- TIP: Learned or learnt?
- Melbourne week – dates and courses confirmed
- Want editors to say yes? Learn how to
Perfect Your Pitch - Welcome to the Writing Bar
- Writing Competition – win a trip to LA!
- Turn clumsy writing into gold – Edit
with Confidence - What we’re reading: Tolkein’s Gown by Rick Gekoski
- WEBPICK: The Reading Room
It’s great to be back in Sydney, after being stranded in Chile last week thanks to the volcano. There’s so much going on at the Centre – it’s certainly a buzzing place to be! I’m excited to tell you that … we love Melbourne. So we’re coming to visit. From Thursday 6 to Saturday 9 October this year. So save those dates in your diary and have a look at the courses you can choose from.Thanks to our Melbourne friends who completed our survey about which courses to bring with us. We’ve heard you – and these are the results:
- Life writing
- Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers
- Travel Writing
- Professional Business Writing
- How to write a Business Book
For more information on our Melbourne courses, click here.
Would you like to work directly with me?
Would you like to work directly with me and the team here at the Sydney Writers’ Centre? Well, if you’re a budding feature writer/journalist, we have an incredible opportunity. Our internship program is now open.
To find out more click here.
Applications close Monday 27 June 2011.
TIP: Learned or learnt?
What have you learned in your creative writing course? Or should that be what have you learnt? Well, these words are interchangeable and your choice of which one to use will come down to regional considerations. American English tends to favour the –ed version, or learned, while British English will use –t, or learnt. This is the case with a number of past tense verbs.
For example:
| American English |
British English |
| Dreamed | Dreamt |
| Spelled | Spelt |
| Leaned | Leant |
| Spoiled | Spoilt |
What's new at the Sydney Writers' Centre
- Filling fast: Blogging for Business with
Steven Lewis, 30 June
- New dates: Creative Writing Stage 1 with James Roy, starts 28 July; Writing Interiors, Style and Design with
Nigel Bartlett, starts 9 August.
- Free webinar for Feature Writing Graduates only: 8.30pm Wednesday 6 July 2011. More details here.
- NEW COURSE: Writing a Picture Book with Cathie
Tasker, starts 6 October.
How to get editors to say YES – Perfecting Your Pitch
You’ve got a fantastic idea for a feature article, you may have even written it, but how do you convince an editor to publish it? Pitching is as important a skill as writing when you’re a freelance writer. Knowing how to approach an editor and what to send them will immediately give you an advantage when you start your writing career.Our two-week course, Perfecting Your Pitch, is the perfect follow-up to Feature Writing Stage 1. It will show you how to write the perfect pitch, how to sell your expertise, how to improve your pitching “hit rate”, and how to get editors to say “yes” to your story ideas.
Here’s what past participants say:
"Excellent course. I loved the way it was divided into a first session, full of information, and a more practical and interactive second session."
- Kees Bakhuijzen
"I have gained the confidence to get out there and pitch to editors and not fear that I am making a fool of myself."
- Catherine Brazil
This course is taught by Sue White, a successful feature writer and travel writer whose work has been published in magazines and online publications in Australia and overseas.
Note: Completion of Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers is a prerequisite for enrolling in Perfecting Your Pitch.
Perfecting Your Pitch with Sue White
When: Thursdays 13 & 20 July 2011 (two evening classes)
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $175
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Welcome to the Writing Bar
We have a new-look blog! We're excited to announce the launch of the Writing Bar, an online magazine on writing, creativity and words. After six years, we've given our "old" blog a gold watch and it's now retired. At Writing Bar, you'll find a wealth of resources including podcasts with authors, book reviews, current writing competition information and interviews from the Sydney Writers' Festival. The best part is that you'll be able to comment and connect via Twitter and Facebook as well.
We'll be uploading new content regularly from now on, so let us know if you have any writing questions you need answered!
Meanwhile, check out my latest post on “How to make a motza as a freelance feature writer” here.
Student Success – Frank Wiffen
This week we heard from Online Creative Writing graduate, Frank Wiffen. He’s just had a successful run at Hornsby Local Theatre with his play “Shopping with Harry”. It was one of 8 plays featured in the “Shorts on Stage” show. Here’s what Frank emailed us about the part the online course played in his development as a writer:
"'Shopping with Harry' was originally a story called 'Cubicle'. One thing I learned in the writing course was to revise, revise, revise. After about 40 or so revisions I experimented with turning it into a play. Boy did that make it come alive!"
Congratulations Frank! We hope this is the first of many plays.
Congratulations also to Ken Williams, who won our editing competition in Get Published, 2 June. He won a book pack that includes Tabloid Man by Sandra Hall, Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey, and Unsung Ordinary Men by Sally Dingo. Happy reading, Ken!
Turn clumsy writing into gold – Edit with Confidence
Editing is all about ensuring your documents are clear, concise and free of errors. It needn’t be a tedious task, but there are some important ground rules you need to know to ensure your editing tasks can be done efficiently and consistently.
If you’re editing documents at work you could be working on anything from letters to annual reports. The tips you’ll learn in our Edit with Confidence seminar will help you improve all of these documents, saving you time and transforming even the most clumsy writing.This seminar is suitable for anyone who edits documents at work or is interested in learning how to edit effectively.
Here’s what past participants say:
"Thank you, I have benefited immensely from this seminar. I now have some great tips to improve my skills in my work place."
- Greti Willett
“Deb's teaching style kept me engaged all day – her knowledge and the interactive nature of the course were the standouts!"
- Janeece Keller
This seminar is taught by Deb Doyle. She’s an experienced editorial-training consultant and publication editor and teaches a number of grammar and editing seminars at the Sydney Writers’ Centre.
Edit with Confidence with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 29 June 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Writing Competition – win a trip to LA or Fiji!Who said culture and sport don’t mix? If you’re looking for a way to flex your creative writing muscles here’s a competition that will definitely challenge!
Record is the official magazine of the AFL game and they’re looking for the best short stories on AFL in 2022. Prizes include flights to Los Angeles, Fiji, or anywhere in Australia. The best story will be published in the 2011 Grand Final issue of Record.
Click here for all the details.
The Tree of Life movie ticketsThe Tree of Life, starring Sean Penn and Brad Pitt, made a big impact at the recent Cannes Film Festival going on to win the prestigious Palme d’Or. The film chronicles the origins and meaning of life through the eyes of a 1950's Texas family and has been described as “a grandiose cinematic symphony”.
If you’d like to win one of five double passes to see The Tree of Life, just tell us which movie featured at Cannes you’d like to see, and why. Email your answers to courses [at] spindriftmedia [dot] com [dot] au by 5pm 30 June 2011.
Online Kids’ Books
If you want to learn how to take younger readers to another world, don’t miss out on our next online course in Writing Books for Children and Young Adults. Young people love to read and there’s no shortage of publishing opportunities for kids’ book writers – if they write a book that will engage and entertain their readers. This five-week course will reveal what techniques you need to know and how to apply them to your writing. You’ll discover how to find the right voice, how to write believable dialogue and how to structure your story. You’ll also discuss the children’s book publishing market and how you could be a part of it.
The best thing about this course? You can do it from home at a time that suits you! You’ll just need an internet connection and a few hours a week.
Here’s what past participants said about the course:
"The thing I found most enjoyable about the course was the fact I could do it at home, online. Loved it!"
- Kate Griffith
"I really enjoyed having a reason to write again and looked forward to feedback every week. I found it really motivating and this course has inspired me to spend more time on my writing."
- Alison Millar
ONLINE COURSE: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson
When: Week beginning Monday 4 July 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Did you know? In the doghouseI have two dogs in my household, and I can assure you they sometimes find themselves “in the doghouse”. Actually, you rarely use the saying “he’s in the doghouse” about a dog. More often than not it’s referring to a person (often a man!). If you’re in the doghouse it means you’re in trouble, and unlikely to redeem yourself easily!
The saying has a literary origin. In J M Barrie’s 1904 book, Peter Pan, the children’s father, Mr Darling, treats the family dog, Nana, quite badly. As punishment, Mr Darling’s wife sends him to live in Nana’s doghouse. And the phrase has been used ever since.
What we’re reading
This week our course manager, Danielle Williams, is reading Tolkein’s Gown & other stories of great authors and rare books by Rick Gekoski. Danielle writes:
"As a book lover it’s hard not to get excited about Tolkein’s Gown & other stories of great authors and rare books by Rick Gekoski. It turns out the stories behind the publication of some classic books can be as engaging as the book’s themselves! Rick is a rare-book dealer and his focus is first editions of classic 20th century books. In his own book, he tells the fascinating stories behind books such as Lolita by Nabokov, J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, and one of my favourite books, A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.
This is such a fun read, and educational. Any student or reader of modern classics would benefit from this. Rick can be bit of a snob – at one stage he confidently claims he wouldn’t like anyone who doesn’t get excited by a Sylvia Plath book personally inscribed to Ted Hughes – but I personally find that charming (and a little amusing). I’d definitely recommend this book to any lover of literature."
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: The Reading Room
The Reading Room is an online community of readers, a kind of virtual book club. Once you join (membership is free) you can set up your own bookshelf, offer recommendations to other readers, and join discussions on books. It’s easy to set up your own account and once you do, you’ll have access to various book clubs (there are book clubs on fantasy, crime, and even a Vampire Lovers book club), and will be sent recommendations according to what’s in your bookshelf.
Check it out here.
Other upcoming courses
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 – FULL
When: Every Monday starting Monday 27 June 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 27 June 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 27 June 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Tuesday 28 June 2011 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $85
Seminar: Edit with Confidence with Deb Doyle
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 – FULL
When: Every Friday starting Friday 1 July 2011 for eight weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12.00noon
Cost: $650
Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Laurine Croasdale/Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson
When: Week beginning Monday 4 July 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
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 – FULL
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 5 July 2011 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $495
Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Monday 11 July 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $395
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: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Marina Go
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 14 July 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Friday 15 July 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $450
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Sue White
When: Tuesday 19 July 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $450
Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 25 July 2011 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Seminar: Perfect Your Proofreading with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 27 July 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Daytime Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 27 July 2011 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12.00noon
Cost: $395
Course: Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 27 July 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Wednesday 27 July 2011 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $85
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with James Roy – NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 28 July 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding – NEW DATE
When: Every Monday starting Monday 8 August 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Writing about Interiors, Style and Design with Nigel Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Tuesday 9 August 2011 and Tuesday 16 August 2011 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175
Seminar: Sell Your Ebook on Amazon with Steven Lewis – NEW DATE
When: Tuesday 16 August 2011 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $85
Seminar: Better Business Communications with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 17 August 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Friday starting Friday 9 September 2011 for six weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12.00noon
Cost: $450
Course: Writing a Picture Book with Cathie Tasker – NEW COURSE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 6 October 2011 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Sue White – MELBOURNE COURSE
When: Thursday 6 October and Friday 7 October 2011 (two-day course)
Time: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Sue White – MELBOURNE COURSE
When: Thursday 6 October 2011 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $450
Seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo – MELBOURNE COURSE
When: Friday 8 October 2011 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 1.00pm
Cost: $295
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller – MELBOURNE COURSE
When: Saturday 8 October and Sunday 9 October 2011 (two-day course)
Time: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Cost: $450
Course: Travel Writing: Get Paid for Your Adventures with Sue White – MELBOURNE COURSE
When: Saturday 8 October and Sunday 9 October 2011 (two-day course)
Time: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Cost: $395
Course: Novel Writing Workshop with Pamela Freeman – NEW DATE
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 11 October 2011 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $495
Course: Daytime Intensive Creative Writing Stage 1 with Kate Forsyth – NEW DATE
When: Monday 17 October to Friday 21 October 2011 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395
Course: Plotting and Planning with Kate Forsyth
When: Monday 28 November 2011 and Monday 5 December 2011 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175
WRITING TOURS
Writing in Paris with Patti Miller
When: Thursday 20 October to Saturday 5 November 2011
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