sorkin – Teaches Screenwriting

N.K. Jemisin – Teaches Fantasy and Science Fiction Writing

Daniel Pink – Traches Sales and Persuasion

Sara Blakely – Teaches Self-Made Entrepreneurship

Bob Iger – Teaches Business Strategy and Leadership

Ron Howard – Teaches Directing

Nancy Cartwright – Teaches Voice Acting

Robin Roberts – Teaches Effective and Authentic Communication

Criss Voss – Teaches the Art of Negotiation

~ Completed (2020-2021)

Books on Writing and Communicating

Conflict, Action & Suspense by William Noble

Characters and Viewpoints by Orson Scott Card

Scene & Structure by Jack M Brickham

Beginnings Middles & Ends by Nancy Kress

Plot by Ansen Dibell

Descriptions by Monica Wood

The Elements of Style by Strunk & White

The Write Way by Richard Lederer & Richard Dowis

The Scene Book by Sandra Scofield

Stein on Writing by Sol Stein

Fiction Writing Demystified by Thomas B. Sawyer

Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass

Getting Into Character by Brandilyn Collins

Save the Cat by Blake Snyder

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, Switzler, Roppe

Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion by George J. Thompson PH.D., and Jerry B. Jenkins

What Every Body Is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agents’s Guide to Speed-Reading People by Joe Navarro with Marvin Marlins, Ph.D.

Find Out Anything From Anyone Anytime by James O.Pyle & Marlyann Karinch

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

~ Read (2012-2023)

TED Talk Speakers on Communication

Brené Brown

Amy Cuddy

Simon Sinek

Julian Treasure

~ Listened To (2016-2023)

Write To Publish Conference (In-Person and on Recording)

Instructors of attended classes:

Twila Belk

Laurie Christine

Karen Neumair 

Tim Shoemaker

Brett Harris

Kara Swanson

Jerry B. Jenkins

~ Attended (2023)

Communications Masterclass (Live Online)

Vinh Giang

~ Attended (2024)

American Christian Fiction Writers Workshop (In-person)

Erica Vetsch

~ Attended (2024)

“Conflict to Connection” Seminar

Matthias Barker

Jimmy Knowles

~ Listened To (2024)

Biblical Counseling Conference (In-person)(6 day event)

Attended Lectures

~ Attended (2024)