Get Published newsletter

• TIP: Discreet vs discrete
• From idea to publication - Feature Writing Stage 1
• TIP: Railing against
• Some literary terms you should know
• Get paid for your travels
• Perfect the art of proofreading
• WEBPICK: Bothersome Words
  

A big welcome to our new subscribers who discovered us through the Best Australian Blogs Competition - if you're reading this, we're grateful that you chose to receive our newsletter. We hope you find it useful! We're still reeling from the media coverage of the Competition. You can see some here, here and here.

As you know, I love books. But I also know that the world is changing fast - we're increasingly going online. Not just with blogs, but with all forms of communication. If you're responsible for writing for the web in your organisation, you need to ensure that you're doing it right. It's a whole new world ... with its own rules.

In today's fast-paced world, 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. That's why I recommend our intensive one-day seminar Writing for the Web.

You’ll learn:

• the golden rules for writing for the web
• the right framework for conveying information online
• writing for scannability
• what contextual links are - and how to use them
• and MUCH more.
  
  

Rambo the dog wasn’t discreet enough about his favourite hiding place and it’s now been taken over by Rocky the cat.  

There are two discrete groups in this office; one for cupcakes, and one against.

The Sydney Writers’ Festival started this week and will run until Sunday.

We’ll be there attending lots of sessions and interviewing many of the authors. Many of the events are free, but there are also some limited places left in the more sought after paid sessions. Check out the SWF website for more information.

We’ve listed many of the events we’ll be heading to here. We’ll be blogging and tweeting from each event and posting video interviews here.

Turn your idea into a published article
The Best Australian Blogs Competition for 2011 is now over, but for some of our winners, the media requests are still coming in. Lori Dwyer, who won the Personal/Lifestyle category, has just had a 2-page article published in the Daily Telegraph. Congratulations Lori!

Even if you haven’t recently won a blogging award, it is possible to see your writing in your favourite newspaper or magazine. The art of writing a great feature is one thing, but you also need to know how to get it published.

Our Feature Writing Stage 1 course with Marina Go will show you how to take your idea and turn it into a published article. In this 5-week course you’ll cover:

• which ideas work – and where to get them
• understanding the magazine/news market
• different types of feature articles – which will you write?
• how to research, structure and write a feature
• how to interview people to get great quotes for your stories
• what editors want from a writer – the inside scoop
• how to pitch your article or idea to a magazine and sell it!
• and MUCH more.
  
  

Here’s some feedback from previous participants:
“Marina was a great teacher. I gained so much from hearing her stories as an editor. Her knowledge has given me a better understanding of the role of an editor and what they're looking for in a writer/story idea. The people at the Sydney Writers’ Centre really know their stuff about all things writing and the teachers live and breathe the industry. Everything I learnt was relevant and useful and the classes are really well organised.”
- Miranda Ryan

"The course was well structured and a good balance between theory and practice. Marina's experience and stories added so much relevance and current knowledge to the course. Marina was fabulous. Relevant, engaging, encouraging and an enormous amount of experience to share with us. She'd be hard to beat as a presenter!"
- Betty O'Neill

Feature Writing Stage 1 with Marina Go
When: Thursdays starting Thursday 2 June 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

TIP: Railing against
One of our readers emailed us this week about an error she spotted recently. The writer had written “he was rallying against” instead of “he was railing against”.

The correct term, railing against or rail against, means to complain or protest strongly and persistently about something. For example:

Small lenders are railing against the Federal Government's ban on mortgage exit fees which passed into law yesterday.

The students railed against the extra homework.

There’s no such saying as rally against or rallying against. It’s never right to use this version. If you use the word “rally”, you don’t need the word “against”. Example: The troops rallied and eventually won the battle.

Literary terms you should know
With the Sydney Writers’ Festival being held this week we’re a little obsessed with all things books and literature. So when I came across this great blog post on 40 literary terms you should know, I knew I had to share some of it!

These are just a few of our favourites:

Bowdlerize: Because of his numerous silly cuts and edits to Shakespeare, Thomas Bowdler has become immortalised as the unintentional founder of yet another word for censorship and needless meddling. When American The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy editions replaced the f-dash-dash-dash word with "Belgium," it found itself on the receiving end of a serious bowdlerizing.

Didactic: Everyone knows didactic literature, even if they don’t know the fancy term. It takes on an academic tone meant to educate, carrying with it connotations of heavy-handedness.

Magic realism: Like the best surrealist paintings, magic realism blends the wholly terrestrial with the wholly oneiric to form one frightfully beautiful, emotional atmosphere. Anyone fortunate enough to have read Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel will know exactly how much it can punctuate a novel and make it something memorable and special.

Want to be a travel writer?
Want to know what it’s really like to be a travel writer? There are many options for budding travel writers – you can write features for print or online, or you can write for guidebooks. Whatever you decide, if getting paid for your adventures is your dream, you need to know where to start.

That’s where our industry insight Introduction to Travel Writing comes in. This two-hour seminar will give you an idea of what’s involved. You’ll learn about publishing opportunities, how to generate story ideas, how to get your articles published, and much more.

Here’s some feedback from previous participants:
"Good practical information about where to submit stories and how to present them. Geoff was terrific - organised, helpful and included us all in his presentation."
- Wendy Fitzgerald

"The seminar gave a really good insight into the world of travel writing and most importantly gave you the basics on how to get started, what it takes to be a travel writer, as well as the real truth about earnings in relation to travel writing. It packed a lot of great information into a short period of time. Geoff gave a really great overview of the travel writing industry and was really engaging. It was worth travelling hours from the Blue Mountains to attend."
- Cally Templeton

EVENING Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Tuesday 24 May 2011 (two-hour seminar)
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $85

DAYTIME Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 8 June 2011 (two-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $85

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

What’s missing?
We spotted this at a bus stop. Maybe the creators should take our Grammar and Punctuation seminar.

Can you see what's missing?

THE AMAZING LIVES OF OUR NATION'S HEROES

TIP: Is it “Seventeen” or “17”?
Ever wondered why you sometimes see a sentence like this where the writer uses both “seventeen” and “17”?

Seventeen students were in the class and they completed a writing exercise that took 17 minutes.

That’s because when you start a sentence with a number, you use the whole word spelt out. Other conventions include:

• Spell out numbers one to nine.
• Use digits from numbers 10 and over (except when they start a sentence, like the example above).

Now you can all sleep.

Scary movie tickets!
This week we have tickets to something a little different. If you like being scared to death while watching your films, this latest release starring Aussie Rose Byrne should fit the bill.

Insidious is from the makers of Paranormal Activity and has been described as “the scariest horror film I have seen since Poltergeist”.

If you like scary movies and would like a double pass to see Insidious, just tell us what is the scariest book you’ve ever read and why. Email your answers to courses [at] spindriftmedia [dot] com [dot] au by 5pm Wednesday 25 May 2011 – and don’t forget to include your postal address (or we can’t send you your tickets).

Thanks to everyone who told us who their hero is for the Oranges and Sunshine tickets (Get Published, 5 May 2011). We had some incredible, and inspiring, answers.

Perfect your Proofreading
When you’re working on documents – whether they’re annual reports or weekly newsletters – your final step should be proofreading. This important, but often overlooked, step will help ensure your business documents are polished and professional every time.  

Learning the right techniques for proofreading needn’t be hard. Our one-day seminar, Perfect your Proofreading, will show you how to make sure your documents are in the best shape possible for printing and publication. You’ll learn how to use the standard proofreading symbols, how to set up a clear proofreading process for your work, and how to avoid the most common proofreading errors.

Here’s some feedback from previous participants:
"The seminar highlighted the difference between editing and proofreading. We realised the line between these jobs had blurred in our team and we have now altered our production schedule as a result. Deb is a great presenter - clear and helpful."
- Julie Nance

"Deb is incredibly knowledgeable and very friendly. I enjoyed the mix of individual exercises and round table discussions during the seminar."
- Bronwyn Lindsay

Perfect your Proofreading with Deb Doyle
When: Friday 27 May 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

WEBPICK: Bothersome Words
Now that we’ve spent so much time hunting the best in Australian blogs, it’s time we told you more about them! We’ll feature all the category winners in future newsletters but this week, we’ll start with the Words winner - Bothersome Words.

Bothersome Words has been going since January this year and in that short time the author, an editor and writer herself, has gathered some invaluable advice on editing and publishing.

Her very first post tackles the issue most writers are concerned about when approaching an editor - maintaining creative control. But, as she says herself, “guidance can be good” and Bothersome Words features plenty of that! This is a valuable tool for all lovers of words - writers, editors, and anyone interested in the publishing process.

Check it out here.

Other upcoming courses
Course: Plotting and Planning with Kate Forsyth
When: Thursday 19 May 2011 and Thursday 26 May 2011 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 23 May 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Tuesday 24 May 2011 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Perfect Your Proofreading with Deb Doyle
When: Friday 27 May 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Friday 27 May 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 30 May 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Laurine Croasdale - FULL
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 31 May 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Boost Your Creativity with Laurine Croasdale
When: Thursday 2 June 2011 and Thursday 9 June 2011 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Marina Go
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 2 June 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Friday 3 June 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $450

Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Laurine Croasdale/Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 6 June 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Seminar: Daytime How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Tuesday 7 June 2011 (two-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am - 12.00noon
Cost: $85

Seminar: Daytime Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 8 June 2011 (two-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am - 12.00noon
Cost: $85

Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson
When: Tuesday 14 June 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Writing Letters and Emails with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Wednesday 15 June 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Self-Publishing – How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 16 June 2011 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Course: Your Story Structure with Kathryn Heyman
When: Friday 17 June 2011 and Friday 24 June 2011 (2 half-day classes)
Time: 9.30am - 12.30pm
Cost: $215

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 20 June 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Monday starting Monday 20 June 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Sell your ebook on Amazon with Steven Lewis
When: Tuesday 21 June 2011 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Course: Writing about Interiors, Style and Design with Nigel Bartlett
When: Wednesday 22 June 2011 and Wednesday 29 June 2011 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 22 June 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: PR and Media Releases that Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Thursday 23 June 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $495

Course: Travel Writing: Get Paid for Your Adventures with Sue White
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 23 June 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter – NEW DATE
When: Every Monday starting Monday 27 June 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Tuesday 28 June 2011 (two-hour morning seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Edit with Confidence with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Wednesday 29 June 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Thursday 30 June 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Life Writing Masterclass with Patti Miller
When: Every Friday starting Friday 1 July 2011 for eight weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12.00noon
Cost: $650

Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 5 July 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Novel Writing Workshop with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 5 July 2011 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $495

Course: Perfecting Your Pitch with Sue White
When: Wednesday 13 July 2011 and Wednesday 20 July 2011 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175

Course: Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie – NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 27 July 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Daytime Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter – NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 27 July 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Friday starting Friday 9 September 2011 for six weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $450

WRITING TOURS
Writing in Bali with Patti Miller – FULL
When: Saturday 18 June to Saturday 25 June 2011

Writing in Bali with Patti Miller – NEW DATE
When: Saturday 27 August to Friday 2 September 2011

Writing in Paris with Patti Miller
When: Thursday 20 October to Saturday 5 November 2011