- How to get on Sunrise or in The Sydney Morning Herald
- Perfect your pitch – and get published
- More student success – Carmen Gowans shortlisted for award!
- Book giveaway – Counter Attack by Mark Abernethy
- Turn your travel into memoir
- WORDWISE: Easter
- TIP: Don’t confuse loose with lose
- WEBPICK: Insulted by authors
One of my favourite pastimes is to pore over the weekend newspapers with my latte, poached eggs and mushrooms. But I’ll confess, I’m not just reading the news. I know this sounds totally geeky (and possibly a bit weird) but I also love identifying the stories in the paper that have appeared as a result of someone sending a media release to the journalist versus the stories that have been hunted down by the journo themselves.It’s amazing how many articles in papers and magazines – as well as segments on TV – are the result of a pro-active person sending a media release to a journalist. If you’re not taking advantage of this opportunity for your business, you’re missing out on valuable publicity.
Would you like to see your business or project on Sunrise or in The Sydney Morning Herald. You don’t need a massive budget. You just need to know HOW to present and distribute this information in a way that appeals to journalists. That’s why our seminar, PR and Media Releases That Get Results, is so useful.
It’s extremely practical and will cover:
- the kind of information you MUST include if you want media coverage
- what you must NEVER say to a journalist
- who you should quote and what they should say
- online media release distribution strategies
- and much more
"It was fantastic that Catriona used recent, relevant and real-life examples from actual work she had done. Catriona was very switched on the entire day, from 9am to 5pm. She was great! The staff at the Sydney Writers' Centre were very professional and courteous. And I walked away from the course learning more than I had expected. I felt confident about trying to do PR and writing media releases after just one day!"
- Lisa Sobreviñas
PR and Media Releases That Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Thursday 5 May 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $495
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
TIP: Can you start sentences with “and” or “but”?
There are some pedants and old-school grammarians who cringe at the idea of starting a sentence with a conjunction like "and" or "but". Maybe you were taught this golden rule at school and have stuck by it ever since. Well, language has to move with the times, and it's not wrong – or right. It depends.Starting a sentence with "and" or "but" is not some heinous sin that can never be forgiven. It's informal and casual. So it's acceptable when informal language is the tone you're going for.
Let's say you're writing a report on a serious issue that's to be tabled at the next board meeting, or writing policy that's going to become legislation, or an invitation to Kate and Will's wedding – then don't use conjunctions to start a sentence.
But, if you're writing an article for Dolly magazine, or connecting with surfers on a surf website, or a brochure about fun online dating methods, then using informal language like this is perfectly acceptable. And you'll see it all the time. But just don't go nuts and use it at every opportunity.
What’s new this week at the Centre:
Long Easter break. We’ll be out of the office from Friday 22 April and back on Wednesday 27 April but you’ll still be able to contact us through our website.
- We’re coming to Melbourne! Details will be announced very soon, but if you’re in Melbourne, remember these dates - Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 October 2011.
- The People’s Choice Awards in the Best Australian Blogs 2011 Competition are now open! Click here for more details.
- QUICK VIDEO: Find out what's new at the Centre this week. (If you can't view the video in this email, just click here to see it on our blog.)
Perfect your pitch and get published
So, you’ve got a great idea for a feature article. You’re confident you can write a fantastic article and you’ve done your research on where you’d like to see it printed. Now, you just need to convince an editor to publish it.Easier said than done? It doesn’t have to be. Pitching is an essential skill for all freelance writers, but it’s not always an easy one to master. Our two-week course, Perfecting your Pitch, can take the fear out of pitching by showing you a step-by-step process for approaching editors and improving your feature writing "hit-rate".
Here’s some feedback from recent participants:
"I have gained the confidence to get out there and pitch to editors and not fear that I am making a fool of myself. Sue was informative in a very friendly way and managed to make everyone feel involved in the course."
- Catherine Brazil
"Getting insight from a working freelance writer was extremely helpful. It was also fantastic to structure the course with one lecture and Q&A session followed by a workshop session. I took the course to learn how to write a pitch and to gain insight into an industry I know very little about and came away having learned what I sought to learn."
- Grace Foss
Perfecting your Pitch with Sue White
When: Thursday 28 April & Thursday 5 May 2011 (two evening classes)
Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Cost: $175
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
More Student Success
A big congratulations this week to Carmen Gowans, who has done two courses with us – Online Creative Writing Stage 1 and Online Creative Writing Stage 2. Since finishing the courses she’s been busy writing and has just had a short story, “Sophie’s Treasure”, shortlisted in the 2011 Charlotte Duncan Award! Here’s what she wrote to us:“Thought you might like to know that my short story, ‘Sophie's Treasure’, made the short list. Eeek! I've been meaning to thank you for your blog and newsletters. They're a wonderful resource, the competition info especially. So thank you very much, and please keep it up!”
Congratulations Carmen! And good luck in the final.
Book Giveaway – Counter Attack by Mark Abernethy
Recently, we had the pleasure of chatting to Australian thriller writer, Mark Abernethy, for our author podcast series. You can hear the full interview on iTunes or read the transcript on our website.Mark published his first book, Golden Serpent, in 2007 (and wrote it in only 8 weeks!), which introduced us to the Australian super-spy – Alan McQueen. His latest book is Counter Attack, the third book in the Alan McQueen series. Here’s a bit more about the book:
Alan McQueen has been lured out of retirement, but any dreams Mac has of a cosy office job are shattered when he’s dispatched to Singapore to oversee a covert mission. And when things go disastrously wrong, he not only has to defend his reputation in Australia but also stay out of jail in Vietnam.
From the leafy suburbs of Singapore to the mean streets of Saigon, from the political infighting of Canberra to the old killing fields of Northern Cambodia, Mac has to use all his cunning – and a few unusual alliances – to get to the bottom of a conspiracy that could throw the world into a thermo-nuclear showdown.
Want to know what happens next? We have one copy of Counter Attack to give away. If you’d like to win it, just tell us who you would base your fictional super-spy character on, and why. Send your answers to courses [at] spindriftmedia [dot] com [dot] au by 5pm Thursday 28 April 2011, and remember to include your postal address.
Turn your travels into memoir
The world may be shrinking, but the genre of travel memoir is growing more popular every day. And we’re not just talking about Eat, Pray, Love, the massively successful memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert. Many other authors have found success writing about their travels, like Sarah Turnbull (Almost French), Francis Mayes (Under the Tuscan Sun) and Bill Bryson (Down Under). Travel Memoir takes a different set of skills to writing travel feature articles. You need to be able to turn your experiences into a compelling story that will grip readers from the first page. Whether you’re yet to take that trip of a lifetime, or you have travel journals from past holidays you’d like to turn into a memoir, the Travel Memoir course with Claire Scobie will show you how!
Here’s some feedback from recent participants:
"Claire is lovely and had our interest and attention at all times. She is so experienced and knowledgable and encouraged us all to share our ideas whatever our level."
- Jennifer Leeder
“I really enjoyed the pace and structure of the course, the short exercises, reading and listening to other members of the group, and the feedback from the presenter. Claire is an excellent teacher. It was great to have a presenter who has been published in the field.”
- Katherine Hill
Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie
When: Mondays starting Monday 9 May 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
WORDWISE: Easter
Most of us know that Easter is a celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, and whether you observe it as a Christian or not, we enjoy the associated long weekend every year.The word “Easter” actually has a long history in a number of languages, and there are many different traditions leading to our modern use of the word. The English term “Easter” comes from the old English, Ēastre or Ēostre, which refers to Ēostre month, a pagan celebration generally held in April.
In other languages, their word for Easter comes from the Greek Pascha, which itself is derived from the Hebrew word Pesach, meaning Passover. Can’t see the similarity? Well, in Spanish, Easter is Pascua and in Italian it’s Pasqua – very similar in sound to Pascha.
Improve your writing in just one day!
Want to know how to improve your writing in just one day? Learning the golden rules of grammar and punctuation will have a surprising effect on your writing. You’ll be able to instantly transform clunky sentences to concise, easy to read passages – and you’ll need never fear grammar again! Even if you were taught grammar and punctuation at school (which sadly, many of us weren’t), our one-day refresher will give you a firm foundation that will give you more confidence and help you prevent the most common errors in writing.
Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle is one of our most popular seminars. You’ll come away with a new understanding of the rules and conventions of writing, as well as a handy reference book – Deb’s Grey Areas and Gremlins – to practice what you’ve learned at home.
Here’s some feedback from recent participants:
"The structure of the seminar was excellent. Deb is a talented presenter who listens and answers questions from her audience. She ensures that the audience understand the topic and solves their queries. This is a good course that improves the understanding of grammar and punctuation, even if you are a professional writer."
- Pankaj Mankani
"The course was enjoyable because it was very easy to understand and contribute, even though it was about grammar. The presenter was clear about the how and the when of grammar. She had a great sense of humour and was very well informed and prepared about the topic."
- Anna Paras
Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 4 May 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $450 – includes a copy of Grey Areas and Gremlins by Deb Doyle, valued at $50
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
TIP: Don’t confuse loose and lose
This picture was snapped in Starbucks in Brixton by @jasonlangenauer and passed to us by @johnhaining through Twitter.
There’s lots wrong with this sign, but let’s start with “Loosing a loved one”.
Loose means free or released from any fastening; or free from anything that binds or restrains. It DOES NOT mean to come to be without, or to suffer the deprivation of something - that’s lose, with one “o”. We see these two getting confused all the time! Just remember - if you’ve “lost” something, there’s only one “o”. That applies for “losing” something as well.
Now let’s tackle the use of “urology” (“Design & print the urology”). Um, actually, there’s not much one can say about that... Surely that should say “eulogy”!
What we’re reading
This week's review is by Get Published! reader, Rachel Cuthbert, who is reading Paris Dreaming by Anita Heiss.Author Anita Heiss cleverly weaves her strong views on Aboriginal art and women into her ‘chick-lit’ narrative in Paris Dreaming.
The novel’s heroine Libby Cutmore is through with men! She wants to focus on her career, friends and Carrie Bradshaw-like addiction to shoes.
Libby is off to Paris for five months to open a temporary exhibition of Aboriginal art in the Musée du Quai Branly. Amidst the wine, cheese, bread, coffee and chocolate diet Libby makes her mark on Paris both professionally and personally; though her promise to stay away from men is impossible to keep in the ‘city of love’. There is the artist who wants to paint her nude, the fling she finds in the bath with a young, blonde skeleton, and another black fella from Australia who tries to win her heart.
The writing is strong, laugh-out-loud funny and utterly relatable. Also, being set in Canberra (my home town), it has changed my opinion that Canberra is such a boring place to live; though it doesn’t really compare to Paris.
I highly recommend this book to any woman who wants to laugh, cry and feel the sisterly spirit of knowing we are not alone in having our hearts broken.
We want to know what you’re reading! If you’d like to submit a short book review (no more than 200 words) send it to courses [at] spindriftmedia [dot] com [dot] au and we’ll consider it for publication in our newsletter or blog.
WEBPICK: Insulted by Authors
It can be hard to stand out from the crowd – especially if you’re trying to get the attention of your favourite author. Queuing up for the obligatory author signature in your new favourite book is now the done thing at writers’ festivals and book launches. But blogger Bill Ryan has taken it one step further – he doesn’t just want the author’s signature, he wants to be insulted by them! Insulted by Authors is a record of Bill’s tireless hunt for personal insults. He’s tracked down authors such as Amy Sedaris, Jennifer Egan, and David Mitchell. Apart from being hilarious, the blog is also a great place to go for book reviews and news from the New York literary scene.
Note: This one has a language warning.
Check it out here.
Other upcoming courses
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with James Roy
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 21 April 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 21 April 2011 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $85
Course: Perfecting Your Pitch with Sue White
When: Thursday 28 April 2011 and Thursday 5 May 2011 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175
Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 2 May 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Online Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 2 May 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 3 May 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Daytime Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 4 May 2011 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12.00noon
Cost: $395
Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 4 May 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $450
Seminar: PR and Media Releases That Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Thursday 5 May 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $495
Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 9 May 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie
When: Every Monday starting Monday 9 May 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 11 May 2011 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $85
Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 11 May 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Writing Letters and Emails with Deb Doyle
When: Thursday 12 May 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $395
Online Course: Writing Books for Young Adults and Children with Laurine Croasdale/Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson
When: Every Monday starting Monday 16 May 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Seminar: Edit with Confidence with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Wednesday 18 May 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Magazine Writing Stage 2 with Gayle Bryant
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 18 May 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Plotting and Planning with Kate Forsyth – NEW COURSE
When: Thursday 19 May 2011 and Thursday 26 May 2011 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175
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
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: 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 – NEW DATE
When: Tuesday 14 June 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $450
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
Seminar: Sell your ebook on Amazon with Steven Lewis – NEW DATE
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 Young Adults and Children with Judith Ridge – NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 22 June 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Travel Writing: Get Paid for Your Adventures with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 23 June 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
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: 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: 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
When: Saturday 18 June to Saturday 25 June 2011
Writing in Paris with Patti Miller
When: Thursday 20 October to Saturday 5 November 2011
Travel Writing in Italy with Sue White
When: Friday 16 September to Friday 30 September 2011
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