Dear Fellow Writer,
In this issue:- How to be a children’s book writer - 5 week course
- Get your book published - here’s how
- Intensive daytime course - Learn how to write for magazines
- We're on Facebook - join us
- Get a free book
- Enter your short story in a competition
- How to get over writer’s block
- You can run our courses at your workplace
Recent student feedback
"Patti is a wonderful teacher and mentor, great at making people feel relaxed and their contributions worthy."
“This course has provided me with the right skills and direction to be able to improve my professional writing.”
Jason Leung attended Professional Business Writing (one day seminar)
"It was good to look at the examples of other people's self published books and hear their stories."
Julie Macken attended Self-publishing: How to do it (evening seminar)
Helen Vatsikopoulos attended Life Writing with Patti Miller (6-week course)
It's been busy over here for lots of unexpected reasons. First, I got a new dog. His name is Rambo and he is a handful (literally). Then, my cat Rex fell three storeys and broke his leg. So between fitting in trips to the animal hospital, I've also been writing articles for The Sydney Morning Herald, talking to fascinating people and getting to know all my new mentorees - it's going to be great guiding you.
Tomorrow, I will be talking to Timothy Ferriss, author of The New York Times best-seller The Four-Hour Work Week, a book that is taking the world by storm. He is in Sydney this week and will be dropping by the Centre on Friday. I'll definitely have to get some tips from him - I need a four-hour work week just to have time to look after my pets!
How to be a children's book author
Most children’s publishers will tell you that they are looking for a fresh, original voice. What does this mean?What exactly is the story's “voice” and how do you find the right voice in which to tell your story? How do you authentically replicate the voice of an eight year old, or a 14 year old?
Our course Writing Books for Children and Young Adults will show you just that.
In this course, you’ll learn how to structure a story for younger readers, how to use characterisation and dialogue and what you need to know about the children's book market.
In no time at all you could be Australia's next Emily Rodda or Paul Jennings!
Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 21 May 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Webpick
http://beattiesbookblog.blogspot.com/ Want to read about what really goes on the publishing industry?
This blog, by publishing industry insider Graham Beattie, will give you his insight into readable and marketable books. Graham also has excellent links and contacts in the publishing industry.
He obviously loves what he does and his blog posts are entertaining and informative. Graham writes about everything from books, publishers and authors to festivals and events, mainly focusing on Australia and New Zealand - but also publishing news from everywhere.
How to get your book published
If you have an idea for a book - or have already written one - and you're dying to see it in bookshops, the next step is getting it published.Geoff Bartlett is a successful author, comedian and actor with three top-selling books under his belt.
His
seminar will guide you through the ins and outs of the process of book
publishing. He will discuss mainstream publishers, what agents do and
what you should know when writing a winning book proposal. You’ll find
out what you need to do when approaching publishers, all about the
editing and re-writing process and how much you should write before
approaching a publisher.
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 22 May 2008
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $65
We're on Facebook!
If
you’re on Facebook, come and check out our new Facebook page. When you
become a fan of the Sydney Writers’ Centre on Facebook, you’ll receive
access to exclusive offers and tickets which we’ll announce on our Facebook page.
We'll also be using Facebook to reach interested budding authors from afar so it will eventually become a
n international community. People have already joined from around the world.
Have a look at our page and let us know what you think, post something on our wall or start a discussion.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sydney-Writers-Centre/13402093390
And if you’re not into Facebook, don’t worry. We’ll still keep you informed of our activities via this newsletter and website.
In response to many of your requests, we’re running an INTENSIVE DAYTIME session of Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers. This is a great way to fast track your learning and it's ideal if you can’t make it to our wonderful harbourside training rooms in the evening.
Many of our students are published in top magazines and newspapers - some even before the course is finished.
Students have been published in BRW, The Sydney Morning Herald, Notebook, Vogue - and many more. You can be one of them.
Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Valerie Khoo
When: Monday 2 June - Friday 6 June 2008
Time: 10:00am - 12:00 pm Intensive Daytime Session for five consecutive days
Cost: $395
Get a free book!
Get
a free book when you purchase one of the books published by VIVID
before 31 October 2008. When you have bought the book, send in a claim form with your proof of purchase to VIVID before 31 October 2008 and they will send you another book free!VIVID (part of Allen & Unwin) has some of the very best new Australian novels coming out in 2008. The genres are everything from fiction and historical fiction, to crime, thrillers and commercial bestsellers - there's something to suit everyone.
If you have written a short story, enter it into a competition - or two.
Look at our blog for competition details.
How to get over writer’s block
Writing prompts act as a gentle nudge to get you writing.Here is a list of a few favourites from Elana, our ideas coordinator:
Listen to song lyrics then take a paragraph from a song and write about it.
Choose a few book titles and base a short story around them.
During work walk somewhere different for lunch, look at street names, signs, and even look at how places have written their "meal deals". Then write something about what you have seen.
If you need more inspiration go to our blog post for more ideas on how to get your creative juices flowing.
Sydney Writers' Centre offers corporate training
The Sydney Writers' Centre can provide your workplace with a range of courses that can be held in-house at your premises. So if you have a number of staff who would enjoy one of our dynamic, motivating and practical courses, feel free to call us about the best one to suit your needs.This way your staff can enjoy the same course and quality we offer here at the Sydney Writers’ Centre at a location convenient to you.
To discuss which courses we offer in-house and if you'd like more details please call
02 9929 9237 or email elana@spindriftmedia.com.au
Other upcoming courses
Seminar: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 15 May 2008 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $65
Course: Writing Books Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 21 May 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 22 May 2008 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 – 8:30pm
Cost: $65
Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley
When: Friday 23 May 2008 (one day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $345
Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Valerie Khoo - FULL
When: Every Monday starting Monday 26 May 2008 for 5 weeks
(with a break for the Queen's Birthday)
Time: 6:30 - 6:30pm
Cost: $395
Course: DAYTIME Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Valerie Khoo
When: Monday 2 June - Friday 6 June 2008 (five consecutive days)
Time: 10:00am - 12:00 pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Media Releases That Get Results with Luisa Volpato
When: Friday 20 June 2008 (one day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $345
Course: Creative Writing with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 24 June 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Cost: $395
Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Valerie Khoo
When: Every Monday starting Monday 14 July 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson
When: Thursday 24 June 2008 (one day seminar)
Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Freelance Success seminar with Valerie Khoo and Gayle Bryant
When: Monday 18 August 2008 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $65
Seminar: Self publishing – How to do it with Valerie Khoo
When: Thursday 21 August 2008 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Cost: $65
When: Week beginning Monday 2 June 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
ONLINE Course: Online Creative Writing with Pamela Freeman
When: Week beginning Monday 16 June 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: Whenever it suits you
Cost: $395
Thanks for signing up to this newsletter. Remember, if you'd like to leave this list at any time just reply to this email letting us know.
Wishing you much writing success,
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