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• TIP: Know your verbs
• Presenter success – Congratulations Patti Miller!
• Get paid for your writing – Online course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing
• Book giveaway – Where Spirits Dwell by
  Marina Machado
• TIP: The importance of proofreading
• What we’re reading – The Secret Goldfish by David Means 
• WEBPICK: Review in Haiku

It's been a busy week at the Sydney Writers' Centre. I'm loving daylight saving – this place is just gorgeous when you arrive for your courses around sunset. The view of the Harbour Bridge and the water is amazing!

I've been closely watching the world of books for children and young adults. It's a category that has exploded in recent years and I find this heartening because it means that children and teens are reading. In a world where they could be fixated on Playstation, there is hope!

Of course, this means there is opportunity for writers as well, which is why I love our course Writing Books for Children and Young Adults. This course is taught by the amazing Judith Ridge who is one of Australia's leading experts in children's writing. I learn something new about this category from Judith every time I speak to her. She's an endless supply of information and advice.

If you're interested in writing books for children and young adults, this 5-week course covers:

• how to get started
• finding the right voice
• creating characters and stories young readers will enjoy
• how to write believable dialogue
• 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
  
  

Little doggie Rambo ate his dinner.

The storm broke.

She writes.

• Our new editing and proofreading service is now available for any fiction, non-fiction or business documents. Click here for more information.
  
  
• Filling fast: Creative Writing Stage 1 Weekend Intensive, Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 October – only 3 places left! 
  
  
• Congratulations to Naomi Brick who won our Maggie Stiefvater book pack. The books are on their way, Naomi! 

Congratulations Patti Miller
We received some very exciting news from one of our presenters this week. Life Writing guru Patti Miller has just secured a publishing deal for her sixth book, The Mind of a Thief. Patti received offers from four different publishers for her latest book, a narrative non-fiction, and it will be published by UQP in 2012.

Congratulations Patti! We can’t wait to read the book.

Get paid for your writing!
It’s easier to learn from home than you might think. Our online courses have given hundreds of students from all over the world the chance to complete our most popular courses, including Online Magazine and Newspaper Writing. In fact, many have gone on to be published in major newspapers and magazines!

The online course in Magazine and Newspaper Writing will show you how to write a great feature article and get it published. You’ll learn about what editors want, how to develop story ideas, and how to sell those ideas to editors. And you can do all this through our virtual classroom from wherever you are in the world!

Here’s what past participants say:
"I live in Perth and have small children, so the fact that I could do it at night when my children were asleep was great. I enjoyed the course tremendously!"
- Sandy Taylor

"It was easy and convenient. The best thing was that I could do it anytime and in bits and pieces. But also because of the weekly responses from Sue directed at our indivdual questions. I felt like I was part of the group."
- Natasha Devalia

ONLINE COURSE: Magazine and Newspaper Writing with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 17 October 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

Queen of Crime Awards
Want to put your crime writing skills to the test? The annual Queen of Crime Awards is on again and crime queens are invited to enter stories of up to 5,000 words.

First prize is $750 and there are also cash prizes on offer for second and third place-getters. Entries will be judged by Beverley Cousins, a fiction publisher at Random House Australia.

Each entry costs $10 (or $5 for Partners in Crime members) and the deadline is Friday 28 October 2011. For more details or to check previous winners visit the Partners in Crime website.

More apostrophe abuse
We hope this is just an unfortunate typo.

Surely they know you don’t need an apostrophe to create a plural!

Boost your business profile
Free publicity for your business? Yes, it is possible. Setting up an effective PR strategy and knowing the essentials of writing a good media release will give your business the edge when it comes to free media coverage.

Our one-day seminar, PR and Media Releases that Get Results, will show you the elements of a great PR strategy and how you can develop your own. You’ll cover media releases and how to write them, useful online tactics for PR, how to deal with journalists, and much more.

This seminar is perfect for business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals looking to improve their PR and marketing skills, or anyone who is new to PR.

Here’s what past participants say:
"I really enjoyed how engaging the course was. Catriona was fantastic. She encouraged everyone to participate in discussion, and gave great real-life examples for everything that was taught."
- Clara Ho

"Amazing and invaluable insights into the industry, and really hands-on advice. My new knowledge has given me a better grasp of what I do everyday and helps me see smaller tasks in relation to the bigger picture."
- Annie Vaughan

This seminar is taught by Catriona Pollard. Catriona is director of CP Communications and has 17 years experience in developing and managing public relations and marketing programs.

PR and Media Releases that Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Thursday 27 October 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $495

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

Book giveaway
If you’re one of those people who loves reading spooky stories (preferably right before bed, on a rainy night, while alone in the house) then you’ll love this week’s book giveaway. We recently spoke to Karina Machado, author of the wonderfully creepy Where Spirits Dwell. You can watch the full interview here.  

This collection of true stories about some of Australia’s most haunted houses will surprise and terrify you. You won’t believe how common hauntings actually are!

We have two copies of Where Spirits Dwell to give away. If you’d like to win one tell us your spookiest true story. Email your answers to courses [at] spindriftmedia [dot] com [dot] au by 5pm Friday 21 October 2011.

TIP: The importance of proofreading 
This poster was spotted at Auckland airport:

Look what happens when you have two random thoughts merging into one. We think they might have meant "Send us your comments and be in it to win it" OR "Send us your comments to win an Apple iPod Touch 64GB." But somehow the message got garbled along the way.

It goes to show the importance of proofreading – especially on a huge poster in a prominent location. If anyone in your team needs help in this area check out our Perfect Your Proofreading seminar.

Get your story right
Structure is what holds your story together. You may have great characters, a witty voice and the perfect setting, but if you don’t get the structure right, your story can get stuck. For many writers, structure is the most difficult thing to get right.

Our two-week course, Your Story Structure, will help you understand structure and find the shape of the story. You’ll learn about classical narrative and how to apply it to your writing, look at how to find and maintain conflict, explore the hero’s journey and mythic quest, and much more.

This course always fills early so don’t wait to enrol. This will be your last chance to do the course in 2011.

Here’s what past participants say:
"Kathryn has an excellent personality for the task. She delivers the course with jam packed enthusiasm."
- Elizabeth Petrovich

"Kathryn is so encouraging. She has such good energy and love for what she does and you can see it, which makes it enjoyable for everyone. She has passion for writing and allows everyone to show theirs too."
- Chantelle Ravenswood

This course is presented by Dr Kathryn Heyman, the author of four novels, all published internationally and in translation. She's been nominated for the Edinburgh Fringe Critics Awards, the Orange Prize, Scottish Writer of the Year Award, the Kibble Prize, the West Australian Premiers Prize.

Your Story Structure with Dr Kathryn Heyman
When: Friday 4 & 11 November 2011 (two morning classes)
Time: 9.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: $250

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

What we’re reading
This week our Communications Coordinator, Rose Powell, is reading The Secret Goldfish by David Means. She writes:

The Secret Goldfish by David Means is a collection of extremely powerful short stories. I don't read a lot of short stories because I much prefer the longer form, but when Jonathan Franzen recommended Means's writing at the Melbourne Writers Festival, I couldn't wait to read it.

Franzen was right when he said they were very intense. The stories focus on difficult characters, dark themes, and include a fair amount of violence. But Means's stories perfectly capture those hard-to-describe moments, where there are multiple intentions and emotions coursing through his characters. Each story in the collection is a masterful example of short form fiction. You're drawn in immediately, and you hunger for more story when they end, but each tale is a richly rewarding experience.

I got hooked and read them all in an evening, but I recommend people read them slowly, and let each story swim around alone in your mind for at least a day to get the most out of this stunning collection.

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: Review in Haiku
The tagline for this website is, “Review in haiku. Brevity in film review. Everyone happy.” And that pretty much sums it up. Film reviews in haiku format and the writer’s own rating of good, okay or bad. Those films that can’t be so easily rated may score a great.

This reviewer watches a lot of films, so that may explain the need to write reviews in haiku. Very handy if you want quick advice on what to see next at the movies.

Check it out here.

Other upcoming courses
Course: Travel Writing: Get Paid for Your Adventures with Sue White
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 13 October 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Weekend Intensive Creative Writing Stage 1 with Laurine Croasdale
When: Saturday 15 October and Sunday 16 October 2011 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Monday starting Monday 17 October 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Daytime Intensive Creative Writing Stage 1 with Kate Forsyth
When: Monday 17 October to Friday 21 October 2011 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $395

Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 17 October 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 18 October 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Successful Freelancing with Gayle Bryant and Valerie Khoo
When: Wednesday 19 October 2011 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Thursday 20 October 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 24 October 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Monday 24 October 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing About Interiors, Style and Design with Nigel Bartlett
When: Wednesday 26 October 2011 and Wednesday 2 November 2011 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Seminar: PR and Media Releases that Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Thursday 27 October 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $495

Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 31 October 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Seminar: Better Business Communications with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 2 November 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Friday 4 November 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $450

Course: Your Story Structure with Kathryn Heyman
When: Friday 4 November 2011 and Friday 11 November 2011 (2 half-day classes)
Time: 9.30am – 12.30pm
Cost: $215

Course: Screenwriting Stage 2 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Monday starting Monday 7 November 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Sell Your eBook on Amazon with Steven Lewis – NEW DATE
When: Wednesday 9 November 2011 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Course: Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker – NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 10 November 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Friday 11 November 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $450

Course: Weekend Intensive Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Marina Go
When: Saturday 12 November and Sunday 13 November 2011 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 14 November 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 15 November 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 15 November 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 November 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Edit with Confidence with Deb Doyle
When: Friday 18 November 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: From Blog to Book with Kerri Sackville – NEW SEMINAR
When: Monday 21 November 2011 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 23 November 2011 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 24 November 2011 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Perfect Your Proofreading with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Friday 25 November 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Plotting and Planning with Kate Forsyth
When: Monday 28 November 2011 and Monday 5 December 2011 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $175

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

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

WRITING TOURS
Writing in Paris with Patti Miller – FULL
When: Thursday 20 October to Saturday 5 November 2011

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