Bill Torgerson
Assistant Professor | St. John's University
New York, NY, UNITED STATES
Laughs and Lessons: Whether it's on Growing up in the 80s, Overcoming Divorce, or Learning to Write, Smiles are Guaranteed
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Biography
If something here grabs your attention, let's talk about the possibility of working together.
I'm an assistant professor in the Institute for Writing Studies at St. John's University in New York. My 80s music and movies themed novel, Love on the Big Screen, came out of my own misguided obsessions when it comes to the films of John Hughes and characters played by John Cusack such as Lloyd Dobler in Say Anything.
My adaptation of Love on the Big Screen won the Grand Prize of the Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival Screenplay Competition. Given my time in front of classrooms, presenting at all sorts of professional conferences, and events such as the one "Girlfriend Weekend" I did last January, I'm a flexible speaker who feels comfortable in front of a variety of audiences. I specialize in interactive presentations that generate a storm of laughs and conversation.
Industry Expertise (10)
Media - Online
Writing and Editing
Library and Information Management
Social Media
Internet
Motion Pictures and Film
Education/Learning
Media Production
Entertainment
Print Media
Areas of Expertise (10)
Education
Writing
Digital Media
Blogging
Creative Writing
Research
Social Media
Reading
Comedy
Collaborative Teams
Accomplishments (4)
Learning to Surf the Sea of Conversation: A Way Into Meaningful Research (professional)
The Journal of Teaching Writing published this article in their Fall 2011 publication.
Honorable Mention Los Angeles Script and Film Festival (personal)
A Viking on the Subway tells the story of Maija Finehair, a viking warrior killed at the battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066 and whisked away to contemporary New York City. This script was awarded an Honorable Mention distinction at the 2011 Los Angeles Script and Film Festival.
Carolina News Channel 14 Teacher of the Week (professional)
Love on the Big Screen (professional)
Love on the Big Screen is a novel and script that tells the story of a college freshman whose understanding of love has been shaped by late-eighties romantic comedies. The script was awarded the Grand Prize in the Rhode Island International Film Festival Screenplay Competition.
Education (3)
Olivet Nazarene University: B.A., English Education 1995
Georgia College: M.F.A., Creative Writing 2007
University of North Carolina Charlotte: Masters, English Education 2004
Affiliations (5)
- National Writing Project
- College Composition
- Association of Writers and Writing Programs
- St. John's University, New York
- National Council of Teachers of English
Links (1)
Event Appearances (5)
Title
BlogWorld New Media Expo Los Angeles
2011-11-04
Title
National Council For Teachers of English Philadelphia
2009-11-20
Title
Association of Writers and Writing Programs Atlanta, Georgia
2007-03-05
Title
Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival Providence, Rhode Island
2011-08-21
Title
Girlfriend Weekend: The Greatest Book Show on Earth Jefferson, Texas
Sample Talks (4)
A Writer on the Craft of Writing
From blogs, to websites, to company newsletters, many people find themselves writing much more than they ever imagined. Whether or not you are looking for ideas to write about or honing your craft, this interactive session will get you started toward writing more effectively.
Love on the Big Screen Comedy Warm Up
"Torg" was so obsessed by 80s music and movies and the impact they had on his love life, that he wrote a book and script about it. Drawing on expertise gained through the writing of his novel Love on the Big Screen, have a good laugh remembering the 80s and thinking harder about how the music and movies of your youth may have influenced you more than you think.
Stop Lecturing and Start Engaging: Hands on Activities for the Reading and Writing Classroom
Participants in this lively session will create writing territories and learn how to use those territories to stimulate lively conversation that leads to the writing of meaningful essays, stories, scripts, research projects, and maybe even documentary films.
You Can Finally Do It! Write the ________ You've Been Wanting to Write
Whether it's a story, novel, script, or blog, in this interactive session you'll finally get started on that text that you've always wanted to write.
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Moderator
- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
- Host/MC
- Author Appearance
Social