Dear Fellow Writer,
In this issue:
- TIP: Counting on words
- Sell more of your book: Marketing Your Book
- Get published in your favourite magazine!
- Win a copy of Disco Boy by Dominic Knight
- Editing Essentials
- TIP: How do you make ‘each other’ possessive?
- WEBPICK: Blusterhead
Ooooooh! I’m so excited because I’ve been busy putting the finishing touches on our new Online Business Booster Bootcamp. As regular readers will know, I am slightly obsessed with technology and online communication. And, as a result of the many enquiries I’ve received to run a workshop in on this topic, I’m thrilled to launch the Online Business Booster Bootcamp – a one-day bootcamp that’s ideal for entrepreneurs, coaches, speakers, and authors. Save the date: Friday 28 August 2009
More details soon - stay tuned for my special offer just to subscribers of this Get Published newsletter.
TIP: Counting on words
There is often a lot of discussion (and sometimes argument!) about how to write numbers. That is, do you write: 3 or three?While there is no hard and fast rule on this matter, you should be guided by your organisation's house style. For example, some organisations choose to write "five percent", while others prefer 5%.
If you don't have a house style to follow, but would like some guidelines, we suggest following the convention used by journalists. That is:
- One to nine are spelt out
- Numbers from 10 and above are written using numerals.
- Eleven-year-old dog Rambo is very youthful and active, despite his age.
Sell more of your book
Don’t think that just because you’ve written and published your masterpiece you can rest on your laurels. If you want your book to sell, you need to get it out there, and the best way to do that is with an effective marketing campaign. Whether you’ve self-published your book or you’ve scored a publishing contract with one of the majors, the work you do on the marketing could mean the difference between a best-seller and a, well, OK seller.
This course will help you develop the best marketing strategy for you. Best of all, we have tips on how to market your book for less money. During the course, you’ll discover:
- The importance of positioning your book – who it's for and where you find this target market
- How to prepare for media interviews
- How to generate your own PR long after your publisher has moved on to the next title
- How to promote your book using smart online strategies – do you need a website, blog, online video or a social media presence?
- Case studies on online book marketing ideas that you can model.
This course is presented by Amanda Falconer who is a seasoned brand and marketing expert with over 20 years experience across industries ranging from the rag trade to building and now, books. Amanda is currently the national marketing manager of the Australian division of a global manufacturing company. She is executive editor of LookHome magazine and producer of myLOOKHOMEtv. She is also author of The Renovator’s Survival Guide. Since the book’s launch, she has been featured on Sunrise, 9am with David & Kim, A Current Affair, as well as numerous radio interviews including ABC Radio in Melbourne, Hobart, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide, as well as 3AW and 2CA.
Marketing Your Book with Amanda Falconer
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 22 July 2009 for three weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $265
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Get published in your favourite magazine!
Have you ever thought about writing an article for your favourite magazine, or getting published in local or national newspapers? Our next Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers course is coming up soon so why not start writing now!This course will teach you the essentials you need to know for writing articles, and selling them. We’ll teach you how to research your article, how to approach an editor with ideas, and ultimately, how to sell your writing.
During the course you will learn:
- which ideas work - and where to get them
- understanding the magazine/news market
- different types of feature articles
- how to research, structure and write a feature
- what editors want from a writer
- how to pitch your article or idea to a magazine and sell it!
Here’s what two recent participants had to say about the course:
"Taking Judy Skatssoon's Feature Writing course was a great investment. Not only did Judy pass on great tips for writing features, but her enthusiasm encouraged me to pursue work as a freelance writer. Since taking her course I have been published in the Australian Associated Press and Canberra Times and can't stop writing."
- Allison Garoza
"I loved learning a new skill. Making something which always seemed baffling, achievable and fun."
- Natalie Macken
This course is presented by Judy Skatssoon, who is the features editor at Australian Associated Press (AAP). She has been a successful freelance feature writer, contributing to a diverse range of publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, life etc, Sydney’s Child, Women’s Health, ABC Online and many more. She writes on a wide range and most recently, her has also been a lecturer and tutor in journalism at UTS and is passionate about helping students discover the world of journalism and writing.
Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers Stage 1 with Judy Skatssoon
When: Every Monday starting Monday 27 July 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Win a copy of Disco Boy by Dominic Knight
Our latest podcast is now available to download from our site or through iTunes. This week’s interview is with Dominic Knight, one founder of the Chaser team and a writer on The Chaser’s War on Everything. He is also a freelance writer and blogger and has written blogs for The Sydney Morning Herald. His debut novel, Disco Boy, is out now.
No DJ can mix ‘Celebration’ into ‘Come on Eileen’ quite like Paul Johnson, the king of rancid retro. But while he has the musical jumper leads to get even the most dismal party started, he can’t get his own life moving. Trapped in a job he despises, a perpetual failure with the ladies and living at home with his distinctly unhelpful parents, Paul’s life is stuck in limbo while everyone around him is limbo dancing.
If you’d like to win a copy of Disco Boy simply tell us what song always gets you on the dance-floor and why. Email your answers to courses@spindriftmedia.com.au by 5pm Friday 24 July, and don’t forget to include your postal address.
Editing Essentials
Believe it or not, it is possible to turn even the worst writing into a professional, readable document. You just need to know how to edit it well. Understanding the basic principles of editing can save you hours of work (and frustration!) and give you the confidence to transform anyone’s writing. Our practical and intensive one-day Editing Essentials seminar will teach you:
- how to edit for structure and style
- simple techniques that will improve anyone’s writing
- standard proofreading symbols and how to use them
- why a style manual is important - where to get one/how to create one
- how to determine the tone and style of your document
- common mistakes in punctuation and spelling
- how to create professional documents that communicate effectively
The seminar is presented by Katrina Lobley, an experienced journalist and editor. With 20 years' experience in the publishing industry, Katrina spent five years as a sub-editor on The Sydney Morning Herald and is currently in demand as a freelance writer and editor of corporate and consumer publications.
Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley
When: Thursday 13 August 2009 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $345
Click here for more information and to enrol online
TIP: How do you make ‘each other’ possessive?
Here’s another handy hint from Grammar Girl – our daily grammar muse.
"Each other" is singular, so the proper way to make it possessive is to add an apostrophe "s."
- We enjoyed each other's company.
- They held each other's hand.
WEBPICK: BlusterheadThis is a site devoted to writers and new writers who need information. It can be difficult to find out about competitions, writing groups, publishers, agents – it's time consuming to research everything you want to know.
So Blusterhead is a great place to start! There’s information on copyright, local libraries, writing competitions – even how to deal with rejections. There are also a lot of handy links. This is a great resource site!
Click here to visit the site.
Other upcoming courses
Course: Writing for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge - FULL
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 16 July 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Tuesday 21 July 2009 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $365
Course: Marketing Your Book with Amanda Falconer
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 22 July 2009 for three weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $265
Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers Stage 1 with Judy Skatssoon
When: Every Monday starting Monday 27 July 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman / Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 27 July 2009 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson
When: Thursday 30 July 2009 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett - FULL
When: Tuesday 4 August 2009 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $75
Course: Online Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Valerie Khoo - NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 10 August for five weeks
Time: Whenever you want
Cost: $395
Course: Novel Writing Workshop with Pamela Freeman
When: 5 evening classes held approximately every six weeks beginning Tuesday 11 August 2009
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $450
Seminar: Self-publishing - How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 12 August 2009 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $75
Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobely
When: Thursday 13 August 2009 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $345
Course: Writing for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 18 August 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 19 August (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75
Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Thursday 20 August 2009 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Kate Forsyth - FULL
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 20 August 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Judith Ridge
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 26 August 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 1 September 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Script Writing for the Short Films with Geoff Bartlett - NEW DATE
When: Thursday 3 September and Thursday 10 September 2009 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $165
Course: Feature Writing Stage 2 with Judy Skatssoon
When: Every Monday starting Monday 7 September 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Successful Freelancing with Gayle Bryant and Valerie Khoo
When: Thursday 24 September 2009 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75
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