Get Published newsletter

• TIP: Are you hyper or hypo?
• Take your creative writing to the next level
• Gippsland TAFE Travel Writing Award
• How to get your book published
• Ticket giveaway – South Solitary
• TIP: Whilst or while?
• Writing for the Web
• WEBPICK: Write to Done

I have to admit, I’m addicted to movies and television. While I certainly love the written word, I also enjoy sitting back and enjoying the sensory experience of motion picture watching. And I’m no snob – I’ll enjoy everything from arthouse films to Hollywood blockbusters.

That’s why I’m so excited to tell you about our new course, Screenwriting with Tim Gooding. For those of you who saw Tim take a session about this craft at the Sydney Writers’ Festival, you’ll know he’s dynamic, generous with his information and full of great stories about the screenwriting industry.

After all, he’s written for everything from Water Rats and Rafferty’s Rules to Blue Heelers and All Saints. He also devised and co-wrote the ABC TV series Sweet and Sour - I grew up watching that show! I’m so thrilled that Tim has joined our team.

You can take advantage of Tim’s vast knowledge and experience at the next course in Screenwriting.

Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Monday starting Monday 16 August 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

TIP: Are you hyper or hypo?
Hyper and hypo – they sound almost exactly the same when you say them but their meanings are completely opposite. You’re most likely to see ‘hyper’ and ‘hypo’ as prefixes in medical terms, but they also come up in other words we regularly use.  

‘Hyper’ means over or excessive, for example, ‘hyperactive’, which means active to excess or overactive. Medical terms with the prefix ‘hyper’ usually mean excessive or above normal, so hyperthermia occurs when a patient has an abnormally high fever or body temperature.

‘Hypo’ means under or inadequate. Hypodermic literally means ‘under the skin’ and if a person has an abnormally low body temperature, then they’re described as being as having hypothermia.

So it pays to make sure you’ve spelt your prefix correctly, especially when the difference between ‘hypo’ and ‘hyper’ is so vast – you could wind up saying the complete opposite of what you mean.

• how to find, create or extend your main characters and how to place them within a world of believable minor characters
• how to make similar characters distinct on the page - what is your character’s ‘journey’?
• structuring your story
• climax and resolution: how these shape the final story - and how to write them!
• the principles of scene development: dialogue, pacing, the manipulation of time, character interaction, management of exposition
• the right process of structural editing, copy-editing and proof reading, using examples from both published and student work
• and much more.

Here’s what our most recent participants had to say about the course:
‘Most enjoyable about the course was having a presenter as educated and friendly as Pamela Freeman. Pamela was always happy to answer any questions and made the learning experience enjoyable. Different from creative writing stage one, stage two challenged me more, making me put what I have learnt to the test and pushed me that extra little bit.’
- Gustavo Panucci

‘I find Pamela Freeman a great inspiration and an excellent teacher. She has in depth knowledge of the industry and brings humour and personal experience effectively into each session. My workshop skills have improved and I feel that I have progressed to a stage where I am feeling more confident about the process of structuring a story.’
- Angharad Dalton

Creative Writing Stage 2 is presented by Pamela Freeman, author of 21 books, the most recent of which, Full Circle (Book 3 of the Castings trilogy), is being published in the US, UK, France, Spain, Portugal and Germany as well as Australia. Pamela’s latest children’s book, Victor’s Challenge, was published in 2009 in Australia and the UK.

Pamela started as a children’s writer, and many of her books have been shortlisted for the State Literary Awards, the Children's Book Council Book of the Year Awards, the Koala Awards and the Wilderness Society Environment Awards. Pamela – who is also an accomplished script writer – has taught creative writing at the University of Technology, Sydney for many years.

Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Tuesdays starting Tuesday 27 July 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

You can also do this course online:

ONLINE Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 26 July 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

Travel Writing Awards
The East Gippsland TAFE Travel Writing Awards are on again. This is a perfect opportunity for feature writing or travel writing graduates to put what they’ve learned into practice! Your task is to write a 1500 word article in any style on any of your travel experiences – anywhere in the world. First prize is $1500, second is $500 and third, $250. Depending on the quality of the short listed articles, judges may also give out $100 commendation prizes.

If you’re a Gippsland local or you’ve recently visited there, there is also a special prize of $350 for the best travel article on the area – which is anywhere from Philip Island to Warragul to the NSW border.

Entries close on Thursday 30 September 2010. There is a $10 entry fee and you can download an entry form and find more information here.

How to get your book published
So, you’re ready to get published. But do you know what’s involved in publishing a book? Do you know who you want to approach or how you should pitch your book? Have you ever negotiated a contract? These are all questions you need to consider when you embark on publishing your book. If you’re new to publishing, our next How to Get Your Book Published seminar will help prepare you for this challenging and exciting journey.

The seminar will cover:

• how to write a winning book proposal
• how to approach publishers
• do you need an agent?
• how much should you write before approaching a publisher?
• negotiating a fair contract
• the editing and re-writing process

Movie ticket giveaway – South Solitary
We received some great entries for last week’s movie ticket giveaway – seems many of our subscribers are budding actors as well as writers! If you sent an entry, we’ll be posting out your double pass soon.

This week we have another ticket giveaway thanks to Icon Films. South Solitary had its world premiere at the recent Sydney Film Festival and was a sell-out there. The film opens across Australia on 29 July, and we have 10 season double passes to giveaway.

South Solitary is a gentle romantic comedy, featuring a stellar Australian cast including Miranda Otto (Blessed), and Barry Otto (Australia). It was filmed in Australia, and showcases some of the best scenery our country has to offer.
 
The year is 1927, and the setting is South Solitary Island, a remote lighthouse island off the coast of Tasmania, which is cold, rainy, and directly in the path of the Roaring Forties. Meredith Appleton (Miranda Otto), 35, arrives with her uncle, George Wadsworth (Barry Otto), the replacement Head Keeper of the lighthouse. She is a “chin up!” sort of a girl, and she needs to be in these circumstances…  
 
Meredith tries to make the best of a bad situation by attempting to make friends with the few occupants of the island, including Assistant Keeper, Fleet. However, with a little bit of time, Meredith finds much more than friendship.

If you’d like to win a double pass just tell us what you would take with you to South Solitary (to fend off the boredom!) and why. Email your answer to courses [at] spindriftmedia [dot] com [dot] au by 5pm 30 July 2010 and don't forget to include your name and postal address.

TIP: Whilst or while?
We’ve covered the vexing issue of whether to use whilst or while in your writing before, but as we received an email this week from one subscriber, I thought it would be worth repeating it. Here’s what we wrote on the topic in May last year: 

Deciding whether to use whilst or while can come down to just personal preference. While many people nowadays think it’s old-fashioned to use ‘whilst’, it is still used frequently, particularly in corporate or more formal writing.

Wikipedia says that ‘whilst is synonymous with while in standard English’ and that most style guides (both English and American) disapprove of the use of ‘whilst’. But according to www.onlinegrammar.com.au there is a belief among some grammar experts that there is a subtle difference:

While should be used in relation to time
Ie: The news came on while we were eating dinner.

Whilst should be used when the meaning is ‘although’.
Ie: Whilst she is new to the area, she has quickly made friends.

For example:
Although she is new to the area, she has quickly made friends.

This is also the approach of the major newspapers in this country.

Make your website great!
Writing content for your website is very different to writing letters, reports, or even marketing material. Web content needs to be concise and give your site’s visitors the information they need, clearly and quickly.

If you’re building a brand new website or want to revitalise your current one our Writing for the Web seminar will give you tools and techniques you can use straight away.

This practical seminar covers:

• the difference between print and online writing
• good content versus poor content
• how your readers engage with web content
• golden rules of information design
• writing for scannability
• guidelines for concise writing
• do you need contextual links?
• using keywords for search engine optimisation
• writing for accessibility and usability
• why you need a style guide
• and much more

Here’s what some recent participants had to say about the seminar:
‘Hearing similar issues being faced in other organisations was really beneficial. It highlighted things I could be doing better and also some things that I am currently doing right, which was a nice surprise! I found the overall session and Grant to be relaxed, informative and fun. I can now better plan my approach to web writing with the tools provided.’
- Shelley Stephens

‘I really enjoyed the focus on the way people take in information on the web. I went back to work and redesigned our website. I now feel like I have a better idea of how to effectively arrange and write website copy.’
- Marina Cilona

This seminar is presented by Grant Doyle, an experienced copywriter, content manager and web editor. Grant's background is as a print journalist and author. He has spent the last 11 years 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.

Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Monday 26 July 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm
Cost: $365

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

WEBPICK: Write to Done
Who better to give you advice on writing than a Zen master? Write to Done: Unmissable articles on writing, is the blog of Leo Babauta – journalist, author, blogger and entrepreneur. He’s helped by his chief editor, zen master and psychotherapist, Mary Jaksch.

Write to Done covers all sorts of writing – journalism, freelance writing, fiction, non-fiction – and also tackles the world of publishing and working as a writer. There’s loads of advice here! Definitely check out the post containing 201 Ways to Arouse Your Creativity – you’re bound to find something to spark your next story! 

Check out Write to Done here.

(And if you feel you need an extra edge in your writing, try Leo’s other blog http://zenhabits.net/)

Other upcoming courses
Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Holly Nott
When: Thursdays starting Thursday 22 July 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson – FULL
When: Friday 23 July 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Monday 26 July 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm
Cost: $365

Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 1 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman
When: Week beginning Monday 26 July 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 26 July 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 27 July 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 30 July 2010 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $75

Course: Online Feature Writing Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo/Pamela Wilson - NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 2 August 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 2 August 2010 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 9 August 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle – FULL
When: Wednesday 11 August 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 12 August 2010 for six weeks
Time: 10am - 12noon
Cost: $450

Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Monday starting Monday 16 August 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Editing at work with Deb Doyle – NEW COURSE
When: Wednesday 18 August 2010
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $365

Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson – NEW DATE
When: Friday 27 August 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Writing Letters and Emails with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Tuesday 31 August 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $365

Course: Travel Writing: Get paid for your adventures with Sue White
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 2 September 2010 for four weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $345

Seminar: Self-publishing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 2 September 2010 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with James Roy – NEW PRESENTER
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 9 September 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Friday 10 September 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Proofreading at work with Deb Doyle – NEW COURSE
When: Friday 17 September 2010
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $365

Seminar: How to get free publicity with Catriona Pollard – NEW COURSE
When: Thursday 23 September 2010
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $495

Course: Magazine Writing Stage 2 with Valerie Khoo
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 29 September 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
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: Novel writing workshop with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday beginning Tuesday 12 October 2010 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $495

Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 14 October 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm
Cost: $365

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge – NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 27 October 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395

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