Dear Fellow Writer,
In this issue:- By popular demand: Writing for the Web
- Announcement: Business and Careers Institute launch
- Short Story Competition - will you enter?
- Get published in magazines - learn online
- Editing Essentials - how to edit like a pro
- Learn from best-selling authors
I have two pieces of news this week. Firstly, I’m so excited to announce that we have a new seminar here at the Sydney Writers’ Centre. So many of you have emailed us about a seminar on Writing for the Web. And we’ve heard you.
As you know, at the Sydney Writers’ Centre you learn from the best. I wanted to find the best presenter for this seminar. That’s why I’m so thrilled that online writing expert Grant Doyle has joined our team. We’ve developed a great half-day seminar on Writing for the Web. More details below.
I’m also delighted to announce the launch of our sister training centre - the Business and Careers Institute.
Regular readers of this newsletter will know that I love technology. And that’s why we have podcasts, we’re on Facebook and MySpace and we offer online courses. I’m passionate that technology can make your life easier. So I know you’ll understand why I’m thrilled to announce that the mantra of the Business and Careers Institute is: “ Making technology simple”.
The Institute offers courses in applications you use everyday like Word, Excel, Outlook etc. But you’ll learn skills that will mean your work will now take HALF the time. You can learn how to harness the full potential of what your computer can do. It’s all about productivity and using technology to set you free. If you’re interested, check out the Business and Careers Institute website.
Writing for the Web
When you write for the web, you have to be clear, concise and engaging. If you are writing web content, you need to get your message across immediately - especially online.
There's a big difference between the way you write for the web, compared to traditional print. You need to ensure you write content that is scannable and concise.
In this intensive half-day seminar, you’ll learn the golden rules for writing for the web and discover a structure for conveying information online.
This seminar covers the difference between print and online writing, good content versus poor content, how your readers engage with web content, guidelines for concise writing, using keywords for search engine optimisation, why you need a style guide and so much more valuable information to writing and sending information to your readers immediately.
Grant Doyle
is an experienced copywriter, content manager and web editor. After
many years as a print journalist and author, Grant became an expert in
web writing and has been contracting or consulting to major
corporations in various online content capacities since then. Grant
continues to initiate and teach many in-house web writing programs in
addition to developing corporate web writing style guides.
Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle
When: Friday 28 November 2008
Half day seminar: 9.00am - 1.00pm
Fee: $225
Click here for more information or to enroll online.
Blog about your passion
Former student Jessica Cheung did a Feature Writing course with me last year and has gone from strength to strength.Jessica emailed this to us:
"Doing the Feature writing course made a world of difference in the way that I approached my writing commercially. It was an excellent learning curve showing more foolproof methods in finding a great editor for my great piece. It also offered an excellent support system in a world that is very tough on freelance writers. The Sydney Writers' Centre's Feature Writing course was an invaluable source of information and experience."
Jessica even has her own blog on one of her passions ... reading books. As an avid book reader, she reads a wide range of books ranging from business and non-fiction to chick lit. She’s a straight shooter in her reviews. Since books are one of our passions too, we just had to feature this as our webpick!
http://jesscreadsbooks.wordpress.com/
Great work Jessica!
If any of you have blogs you’d like to share with us, we’ve love to hear from you.
Global Short Story Competition
Author Bill Bryson - who has written books such as A Short History of Nearly Everything and Down Under - is supporting the Global Short Story competition.The competition is designed to appeal to writers everywhere from Australia to Africa, the United States to Asia, to Europe and all over South America.
Each month, a winning story and a highly commended work will be selected to receive a cash prize. Winning stories will be posted on their website. At the end of twelve months, each winner will be considered for an annual cash prize.
Have a look at our blog for details of the competition.
We will be listing a whole range of writing competitions for you in our blog over the next couple of weeks - please enter them and let us know how you go, it’s great practice for writers!
Online Feature Writing - learn from wherever you are!
If you want to learn how to write for magazines and newspapers and want to attend one of our courses here at the centre, but you’re too far away or in another state, you won’t miss out!Our online Feature Writing course is an interactive web-based class. Lessons are delivered via our password-protected classroom. You are also encouraged to submit pieces of work which I will give you feedback on.
Our
online Feature Writing course will teach you how to understand the
magazine/news market, which ideas work and where to get them, how to
research, structure and write a feature, what editors want from a
writer and how to pitch your article or idea to a magazine and sell it!
Here's what past participant Brooke Andrews had to say about the course:
“My
knowledge and skills base as a writer has improved dramatically.
Valerie gives all of that 'insider knowledge' that can make or break. I
really enjoyed doing this course online. I've done other distance
education but this was different. It didn't feel like there was any
distance. The ability to post questions and have them answered the same
week was great. I also found yet another use for my iPod!"
Course: Online Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Valerie Khoo
When: Week beginning Monday 13 October 2008
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enroll online.
Editing Essentials
Do
you have to edit documents at work? Are you unsure how to go about
turning a written mess into an easy-to-understand document?
Editing can be a time-consuming, overwhelming process. But when you learn the right editing rules, you can transform even the most dire, clumsy writing into a successful piece of writing.
If
you don't learn how to apply this proven editing framework to all
documents, you risk being unnecessarily bogged down for hours. In one
day, you'll learn the skills you need to free up your time
and edit like a pro.
You will learn simple techniques that will improve anyone’s writing, standard proofreading symbols and how to use them, how to determine the tone and style of your document and how to create professional documents that communicate effectively.
Your presenter is Katrina Lobley,
an experienced journalist and editor. She has over 20 years of
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.
Here's what past participant Jessica Rubinstein had to say about the course:
"I
will definitely take some of the information I learned and implement it
in my field. It was an easy flowing day with lots of good tips."
All participants receive the Sydney Writers' Centre Editorial Style Guide for Business valued at $75. This is an essential guide for anyone who writes for business.
Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley
One day seminar: Friday 31 October 2008
Time: 9:30am - 4:30pm
Cost: $345
Click here for more information or to enroll online.
Learn from best-selling authors
Our author podcasts are proving to be very popular. And I’m amazed at how generous successful authors are in sharing their tips and ideas. We now have 10 authors on our podcast page, please do let us know what you think. Our latest author podcast was with author David Rollins (pictured), who was a pleasure to interview.A line that stuck with me was:
“I love to travel as well. I really think that that is the sexiest thing you can do with your clothes on.”
Very cool guy. I loved interviewing him for you.
Elana, our ideas coordinator, has been doing a stellar job finding you a lineup of great authors from around the world. Tracy our new media coordinator has been getting the podcasts onto our website (quite a team effort).
You can check them out on our webpage or on iTunes.
Other upcoming courses
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman - FULL
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 23 September 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Online Creative Writing with Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 29 September 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Online Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Valerie Khoo
When: Week beginning Monday 13 October 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Judy Skatssoon
When: Every Monday starting Monday 13 October 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson
When: Friday 24 October 2008 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley
When: Friday 31 October 2008 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9:30am - 4:30pm
Cost: $345
Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 5 November 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Media Releases that Get Results with Luisa Volpato
When: Friday 7 November 2008 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Fee: $345
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 11 November 2008 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 17 November 2008 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $65
Seminar: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 20 November 2008 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $65
Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Friday 28 November 2008
Time: 9.00am - 1.00pm (half day seminar)
Cost: $225
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Wishing you much writing success,
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