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Free newsletter from the Sydney Writers' Centre packed with information about our upcoming courses and events, writing competitions, festivals, free articles on writing as well as freelance news and opportunities. Here's a collection of some of our past newsletters.

25 February 2010

Thursday, February 25, 2010
Make your travel pay; More student success; Online Writing Books for Children starts soon!; Book giveaway – The Vintner’s Luck


In this issue:
  • TIP: Introducing the comma
  • Make your travel pay – Travel Writing
  • More student success – Niamh Griffin
  • Online Writing Books for Children starts soon
  • The Vintner’s Luck book giveaway
  • National Young Writers’ Festival
  • WEBPICK: Fancy Goods 


This newsletter is coming to you from the Yarra Valley in Victoria. I love being a writer because as long as you have a computer, phone and internet you can do your work from anywhere.

A big welcome to all our new online writing course students. I’m especially looking forward to the Online Feature Writing course starting on Monday 1 March.

If you’d like to know what it takes to write polished feature articles and get them published, then this is the place to start. Your online feature writing course will teach you:
  • which ideas work and where to get them
  • understanding the magazine/news market
  • different types of feature articles
  • how to research, structure and write a feature
  • what editors want from a writer
  • how to pitch your article or idea to a magazine and sell it!

Here’s what some of our recent participants had to say about the course:

‘[I enjoyed] the quality of the content and the manner in which it was delivered. Being able to listen to the audio and download the handouts anytime during the week was great. I also enjoyed the profile writing task and chance to get feedback on my writing from Valerie.’
- Frances Wood

‘I enjoyed the presenter's real life experiences and ideas. And also the fact she transitioned into a writing career from another career… and made it all seem possible! I have benefited a lot. I knew nothing about writing or journalism before this course and the learning curve over just 5 weeks has been amazing.’
- Anna Day

Online Feature Writing with Valerie Khoo
When: Week beginning Monday 1 March 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Click here for more information or to enrol online.






TIP: Introducing the comma
In his book, The Little Green Grammar Book, Mark Tredinnick describes the comma as ‘the original pause for breath’. Its use is second only to the full stop. But there is still a lot of confusion on when they should be used, or left out completely.

One instance when you should use a comma is after an introductory word, phrase or clause. Here are some examples from The Little Green Grammar Book:

At the first gesture of morning, flies began stirring.

Before this year is over, I would like to have finished and published two more books.


The phrases before the commas are ‘introductory’. To leave the commas out could cause confusion for readers.

When the introductory element is very short, you don't always need a comma after it. But you're never wrong if you do use one.






Make your travel pay
We all love to travel – who doesn’t? But for those people who also love writing, travel is more than just a holiday. It’s inspiration! This daytime seminar will help guide you through the competitive and rewarding industry that is travel writing. The seminar will cover:
  • publishing opportunities (newspapers, magazines, electronic publishing, travel literature, guidebooks, other avenues)
  • types of travel stories (service stories, destination stories, personal essays)
  • what it takes to be a travel writer
  • some straight talk about earnings
  • finding and focusing your story (the right subject, travel trends, developing your story)
  • the art and craft of travel writing
  • getting published and making contacts (including tips on joining professional associations such as the Australian Society of Travel Writers)
  • writing for travel guidebooks

Here’s what some recent participants had to say about the seminar:

‘I enjoyed the no nonsense practical nature of the content and the delivery. I'm now motivated with a much clearer direction and realism around my personal objectives and strategy.’
- Nigel Smith

‘Geoff Bartlett drew from his own professional experience. It's nice hearing it from someone who knows the industry. There were a lot of hints and tips (industry related) Geoff gave that I will use myself.’
- Belinda Crestani

This seminar is presented by Geoff Bartlett. He has worked as a freelance travel writer and photographer for magazines and websites for the last six years. His current areas of focus are the islands of the South Pacific and Asia. He is a regular contributor to Pacific Island Paradises and Asian Paradises.

DAYTIME Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When
: Friday 5 March 2010 (two-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $75

Click here for more information or to enrol online.






Student success
Niamh Griffin has done quite a few courses with the Sydney Writers’ Centre, including Feature Writing stages 1 and 2. And she’s now having a lot of success with her writing.

Her blog, irishwanderings.com, has been nominated for the Irish Blog Awards for the best personal blog. She also contributes to another nominated blog, LA Makeup.

Congratulations Niamh!






Online writing for children starts soon
Think you could be the next J K Rowling? Well, why not! If you’re interested in writing for a younger audience our Online Writing Books for Children is perfect for you. This course will give you valuable insights into the world of children’s book publishing as well as giving you great tips on writing engaging and entertaining stories for younger readers.

The course will cover:
  • how to get started
  • finding the right voice
  • creating characters and stories young readers will enjoy
  • how to write believable dialogue
  • common assumptions about writing for children and about young readers
  • how to structure a story that works
  • the secrets to plotting for different age groups
  • what you need to know about getting into the children’s publishing market

This interactive online course covers the same content as our popular Writing Books for Children and Young Adults.

Online Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Nicola Robinson
When
: Week starting Monday 15 March 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Click here for more information or to enrol online.





The Vintner’s Luck book giveaway
Our friends at Icon Films have yet another giveaway for subscribers – but it’s not the usual film tickets. Instead, they’re giving away three copies of the book The Vintner’s Luck to celebrate the release of the upcoming movie!

The novel, written by award-winning author Elizabeth Knox, is set in a Burgundian village during the time of Napoleon. It’s the story of wine-maker Sobran Jordeau and his deepening friendship with an angel, Xas. And, thanks to Icon, we have three copies of the novel to giveaway.

Just tell us what you would ask an angel if he came to visit you. Email your entries to courses@spindrifmedia.com.au by Friday 5 March 2010, and don’t forget to include your postal address.

And for those people who like to see the film before reading the book (I know you’re out there), the film is showing in limited release at Dendy Opera Quays in Sydney, and also Canberra.
 
For details check out the Dendy website.






Unleash your creativity
If you want to kick-start your creativity and get started on that novel, memoir or short story, we now have a number of different learning options for our ever-popular Creative Writing Stage 1. You can now do a course in the evenings, the morning, or in one week!

Our next evening class is starting soon. This is your chance to enhance your creative writing and get that project started.

This creative writing course will teach you how to:
  • kick-start the creative writing process
  • tap into your imagination
  • draw from everyday experiences and memories
  • examine different types of creative writing
  • give structure to your writing
  • use characters and dialogue

Here’s what some recent participants have had to say about the course:

‘Our presenter, Jeni Mawter, was very, very good! She was able to give us valuable information about actual writing but also about how the publishing world works. She was also a very engaging speaker and the course was structured well. I have a much better understanding of what the process of writing actually involves.’
- Elizabeth Santangelo

‘Apart from the help with actual literary techniques, Jeni gave me a realistic sense of what it would be like to be a writer. She spoke well about the industry and its intricacies as well as speaking of her own experiences. This course gave me a great sense of how to write for different audiences and how to overcome writers block. Most importantly though, it helped me realise that the first draft doesn't have to be perfect.’
- Raymond Cachia

The next course will be taught by Jeni Mawter, children’s author of the hilarious ‘So’ series: So Gross!, So Feral!, So Sick!, So Festy!, So Grotty! and So Stinky! (HarperCollins) as well as the Freewheelers series: Unleashed!, Launched! and Extreme! (HarperCollins). Unleashed! was shortlisted for the WAYRBA Older Readers Award 2009.

Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When
: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 16 March 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Click here for more information or to enrol online.






National Young Writers’ Festival
NYWF is on again! This annual Newcastle event, part of the This Is Not Art festival, is currently in the planning stages and organisers want to hear from writers, poets, journalists, editors, playwrights – in fact, anyone involved in writing and publishing.

The festival will be held from 29 September to 4 October 2010, but submissions need to be in by Wednesday 31 March! So if you're interested in getting involved with this festival check out the website at www.nywf.org.au.

For more details, or download the submissions form
click here.






WEBPICK: Fancy Goods
Fancy Goods is the latest blog for Australian readers and writers. Written by the team at Bookseller+Publisher Online, it’s the place to go for book reviews, author interviews and news about books, writing and publishing.

The name for the blog comes from the original title of D W Thorpe’s industry newsletter, which he established in 1921. At that time, Bookseller+Publisher went by the name of The Australian Stationery and Fancy Goods Journal. (I have to say, if I received a brochure with a name like that, I would almost certainly buy something from it!)

And so, Fancy Goods the blog has been born.
Check it out here.










Other upcoming courses
Course: Online Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge - FULL
When: Week beginning Monday 1 March 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

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


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


Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley - FULL
When
: Tuesday 2 March 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $365

Course: Feature Writing Stage 1 DAYTIME course with Vanessa Waters
When
: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 3 March 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $395

Course: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When
: Friday 5 March 2010 (2-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $75

Course: Online Creative Writing with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman - NEW DATE
When
: Week beginning Monday 8 March 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395


Course: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson - FULL
When:
Tuesday 9 March 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Feature Writing Stage 1 course with Pamela Wilson
When
: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 10 March 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395


Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When
: Friday 12 March 2010 (2-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $75

Course: Online Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge - NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 15 March 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395


Seminar: Self-Publishing: How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When
: Monday 15 March 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When
: Tuesday 16 March
2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395


Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When
: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 16 March 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395


Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett - FULL
When
: Tuesday 23 March 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75


Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle
When
: Thursday 25 March 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm
Cost: $365


Seminar: Travel writing with Geoff Bartlett
When
: Thursday 25 March 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When:
Tuesday 30 March 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $365


Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When
: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 30 March 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson - NEW DATE
When:
Tuesday 6 April 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395


Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Kate Forsyth
When
: Every Thursday starting Thursday 8 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When
: Every Monday starting Monday 12 April 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 12 April - Friday 16 April 2010 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395

Course: Feature Writing Stage 2 with Judy Skatssoon
When
: Every Wednesday beginning Wednesday 14 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley
When
: Friday 30 April 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $365

Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett - NEW DATE
When
: Tuesday 4 May 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75


Course: Script Writing for Short Films with Geoff Bartlett
When
: Thursday 13 May and 20 May 2010 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $165

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When
: Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 July (two-day workshop)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $450

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

Writing Tour: Writing in Bali with Patti Miller
When:
30 September to 5 October 2010

Writing Tour: Writing in Paris with Patti Miller
Dates for 2010:
Arrival
: Thursday 21 October 2010
Departure: Saturday 6 November 2010