Free newsletter from the Sydney Writers' Centre packed with information about our upcoming courses and events, writing competitions, festivals, free articles on writing as well as freelance news and opportunities.
Here's a collection of some of our past newsletters.
That or which; Student successes; Travel Writing, Editing at Work
In this issue:
TIP: That or which?
Get published in your favourite magazine
More student success
Make your travel pay!
EJ Brady Short Story Competition
The rules of editing
WORDWISE: Sesquipedalian
WEBPICK: I Write Like
It's been another busy week at the Sydney Writers' Centre. I'm thrilled to welcome journalist Matthew Nott and author James Roy to our team of wonderful presenters. Between them, they bring a wealth of experience and knowledge that I'm sure you'll find invaluable when you do their courses.
Next weekend, Danielle (our amazing Operations Coordinator and book-lover) will be busy at the Byron Writers' Festival - make sure you say 'hi' if you spot her there. And I will be facilitating the Online Business Booster Bootcamp for 200 people in Fiji. For everyone who has been asking when Sydney Bootcamp will be ... the date is being announced soon so make sure you register your interest here.
TIP: That or which? Please don’t think we’re being lazy by revisiting another tip this week, but many of our readers have asked about the difference between 'that' and 'which' so we felt this one was definitely worth revisiting.
The key to this one is to remember the difference between a restrictive and a non-restrictiveclause. A restrictive clause is part of a sentence that you can’t get rid of, and therefore you use ‘that’. For example:
A car that has no petrol will not go very far.
A non-restrictive clause is something that could be taken out of your sentence without affecting its meaning. In other words, it’s additional information. In this case you use ‘which’ and precede it with a comma. (Non-restrictive clauses are usually surrounded by commas.) For example:
The car, which had run out of petrol, was parked on the side of the road.
Easy, right? Just remember this advice from Grammar Girl:
Remembering to use that with restrictive clauses and which with non-restrictive clauses is the best method, but the quick and dirty tip of using which when you could throw out the clause will also get you to the right answer most of the time.
Get published in your favourite magazine Want to know how you can turn your passion into a new career? It is possible, and many of our former students have gone on to do just that.
If you want to write for magazines and newspapers, and get paid for it, you just need the confidence and the right tools to get you started. That’s what our Online Feature Writing course can give you – and you don’t even have to attend a classroom!
This course will cover:
which ideas work and where to get them
understanding the magazine/news market
different types of feature articles
how to research, structure and write a feature
what editors want from a writer
how to pitch your article or idea to a magazine and sell it!
Here’s what our most recent participants had to say about the course:
‘It was very easy and convenient to do the course online. I set myself a day to download the weekly PDFs and MP3s and would then fit in the three modules over the course of the week as it best suited my time availability. Some weeks I could do the whole Module in one sitting and other weeks I had to chunk it down to manageable time allocations around my schedule. The flexibility to do this was fantastic. I loved the fact that I could have a first listen through with the notes in front of me and then have the MP3 downloads with me in the car for a second listen which helped immensely.’
- Shaleen Hill
‘I've learnt loads! Yes, I have absolutely benefited from the course.’
- Melanie Tong
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
If you prefer to learn in the classroom and can make it to our Milsons Point training rooms, our next Feature Writing course will be held with Mat Nott, a successful freelance journalist with over 20 years’ experience.
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Student Success Our first student success this week is David Andrews. In 2008 he completed both Creative Writing stage 1 and 2
with us, as well as a seminar on book publishing. Since then he’s been
busy writing – working on a couple of novels and some poetry. One of his
poems, ‘Persian Princess’ was commended in the John Shaw Neilson Poetry Award, run by the Fellowship of Australians Writers.
Congratulations David! We can’t wait to hear how the novels go.
Another former student achieving writing success is Martyn Clarke-Smith. He did our Online Feature Writing course in June this year, and already he’s had an article published! His article was published in the Narogin Observer in WA recently – on page 4 no less!
Congratulations Martyn!
Get paid to travel Who doesn’t love the idea of travelling the world, writing about their experiences and then getting them published? It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it…
If you’ve completed our Feature Writing course or if you just want to find out more about the travel writing industry and what you can expect as a writer, our two-hour seminar will arm you with all the information you need to get started. This seminar will cover:
publishing opportunities (newspapers, magazines, electronic publishing, travel literature, other avenues)
types of travel stories (service stories, destination stories, personal essays)
what it takes to be a travel writer
some straight talk about earnings
finding and focusing your story
the art and craft of travel writing
getting published and making contacts (including tips on joining professional associations
Here’s what our most recent participants had to say about the course:
‘I really enjoyed Geoff's presenting style and the wealth of information he presented us with. He was informative, engaging, gave plenty of useful and interesting information and gave us a clear insight into the industry. It really opened my eyes about how the travel writing industry works and by the end of the seminar all the questions I had beforehand had been answered. I can't recommend it highly enough.’
- Barbara Cullan
‘Lots of realistic practical information from an experienced travel writer. I awoke at 3am with ideas for travel articles and planning goals to achieve them. I just had to get up to write them down!’
- Pauline Reynolds
This seminar is presented by Geoff Bartlett, he has worked as a freelance travel writer and photographer for magazines and websites for the last six years. His current areas of focus are the islands of the South Pacific and Asia. He is a regular contributor to Pacific Island Paradises and Asian Paradises.
Geoff will show you all you need to know to see your travel experiences in print. Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett When: Monday 9 August 2010 (two-hour evening seminar) Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm Cost: $75
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
EJ Brady Short Story Competition Just finished a creative writing course with us? Looking for an opportunity to practice your new skills and let your creativity loose? The EJ Brady Short Story Competition could be just what you need.
The 2010 competition is for short stories up to 2,500 words long. There is also a category for very short stories of up to 700 words.
The theme is open so you can write in any genre you like for adults or
young adults. Prizes are generous – first prize in the short story
category (up to 2,500 words) is $1500 and the very short story winner
will receive $500.
There is a $10 entry fee and you can download an entry form here. Entries close on Tuesday 31 August 2010.
The rules of editing If you’re someone who finds the task of editing other people’s work tedious and time- consuming, then our newest seminar is for you. Editing at Work will teach you the ground rules of turning poor writing into polished documents.
You’ll finish the day with a framework that will help you save time and make your job easier. You’ll also learn:
the steps involved in editing
what to do when you have to be both the writer and the editor
the standard marks that professional editors use when working with hard copy
the ‘on-screen editing’ marks (Track Changes)
the rules for applying common editorial style points: word breaks, hyphens and dashes; italics, ‘roman’ and quotation marks; paragraph indentation; running on; closing up spaces; ‘number style’; and upper and lower case
about the role of editorial style sheets and house-style guides – and how to create them
and much more!
The workshop is presented by Deb Doyle, an experienced editorial-training consultant and publication editor. Deb has conducted courses for the Productivity Commission, AMP and Wizard Home Loans as well as many other corporate and government entities located in Sydney or Melbourne. Deb’s courses are interactive and collegial. She demystifies the editing process in a way that’s engaging and interesting.
Editing at Work with Deb Doyle When: Wednesday 18 August 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.30 – 4.30pm Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Wordwise: Sesquipedalian Can you figure out what the following means?
A lithoid form, whose onward course
Is shaped by gravitational force,
Can scarce enjoy the consolation
Of bryophytic aggregation.*
If you can, good on you! This is the sesquipedalian form of a common proverb. In other words, the proverb has been rewritten using long and ponderous words.
Sesquipedalis comes from the Latin for ‘a foot-and-a-half-long’. It now means any word that has many syllables, or a statement that is characterised by the use of long terms. You might see examples of sesquipedalian words in corporate writing or, more recently, in political statements. Obviously this is not a word that comes up in everyday conversation, but I’d love to see the look on
some pollies faces if someone ever accused them of being sesquipedalian!
*A rolling stone gathers no moss.
WEBPICK: I Write Like This one’s been doing the rounds on twitter lately and I’ve seen many posts from people pleased to announce that they write like James Joyce, or Stephen King. One twitterer expressed dismay at her result – Dan Brown!
So, who do you write like? If you want to know all you do is cut and paste a paragraph of text into the analyser, and seconds later you’ll have your literary equivalent.
(My result? James Joyce – probably has something to do with the fact I used my sesquipedalian piece.)
Other upcoming courses Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 30 July 2010 (two-hour evening seminar) Time: 10.00am – 12noon Cost: $75
Course: Online Feature Writing Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo/Pamela Wilson
When: Week beginning Monday 2 August 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 2 August 2010 (two-hour evening seminar) Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $75
Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 9 August 2010 (2-hour evening seminar) Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $75
Seminar: Self-publishing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 2 September 2010 (two-hour evening seminar) Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $75
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 6 September 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with James Roy – NEW PRESENTER
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 9 September 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Friday 10 September 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm Cost: $395
Seminar: Proofreading at work with Deb Doyle – NEW COURSE
When: Friday 17 September 2010 Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm Cost: $365
Seminar: How to get free publicity with Catriona Pollard – NEW COURSE
When: Thursday 23 September 2010 Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm Cost: $495
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 5-day Intensive course with Jeni Mawter
When: Monday 27 September - Friday 1 October 2010 (5 consecutive days) Time: 10.00am - 12noon Cost: $395
Course: Magazine Writing Stage 2 with Gayle Bryant
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 29 September 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Course: Novel writing workshop with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday beginning Tuesday 12 October 2010 for six weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $495
Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Thursday 14 October 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm Cost: $365
Course: Build Your Online Profile with Tristan Bancks – NEW DATE
When: Thursdays starting Thursday 14 October 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 27 October 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Perfecting Your Pitch with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Thursdays 4 & 11 November 2010 Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $175
Writing Tour: Writing in Bali with Patti Miller – FULL
When: 30 September to 5 October 2010
Writing Tour: Writing in Paris with Patti Miller – FULL
Dates for 2010:
Arrival: Thursday 21 October 2010 Departure: Saturday 6 November 2010
I have to admit, I’m addicted to movies and television. While I certainly love the written word, I also enjoy sitting back and enjoying the sensory experience of motion picture watching. And I’m no snob – I’ll enjoy everything from arthouse films to Hollywood blockbusters.
That’s why I’m so excited to tell you about our new course, Screenwriting with Tim Gooding. For those of you who saw Tim take a session about this craft at the Sydney Writers’ Festival, you’ll know he’s dynamic, generous with his information and full of great stories about the screenwriting industry.
After all, he’s written for everything from Water Rats and Rafferty’s Rules to Blue Heelers and All Saints. He also devised and co-wrote the ABC TV series Sweet and Sour - I grew up watching that show! I’m so thrilled that Tim has joined our team.
You can take advantage of Tim’s vast knowledge and experience at the next course in Screenwriting.
Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Monday starting Monday 16 August 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
TIP: Are you hyper or hypo? Hyper and hypo – they sound almost exactly the same when you say them but their meanings are completely opposite. You’re most likely to see ‘hyper’ and ‘hypo’ as prefixes in medical terms, but they also come up in other words we regularly use.
‘Hyper’ means over or excessive, for example, ‘hyperactive’, which means active to excess or overactive. Medical terms with the prefix ‘hyper’ usually mean excessive or above normal, so hyperthermia occurs when a patient has an abnormally high fever or body temperature.
‘Hypo’ means under or inadequate. Hypodermic literally means ‘under the skin’ and if a person has an abnormally low body temperature, then they’re described as being as having hypothermia.
So it pays to make sure you’ve spelt your prefix correctly, especially when the difference between ‘hypo’ and ‘hyper’ is so vast – you could wind up saying the complete opposite of what you mean.
Take your creative writing to the next level If you’ve done our Creative Writing Stage 1 course, then you know all about plot, character, voice and structure. But would you like a chance to put all that into practice and get feedback from a professional? We’ve developed the perfect follow-up to stage 1, designed to help you build your confidence through practical lessons and workshopping.
The next Creative writing stage 2 starts soon, and places are filling fast.
This course will cover:
how to find, create or extend your main characters and how to place them within a world of believable minor characters
how to make similar characters distinct on the page - what is your character’s ‘journey’?
structuring your story
climax and resolution: how these shape the final story - and how to write them!
the principles of scene development: dialogue, pacing, the manipulation of time, character interaction, management of exposition
the right process of structural editing, copy-editing and proof reading, using examples from both published and student work
and much more.
Here’s what our most recent participants had to say about the course:
‘Most enjoyable about the course was having a presenter as educated and friendly as Pamela Freeman. Pamela was always happy to answer any questions and made the learning experience enjoyable. Different from creative writing stage one, stage two challenged me more, making me put what I have learnt to the test and pushed me that extra little bit.’ - Gustavo Panucci
‘I find Pamela Freeman a great inspiration and an excellent teacher. She has in depth knowledge of the industry and brings humour and personal experience effectively into each session. My workshop skills have improved and I feel that I have progressed to a stage where I am feeling more confident about the process of structuring a story.’ - Angharad Dalton
Creative Writing Stage 2 is presented by Pamela Freeman, author of 21 books, the most recent of which, Full Circle (Book 3 of the Castings trilogy), is being published in the US, UK, France, Spain, Portugal and Germany as well as Australia. Pamela’s latest children’s book, Victor’s Challenge, was published in 2009 in Australia and the UK.
Pamela started as a children’s writer, and many of her books have been shortlisted for the State Literary Awards, the Children's Book Council Book of the Year Awards, the Koala Awards and the Wilderness Society Environment Awards. Pamela – who is also an accomplished script writer – has taught creative writing at the University of Technology, Sydney for many years.
Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Tuesdays starting Tuesday 27 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
You can also do this course online:
ONLINE Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 26 July 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Travel Writing Awards The East Gippsland TAFE Travel Writing Awards are on again. This is a perfect opportunity for feature writing or travel writing graduates to put what they’ve learned into practice! Your task is to write a 1500 word article in any style on any of your travel experiences – anywhere in the world. First prize is $1500, second is $500 and third, $250. Depending on the quality of the short listed articles, judges may also give out $100 commendation prizes.
If you’re a Gippsland local or you’ve recently visited there, there is also a special prize of $350 for the best travel article on the area – which is anywhere from Philip Island to Warragul to the NSW border.
How to get your book published So, you’re ready to get published. But do you know what’s involved in publishing a book? Do you know who you want to approach or how you should pitch your book? Have you ever negotiated a contract? These are all questions you need to consider when you embark on publishing your book. If you’re new to publishing, our next How to Get Your Book Published seminar will help prepare you for this challenging and exciting journey.
The seminar will cover:
how to write a winning book proposal
how to approach publishers
do you need an agent?
how much should you write before approaching a publisher?
negotiating a fair contract
the editing and re-writing process
Here’s what some recent participants had to say about the seminar:
‘What I found most enjoyable was the combination of great information in a very relaxed and interactive environment. I came into the seminar with no preconceived ideas about the publishing industry and now I have gained some level of confidence to approach the tasks ahead.’ - Robyn Davine
‘I took copious notes aligning Geoff's ideas with my own situation...I haven't taken so many notes since my uni days! I noted how I would market my product with my own marketing expertise being brought to the fore. I wish my wife had purchased this seminar for me earlier.’ - Larry Ritter
This seminar is presented by Geoff Bartlett who is an author, journalist, actor and producer. He has filed articles and interviews for over 20 major newspapers and magazines around the country, including The Sydney Morning Herald, Courier Mail, Canberra Times, West Australian and Australian Style.
In 1999, Geoff's first book, was published in Australia and New Zealand through Harper Collins. Comedians in the Mist was a series of interviews with top Australian comedians.
In the electronic media, Geoff has written for Good News Week, Backberner, Life Support, The Comedy Channel and 2MMM. He also writes regularly for the finance and travel industries. His latest books are Cattitude, released in 2006 and Mutterings which was published in 2007.
How to get your book published DAYTIME seminar with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 30 July 2010 (two-hour morning seminar) Time: 10.00am – 12noon Cost: $75
OR
How to get your book published EVENING seminar with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 2 August 2010 (two-hour evening seminar) Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm Cost: $75
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Movie ticket giveaway – South Solitary We received some great entries for last week’s movie ticket giveaway – seems many of our subscribers are budding actors as well as writers! If you sent an entry, we’ll be posting out your double pass soon.
This week we have another ticket giveaway thanks to Icon Films. South Solitary had its world premiere at the recent Sydney Film Festival and was a sell-out there. The film opens across Australia on 29 July, and we have 10 season double passes to giveaway.
South Solitary is a gentle romantic comedy, featuring a stellar Australian cast including Miranda Otto (Blessed), and Barry Otto (Australia). It was filmed in Australia, and showcases some of the best scenery our country has to offer.
The year is 1927, and the setting is South Solitary Island, a remote lighthouse island off the coast of Tasmania, which is cold, rainy, and directly in the path of the Roaring Forties. Meredith Appleton (Miranda Otto), 35, arrives with her uncle, George Wadsworth (Barry Otto), the replacement Head Keeper of the lighthouse. She is a “chin up!” sort of a girl, and she needs to be in these circumstances…
Meredith tries to make the best of a bad situation by attempting to make friends with the few occupants of the island, including Assistant Keeper, Fleet. However, with a little bit of time, Meredith finds much more than friendship.
If you’d like to win a double pass just tell us what you would take with you to South Solitary (to fend off the boredom!) and why. Email your answer to courses [at] spindriftmedia [dot] com [dot] au by 5pm 30 July 2010 and don't forget to include your name and postal address.
TIP: Whilst or while? We’ve covered the vexing issue of whether to use whilst or while in your writing before, but as we received an email this week from one subscriber, I thought it would be worth repeating it. Here’s what we wrote on the topic in May last year:
Deciding whether to use whilst or while can come down to just personal preference. While many people nowadays think it’s old-fashioned to use ‘whilst’, it is still used frequently, particularly in corporate or more formal writing.
Wikipedia says that ‘whilst is synonymous with while in standard English’ and that most style guides (both English and American) disapprove of the use of ‘whilst’. But according to www.onlinegrammar.com.au there is a belief among some grammar experts that there is a subtle difference:
While should be used in relation to time
Ie: The news came on while we were eating dinner. Whilst should be used when the meaning is ‘although’.
Ie: Whilst she is new to the area, she has quickly made friends.
That’s for the pedants among you. However, our advice is to use 'while' instead of 'whilst' for consistency and clarity. If you do feel the need to use 'whilst' to mean 'although', then simply use 'although'!
For example: Although she is new to the area, she has quickly made friends.
This is also the approach of the major newspapers in this country.
Make your website great! Writing content for your website is very different to writing letters, reports, or even marketing material. Web content needs to be concise and give your site’s visitors the information they need, clearly and quickly.
If you’re building a brand new website or want to revitalise your current one our Writing for the Web seminar will give you tools and techniques you can use straight away.
This practical seminar covers:
the difference between print and online writing
good content versus poor content
how your readers engage with web content
golden rules of information design
writing for scannability
guidelines for concise writing
do you need contextual links?
using keywords for search engine optimisation
writing for accessibility and usability
why you need a style guide
and much more
Here’s what some recent participants had to say about the seminar:
‘Hearing similar issues being faced in other organisations was really beneficial. It highlighted things I could be doing better and also some things that I am currently doing right, which was a nice surprise! I found the overall session and Grant to be relaxed, informative and fun. I can now better plan my approach to web writing with the tools provided.’ - Shelley Stephens
‘I really enjoyed the focus on the way people take in information on the web. I went back to work and redesigned our website. I now feel like I have a better idea of how to effectively arrange and write website copy.’ - Marina Cilona
This seminar is presented by Grant Doyle, an experienced copywriter, content manager and web editor. Grant's background is as a print journalist and author. He has spent the last 11 years in web writing and has been contracting or consulting to major corporations in various online content capacities since then. Grant continues to initiate and teach many in-house web writing programs in addition to developing corporate web writing style guides.
Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Monday 26 July 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm Cost: $365
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
WEBPICK: Write to Done Who better to give you advice on writing than a Zen master? Write to Done: Unmissable articles on writing, is the blog of Leo Babauta – journalist, author, blogger and entrepreneur. He’s helped by his chief editor, zen master and psychotherapist, Mary Jaksch.
Write to Done covers all sorts of writing – journalism, freelance writing, fiction, non-fiction – and also tackles the world of publishing and working as a writer. There’s loads of advice here! Definitely check out the post containing 201 Ways to Arouse Your Creativity – you’re bound to find something to spark your next story!
(And if you feel you need an extra edge in your writing, try Leo’s other blog http://zenhabits.net/)
Other upcoming courses Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Holly Nott
When: Thursdays starting Thursday 22 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm Cost: $395
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson – FULL
When: Friday 23 July 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm Cost: $395
Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Monday 26 July 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm Cost: $365
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 1 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman
When: Week beginning Monday 26 July 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 26 July 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 27 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 30 July 2010 (two-hour evening seminar) Time: 10.00am – 12noon Cost: $75
Course: Online Feature Writing Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo/Pamela Wilson - NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 2 August 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 2 August 2010 (two-hour evening seminar) Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $75
Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 9 August 2010 (2-hour evening seminar) Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $75
Course: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle – FULL
When: Wednesday 11 August 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm Cost: $395
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 12 August 2010 for six weeks Time: 10am - 12noon Cost: $450
Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Monday starting Monday 16 August 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Course: Editing at work with Deb Doyle – NEW COURSE
When: Wednesday 18 August 2010 Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm Cost: $365
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson – NEW DATE
When: Friday 27 August 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm Cost: $395
Seminar: Writing Letters and Emails with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Tuesday 31 August 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm Cost: $365
Seminar: Self-publishing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 2 September 2010 (two-hour evening seminar) Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $75
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with James Roy – NEW PRESENTER
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 9 September 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Friday 10 September 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm Cost: $395
Seminar: Proofreading at work with Deb Doyle – NEW COURSE
When: Friday 17 September 2010 Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm Cost: $365
Seminar: How to get free publicity with Catriona Pollard – NEW COURSE
When: Thursday 23 September 2010 Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm Cost: $495
Course: Magazine Writing Stage 2 with Valerie Khoo
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 29 September 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 5-day Intensive course with Jeni Mawter
When: Monday 27 September - Friday 1 October 2010 (5 consecutive days) Time: 10.00am - 12noon Cost: $395
Course: Novel writing workshop with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday beginning Tuesday 12 October 2010 for six weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $495
Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 14 October 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm Cost: $365
Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge – NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 27 October 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Writing Tour: Writing in Bali with Patti Miller – FULL
When: 30 September to 5 October 2010
Writing Tour: Writing in Paris with Patti Miller – FULL
Dates for 2010:
Arrival: Thursday 21 October 2010 Departure: Saturday 6 November 2010
We won!; Build your online profile; Big Issue Fiction Edition; Ticket giveaway - Me and Orson Welles
In this issue:
We won the NSW Telstra Business Awards Micro-Business category!
TIP: Dangling modifiers
Build your online profile
Big IssueFiction edition
Get your articles published
Movie ticket giveaway – Me and Orson Welles
Take your creative writing to the next level
Wordwise: Janus words
WEBPICK: Sydney Writers’ Festival
We’ve had a massive week at the Sydney Writers’ Centre. Last Friday, we all waited with bated breath at a black-tie function at The Westin Hotel in Sydney for the end of this sentence: “And the winner is …”
It was the NSW Telstra Business Awards and we were one of the finalists. We were beyond excited when we heard the words:
“ … the Sydney Writers’ Centre”. We are honoured to win the NSW Telstra Business Awards Micro-business category.
Apart from the hard work from our wonderful staff and presenters at the Centre, much of this award is due to YOU, our incredible community of students and writing enthusiasts. We love your stories, your words, your questions and your passion for learning. That’s what gets me out of bed every day – helping solve writing issues, advising on how to get published, teaching some how to use pesky apostrophes and, in some cases, watching as you make your own writing dreams come true. We’re just humbled and honoured to play a tiny part in that. So thank you because this award would not be possible without your continued inspiration.
One area that we are receiving an increasing number of queries for is business writing. After all, not everyone wants to write the Great Australian Novel! Sometimes, we having more pressing issues like how to craft a professional business letter or how to edit documents at work. You might be interested in our new seminar “Editing at Work” presented by Deb Doyle.
Seminar:
Editing
at work with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 18 August 2010 Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm Cost: $365
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
TIP: Dangling modifiers One of the most common errors people make in their writing is misplacing words or clauses in a sentence – or using ‘dangling modifiers’. A dangling modifier occurs when a descriptive phrase doesn’t immediately precede the noun or pronoun it’s modifying – leaving the description dangling. This can affect the meaning of the sentence and, if you’re not careful, you’ll wind up with some surprisingly silly results. It’s a very easy mistake to make, and often readers won’t immediately recognise it.
Here are some examples from The Little Green Grammar Book by Mark Tredinnick:
Before she’d even finished laying, Lucy chased the hen out of the coop.
(Who was laying – Lucy or the hen?)
We make recommendations for fixing all the problems in this report.
(Are they interested in fixing problems in the report or problems in the company?)
The correct sentences would read:
Before the hen had even finished laying, Lucy chased her out of the coop.
In this report, we make recommendations for fixing all these problems.
Build your online profile If you want to build your profile with readers, publishers, customers or potential clients, knowing what opportunities are available online is vital. But you don’t need to be an technical whizz or know everything about the internet. There’s plenty you can do even if you don’t yet have a plan for your online presence.
Build Your Online Profile will show you how to engage your audience through blogs, social media and your website. You’ll finish the course with:
an understanding of how you can use the web to connect with readers, publishers, agents, librarians, booksellers and others in a way that feels authentic to you
confidence in your ability to use various web platforms
handouts that take you, step-by-step, through the process of setting up and using several key web platforms
knowledge to create a simple online video to promote your work
workshopped ideas for expanding your current work into cross-platform projects, such as using video, audio and interactive web tools to bring your stories to life
Lots of inspiration to help you break through procrastination and get active.
This course is taught by Tristan Bancks. He has been actively building and experimenting with his online presence as a writer over several years. His willingness to engage with the web has been integral to his success in getting published in Australia and the United States.
Tristan has a background as an actor and television presenter in Australia and the UK. His short films have won a number of awards and have screened widely at festivals and on TV. Tristan has written several books for kids and teens, including the Mac Slater, Coolhunter series (Random House Australia, Simon & Schuster US), and his illustrated series, Nit Boy, about everybody's favourite mini-beasts. Nit Boy is currently being developed for television. Tristan's Young Adult novel, it's yr life, was co-written via email between Byron Bay and L.A. with actress and author, Tempany Deckert.
Build Your Online Profile with Tristan Bancks
When: Mondays beginning Monday 19 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
The Big Issue Fiction Edition It’s here again. The Big Issue’s highly anticipated fiction edition will be on sale from Friday 16 July. This year’s issue features the usual mix of well-known and up-and-coming writers, including Christos Tsiolkas (The Slap), Toni Jordan (Addition), and international author Michael Faber (Crimson Petal and the White). Also featuring this year is Linda Jaivin, author of nine books and also one of our featured authors on our podcast page.
There are also stories from new writers Patrick Allington, Oslo Davis, Emmett Stinson, Samuel Rutter, Karen Hitchcock and Romy Ash.
So enjoy this year’s Toasty Tales with the Big Issue, on sale from this Friday in most train stations, street corners or shopping centres – just look out for your local Big Issue vendor.
Get your articles published in magazines and newspapers Many of our former students have done it, and you can too. I’m talking about getting published, of course! With the right tools you can write great articles and get them published in your favourite magazines or newspapers. Whether you’re new to writing or you just want to brush up on your skills, our Feature Writing course will help you.
The course will teach you about:
which ideas work - and where to get them
understanding the magazine/news market
different types of feature articles
how to research, structure and write a feature
what editors want from a writer
how to pitch your article or idea to a magazine and sell it!
The next course is presented by Holly Nott, who was Sydney Bureau Chief of AAP. She has covered everything from shark attacks to federal elections, terrorism trials to snowboarding holidays. We’re thrilled that Holly has joined our team.
Here’s what some recent participants had to say about the course:
‘Everything I learnt was of benefit to me! I have come from a long-term corporate background so every piece of information was new and beneficial for me. The information is so practical that you leave with a good understanding of what to do and how to do it - now it's just about having the courage to do it!’ - Lana Haines
‘As part of my job is to write articles for our corporate newsletter and blog, it was extremely helpful to go through the "how to find ideas", the structure, the do's and don'ts, and how to edit and revise articles.’ - Delphine Caprez-Cunningham
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Movie ticket giveaway – Me and Orson Welles Who wants to go to the movies? Thanks to Nixco, this week we have 20 double passes to give away to Me and Orson Welles, the story of a young man getting his break in the theatre in the 1930s.
The film has received rave reviews in the US and Christian McKay, who portrays Orson Welles, was nominated for a BAFTA award for his performance. Here’s a bit more about the film:
Me & Orson Welles is set in the exciting world of the New York theatre. Teenage student Richard Samuels lucks his way into a minor role on the legendary 1937 Mercury Theatre production of Julius Caesar, directed by a youthful Orson Welles. Over the course of a magical week, Richard makes his Broadway debut, finds romance with an ambitious older woman, and experiences the dark side of genius after daring to cross the imperious, brilliant Welles.
If you’d like to win a double pass to Me and Orson Welles, just tell us which play you'd like to act in, and why. Email our answer to courses [at] spindriftmedia [dot] com [dot] au by 5pm 23 July 2010 and don't forget to include your name and postal address.
Take your creative writing to the next level If you’ve completed our Creative Writing Stage 1 course, then you’re well on your way to achieving your writing dreams. The next stage in your journey is Creative Writing Stage 2, which will give you a chance to really practice what you’ve learned and take your writing to the next level.
This is a practical course and each week you’ll have a chance to workshop your writing with your classmates. You’ll be using the techniques you learned in stage 1 of the course and you’ll also cover:
how to find, create or extend your main characters and how to place them within a world of believable minor characters
how to make similar characters distinct on the page - what is your character’s ‘journey’?
structuring your story
climax and resolution: how these shape the final story - and how to write them!
the principles of scene development: dialogue, pacing, the manipulation of time, character interaction, management of exposition
the right process of structural editing, copy-editing and proof reading, using examples from both published and student work
and much more.
Here’s what our most recent participants had to say about the course:
‘Most enjoyable about the course was having a presenter as educated and friendly as Pamela Freeman. Pamela was always happy to answer any questions and made the learning experience enjoyable. Different from creative writing stage one, stage two challenged me more, making me put what I have learnt to the test and pushed me that extra little bit.’ - Gustavo Panucci
‘I find Pamela Freeman a great inspiration and an excellent teacher. She has in depth knowledge of the industry and brings humour and personal experience effectively into each session. My workshop skills have improved and I feel that I have progressed to a stage where I am feeling more confident about the process of structuring a story.’ - Angharad Dalton
Creative Writing Stage 2 is presented by Pamela Freeman, author of 21 books, the most recent of which, Full Circle (Book 3 of the Castings trilogy), is being published in the US, UK, France, Spain, Portugal and Germany as well as Australia. Pamela’s latest children’s book, Victor’s Challenge, was published in 2009 in Australia and the UK.
Pamela started as a children’s writer, and many of her books have been shortlisted for the State Literary Awards, the Children's Book Council Book of the Year Awards, the Koala Awards and the Wilderness Society Environment Awards. Pamela – who is also an accomplished script writer – has taught creative writing at the University of Technology, Sydney for many years.
Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Tuesdays starting Tuesday 27 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
You can also do this course online:
Online Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 26 July 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Wordwise: Janus Words In a recent newsletter, we mentioned contranyms, or words with two opposing meanings. (Get Published, 4 March 2010) Well, I’ve discovered another term for these words – and actually I like this one much better.
Janus words are single words that have two meanings that are opposite. The term Janus word comes from the Roman God, Janus. He was the God of gates, doors, doorways, and beginnings and ending, and is usually depicted with two heads looking in opposite directions.
The most often sited example of a Janus word is ‘cleave’, which can mean to ‘split something in two’ or ‘to cling to’. Some other examples are sanction (can mean allow or prohibit), bolt (to secure or to start suddenly and run away) and dust (which can be removed or sprinkled over something).
WEBPICK: Sydney Writers’ Festival podcasts The Sydney Writers’ Festival finished back in May, but organisers have been busy ever since uploading podcasts and video of some of the most popular talks. Thanks to ABC Radio National, ABC Big Ideas and SlowTV, you can watch Peter Carey’s closing address, enjoy an evening with Colm Toibin, and see Ross Gittins’ interview with Raj Patel, author of The Value of Nothing.
Podcasts include our very own Judith Ridge talking to Melina Marchetta and David Levithan, and ‘Did business speak cause the GFC?’, a fascinating session with Ross Gittins, Ross Garnaut and Neil James.
You can see and hear more from the Sydney Writers’ Festival here.
Other upcoming courses Course: DAYTIME Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Friday starting Friday 16 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 10.00am - 12noon Cost: $395
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller – FULL
When: Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 July 2010 (two-day workshop) Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm Cost: $450
Course: Online Feature Writing Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo/Pamela Wilson
When: Week beginning Monday 19 July 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Course: Build Your Online Profile with Tristan Bancks
When: Mondays beginning Monday 19 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Seminar: Writing Letters and Emails with Deb Doyle – FULL
When: Tuesday 20 July 2010 Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm Cost: $365
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson – FULL
When: Friday 23 July 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm Cost: $395
Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Monday 26 July 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm Cost: $365
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 1 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman –NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 26 July 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 26 July 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 27 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 30 July 2010 (two-hour evening seminar) Time: 10.00am – 12noon Cost: $75
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 2 August 2010 (two-hour evening seminar) Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $75
Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 9 August 2010 (2-hour evening seminar) Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $75
Course: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle – FULL
When: Wednesday 11 August 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm Cost: $395
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 12 August 2010 for six weeks Time: 10am - 12noon Cost: $450
Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding –NEW COURSE
When: Every Monday starting Monday 16 August 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Course: Editing at work with Deb Doyle –NEW COURSE
When: Wednesday 18 August 2010 Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm Cost: $365
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson – NEW DATE
When: Friday 27 August 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm Cost: $395
Seminar: Writing Letters and Emails with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Tuesday 31 August 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm Cost: $365
Seminar: Self-publishing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 2 September 2010 (two-hour evening seminar) Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $75
Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Friday 10 September 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with James Roy – NEW PRESENTER
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 22 September 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 5-day Intensive course with Jeni Mawter
When: Monday 27 September - Friday 1 October 2010 (5 consecutive days) Time: 10.00am - 12noon Cost: $395
Course: Novel writing workshop with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday beginning Tuesday 12 October 2010 for six weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $495
Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge – NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 27 October 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Writing Tour: Writing in Bali with Patti Miller – FULL
When: 30 September to 5 October 2010
Writing Tour: Writing in Paris with Patti Miller – FULL
Dates for 2010:
Arrival: Thursday 21 October 2010 Departure: Saturday 6 November 2010
New Screenwriting course; Learn the art of writing for kids; Walkley Media Conference; Editing at work
In this issue:
NEW COURSE – Screenwriting Stage 1
TIP: Continual or continuous?
Learn the art of writing for kids
Student success - Natasha Brooks
Walkley Media Conference
Editing at work
Wordwise: Why not soccer?
WEBPICK: Penguin Party Game
I’m so thrilled to announce our new course, Screenwriting Stage 1 with veteran film and television script-writer Tim Gooding.
Tim Gooding is an experienced screenwriting presenter and has written for shows including Rafferty’s Rules, Blue Heelers, Stingers, Water Rats, and All Saints. He also co-created the ABC TV’s series “Sweet and Sour”.
Screenwriting Stage 1 will teach you about the three essential elements of a good script – character, story and structure. You’ll learn techniques to help you get that great idea out of your head and on to the page – and ultimately, the screen! You’ll be given professional feedback and work towards completing a first draft of a short film script.
Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Mondays starting Monday 16 August 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
TIP: Continual or continuous? It seems the more we explore easily confused words the more we find. And there are a surprising number that have become so commonly confused they’re almost interchangeable. Continual and continuous are good examples of this. The meanings of these two words are very similar, but again there are subtle differences in usage.
Continuous is to be uninterrupted in time or without cessation. For example:
Electricity is supplied continuously to our office.
Continual means of regular or frequent recurrence; often repeated or very frequent.
Rambo continually forgets how to use his doggy door.
Learn the art of writing books for kids Would you like to write the next Twilight? Do you want to turn the bedtime stories you tell your kids into something more? If you don’t live in Sydney, you can still access our courses. Next week, join us online for Writing Books for Children and Young Adults. This course contains the same great content as our face-to-face course, but gives you the flexibility to study from home at a time that suits you. Just like our face-to-face groups, you’ll learn all about writing inspiring stories for younger readers.
The course will cover:
how to get started
finding the right voice
creating characters and stories young readers will enjoy
how to write believable dialogue
common assumptions about writing for children and about young readers
how to structure a story that works
the secrets to plotting for different age groups
what you need to know about getting into the children’s publishing market
Here’s what some of our most recent participants had to say about the course:
‘The information presented was relevant and presented well with plenty of examples (which is key!). Also, receiving feedback on our work, and being able to see the works and feedback from others, was extremely valuable! Doing the course online meant that I could listen to the modules when it suited me; I wouldn't have been able to participate in the course otherwise. Also, having the ability to pause, rewind, and replay the audio was extremely helpful (there is so much to take in!) and I will absolutely be listening to them over and over again.’ - Sarah Evason
‘I've been floundering around for ages with a manuscript, and I thought I knew everything there is to know about structure, plot, dialogue and character. I didn't. In fact, the thing holding me back was that I didn't know enough about structure, plot, dialogue and character. I benefited enormously from the course. I couldn't have done this course without the sort of flexibility it offered in terms of time and mode of delivery. I really, really appreciated that.’ - Mary Binks
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Student Success We’ve just received very exciting news from one of our former Feature Writing students, Natasha Brooks. Here’s what she wrote to us:
I have launched my first book this week. ‘Offered and Accepted: A Recruiter’s Guide to Sales’ is a non-fiction book, aimed at agency and in-house recruiters and shows how to improve results in a competitive market. The book is also of interest to HR and line managers who engage recruiters. I have attended two courses at the centre which were useful, in particular the feature writing course. A book for busy professionals needs to be engaging and tightly written and this course significantly helped me to improve my writing style. I have also signed up for the Building an Online Profile course that starts on 19 July - a major interest to me now that I have a book to promote!
Congratulations Natasha! And good luck with your marketing.
If you want to learn how to promote your book, writing or business, Build Your Online Profile begins soon!
Build Your Online Profile with Tristan Bancks
When: Mondays starting Monday 19 August 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Walkley Media Conference – What’s the story? The annual Walkley Media Conference will be running from Monday 9 to Thursday 12 August 2010 and it promises to be an insightful and inspiring four days for journalists. There will be a number of workshops including a video skills with Olivia Rousset (anyone remember Race Around the World?), and a series of panels on everything from interviewing to travel writing and investigative journalism.
If you’re a freelance journalist, Thursday’s program is all about you. There’ll be discussions on setting up your business, contracts, negotiating with editors and the ethics of freelancing.
All events will be held at the NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre in Surry Hills and bookings are being taken now. If you’d like to register or check out the full program visit www.walkleyconference.com.au
Editing at Work Do you have to edit documents at work? Are you confident in the changes you make? Our one-day editing seminar will give you the tools to turn even the clumsiest writing into polished documents and letters.
Editing doesn’t have to be a tedious task. We’ll show you how you can make it an enjoyable and satisfying one. By the end of the workshop, you’ll also:
understand the steps involved in editing
know what to do when you have to be both the writer and the editor
learn the standard marks that professional editors use when working with hard copy
grasp the ‘on-screen editing’ marks (Track Changes)
refresh your knowledge of the essential terms used in publication editing
learn the rules for applying common editorial style points: word breaks, hyphens and dashes; italics, ‘roman’ and quotation marks; paragraph indentation; running on; closing up spaces; ‘number style’; and upper and lower case
understand the role of editorial style sheets and house-style guides – and how to create them
discover how to edit numerical information
The workshop is presented by Deb Doyle, an experienced editorial-training consultant and publication editor. Deb has conducted courses for the Productivity Commission, AMP and Wizard Home Loans as well as many other corporate and government entities located in Sydney or Melbourne. Deb's courses are interactive and fun. You'll be amazed at how engaging and interesting a workshop in grammar and punctuation can be.
Editing at Work with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 18 August 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm Cost: $365
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Note: You may have expressed your interest in our seminar, Editing Essentials. This course is currently on hiatus, but Editing at Work has the same learning outcomes as Editing Essentials.
Wordwise: Why not soccer? Anyone who’s visited England or Europe, will know that uttering the word ‘soccer’ instead of ‘football’ is akin to blasphemy. But did you know that the word soccer is actually a colloquial abbreviation of Association Football? Even more interesting is the fact that this abbreviation originated in England.
Apparently the word first came into use in the 1870s, when students at Oxford shortened the term Association Football and added the suffix ‘-er’. It was popularised at the time by prominent English footballer, Charles Wreford-Brown (1866–1951). So the next time an English ‘football’ fan rolls their eyes at you for using the word soccer, you can remind them of this little known fact.
WEBPICK: Penguin Party Game Want to win 75 Penguin classics? If you do, and you consider yourself bit of a book nerd, you must check out the Penguin Party Game. The aim is to allocate all 75 classic penguin titles to their representation in the ballroom. It’s harder than it sounds! Some of the images are quite cryptic, but you can ask for hints if you need a bit of help.
If you manage to correctly match all 75 books to their ballroom image, you could win 75 penguin classics AND a stylish Mark Tuckey bookshelf to keep them in. I’ve already started on my entry.
Other upcoming courses Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 1 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman
When: Week beginning Monday 12 July 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman - FULL
When: Week beginning Monday 12 July 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Course: Perfecting your pitch with Sue White
When: Monday 12 July and 19 July 2010 (two evening seminars) Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $175
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 13 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Course: DAYTIME Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Friday starting Friday 16 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 10.00am - 12noon Cost: $395
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller - FULL
When: Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 July 2010 (two-day workshop) Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm Cost: $450
Course: Online Feature Writing Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo/Pamela Wilson - NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 19 July 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Course: Build Your Online Profile with Tristan Bancks
When: Mondays beginning Monday 19 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Seminar: Writing Letters and Emails with Deb Doyle
When: Tuesday 20 July 2010 Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm Cost: $365
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson
When: Friday 23 July 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm Cost: $395
Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Monday 26 July 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm Cost: $365
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 26 July 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 27 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 30 July 2010 (two-hour evening seminar) Time: 10.00am – 12noon Cost: $75
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 2 August 2010 (two-hour evening seminar) Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $75
Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 9 August 2010 (2-hour evening seminar) Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $75
Course: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle - NEW DATE
When: Wednesday 11 August 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm Cost: $395
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 12 August 2010 for six weeks Time: 10am - 12noon Cost: $450
Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding - NEW COURSE
When: Every Monday starting Monday 16 August 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Course: Editing at work with Deb Doyle - NEW COURSE
When: Wednesday 18 August 2010 Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm Cost: $365
Lie or lay? Get your articles published; Visible Ink submissions; Build your profile online
In this issue:
TIP: Lay vs lie?
Get your articles published!
Invisible Ink Submissions
Get noticed, online
It’s never too late to get published
Write and make your short film
Did you know? Cardigan
WEBPICK:Reading Matters
Last week, I mentioned that former student Mitch Lewis dropped in his first book “Little Red Ute”, published by Scholastic. I’ve finally had a chance to read it and I LOVE IT!
Writing a children’s book is a big achievement. A common misconception is that it’s easier because the books are shorter – but nothing could be further from the truth. As many former students of our course “Writing Books for Children and Young Adults” can attest, there are so many factors to consider when you’re writing for young people. It’s not just about writing down the bedtime stories you tell your kids.
The good news is that our course will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to get started on your children’s book.
This course in Writing Books for Children and Young Adults will cover:
how to get started
finding the right voice
creating characters and stories young readers will enjoy
how to write believable dialogue
common assumptions about writing for children and about young readers
how to structure a story that works
the secrets to plotting for different age groups
what you need to know about getting into the children’s publishing market
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
TIP: Lay or Lie? Do you lay down or lie down? Do I lay my book on the table or do I lie it down? There is a simple way to make sure you are using the right word here.
Lay and lie have very similar meanings. (We’re ignoring one meaning of lie, which is to tell an untruth.) Lie, or lie down, is ‘to be in a horizontal, recumbent, or prostrate position’, or to be something other than sitting or standing. Lay means ‘place on a surface’ or ‘put or place in a horizontal position’.
The big difference between the two is that lay requires a direct object, where lie does not. In other words, you lay something down but people lie themselves down. Just keep this table in mind...
Lie
Lay
Present
Now I lie down
Now I lay my book on the table.
Past
Yesterday I lay down.
Yesterday I laid my book on the table.
Perfect
I have lain down.
I have laid my book on the table.
(from How Much Can a Koala Bear? by Pamela Thorne)
You know what this means don’t you? It means Bob Dylan was wrong when he sang ‘Lay, Lady Lay’!
(And yes that's my kitty Rex in the picture.)
Get your articles published! Ready to join the students who have already been published in their favourite magazines? Your path to publication should start with our online feature writing course. You’ll learn all the essential elements of good magazine and newspaper articles as well as how to sell them.
And because this course is held online, you can do it from wherever you are, in your own time. This week we welcomed our first student from Norway, and we’ve many more international students joining us!
During this course we’ll teach you:
which ideas work and where to get them
understanding the magazine/news market
different types of feature articles
how to research, structure and write a feature
what editors want from a writer
how to pitch your article or idea to a magazine and sell it!
Here’s what our most recent participants had to say about the course:
‘This course was enjoyable in a lot of ways. I found Valerie's teaching to be an easy to listen to, as well as a positive approach. Her information was informative and I was amazed at the content of the course. As far as I can tell, it covered everything. The online course is easy and convenient. I work shifts and weekends so the 'suit yourself' approach to online courses really does suit me.’ - Alexis Tapp
‘The amount and depth of content was sensational! The examples Valerie gave from her years of experience were invaluable and I hope to be able to benefit from them.’ - Tammy Turner
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Visible Ink submissions Visible Ink is a writers and artists collective run by RMIT in Melbourne. The collective includes journalists, fiction and non-fiction writers and photographers among their members and they’re currently putting together their latest anthology.
Submissions are now open for short stories, poetry, flash fiction, graphic fiction, photography – basically anything creative and original. There is a 2,500 word limit on stories, and 50 lines for poetry. The submission fee is $5 for each piece submitted. All accepted submissions will receive a copy of the anthology and some other prizes that will be announced shortly.
So keep an eye on the Visible Ink blog, where you can also download a submission form.
Get noticed, online According to literary agent, Nathan Bransford, ‘Every [writer] should have some sort of Googlable web presence so that when someone sees your work or hears about you they have a way to contact you.’ He’s right, but not every writer knows about the endless online opportunities available to them. So, we’ve asked Tristan Bancks to show you.
And you don’t have to be an author to get a lot from this course. This is also ideal for speakers, trainers, coaches and entrepreneurs, who can all benefit from building an online profile.
Build Your Online Profile will help you master the art of online promotion, whether it’s through a website, blog or book trailers. The course will give you:
An understanding of how you can use the web to connect with readers, publishers, agents, librarians, booksellers and others in a way that feels authentic to you.
Confidence in your ability to use various web platforms.
Handouts that take you, step-by-step, through the process of setting up and using several key web platforms.
Knowledge to create a simple online video to promote your work.
Workshopped ideas for expanding your current work into cross-platform projects, such as using video, audio and interactive web tools to bring your stories to life.
A fast-paced, information-packed overview of the web’s possibilities for you.
Lots of inspiration to help you break through procrastination and get active.
Tristan Bancks has been actively building and experimenting with his online presence as a writer over several years. His willingness to engage with the web has been integral to his success in getting published in Australia and the United States.
Tristan has a background as an actor and television presenter in Australia and the UK. His short films have won a number of awards and have screened widely at festivals and on TV. Tristan has written several books for kids and teens, including the Mac Slater, Coolhunter series (Random House Australia, Simon & Schuster US), and his illustrated series, Nit Boy, about everybody's favourite mini-beasts. Nit Boy is currently being developed for television. Tristan's Young Adult novel, it's yr life, was co-written via email between Byron Bay and L.A. with actress and author, Tempany Deckert.
Build Your Online Profile with Tristan Bancks
When: Mondays starting Monday 19 July for five weeks Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
It’s never too late to get published! Proof that you’re never too old to write that book you’ve always had in you...
In Wales this week 82-year-old Teacher and theatre director Myrrha Stanford-Smith is celebrating the launch of her first book, The Great Lie. In fact, she’s been given a three-book deal and is already working on the next book in her trilogy about Shakespeare and his rivalry with Christopher Marlowe.
Her story has been covered by major newspapers in the UK and the US, including the Daily Mail – read her story here.
And if that’s inspired you to fulfil your dream to write, don’t forget our Intensive Creative Writing course starts next week.
Creative Writing Stage 1 Intensive with Jeni Mawter
When: Monday 5 July to Friday 9 July 2010 (five consecutive mornings) Time: 10.00am – 12noon Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Write and make your short film Tropfest, In the Bin, Flickerfest – these are just a few of the many successful short film festivals held in Australia. It’s proof that short films are popular with audiences, and can be a great way to get started in the movie industry and showcase your screenwriting talents.
If you have a great idea for a short film but aren’t sure where to start, our next Script Writing for Short Films course starts soon. It will cover:
how to select and develop suitable ideas for a short film
what narrative elements you need in a short film screenplay (characters, plot, dialogue etc)
what technical elements you must consider in a short film screenplay (locations, props, budget etc)
the roles of the writer/director/producer and how they interact
getting your film seen and sold
Here’s what some recent participants had to say about the course:
‘I got a lot out of the course and am really glad that I enrolled. At this stage, making a film does seem to me like a very daunting prospect, but [Geoff has] helped me to understand how the process can be broken up into manageable steps.’ - Sue Joseph
‘The presenter was just fantastic. He told it how it was and he pulled no punches. Just honest, up front info that I really understood. He always asked for questions and gave detailed answers. [I have] nothing but the highest praise for Geoff.’ - Peter Bede Avery
This course is presented by Geoff Bartlett, who has written for several Australian TV shows and produced three short films. Two were semi finalists at Tropfest and one screened in competition at Flickerfest. They were also bought by Foxtel (The Comedy Channel), ABC TV, Qantas, Telstra and Japanese TV.
Script Writing for Short Films with Geoff Bartlett When: Wednesdays 14 July and 21 July 2010 (two seminars) Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm Cost: $175
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Did you know? Cardigan Unless you’re lucky enough to be living north of the NSW border, you couldn’t fail to notice it’s been *@$^$^ freezing this week! No doubt you’ve all layered up with jumpers, t-shirts, and cardigans. I certainly have, and I heard a great story this week about where the word cardigan comes from.
James Thomas Brudenell was the seventh Earl of Cardigan, and also the leader of the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War – a disastrous military defeat for England that was, regardless, immortalised in Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem.
Brudenell was apparently a stylish man who was determined to have his men fitted out accordingly. He (supposedly) invented a knitted, button-down vest to be worn underneath battle uniforms to keep out the cold. The cardigan soon became a staple of the winter wardrobe and continues to be so today.
WEBPICK: Reading Matters If you read mainly contemporary fiction and like to keep abreast of what’s new and what’s worth reading, then visit Reading Matters. This is the book blog of an expat Australian who now lives in London. It’s full of book reviews! The author has read a lot of books – 91 in 2009 alone. Amazingly she still finds time to review the books for Reading Matters, hold down a full-time job as a journalist, and also write for two other blogs!
If you’re looking for a list of must-read books, her top 40 has some great picks, and plenty of options for those cold days and nights when you want nothing more than a good book, a comfy couch, and nice warm cuppa.
Other upcoming courses Course: Online Feature Writing Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo/Pamela Wilson
When: Week beginning Monday 5 July 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 5-day Intensive course with Jeni Mawter
When: Monday 5 July - Friday 9 July 2010 (5 consecutive days) Time: 10.00am - 12noon Cost: $395
Course: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle - FULL
When: Tuesday 6 July 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm Cost: $395
Course: Writing Books for Children with Judith Ridge
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 7 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 1 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman - NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 12 July 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman - FULL
When: Week beginning Monday 12 July 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Course: Perfecting your pitch with Sue White
When: Monday 12 July and 19 July 2010 (two evening seminars) Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $175
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 13 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Course: Script Writing for Short Films with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 14 July and 21 July 2010 (two evening seminars) Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $165
Course: DAYTIME Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Friday starting Friday 16 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 10.00am - 12noon Cost: $395
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 July 2010 (two-day workshop) Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm Cost: $450
Course: Build Your Online Profile with Tristan Bancks
When: Mondays beginning Monday 19 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Seminar: Writing Letters and Emails with Deb Doyle
When: Tuesday 20 July 2010 Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm Cost: $365
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson – NEW DATE
When: Friday 23 July 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm Cost: $395
Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Monday 26 July 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm Cost: $365
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 26 July 2010 for five weeks Time: Whenever suits you Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 27 July 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Friday 30 July 2010 (two-hour evening seminar) Time: 10.00am – 12noon Cost: $75
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Monday 2 August 2010 (two-hour evening seminar) Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $75
Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett - NEW DATE
When: Monday 9 August 2010 (2-hour evening seminar) Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $75
Course: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle - NEW DATE
When: Wednesday 11 August 2010 (one-day seminar) Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm Cost: $395
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 12 August 2010 for six weeks Time: 10am - 12noon Cost: $450
Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding - NEW COURSE
When: Every Monday starting Monday 16 August 2010 for five weeks Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm Cost: $395
It's been another busy week at the Sydney Writers' Centre. I'm thrilled to welcome journalist Matthew Nott and author James Roy to our team of wonderful presenters. Between them, they bring a wealth of experience and knowledge that I'm sure you'll find invaluable when you do their courses.
Please don’t think we’re being lazy by revisiting another tip this week, but many of our readers have asked about the difference between 'that' and 'which' so we felt this one was definitely worth revisiting. 
Want to know how you can turn your passion into a new career? It is possible, and many of our former students have gone on to do just that. 
Who doesn’t love the idea of travelling the world, writing about their experiences and then getting them published? It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it…
If you’re someone who finds the task of editing other people’s work tedious and time- consuming, then our newest seminar is for you. Editing at Work will teach you the ground rules of turning poor writing into polished documents. 
Can you figure out what the following means?
WEBPICK: I Write Like
I have to admit, I’m addicted to movies and television. While I certainly love the written word, I also enjoy sitting back and enjoying the sensory experience of motion picture watching. And I’m no snob – I’ll enjoy everything from arthouse films to Hollywood blockbusters.
Hyper and hypo – they sound almost exactly the same when you say them but their meanings are completely opposite. You’re most likely to see ‘hyper’ and ‘hypo’ as prefixes in medical terms, but they also come up in other words we regularly use. 
WEBPICK: Write to Done
We’ve had a massive week at the Sydney Writers’ Centre. Last Friday, we all waited with bated breath at a black-tie function at The Westin Hotel in Sydney for the end of this sentence: “And the winner is …” 
One of the most common errors people make in their writing is misplacing words or clauses in a sentence – or using ‘dangling modifiers’. A dangling modifier occurs when a descriptive phrase doesn’t immediately precede the noun or pronoun it’s modifying – leaving the description dangling. This can affect the meaning of the sentence and, if you’re not careful, you’ll wind up with some surprisingly silly results. It’s a very easy mistake to make, and often readers won’t immediately recognise it. 
WEBPICK: Sydney Writers’ Festival podcasts
I’m so thrilled to announce our new course, Screenwriting Stage 1 with veteran film and television script-writer Tim Gooding. 
It seems the more we explore easily confused words the more we find. And there are a surprising number that have become so commonly confused they’re almost interchangeable. Continual and continuous are good examples of this. The meanings of these two words are very similar, but again there are subtle differences in usage. 
WEBPICK: Penguin Party Game
Last week, I mentioned that former student Mitch Lewis dropped in his first book “Little Red Ute”, published by Scholastic. I’ve finally had a chance to read it and I LOVE IT!
Do you lay down or lie down? Do I lay my book on the table or do I lie it down? There is a simple way to make sure you are using the right word here. 
WEBPICK: Reading Matters
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