In this issue:
- Online Feature Writing – STARTS MONDAY
- TIP: The comma splice
- Raspberry & Vine competition
- The dark side of creative writing – Crime Writing Workshop
- Book Giveaway – Hot Tips for Career Chicks
- Do-it-yourself publishing
- Did you know?
- WEBPICK: Pamela Wilson's Writesmart
We’ve had a great week so far. On Tuesday, we were at Quay Restaurant in Sydney for the Dell Small Business Excellence awards where we were recognised as one of the 10 most innovative small businesses in Australia. It was great to have the whole team there because everyone here at the Sydney Writers’ Centre works so hard to make it the kind of place we hope you want to go to.One of the areas we were recognised for was our online courses. We’ve always been committed to bringing our quality courses to people who can’t easily attend our face-to-face courses.
In fact, next week, you can enrol in Online Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers – which I’ll be teaching!
Online Feature Writing – STARTS MONDAY
Learn to write for magazines and newspapers from home – or wherever you are! Our Online Feature Writing course can be done anywhere you have access to the internet. The interactive style of this course means you can communicate with your presenter and classmates just as you would in a face-to-face class. If you’re interested in writing for magazines and newspapers, then this course will help you do it. You’ll learn the essentials of writing good articles and getting them published.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- find ideas that work and know where to get them
- understand the magazine/news market
- analyse different types of feature articles
- research, structure and write a feature
- understand what editors want from a writer
- pitch your article or idea to a magazine and sell it!
Many previous participants in this course have gone on to be published.
Here’s what a few of them had to say:
‘This is one of the few courses that I have done which was really worthwhile. Usually with a course, you find that they give you a textbook and you work your way through it. It's invaluable to get into Valerie's head and learn all the insider tips of an editor. You want to learn from someone who has several years experience working in the business.’
- Gillian Nalletamby
‘I found the whole course to be interesting and relevant. It covered such a huge amount of material in a relatively short time and helped us all believe we have what it takes to pursue writing as a career!’
- Kristy McCormick
Online Feature Writing with Valerie Khoo
When: Week beginning Monday 28 September for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
TIP: The comma splice
Used properly, commas help readers understand your writing better. They can give pause to a sentence, as though it were being spoken. But commas can be overused too, and one notable way this happens is with the comma splice. A comma splice occurs when a comma is used to separate two independent sentences.
For example:
Rambo went for a long walk today, he’s been stuck inside the house all week.
Really, this should be written as two separate sentences or with a conjunction, like this:
Rambo went for a long walk today because he’s been cooped up inside the house all week.
Comma splices are not uncommon, but they’re not good grammar, so read your sentence carefully and make sure you’re not splicing!
Raspberry & Vine Short Story CompetitionHere’s a chance for you to write a short story on any theme – and possibly see it published online. You could also win $300.
The Raspberry & Vine competition is accepting short fiction of any genre up to 4,000 words. Entry fee is $10 per story and you have until Friday 30 October 2009 to enter.
You can download an entry form or read past winners here.
Crime Writing Workshop
Our very first Crime Writing Workshop is happening soon. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from one of Australia’s best-known crime writers. If you’ve completed a creative writing course or you’d like to explore the world of crime writing further, this course will give you an insight into the darker side of writing.
During this weekend workshop you will discover:
- The “rules” of crime writing and how to get started
- Research resources for crime writers
- How to develop credible heroes and intriguing villains
- How to develop a sense of place in crime fiction
- The importance of plotting your crime
- How to plant clues and create suspense
- What crime fiction publishers are looking for
The workshop is presented by Marele Day, author of four crime novels – The Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender, The Case of the Chinese Boxes, The Last Tango of Dolores Delgado and The Disappearances of Madalena Grimaldi – as well as a collection of crime-comedy stories – Mavis Levack, PI. She is also the editor of How to Write Crime. Other novels include the acclaimed Lambs of God and Mrs Cook: The Real and Imagined Life of the Captain’s Wife.
A highly experienced teacher, Marele conducts creative writing courses throughout Australia and mentors emerging writers. She has won several awards including the Ned Kelly Lifetime Achievement in 2008. Her latest novel, released in 2009, is The Sea Bed.
Crime Writing Workshop with Marele Day
When: Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October 2009 (2-day workshop)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Student Success & book giveawayKaren Adamedes has completed a number of courses with the Sydney Writers’ Centre, including Editing Essentials, Self-Publishing: How to do it and Marketing Your Book. All of these courses have come in very handy as she is just about to launch her book Hot Tips for Career Chicks. Congratulations Karen!
We have three copies of Karen’s book to give away. This is a guide for women who want to get ahead in the male dominated world of business. It’s full of tips on communication, operating style and career development, and could help you accelerate your career.
If you’d like to win a copy of Hot Tips for Career Chicks, tell us one way you’ve achieved your career goals. Email your answers to courses@spindriftmedia.com.au by Friday 2 October 2009, and remember to include your postal address.
Self-Publishing – here’s how
For many people, self-publishing is now the way to go if they want to see their book in print. Many small business owners and professionals use self-publishing as a way to get their expertise out there, and it’s also a popular path for people writing a family history. Of course, self-publishing can be a big job. Where do you start if you want to self-publish your book? Our two-hour seminar will give you the information you need to take on this rewarding journey.
It will cover:
- self-publishing versus commercial publishing
- the steps to successful self-publishing
- the importance of editing and layout
- how to get your book printed
- marketing and distributing your book
- what's it all going to cost?
Here’s what some recent participants had to say about the seminar:
‘Geoff is experienced, affable and treats the most outrageous questions with thought and consideration. I have absolutely benefited – wait until you see my book (just give me a few months).’
- Katie Whiffen
‘Geoff was totally in command of this subject and he packed LOTS of information into a short amount of time. I'm a busy person (writing plus earning a living), so I was especially grateful that he didn't waste my time.’
- Pamela Thorne
Self-Publishing: How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 14 October 2009 (2 hour seminar)
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
Cost: $75
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Did you know? “Alma mater”You may have heard the term “alma mater” being used. Typically, it’s used when referring to the school or university you used to go to.
For example:
“My alma mater is the University of Sydney where I studied economics”.
However, did you know that the word comes from the Latin, meaning “nourishing mother”?
WEBPICK: Pamela Wilson's WritesmartThis week’s webpick is from one of our wonderful presenters here at the Sydney Writers’ Centre. Pamela Wilson teaches Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers, and is a freelance journalist herself. Her blog is very new, but already it has been shortlisted in the Top 10 Blogs for Writers.
Pamela’s blog is full of useful info for feature writers, as well as interviews with published authors and news about literary events around Australia.
Check it out at http://blog.writesmart.com.au/
Other upcoming courses
Seminar: Successful Freelancing with Gayle Bryant and Valerie Khoo
When: Thursday 24 September 2009 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75
Course: Online Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Valerie Khoo
When: Week beginning Monday 28 September 2009 for five weeks
Time: Whenever you want
Cost: $395
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman / Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 28 September 2009 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Seminar: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 30 September 2009 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $75
Course: Script Writing for the Short Films with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 1 October and Thursday 8 October 2009 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $165
Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 7 October 2009 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75
Course: Crime Writing Weekend Workshop with Marele Day
When: Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October 2009 (2 day workshop)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Katrina Lobley
When: Every Monday starting Monday 12 October 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson
When: Tuesday 13 October 2009 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 14 October 2009 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Self-Publishing: How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 14 October 2009 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $75
Course: Writing for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 15 October 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman - FULL
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 20 October 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Feature Writing Stage 2 with Judy Skatssoon
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 21 October 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley
When: Thursday 22 October 2009 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $345
Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Friday 23 October 2009 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $365
Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Pamela Wilson
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 5 November 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Online Business Booster Bootcamp with Valerie Khoo
When: Tuesday 24 November 2009
Time: 9.30am - 5.30pm
Cost: $695
Course: Marketing Your Book with Amanda Falconer
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 19 January 2009 for three weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $265
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Friday starting Friday 22 January 2010 for six weeks
Time: 10am – 12noon
Cost: $450
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman - NEW DATE
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 16 February 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
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