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• TIP: What is bimonthly?
• Write your travel memoir
• My Child Writing Competition
• Test your English pronunciation
• How to thrive as a freelancer
• What we’re reading: 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
• WEBPICK: Lit-icism

Can you believe that Christmas is just around the corner? I can’t. Where did the year go? Here at the Sydney Writers’ Centre, we’re gearing up for a big start in 2012 as I know that many people will be taking action on their new year’s resolutions.

One seminar I’m particularly excited about is the one I’m presenting in January. How to Write a Business Book is a half-day seminar which is ideal if you are a speaker, entrepreneur or consultant who wants to showcase your expertise in your very own book.

I’m often asked about what makes a good business book and this seminar distils exactly that. I’ve created a step-by-step action plan to turn your ideas into a quality book.

This seminar will cover:

• how to make your business book different to the rest of the market
• the right way to structure your book
• innovative ways to keep your reader interested and engaged
• whether you should write it yourself – or outsource to a ghostwriter
• your publishing options – mainstream publishers versus self-publishing
• how to use your book as a lead generation tool
• the basics of publicity and promotion
• and MUCH more.
  
  

• FILLING FAST: Creative Writing Stage 1 Weekend Intensive, Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 January 2012.
  
  
• Our private graduate forums for Creative Writing and Magazine Writing are going brilliantly on Facebook. Lately, members have commissions from Good Weekend, Dog's Life, Mindfood and Practical Parenting! If you're a graduate, send us a request to join so we can add you in.
  
  
• We already have bookings for our Writing in Paris and Writing in Bali programs. Will you be joining us?
  
  

So many people have asked whether we will be delivering our popular business writing courses online. The short answer is: YES.

However, we want to ensure that you have a great online learning experience so would love your feedback in a very quick survey about how you would like to learn online (eg. video, audio, and so on). We would be so grateful if you could take a minute to do this survey.

Click here to fill out our quick survey

Once again, the Sydney Writers’ Centre is sponsoring the annual My Child/Parenting Express writing competition. Mums and dads are invited to enter their non-fiction story of up to 850 words on a theme relating to pregnancy, birth or the first five years of a child’s life.
 
First prize is valued at almost $2,000 and includes a Magazine and Newspaper Writing course with us, and publication in the autumn issue of My Child. There are also prizes for three runners-up.

For more details check out the Writing Bar.

According to this post on a spelling blog, if you can correctly read every word in this poem, then you’ll be speaking English better than 90% of native English speakers.
 
Here’s a small sample (from a long poem):

Dearest creature in creation,
Study English pronunciation.
I will teach you in my verse
Sounds like corpse, corps, horse, and worse
I will keep you, Suzy, busy,
Make your head with heat grow dizzy.
Tear in eye, your dress will tear.
So shall I! Oh hear my prayer.

Holidays mean more trips to the cinema! And one of the most anticipated releases this year is The Iron Lady, the Margaret Thatcher biopic starring Meryl Streep and Jim Broadbent.
 
The film follows Thatcher’s early political life as she battles to overcome gender and class bias in British politics. It also covers the Falklands conflict and the miners' strike as well as Lady Thatcher in old age.  
 
Icon Movies have sent us five in-season double passes to give away. If you would like to win a double pass just tell us which historical female figure you admire and why.  Email your answers to courses [at] spindriftmedia [dot] com [dot] au by 5pm, Tuesday 20 December 2011.

Have you been freelancing for a while and want to take your business to the next level? Our Successful Freelancing seminar will be held again in 2012 and is perfect for writers who have been freelancing for at least six months, or anyone who works as a writer or editor and wants to take their career in a new direction.
 
This seminar covers business basics and what you need to get started, how to get repeat commissions and keep the work coming in, and how to invoice and chase payment (without burning bridges).
 
What past participants say:
"I enjoyed hearing from established freelancers about the reality of the business. The presenters were fantastic! Easy to listen to and they kept the discussion relevant and on track."
- Lori Dwyer

"Both presenters were knowledgeable, confident and entertaining."
- Neva Grant
 
Successful Freelancing with Gayle Bryant and Valerie Khoo
When: Thursday 19 January 2012 (two-hour seminar)
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $85
 
Click here for more information or to enrol online.

Festive comma catastrophes
Thanks to reader Rachel Cuthbert, who sent us this pic:

Even if “love” isn’t spelt out, there definitely shouldn’t be an apostrophe there. You only use an apostrophe to show possession or indicate a letter is missing. Neither is the case here.

What we’re reading
This week Sydney Writers’ Centre communications coordinator, Rose Powell, is reading 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. She writes:

1Q84 was one of the most anticipated releases of 2011. Murakami is widely recognised as Japan's leading author and he has developed a cult following in the West. His work is an effortless blend of popular culture, jazz music, magical realism and elegant writing.

1Q84 is the three-book tale of Tengu, an aspiring author, and Aomame, a gym instructor and secret assassin who sends violent husbands over to the other side.

Tengu is asked to ghost-write a story that appears to be fantasy, but the publication of the book propels him into a parallel world. Aomame enters the same world via another portal. Murakami's gift for quirky, brilliant metaphors and similes is in full force in this book. However, perhaps because of the anticipation for the book, or the masterpiece quality of his earlier Kafka by the Shore, it was disappointing.

My lingering impression was that it really needed a severe edit. The plot stalls and struggles at points, and there are just a few too many descriptions of breasts and characters going to the bathroom. Because of this fixation on breasts and peeing, combined with underdevelopment of Aomame's character, I think the book has nothing on his earlier, wonderful novels.

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: Lit-icism
There’s a new literary blogger on the block! Bethanie Blanchard, a writer and editor from Melbourne, has taken Angela Meyer’s place as the crikey.com bookish blogger.

The new blog will include lots of industry commentary and book reviews, and she’s kicked it off with a review of Paul Keating’s After Words: The Post-Prime Ministerial Speeches.
 
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: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
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

Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson
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 – NEW DATE
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: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 9 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker – NEW DATE
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 – NEW DATE
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

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

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