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• TIP: Disinformation or misinformation?
• Writing tours to Paris and Bali – only a few places left!
• The Big Issue Fiction Edition open for submissions
• Did you know? Crash blossoms
• Perfect your grammar and punctuation
• What we’re reading – Astropolis: Saturn Returns by Sean Williams
• WEBPICK: Ruth Wajnryb: words woman

What a week. I’ve been very busy writing but, unsurprisingly, I’ve succumbed to the temptation to buy a stack of books. These have included Story by veteran screenwriting guru Robert McKee. My other book purchase, just for something a bit different, is Crafting with Cat Hair!

While the book about cat hair is quirky (and grosses out most people I show it to), it’s the book on screenwriting that has me riveted. If you fancy the idea of writing for the movies, then you’ll love our course Screenwriting Stage 1 with the wonderful Tim Gooding.

We’re lucky to have Tim teach this course as he’s been travelling to Europe working on his latest TV project. So this is a great opportunity to learn from an experienced screenwriter who is working in the midst of this dynamic industry.

You’ll discover:

• the ideal way to structure your story
• what you need to include in your plot
• how to write characters people love to watch
• why pressure is the catalyst of character
• how to write the most audience-engaging narrative
• genre, style and theme – and how this applies to your screenplay
• and MUCH more.
  
  

• Filling fast: Thriller Writing, starts Thursday 15 March 2012.
  
  
• Check out our newest seminar for writers and anyone who wants to build a following – Build Your Profile Using Twitter with Steven Lewis, 23 April 2012. 
  
  
• Check out the Writing Bar for upcoming writing competitions and our latest book review by student, Suganthi Singarayar.

There has been much disinformation spread about the issue of climate change.

The pamphlet contained misinformation about the cost of dog-sitting.

Our International Writing Tours are a unique experience offering inspiration and motivation to writers at any stage of their journey.
 
Writing in Bali
You can enjoy 8 days in the artistic centre of Ubud, Bali, and learn about the Art and Craft of Writing the Senses. Staying in your own room in a beautiful resort set amongst the rice paddies, you’ll discover how to enrich your writing and re-awaken your senses with Patti Miller.
 
The Art and Craft of Writing the Senses in Bali with Patti Miller
When: Saturday 21 July to Saturday 28 July 2012

Click here for a full itinerary.  
 
Living and writing in Paris
If memoir is more your thing, why not immerse yourself in French culture, food and literature and join our Writing in Paris tour. You’ll spend 17 days exploring the City of Light, staying in your very own Parisian apartment, and undertaking writing instruction from Patti Miller – one of Australia's best writing tutors. This tour is very popular and fills quickly, so don’t miss out!
 
Writing in Paris with Patti Miller
When: Thursday 18 October to Saturday 3 November 2012
For early bird discounts full payment is due by Saturday 31 March 2012.

Click here for full itinerary.

British Left Waffles on Falklands
Gator Attacks Puzzle Experts
Blast at South Lebanon Hotel popular with UN staff

• 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.

• TIP: Each other’s or each others’?
• More student success – Kirsten Hyam
• Turn your travels into a memoir
• Did you know? Exclamation comma
• Master the art of storytelling
• What we’re reading – Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami
• WEBPICK: Readers’ Niche

With 2012 in full swing, it’s no wonder our business writing courses are so popular. So I’m thrilled that we're expanding our team with the addition of Tony Spencer-Smith as a presenter. I’ve known Tony for some years now and have always admired his skill and talent, not only in corporate writing but also training.

Tony is teaching our brand new seminar Business Writing Basics. This seminar is ideal if you want to write confidently at work. You’ll learn easy-to-follow rules so that your writing is clear and concise, and discover the right conventions for emails and letters.

In this one-day workshop, you’ll learn:

• a step-by-step process on how to write most business documents
• the 11 Golden Rules of business writing
• the right way to write salutations, honorifics and signoffs
• a clear framework on how to write clearly and concisely
• how to order information effectively
• how to use apostrophes correctly
• and be provided with valuable templates to help you write your letters and emails
  
  

• Filling fast: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding, starts Monday 30 January 2012.
  
  
• Our latest podcast is now up! Hear what Jessica Rudd has to say about writing and her latest novel, Ruby Blues.
  
  
• We’re looking forward to kicking off our first Thriller Writing course with L.A. Larkin on 15 March 2012.
  
  
• I'm revising one of my books for its new edition. But I'm changing the title and would value your feedback. Which one would you choose? Click here for our quick survey.
  
  

• for singular nouns, the apostrophe goes before the “s”
• for plural nouns, the apostrophe goes after the “s”.
  
  

Students are encouraged to comment on each other’s/each others’ work in the classroom.

This week we heard from Magazine and Newspaper Writing graduate, Kirsten Hyam, who has just had her first feature published in Girlfriend magazine. Here’s what she wrote to us:

One year ago today I received my certificate for the Magazine and Newspaper Writing course with Sue White. Since completing the course I have had my first pitch commissioned, which resulted in my first glossy magazine article published in the January edition of Girlfriend. I am also in the process of writing my second commissioned article for a health and well-being publication. I found the course to be very beneficial in understanding the freelance market and learning more about the trade in general, including brainstorming and pitching ideas, and tips for research and writing. Thanks to Sue and the entire team at the SWC who have great knowledge and such a passion for teaching
their students the art of writing.

Congratulations Kirsten!

If you want to try your hand at writing features for your favourite magazine, our next Magazine and Newspaper Writing course is filling fast. Click here for more information.

The small town reached the peak of its prosperity last century.

The climbers aimed to reach the peak of the mountain by nightfall.

The children couldn't resist taking a peek at their christmas presents.

• TIP: Valuable or invaluable?
• Get your articles published – now!
• Want to blog from New York? Women In Focus blogging competition
• Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival
• Take a peek into the world of travel writing
• What we’re reading – House of Sticks by
  Peggy Frew
• WEBPICK: Get Concentrating

I never thought my knowledge of geography would expand as a result of working at the Sydney Writers’ Centre. But it does – every day. It happens whenever a new student enrols from an exotic-sounding location. I love it when I see people enrol from overseas – many are expats looking for an Australian course. But I also love that students are enrolling in our online courses from all around Australia. It’s been an eye-opener to see the names of some of the quirky towns in this country. Think Humpty Doo (NT), Inaloo (WA), Yorkeys Knob (QLD) and Penguin (TAS)!

One of our popular online courses is Writing Books for Children and Young Adults. I love the feedback that we get from students who do this course.

It's the kind that makes you go all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that you’ve truly made a positive difference in someone’s writing journey.

If you want to write books for children, this is the perfect place to start. Maybe you have ideas for kids’ books but aren’t sure what to do next. This course will give you a step-by-step plan on how to turn your ideas into a book.

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
• and MUCH more
  
  

• 10,000 student enrolments since we started in 2006! Read more about it on the Writing Bar.
  
  
• Filling fast: Weekend Intensive Travel Writing, Saturday 4 February 2012.
  
  
• NEW COURSE: Food Writing with Carli Ratcliff, Saturday 28 April 2012.
  
  
  

Our presenters’ knowledge and experience is invaluable to students.

The collection of jewellery is extremely valuable.

Ready to join the students who have already been published in their favourite magazines? Your path to publication should start with our online magazine and newspaper writing course. You’ll learn all the essential elements of good magazine and newspaper articles as well as how to sell them.
 
And, we’re thrilled to welcome our newest online tutor, Allison Tait. Allison is a journalist, editor, ghost writer, blogger and novelist. You can read more about her incredible writing journey on the Writing Bar.
 
What past participants say:
"I thought the structure of this course was great. I will never read an article in the same way again! The online format was easy and it really felt as if you were in a class."
- Shirley Schulz-Robinson

"I found the clarity of the recordings exceptional. I didn't need to strain to hear and understand them. The lessons were easy to follow and stayed on topic."
- Alan Taylor

ONLINE COURSE: Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Allison Tait
When: Week beginning Monday 23 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
 
Click here for more information or to enrol online.

This week we want to congratulate one of our original Magazine and Newspaper Writing graduates, Heather Smith.

After a number of years of business blogging and freelance writing, she’s published her first book. Learn MYOB in 7 Days was published by Wiley in December 2011. She’s now working on her second book for Wiley, Learn Small Business Start-Up in 7 Days.

She included this message in the book:

“Thank you Valerie Khoo and the team at the Sydney Writers’
Centre. Thank you, Valerie, for being so accessible and generous
in sharing your knowledge. I feel that I have learnt more from you about the skill and art of writing than from the many years I spent within institutional learning environments.”

In just its second year, the Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival has managed to assemble an impressive line up of some of Australia’s best known writers. Guests include Robert Drewe, Morris Gleitzman, Alice Pung, Charlotte Wood and columnist and ABC Radio presenter, Richard Glover.
 
To kick off the festival, a marathon reading of Oscar and Lucinda, by the festival’s patron Peter Carey, will be held on Sunday 18 March. The festival proper will be held 23-25 March 2012.

For more details and to buy tickets visit the website.

Spelling errors
Thanks to our wonderful Life Writing presenter, Patti Miller, who took time out of editing her latest book to send us this amusing example of “make it up as you go” spelling. The image below is from a catering website.

“Catchatore”, or cacciatore, is our favourite. Some other inventive spelling we spotted – Tuskan (Tuscan), piella (paella), and ceasar (caeser).

Take a peek into the world of Travel Writing
Want to learn more about travel writing but can’t commit to a longer course? Our two-hour seminar Introduction to Travel Writing is the perfect intro to this exciting industry.

The seminar will cover publishing opportunities for travel articles, some straight talk about earnings, and how to make contacts and get published. You’ll also learn about writing for guidebooks and other avenues for publishing.

What past participants say:
"I loved that the course was so informative about the reality of what it means to be a travel writer. I came away inspired and also equipped to BEGIN!"
- Rachel Sharp

"I enjoyed listening to the answers to all my many questions and listening to Geoff share his experience. What can I say, I love travel stories."
- Tina Lambert

DAYTIME Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 2 February 2012 (two-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $85

Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 19 March 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

What we’re reading
This week our intern, Katie Booth, read House of Sticks by Peggy Frew. Katie writes:

Stories about the tensions of modern family life are rarely told with ease, but Peggy Frew’s novel House of Sticks fulfils such a task effortlessly.

The plot is centered around Bonnie, who has put her musical career on hold to play the role of devoted wife to Pete, and dedicated mother to three young children. Like many debut novels, this one is somewhat autobiographical.

The book draws a frighteningly accurate portrait of the contemporary family and the things that threaten this connection, both from external and internal influences. A sense of tension creeps into the story with the arrival of Pete’s old friend Doug, an extroverted and intrusive figure.

From this point on, there is an anxiety and apprehension that saturates all elements of Bonnie’s life. This tension keeps readers hooked until the very last page and is something that few authors have been able to depict successfully.

This is an edited extract of Katie’s full review on the Writing Bar.

We want to know what you're reading! You can write a book review for the Writing Bar and we'll feature an excerpt here in the newsletter. If you'd like to submit, check out the review guidelines here.

WEBPICK: Get Concentrating
Fewer distractions, more focus – what every writer needs! Get Concentrating is an app that promises to create the perfect working environment for Mac users. It allows you to block certain applications or websites that you don’t need for your writing project, to help minimise the temptation to procrastinate.

All you do is set up a new task, launch any applications you need to complete the task, block the sites you don’t want access to while working, and select the sites you do want to be able to access. Then set the amount of time you want to concentrate, and away you go!

It’s easy to use and you can download a free 60-hour trial on the website.

Check it out here.

Other upcoming courses
Seminar: Successful Freelancing with Valerie Khoo and Gayle Bryant – FULL
When: Thursday 19 January 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Course: Weekend Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter – FULL
When: Saturday 21 January and Sunday 22 January 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Weekend Travel Writing with Sue White – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 21 January and Sunday 22 January 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Daytime Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Monday 23 January and Tuesday 24 January 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson
When: Week beginning Monday 23 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 23 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 23 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo – FULL
When: Tuesday 24 January 2012 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 1.00pm
Cost: $295

Seminar: From Blog to Book with Kerri Sackville
When: Tuesday 24 January 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Online Course: Travel Writing with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 23 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Monday starting Monday 30 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman – NEW DATE
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 31 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 31 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Daytime Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter – NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 1 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $395

Seminar: Sell Your eBook on Amazon with Steven Lewis
When: Wednesday 1 February 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Daytime Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 2 February 2012 (two-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am – 12.00noon
Cost: $85

Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Marina Go
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 2 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Daytime How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 3 February 2012 (two-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $85

Course: Weekend Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Marina Go – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 4 February and Sunday 5 February 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Weekend Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 4 February and Sunday 5 February 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 6 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Every Monday starting Monday 6 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Sue White
When: Tuesday 7 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 8 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Thursday 9 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $450

Course: Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 9 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Weekend Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 11 February and Sunday 12 February 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Weekend Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 11 February and Sunday 12 February 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Melina Marchetta – NEW PRESENTER
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 22 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Plotting and Planning with Kate Forsyth
When: Wednesday 22 February and Wednesday 29 February 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Seminar: PR and Media Releases that Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Thursday 23 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $495

Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Friday 24 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Weekend Life Writing with Patti Miller – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 25 February and Sunday 26 February 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Business Writing Basics with Tony Spencer-Smith
When: Tuesday 28 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 1 March 2012 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 1.00pm
Cost: $295

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Monday starting Monday 5 March 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Self-Publishing – How to do it with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Monday 12 March 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Edit with Confidence with Deb Doyle
When: Thursday 15 March 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Thriller Writing with L.A. Larkin
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 15 March 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing about Interiors, Style and Design with Nigel Bartlett
When: Thursday 15 March and Thursday 22 March 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 19 March 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Perfect your Proofreading with Deb Doyle
When: Thursday 22 March 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 26 March 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller – NEW DATE
When: Every Friday starting Friday 13 April 2012 for six weeks
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $450

Seminar: Successful Freelancing with Valerie Khoo and Gayle Bryant – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 19 April 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 24 April 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Food Writing with Carli Ratcliff – NEW COURSE
When: Saturday 28 April and Sunday 29 April 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Screenwriting Stage 2 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Monday starting Monday 9 July 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

WRITING TOURS
Writing in Bali with Patti Miller – NEW DATE
When: Saturday 21 July to Saturday 28 July 2012

Writing in Paris with Patti Miller – NEW DATE
Arrival: Thursday 18 October 2012
Departure: Saturday 3 November 2012

• Tip: Between you and me
• Start your year of writing – Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1
• My Child/Parenting Express Writing Competition closes soon
• Did you know? GOP
• Learn the golden rules of writing for the web
• What we’re reading – Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
• WEBPICK: Creative Kids Tales

What a busy start to the year. The Centre is truly buzzing right now with lots of students and plenty of courses to choose from. Today, I’m meeting with various publishers and editors. It’s always great to catch up with friends and colleagues in the industry. There seems to be a lot of optimism, which goes to show that reading, writing and publishing are thriving!

I’ve also been spending way too much time browsing through the “vicarious travel” section of various bookstores. It’s my way of escape as I live through the pages of other people’s experiences. Even though I’m sitting on my balcony with my cat Rocky (pictured), I’m being transported to Rome, Dublin, America and South-East Asia – thanks to these fabulous travel memoirs. If you’re interested in writing your own travel memoir, you’ll love our Travel Memoir course with the amazing Claire Scobie. You can find out more here.

• Summer School Intensives starting next week: There are just a few places left in Writing Picture Books and Writing for Magazines and Newspapers.
  
  
• New Dates: Our Creative Writing courses are filling fast, so we’ve scheduled more new dates. 
  
  
• This week on the Writing Bar: "I want to write it big in the movies" and a review of House of Sticks by Peggy Frew.
  
  
  

Want to join us for a creative writing course but just can’t make it to the Centre in Milsons Point? Our next online course in Creative Writing starts on Monday and it’s the perfect way to kickstart your writing year.
 
The online course is perfect for new writers or writers who’ve been working on a project and want to be sure they’re on the right track. You’ll learn about the essential elements of good fiction, including characters and dialogue, plot, and structure. And you can do all of this from wherever you are, whenever you like! You can even take it to the beach with you if you can’t stand to miss out on the beautiful Summer weather.
 
What past participants say:
“Cathie was quite excellent. She gave constructive feedback that I could really use.”
- Michelle Anne Webb

"I find the online delivery convenient in every way. I definitely recommend looking into this mode of learning for quick results."
- Patricia Hamilton-Brett

ONLINE COURSE: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman
When: Week beginning Monday 16 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
 
Click here for more information or to enrol online.

Rambo really likes going for walks in the rain.~

We’re pretty sure they mean Bilia is where Volvos, plural, come from. Once again, you don’t need the apostrophe to create a plural.

Did you know? GOP
Election season is in full swing in the US and we’ll be seeing a lot of media coverage about it here over the coming months. One term you’ll often hear is GOP, which is an abbreviation used for the Republican Party. Interestingly, few people in the US know what it means or its origins. Some interesting suggestions include “Grizzly Old People”, “God’s Own Party” and “Gas, Oil and Petrol”.

Well, no, none of those are correct. GOP is actually an acronym that originally stood for “Gallant Old Party”, but quickly came to mean “Grand Old Party”. The Republican Party was established in 1854, but the nickname, “Gallant Old Party”, didn’t come into use until about 1875, and this quickly changed to “Grand Old Party”, presumably encouraged by party members and supporters. In 1888, when the Republicans won that year’s election, the Chicago Tribune proclaimed: "Let us be thankful that under the rule of the Grand Old Party ... these United States will resume the onward and upward." And it’s been used ever since.

Interestingly, the name “Grand Old Party” would suggest that the Republican Party has been around longer than their political foes, the Democrats, but that’s not the case. The Democratic Party officially came into being in 1844 but has roots going as far back as 1792.

The golden rules of writing for the web
For many businesses their website will be the first place that potential customers will visit. We all know how important first impressions are so getting your website right should be a major priority for any business – big or small.

Writing for the web is not like writing for print. Your website copy needs to give visitors the information they’re searching for in a clear and concise way. You may already be a confident writer, but there are some golden rules you need to follow if you’re going to turn your hand to writing for your website. Our one-day seminar, Writing for the Web, will show you those rules and help you ensure your website is accessible and usable.

What past participants say:
"Grant Doyle was excellent. I enjoyed how he used relevant examples and engaged the audience by reviewing their own sites throughout the day."
- Sarah Collins

"I enjoyed the insights about how to structure content to make it more 'readable'. Grant is a good presenter, with excellent content and a well structured course."
- Leanne Anderson

Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Thursday 9 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $450

Click here for more information.

What we’re reading
This week Sydney Writers’ Centre course manager, Danielle Williams, is reading Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith. Danielle writes:

Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith is a thriller set in Stalin’s Soviet Union. It centres around disgraced MGB Agent, Leo Demidov, whose unquestioning loyalty to the state falters when he is involved in the interrogation of an innocent man. His fall from grace leads him to pursue the unthinkable in the Stalinist state – a child murderer. In a state where the official line is “there is no crime” Demidov’s investigation endangers his own life, as well as that of his family.
 
The first in a series of three thrillers featuring Demidov, Child 44 is a gripping read that also explores the absurd cruelty of Joseph Stalin’s reign, offering a glimpse into the lives of the people trying to survive it. There are some heartbreaking descriptions of hunger and poverty in the book, particularly in the first chapter.
 
I read this in two days over the Christmas break, not only because I had the time to, but also because I really couldn’t put it down. Tom Rob Smith has written a thriller that promises the pace and excitement of that genre, but also offers a glimpse into a world of poverty, paranoia and fear.

We want to know what you're reading! You can write a book review for the Writing Bar and we'll feature an excerpt here in the newsletter. If you'd like to submit, check out the review guidelines here.

WEBPICK: Creative Kids Tales
Creative Kids Tales is a new Australian website that’s been set up by writer, Georgie Donaghey. As an unpublished author, Georgie was looking for somewhere she could display her work and hopefully gain additional exposure, but couldn’t find the right site. So she set it up herself!
 
Creative Kids Tales is a place for budding authors to display their work and find information about publishing and writing in Australia. Each month a member writer is featured as well as an established kids’ author – this month features Mem Fox.

Georgie hopes to build up the site as a go-to for publishing information and tips and a thriving community of children’s book writers.

Check it out here.

Other upcoming courses
Course: Daytime Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Monday 16 January to Friday 20 January 2012 (five consecutive mornings)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $395

Course: Daytime Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Monday 16 January to Friday 20 January 2012 (five consecutive mornings)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 16 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Kate Forsyth – FULL
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 18 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395 

Seminar: Successful Freelancing with Valerie Khoo and Gayle Bryant
When: Thursday 19 January 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Course: Weekend Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 21 January and Sunday 22 January 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Weekend Travel Writing with Sue White – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 21 January and Sunday 22 January 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Daytime Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Monday 23 January and Tuesday 24 January 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 23 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Travel Writing with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 23 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 23 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Tuesday 24 January 2012 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 1.00pm
Cost: $295

Seminar: From Blog to Book with Kerri Sackville
When: Tuesday 24 January 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Monday starting Monday 30 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman – NEW DATE
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 31 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 31 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Daytime Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter – NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 1 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $395

Seminar: Sell Your eBook on Amazon with Steven Lewis
When: Wednesday 1 February 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Daytime Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 2 February 2012 (two-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am – 12.00noon
Cost: $85

Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Marina Go
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 2 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Daytime How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 3 February 2012 (two-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $85

Course: Weekend Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Marina Go – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 4 February and Sunday 5 February 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Weekend Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 4 February and Sunday 5 February 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 6 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Every Monday starting Monday 6 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Sue White
When: Tuesday 7 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 8 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Thursday 9 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $450

Course: Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 9 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Weekend Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 11 February and Sunday 12 February 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Edit with Confidence with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 15 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Melina Marchetta – NEW PRESENTER
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 22 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Plotting and Planning with Kate Forsyth
When: Wednesday 22 February and Wednesday 29 February 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Seminar: PR and Media Releases that Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Thursday 23 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $495

Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Friday 24 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Weekend Life Writing with Patti Miller – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 25 February and Sunday 26 February 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Better Business Emails with Deb Doyle
When: Tuesday 28 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Monday starting Monday 5 March 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Self-Publishing – How to do it with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Monday 12 March 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Edit with Confidence with Deb Doyle
When: Thursday 15 March 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Thriller Writing with L.A. Larkin – NEW COURSE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 15 March 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing about Interiors, Style and Design with Nigel Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 15 March and Thursday 22 March 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Monday 19 March 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Perfect your Proofreading with Deb Doyle
When: Thursday 22 March 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 26 March 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller – NEW DATE
When: Every Friday starting Friday 13 April 2012 for six weeks
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $450

Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 24 April 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Screenwriting Stage 2 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Monday starting Monday 9 July 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

WRITING TOURS
Writing in Bali with Patti Miller – NEW DATE
When: Saturday 21 July to Saturday 28 July 2012

Writing in Paris with Patti Miller – NEW DATE
Arrival: Thursday 18 October 2012
Departure: Saturday 3 November 2012

• Tip: The right way to plural
• More Student Success: Jaci Byrne
• SUMMER SCHOOL 2012: Writing Picture Books
• WORDWISE: Bant
• Get paid for your travels!
• What we're reading: The Corrections by
  Jonathan Franzen
• WEBPICK: TV Tropes

Happy new year! I’ve been so excited about 2012 that I think everyone is already sick of hearing about it. I spent the holidays in the Yarra Valley in Victoria (there’s a pic of me with little doggie Rambo enjoying the fresh country air). It was a wonderful opportunity for some downtime but, I have to say, it didn’t take long for me to crave getting back into writing.

We have so many exciting plans for you this year. There will be courses in Food Writing, Thriller Writing, Chick Lit and so much more. Right now, when you’re fresh from your holidays, this is also the perfect time to check out our Travel Writing course – either here at the Sydney Writers’ Centre or online.

Welcome also to our students from afar, with enrolments from Italy and the USA this week. Whatever your writing goals are for 2012, I wish you the very best. And we're here to help you achieve them!

• FILLING FAST: Creative Writing Weekend Intensive with Jeni Mawter, 21 and 22 January 2012.
  
  
• Want to know what it’s like being a music or health writer? Check out the Writing Bar for our latest profiles.
  
  
• Welcome to the team, Melina Marchetta! She’ll be teaching Creative Writing Stage 1 with us in 2012. Click here for dates.
  
  

• If the word ends with "-us" the plural form will end in "-i".
  For example: cactus to cacti, nucleus to nuclei, focus to foci.
  
  
• If the word ends with "-on" the plural will end in "-a".
  For example: phenomenon to phenomena, criterion to criteria.
  
  
• If the word ends with "-o" the plural will have an "-es" added.
  For example: potato to potatoes or tomato to tomatoes.

We received some very exciting news from Jaci Byrne recently. She completed our Magazine and Newspaper Writing course and the How to Get Your Book Published seminar, and has just published her first novel, Best Friends and Bastards, as an eBook through Amazon. Here’s what she wrote to us:
 
I have attended both How To Get Published and Magazine Writing 1 and thoroughly enjoyed them, and have also been delighted with your regular newsletters, which are not only interesting and informative but help to remind a lonely writer that there are others out there in "writing land".
 
Congratulations, Jaci! And good luck with your publishing adventures in 2012.

You can check out Jaci’s books at jacibyrne.com.

If you want to get your eBook on Amazon check out our one-evening seminar Sell Your eBook on Amazon.

Want to explore the world and get paid for it? If you dream of making a living from writing about your travels, our Travel Writing course is for you. In this five-week course, you’ll learn what it takes to be a successful travel writer.
 
The course will cover how to research your travel features, how to structure your articles, and how to get them published. You’ll also have a chance to write a travel feature and get valuable feedback from your presenter. This is a popular course so we have a few options for you – you can join us for a weekend intensive or evening course here in Milsons Point, or you can learn in our online classroom.

What past participants say:
"I benefitted from Sue's real life insights. It wasn't just theory. She was generous with her knowledge and even her intellectual property."
- Craig Eardley

"Great content and great teacher. Sue was really friendly and approachable and I really enjoyed hearing her experiences and practical advice."
- Celeste Mitchell

This course is taught by Sue White. She’s lost count of the number of countries she’s visited for work and play. As a travel writer, she has written about everything from the Golden Temple (Amritsar, India) to Gianni Versace’s 24-carat gold toilet (Miami, USA) while indulging her own itchy feet.

ONLINE COURSE: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 9 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
 
Click here for more information or to enrol online.

WEEKEND INTENSIVE: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Saturday 21 January and Sunday 22 January 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $395

EVENING COURSE: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Mondays starting Monday 6 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

Apostrophe catastrophes
This was spotted in Myer stores around Australia last week.

Again, you don’t use an apostrophe to create a plural! Cafe’s does not need the apostrophe. It should read cafes.
 
Not sure when to use an apostrophe and when to leave it out? Here’s our guide.

Turn your blog into a book – here's how
It’s true – it really is possible to pick up a publishing deal from your blog. That’s exactly what happened to blogger Kerri Sackville whose first book, When My Husband Does the Dishes: A Memoir of Marriage and Motherhood, was published on the back of her incredibly popular blog, Life and Other Crises. And she’s now working on a second book, due for release this year.

If you want to know how she did it and how you too could turn your blog into a book, join us for our seminar From Blog to Book. I’ll be chatting to Kerri about her amazing publishing journey and we’ll reveal how you can build your online profile, strategies for getting noticed by publishers, how to market yourself as an author, and much more.

What past participants say:
"The seminar provided exactly what I was hoping for. Kerri Sackville was open and generous with sharing information. It was great also to have Valerie's input and wisdom. They were a perfect pairing."
- Lisa Schofield

"Kerri was very informative and enthusiastic and had lots of great tips. She was inspiring and happy to share what she's learnt."
- Therese Spruhan

From Blog to Book with Kerri Sackville in conversation with Valerie Khoo
When: Tuesday 24 January 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

What we’re reading
This week Sydney Writers’ Centre communications coordinator, Rose Powell, is reading The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. She writes:

The Corrections was Jonathan Franzen's break-out novel, which catapulted him from super-smart up-and-comer, to bestselling, multi-award winning literary icon. His third novel, The Corrections is a steely satire of American families bedded in a deeply sympathetic and insightful style of writing.

The story is five short novels, each focusing on one of the five members of the dysfunctional, mid-western Lambert family. As Alfred's mind deteriorates, his outrageously judgmental and anxious wife Enid is increasingly desperate to get all three of her grown up children back for one last Christmas.

The book will have you either laughing at or horrified by the characters, while also squirming in sympathy and discomfort. Franzen's ability to render complex concepts such as the bio-tech boom or the tangled and aching relationships in families is considerable, but it's his obviously brilliant yet easy to read prose style that makes this book so special. Franzen's brutally honest insights are tempered with a very American-style optimism and belief in redemption. I loved this book, and think it's a must-read for all writers, especially those who are writing literary fiction.

We want to know what you're reading! You can write a book review for the Writing Bar and we'll feature an excerpt here in the newsletter. If you'd like to submit, check out the review guidelines here.

WEBPICK: TV Tropes
This one is a favourite of our communications coordinator, Rose. What started out as a resource wiki for tv writers has turned into an extensive catalogue of information on writing fiction.

A trope is a “figure of speech”, but at TV Tropes it is “a storytelling shorthand for a concept that the audience will recognize and understand instantly”. In other words, conventions of fiction. Tropes are listed by genre, media or narrative, and there is a seemingly endless list of articles and resources for almost any writer.

Check it out here.

Other upcoming courses
Online Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 9 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 9 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Daytime Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Monday 9 January to Friday 13 January 2012 (five consecutive mornings)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $395

Course: Daytime Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Monday 16 January to Friday 20 January 2012 (five consecutive mornings)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $395

Course: Daytime Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Monday 16 January to Friday 20 January 2012 (five consecutive mornings)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Kate Forsyth
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 18 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395 

Seminar: Successful Freelancing with Valerie Khoo and Gayle Bryant
When: Thursday 19 January 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Course: Weekend Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 21 January and Sunday 22 January 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Weekend Travel Writing with Sue White – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 21 January and Sunday 22 January 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Daytime Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Monday 23 January and Tuesday 24 January 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Tuesday 24 January 2012 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 1.00pm
Cost: $295

Seminar: From Blog to Book with Kerri Sackville
When: Tuesday 24 January 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Monday starting Monday 30 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 31 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Sell Your eBook on Amazon with Steven Lewis
When: Wednesday 1 February 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Daytime Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 2 February 2012 (two-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am – 12.00noon
Cost: $85

Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Marina Go
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 2 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Daytime How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 3 February 2012 (two-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $85

Course: Weekend Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Marina Go – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 4 February and Sunday 5 February 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Weekend Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 4 February and Sunday 5 February 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 6 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Every Monday starting Monday 6 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Sue White
When: Tuesday 7 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 8 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Thursday 9 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 9 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Weekend Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 11 February and Sunday 12 February 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Edit with Confidence with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 15 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Plotting and Planning with Kate Forsyth
When: Wednesday 22 February and Wednesday 29 February 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Seminar: PR and Media Releases that Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Thursday 23 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $495

Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Friday 24 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Weekend Life Writing with Patti Miller – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 25 February and Sunday 26 February 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Better Business Emails with Deb Doyle
When: Tuesday 28 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Monday starting Monday 5 March 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Self-Publishing – How to do it with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Monday 12 March 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Perfect Your Proofreading with Deb Doyle
When: Thursday 15 March 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Thriller Writing with L.A. Larkin – NEW COURSE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 15 March 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing about Interiors, Style and Design with Nigel Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 15 March and Thursday 22 March 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Monday 19 March 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Monday 26 March 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman – NEW DATE
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 24 April 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Screenwriting Stage 2 with Tim Gooding – NEW DATE
When: Every Monday starting Monday 9 July 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

WRITING TOURS
Writing in Bali with Patti Miller – NEW DATE
When: Saturday 21 July to Saturday 28 July 2012

Writing in Paris with Patti Miller – NEW DATE
Arrival: Thursday 18 October 2012
Departure: Saturday 3 November 2012