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• TIP: Avoid ambiguous antecedents
• Take your writing to a new level – Online Creative Writing Stage 2
• Monash Prize launched
• TIP: Okay, ok, OK?
• Write your film – Screenwriting Stage 1
• What we’re reading – Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
• WEBPICK: Playing by the Book

This newsletter comes to you from the Yarra Valley in Victoria. I’ve escaped to the country to focus on the book I’m writing. Although I admit I've taken some distracting trips into the city to interview people, like best-selling author of Unmarketing Scott Stratten, and meeting chanteuse turned talent judge turned author turned fashion designer Dannii Minogue at the recent Business Chicks event in Melbourne. But I'm now firmly back with my manuscript.

When you’re working on a creative project it’s vital that you combine the technique and skills that you learn (in courses at the Sydney Writers’ Centre) with some discipline and space to let your creative juices flow.

When I’m taking a break from writing, I also love exploring new towns. Although I do find myself writing travel stories in my head about these cute destinations. If you like the idea of writing travel articles then I highly recommend our wonderful online course: Travel Writing.

In this 5-week online course, you’ll discover:

• different types of travel articles
• industry lingo you need to know
• how to structure your article
• travel writing in your home town
• a step-by-step guide to “media trips”
• and MUCH more.

• Our final Summer School courses are being held this weekend. There are some places available for Travel Memoir – and it’s not too late to enrol!
  
  
• It’s raining cat and dog memoirs – our latest Writing Bar post explores the publishing phenomena of pet memoirs.
  
  
• Filling fast: Business Writing Essentials with Tony Spencer-Smith, Tuesday 28 February 2012.

My phone was in my bag but now it’s gone.

“The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind, and they can be seen in the church basement Friday afternoon”. The pronoun “they” finds itself in an awkward position. Does it refer to the ladies or the clothing? Well, we can guess that “items of clothing” is the intended antecedent, but it doesn’t appear that way.

If you’ve completed Creative Writing Stage 1 or Writing Books for Children and Young Adults, then you already know the essential elements of a good story. But maintaining your motivation and inspiration is also an important part of your writing journey and that’s where Creative Writing Stage 2 comes in.

Workshopping your writing is essential if you want to extend your skills and make your stories shine. Our ONLINE COURSE: Creative Writing Stage 2 will give you the chance to put into practice what you’ve learnt and get invaluable feedback from your online tutor and your classmates.

What past participants say:
"I enjoyed learning how to structure our stories so that the reader is kept interested, and about the process of publishing and what you need to do to refine your writing."
- Elise Alexandra Robertson

"The ability to do it online and when it suited me was most important to me. Cathie's comments were precise and her knowledge was valuable. I found her comments useful and really helpful in my writing."
- Debra Moloney

ONLINE COURSE: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman
When: Week beginning Monday 5 March 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
 
Click here for more information or to enrol online.

• TIP: Antecedents and why you need to get them right
• More student success
• Twisted Stringybark Short Story Award
• Write to inspire children and young adults
• Dickens and the dictionary
• Boost your business profile
• What we’re reading – The Sense of An Ending by Julian Barnes
• WEBPICK: Literature Quiz – Famous First Lines

As this week’s newsletter hits your inbox, I will be driving from Sydney to Melbourne with three of my furry babies – Rex (cat), Rocky (cat) and Rambo (dog). This is an exercise in patience, determination and, some would say, insanity. As you can see from the picture, Rocky isn’t too happy about it.

I’m sure I’ll have some tales to tell by the end of this road trip. I’m heading to the Yarra Valley for some peace and solitude to focus on the book I’m writing. In the meantime, I know that the Sydney Writers’ Centre is in very capable hands with our wonderful team.

One of the courses I’m excited about is Travel Memoir with the talented Claire Scobie. One section I can never resist in bookstores is the “vicarious travel” section. There’s nothing like  being transported to another country, being taken on a physical – and often emotional – journey and seeing that destination through the author’s eyes.

If you want to pen a travel memoir, you’ll discover:

• how to structure your travel memoir and make your journey unique from the first page
• ways to transform dog-eared travel journals into a must-read manuscript
• writing about place with new eyes and describing characters without clichés
• popular genres of travel writing
• what to do before you leave and how to write on the road
• how to write a compelling book proposal to get your work published

• Sydney Writers’ Centre presenter Claire Scobie shares her tips on writing travel memoir on the Writing Bar.
  
  
  
• Our Creative Writing Stage 1 courses are quickly filling! The next course starts on Tuesday 6 March.
  
  
  
• We’re looking forward to our first Business Writing Essentials seminar with Tony Spencer-Smith on Tuesday 28 February.

The rider fell off his bike.

Look at this example: “Breathe in through your nose, hold it for a few seconds, then breathe out through your mouth”. This crazy sentence illustrates how easy it is for readers to accidentally think that the antecedent is the noun closest to the pronoun. The pronoun “it” seems to refer to “nose,” the singular noun closest to the word “it”; however, the writer did not mean for you to hold your nose. What’s missing here is a clear antecedent: “your breath.”

What could possibly be better than travelling to a new city, spending a few days in an exotic resort, or even just heading to a local bed & breakfast for the weekend? Getting paid to write about it, of course!
 
To travel is to experience so much – new sights, new sounds, new people. And for writers, new inspiration. Many people dream of writing travel features for their favourite magazines or newspapers, and it is possible. With the right strategies and tools, you can confidently pitch your articles to editors, and get paid to travel.
 
In our five-week ONLINE COURSE in Travel Writing, you’ll learn all you need to know to write great articles, and get them published.
 
What past participants say:
"I really enjoyed Sue's professional, non-pretentious and encouraging approach to participants."
- Maurice Venables

"Sue was extremely professional and offered constructive feedback. Very inspirational and I could really relate to her even in an online environment."
- Jocelyn Pride
 
ONLINE COURSE: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 20 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
 
Click here for more information or to enrol online.

The invention of many words has been credited to Dickens in past editions of the Oxford English Dictionary, including sawbones, messiness, whizz-bang, unpromisingly, spiflication and seediness. Others have been wrongly attributed to him – such as flummox and boredom – but possibly came into more regular use thanks to his use of them. Either way, it’s impossible to overestimate the influence Dickens had on literature and language.

• TIP: Apostrophes and time
• Voiceless Writing Prize – win publication with Allen & Unwin
• Travel Memoir: Weekend Workshop
• TIP: Cannot or can not?
• The right way to write at work – Business Writing Essentials
• What we’re reading – Men Are Like a Box of
  Chocolates by Elly Klein
• WEBPICK: The 20 “Best” Suspicious Quotation Marks

It's been another busy week at the Sydney Writers’ Centre. I love the vibe in our graduate forum where we’re hearing from former students who have successfully pitched their stories to publications – congratulations to everyone! It’s also buzzing at the Centre now that our business courses are back in full swing as well. We have new courses for you that will definitely make business writing an enjoyable and easy process.

In addition, I’m excited about our new course in Thriller Writing. When I want to escape, I love reading thrillers. Sometimes, they are so adrenalin-packed and full of suspense that I literally can’t put the book down. My heart races, my breath gets shorter and I all but break out in a cold sweat.

In our exciting new 5-week course (which will no doubt also keep
you on the edge of your seat), you’ll learn:

• the eight must haves of a good thriller
• how to find the story you want to tell
• story structure, and how to incorporate key turning points
• character creation – attributes, motivations
• how to craft the all important opening lines
• the dos and don’ts of action scenes
• building pace and suspense
• what literary agents/publishers look for in a thriller
• how to craft a satisfying climax
• and more
  
  

• This week on the Writing Bar we’re featuring a revealing profile on journalist and author, Peter Lloyd. Read it here.
  
  
• Our last Creative Writing Summer School weekend starts on Saturday! It’s not too late to enrol.
  
  
• Filling fast: PR and Media Releases that Get Results, Thursday 23 February 2012.

It feels as though Sydney has had a year’s worth of rain in just a few months.

The new CEO has 15 years’ experience in banking.

‘If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail.’

There is some truth in this, especially for writers. Effectively planning your novel could mean the difference between having a publishable draft, and going back to the drawing board.

There are many different ways to plan a novel, and many different ways to build a plot. Our two-part masterclass on Plotting and Planning with author Kate Forsyth teaches you the techniques you need to make sure you don’t lose the plot.

What past participants say:
"All the detail provided in the plotting phase was at the perfect level to make a big difference to my current project! Kate is really great. She has relevant and interesting examples and is really knowledgeable about the industry."
- Michelle Wallace

"The course has helped me think more strategically about my novel, and to think through the important elements in a logical way."
- Barbara Watt

This course is taught by Kate Forsyth. Kate is an internationally bestselling author of more than 20 books for children and adults, including The Puzzle Ring, The Gypsy Crown, The Starthorn Tree, and the bestselling fantasy series ‘The Witches of Eileanan' and 'Rhiannon’s Ride'.

Plotting and Planning with Kate Forsyth
When: Wednesdays 22 & 29 February 2012 (two evening classes)
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

You cannot take sharp or dangerous objects on the flight.

• a step-by-step guideline on how to write most business documents
• valuable templates to help you write your letters and emails
• the 11 Golden Rules of business writing
• the right way to write salutations, honorifics and signoffs
• how to use apostrophes correctly
• frequently confused terms
• and much more.
  
  

• TIP: Specially or especially?
• Penguin’s Monthly Catch
• Write stories to inspire children 
• Book giveaway – Tell Them to Get Lost by
  Brian Thacker
• Writing for the Web
• What we’re reading – The Thousand Autumns
  of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell
• WEBPICK: Grammarics

I love summer here at the Sydney Writers’ Centre. With daylight savings and our gorgeous sunny days, the Centre is buzzing every day with students. It’s such a great atmosphere and the perfect time of year to start on your writing projects.  

We have a wonderful range of creative writing courses coming up. If you haven’t done a creative writing course before, then Creative Writing Stage 1 is the best place to start. This will make sure you have the right foundation to write fiction, short stories and novels.

If you have a bit of experience under your belt, then Plotting and Planning will help you unveil your story to your readers at the right points.

In Creative Writing Stage 1, you’ll learn how to:

• kick-start the creative writing process
• tap into your imagination
• draw from everyday experiences and memories
• examine different types of creative writing
• give structure to your writing
• use characters and dialogue
• and MUCH more
  
  

• Filling fast: Travel Writing with Sue White, starts Monday 6 February.
  
  
• We’re getting lots of interest in our Paris and Bali writing tours. They’ll both fill quickly so don’t delay if you want to be part of one of these amazing trips.
  
  
• Our new Write Your Novel program has only 4 places left! Check out details here.
  
  

The chair is specially designed for people with bad backs.

The weather’s been especially wet in Sydney this Summer.

Want to know the secret to getting your articles published in newspapers and magazines? Our online course in Writing for Magazines and Newspapers will show you not only how to research and write great features, but also how to get an editor to pay you for them!
 
Many of our online course graduates have gone on to publish articles in their favourite publications, and some have even changed careers. This course is perfect for first-time writers or anyone who wants to brush up on their writing skills.
 
Want to see how our online classes work? Check out the sample page here.
 
What past participants say:
"The online format was easy and, unlike some online courses, it felt as if you were in a class. The course had a great sense of coherence. I liked being able to undertake the work at times that suited me."
- Shirley Schulz-Robinson

"Sue was great. Her answers to my questions were concise and covered even more than I asked. She obviously has an immense amount of experience and this showed in all of her correspondence."
- Alan Taylor

ONLINE COURSE: Magazine and Newspaper Writing with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 6 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
 
Click here for more information or to enrol online.