Quote mark quirks; Make money from travel stories and photos - Travel Writing Seminar; Improve your writing with Editing Essentials; More Student Success.
Dear Fellow Writer,
In this issue:
- TIP: Avoid quote mark abuse
- Make money from your travel stories and photos – Travel Writing
- Improve professional writing with Editing Essentials
- Student Success – Matthew Holland’s short story
- TIP: May or Might?
- WEBPICK – We tell stories
Well I've had a bit of a cinematic week (in the comfort of my own home). I've been watching some of the short films that Geoff Bartlett is going to discuss in the course Script Writing for Short Films. Some aspiring film-makers are truly talented and you just know they are going to turn out feature films one day. If you're interested in taking your first step into the world of film-making, this is a great short course - it's only 2 sessions and it will give you an idea of whether you're ready to be the next Baz Luhrmann!Course: Script Writing for the Short Films with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 2 July and Thursday 9 July 2009 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $165
People often make the mistake of over-using quote marks.Check out this passage:
"I went to the grocery store," says Melanie. "I bought milk, sugar and marmalade. But they had run out of butter so I had to go to the shopping centre.Notice that there are no closed quote marks after shopping centre.
"On my way to there, I stopped at the post office in order to mail a package to my auntie in Queensland."
Some people say that a closed quote mark should be inserted after shopping centre because it's the end of a paragraph. This is WRONG. Because Melanie hasn't finished talking, you DO NOT close the quote mark.
However, as her quote continues on the next paragraph, you DO open the new paragraph with an opening quote mark.
The bottom line: The quote marks in the above passage are correct.
Presented by Geoff Bartlett, a freelance travel writer and photographer with over six years’ experience, the seminar will cover: And, if you’re also a budding photographer, you can enter the Jetstar Travel Photography competition which is now open. You have until 31 July to send your travel photos and be eligible for over $65,000 worth of prizes. There’s even a category for kids! Click here for more information on how to enter. Click here for more information or to enrol online.
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. Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Travel Writing
Is it possible to make money while you travel? Can you turn your travel diaries into articles for your favourite magazine? Our Travel Writing seminar will give you the essential information you need to approach magazines and newspapers with your holiday articles.
Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 10 June 2009 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $75
Student Success
We were thrilled to hear that Matthew Holland, one of our Feature Writing students, will be published in the fourth edition of Brisbane's One Book Many Brisbanes Anthology. The anthology is a collection of short stories written by Brisbanites and will be published in June. You can read more about the anthology here.
Congratulations Matthew! We’re looking forward to reading your story.
Editing Essentials
If you find yourself correcting colleagues’ writing, checking business documents for errors, or trying to improve your own writing at work, you need to understand the basics of editing. If you can apply these skills, you’ll be able to transform even the worst writing into a clear and concise document in no time at all.
In our intensive one-day seminar, you can learn the essentials of editing and apply these skills at work immediately. You will learn:
Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley
When: Wednesday 10 June 2009 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $345
TIP: May or Might?
Grammar Girl, from quickanddirtytips.com, has this to say about the different uses of ‘may’ and ‘might’.
The difference between "may" and "might" is subtle. If something is likely to happen, use "may":
If something is a mighty stretch, use "might":
WEBPICK: We Tell Stories
For anyone interested in the impact, and benefits, of technology on writing, We Tell Stories is a ‘groundbreaking experiment in digital storytelling’. Designed by Six to Start for Penguin Books, We tell stories worked with six best-selling authors to create six internet only stories. The stories include The 21 Steps by Charles Cummings, which incorporates Google Maps in the storytelling; Slice by Toby Litt, which was told through Twitter and blog posts; and Your Place or Mine by Nicci French, which was told live over five days.
If you’re one of those people who can’t go past reading from a book, this may not appeal, but it is a fascinating experiment – and maybe a sign of things to come? A word of warning though – 21 Steps may cause motion sickness! It seems even virtual flying can make some people feel ill.
Click here for more stories.
Book Giveaway
Don’t forget our latest book giveaway. You have until 5pm Friday 22 May 2009 to tell us about your most bizarre hotel experience to have a chance to win a copy of Debra Adelaide’s first novel, The Hotel Albatross. For more details, check out our blog.
Other upcoming courses
Course: Online Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Valerie Khoo
When: Week beginning Monday 25 May 2009 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Feature writing for magazines and newspapers with Pamela Wilson
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 28 May 2009 for five weeks
Time: 10am - 12noon
Cost: $395
Course: Online Creative Writing with Pamela Freeman / Cathie Tasker - NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 8 June 2009 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley
When: Wednesday 10 June 2009 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $345
Seminar: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 10 June 2009 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $75
Seminar: Self-publishing - How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 11 June 2009 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $75
Course: Hook Your Reader with Maree Giles
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 17 June 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Successful Freelancing with Valerie Khoo and Gayle Bryant
When: Thursday 18 June 2009 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 25 June 2009 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $75
Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Friday 26 June 2009 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $325
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 30 June 2009 for five weeks - FULL
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Script Writing for the Short Films with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 2 July and Thursday 9 July 2009 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $165
Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Friday 3 July 2009 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Course: Writing for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 16 July 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson - NEW DATE
When: Thursday 30 July 2009 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Kate Forsyth
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: Feature Writing Stage 2 with Judy Skatssoon - NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday starting Monday 7 September 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
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