In this issue:
- TIP: Partly or partially?
- Boost Your Creativity
- Student success: Congratulations Jessica Shirvington on a three-book deal!
- Learn the art of screenwriting
- More Student Success – Kristy McCormick & Karen Robinson
- Finch Memoir Prize
- Editing at Work
- TIP: Biannual and Biennial
- WEBPICK: Scribd
What a busy week it has been. Earlier this week, I attended a dynamic Business Chicks breakfast with Richard Branson. I was there as editor of Latte magazine – Australia’s leading magazine for corporate and business-women – published by Business Chicks. I was particularly thrilled that former online Feature Writing student Aine Dowling (pictured with me, right) was able to head up from Canberra to join us at the breakfast. I could spot Aine’s feature writing talent from a mile away during the course and she has since had two stories published in Latte magazine.If you want improve your writing for magazines and newspapers, you can hone your skills in our course Feature Writing Stage 2. This is the perfect next step if you have already completed Stage 1.
The course is presented by experienced journalist and feature writer Gayle Bryant. We’ve also secured two high profile journalists as guest presenters so that you can learn from people who are at the coal face. These are hugely popular columnist and author Mark Dapin – whose columns can be found in Good Weekend – and, so that you can meet and quiz an editor, Cindy MacDonald, deputy editor of Good Weekend.Feature Writing Stage 2 is a practical course that will ensure you understand the role of a journalist and have more confidence that you are following the right conventions and ethics. This course is essential if you want to build on what you have already learnt in the first course.
In this course, you'll learn practical skills on:
- how to find the right angle
- how to attribute quotes correctly
- advanced interviewing techniques
- how to create balance in your stories
- nailing the lead of your feature
- where to find relevant sources for your story
- ethics and protocol
- facing journalistic dilemmas
- dealing with editors in the real world
- and other publishing conventions which are vital if you are serious about honing your feature writing skills.
Feature Writing Stage 2 with Gayle Bryant
When: Wednesdays starting Wednesday 29 September for five weeks
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
TIP: Partly or partially?
One of our readers emailed us last week and wanted us to answer this question: I was talking to someone one day and in my sentence I said, "That is partly the reason why I did it." My friend then corrected my saying "you mean partially". Is there a difference between using these words in a particular sentence and, if so, what is the difference?
The dictionary definitions for these words are very similar: they’re both adverbs meaning ‘in part’. There is a subtle difference, but the words are usually used interchangeably. Some grammarians, however, insist there is a difference in usage. Just remember that partially usually means ‘to a limited extent’ or ‘to some extent, but not totally’, for example:
Our view of the harbour bridge is partially blocked by a building.Partly means ‘concerning one part’ or ‘not wholly’. For example:
We love our new office, partly because of the awesome view!
Boost your creativity
Does your writing need a boost? Do you want to know how to tap into your inner creative genius? It is possible and with our two-week Boost Your Creativity course you’ll have a chance to rediscover your creativity. Whether you’re writing your novel or you want to know how to approach your writing at work with more flair, this course is for you.In this two-week course you’ll take part in a number of exercises designed to encourage your creative brain. You’ll also learn:
- What is creativity?
- Understanding the creative process
- Identifying the barriers to creative thinking and ways to overcome them
- Living creatively
- Revisiting the way you listen and observe
- Finding inspiration
- Brainstorming
- When to analyse work and how to do it productively
This course is presented by Laurine Croasdale who has had a 25-year career in publishing which included setting up the fiction list for Barnacle Books, consultancy work for Reader's Digest, Harper Collins and Weldon Owen and packaging for Simon & Schuster. She has published three fiction titles for University of Queensland Press (Trivia Man, Red Golf Balls, What Truly Counts), two novels for Pan Macmillan (Surf School and Surf Sisters), school readers for Macmillan Education, a range of games and activity books for the ABC, Simon & Schuster and Reed for Kids, and television scripts for Hi5. She also spent 10 years reviewing books for ABC Radio. Her latest book, iHarry, is being released in May 2011 by Penguin.
Boost Your Creativity with Laurine Croasdale
When: Tuesday 21 September and Tuesday 28 September 2010
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $175
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Congratulations Jessica Shirvington!
If you read our blog or follow us on Twitter, you’ll know that we received some incredible news last week from a former student. Jessica Shirvington did creative writing stage 1 and 2 last year, and also took advantage of our manuscript assessment service. Well, it’s all paid off, because she has secured a 3-book deal with Hachette Australia. Here’s what she wrote to us: I thought it would be nice to let you know, no long ago, I signed a three-book deal with Hachette Australia. My YA novel, Embrace, book 1 in The Violet Eden Chapters, will hit bookstores across Australia on October 14th 2010. Book 2, Enticed, will be released in the first half of 2011.
I would like to thank both Cathie and Pamela for their input along the way. More than anything, submerging myself around people who all had a passion for writing and a drive to learn more made the courses an invaluable experience. In the early stages, as I was working on one of my many drafts of Embrace, it was fantastic to be able to use the online course to help me focus and identify problems in my manuscript. Cathie has a knack of saying what needs to be said brilliantly and I found her advice to be spot on. Later, when I was almost ready to tackle the agent and publisher process, participating in stage 2 helped me tie a few loose ends and polish the manuscript that bit more before sending it off. So, thank you to the entire team.
Congratulations, Jessica! We’re so excited about this and can’t wait to read the books.
If you want to explore the world of creative writing, and maybe even bring your own novel to life, we have plenty of courses coming up soon.
ONLINE Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 20 September 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
OR
Creative Writing Stage 1 INTENSIVE with Jeni Mawter
When: Monday 27 September to Friday 1 October 2010 (five consecutive mornings)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Learn the art of screenwriting
Want to overcome the terror of the blank page? If you’ve got an idea for the next Aussie blockbuster but aren’t sure how to get the script written, our Screenwriting Stage 1 course is for you. During this course, you’ll have an opportunity to develop a script you’re working on, or get started on a new script, and receive feedback from an industry professional. By focusing on the three essential elements of a good script – character, story and structure – you’ll gain confidence in your writing abilities and get that script written!
This course is presented by Tim Gooding who writes for stage, film and television. He has written television drama – Rafferty’s Rules, Blue Heelers, Stingers, Water Rats, All Saints – and comedy – The Aunty Jack Show, The Norman Gunston Show, Wollongong The Brave, Ratbags.
Tim’s feature film credits include “Heatwave” and “On the Loose”. He is the recipient of a “Distinctly Australian” Writer’s Fellowship from the Australian Film Commission. He devised and co-wrote the ABC TV series “Sweet and Sour”, the soundtrack of which achieved platinum sales and was a nationwide hit.
Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Mondays starting Monday 20 September 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
More student success
It’s been a big week here at the Sydney Writers’ Centre. As well as Jessica’s incredible book deal, we’ve had two other former students achieve success in publishing. Kristy McCormick did the Online Feature Writing course in August last year, and now her first article is going to be published! Look out for the November issue of My Child magazine and Kristy’s article, ‘Absent Parents’. We’ll certainly be picking up a copy.
Congratulations Kristy! We’re sure this is just the first of many more published features.
Another feature writing graduate, Karen Robinson (she completed the course in 2007), has used her new skills to produce a magazine at her work. She has also just had her first article published in Australian Cheerleader Magazine – an interview with American World Champion Tumbler and Cheerleader Kiara Nowlin.
Congratulations Karen!
Finch Memoir Prize
If you have an unpublished memoir you’d like to see published, then you have until 15 October to submit it for the 2011 Finch Memoir Prize. This annual award offers the winning author $10,000 and publication by Finch Publishing. Entries will be judged by Jacqueline Kent (author of Gillard), Susan Duncan (Salvation Creek, A Life on Pittwater) and Georgia Blain (Births, Deaths and Marriages and Darkwater). The winner of this year’s Finch prize was Elizabeth Lancaster, and her book, Marzipan and Magnolias, has just been published and has already received positive reviews. You can read about her writing journey here.
Entries close on Friday 15 October 2010. Download an entry form here.
Editing at Work
If you’re editing other people’s writing at work you know how tricky it can be. But editing doesn’t have to be a tedious and time-consuming task. Once you know the rules and understand how to apply them, you’ll be able to confidently edit documents and ensure they’re consistent and professional. Our one-day Editing at Work seminar will show you:
- what to do when you have to be both the writer and the editor
- the standard marks that professional editors use when working with hard copy
- the ‘on-screen editing’ marks (Track Changes)
- the rules for applying common editorial style points: word breaks, hyphens and dashes; italics, ‘roman’ and quotation marks; paragraph indentation; running on; closing up spaces; ‘number style’; and upper and lower case
- the role of editorial style sheets and house-style guides – and how to create them
- how to edit numerical information
- and much more!
The workshop is presented by Deb Doyle, an experienced editorial-training consultant and publication editor. Deb has conducted courses for the Productivity Commission, AMP and Wizard Home Loans as well as many other corporate and government entities located in Sydney or Melbourne. Deb’s courses are interactive and collegial. She demystifies the editing process in a way that’s engaging and interesting.
Editing at Work with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 29 September 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
TIP: Biannual and BiennialThanks to reader, Lara Friedman, who reminded us.
Over lunch today we debated the word 'biannual'. We looked up 'biannual' and then 'biennial'.
Biannual = twice per year
Biennial = every second year
So, a ‘biannual’ magazine is published twice a year, but a ‘biennial’ festival is only held every two years.
WEBPICK: ScribdDescribed as a ‘YouTube for documents’, Scribd is a social publishing site that currently has over 10 million documents available to read. The company claims that over 50 million people login every month to read everything from best-selling novels, to magazines, cookbooks or research reports.
It’s easy to search for books, manuals, or even spreadsheets. If you want to upload your own writing, you can turn any file into a web document that will immediately be available to millions of readers. You can also leave comments on documents or books you’ve read on the site. You can download or print your documents (just this morning I’ve downloaded a YA novel by Cory Doctorow) and you can also set up your own ‘collections’.
Check it out here.
Other upcoming courses
Seminar: Perfect your proofreading with Deb Doyle
When: Friday 17 September 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $365
Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Monday starting Monday 20 September 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Online Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Nicola Robinson
When: Week beginning Monday 20 September 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Online Creative Writing - Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 20 September 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Seminar: Boost Your Creativity with Laurine Croasdale – NEW COURSE
When: Tuesdays 21 & 28 September 2010
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson
When: Tuesday 21 September 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 5-day Intensive course with Jeni Mawter
When: Monday 27 September - Friday 1 October 2010 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395
Course: Online Magazine Writing - Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo/Pamela Wilson – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 27 September 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Magazine Writing Stage 2 with Gayle Bryant
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 29 September 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Editing at work with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 29 September 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 4 October 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Magazine Writing Stage 1 with Holly Nott – NEW DATE
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 5 October 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Friday 8 October 2010 (one-day seminar) – NEW DATE
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle
When: Monday 11 October 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $365
Course: Novel writing workshop with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 12 October 2010 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $495
Seminar: PR and Media Releases that get results with Catriona Pollard – NEW COURSE
When: Thursday 14 October 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $495
Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Thursday 14 October 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm
Cost: $365
Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 14 October 2010 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter – NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 14 October 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Writing Letters and Emails with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Friday 15 October 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $365
Seminar: Online Business Booster Bootcamp with Valerie Khoo
When: Thursday 21 October 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am sharp - 5.30pm
Cost: $695
Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 27 October 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Magazine Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Wilson – NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 3 November 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395
Course: Perfecting Your Pitch with Sue White
When: Thursdays 4 & 11 November 2010
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175
Course: Your Story Structure with Katherine Heyman – NEW COURSE
When: Fridays 5 & 12 November 2010 (two half-day classes)
Time: 9.30 - 12.30pm
Cost: $215
Course: Build Your Online Profile with Tristan Bancks
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 18 November 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Self-publishing with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 2 December 2010 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Friday starting Friday 14 January 2011 for six weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $450
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Saturday 12 March 2011 and Sunday 13 March 2011 (2 day workshop)
Time: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Cost: $450
Writing Tour: Writing in Bali with Patti Miller – FULL
When: 30 September to 5 October 2010
Writing Tour: Writing in Paris with Patti Miller – FULL
Dates for 2010:
Arrival: Thursday 21 October 2010
Departure: Saturday 6 November 2010
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