- TIP: Each other’s or each others’?
- More student success – Kirsten Hyam
- Turn your travels into a memoir
- Did you know? Exclamation comma
- Master the art of storytelling
- What we’re reading – Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami
- WEBPICK: Readers’ Niche
With 2012 in full swing, it’s no wonder our business writing courses are so popular. So I’m thrilled that we're expanding our team with the addition of Tony Spencer-Smith as a presenter. I’ve known Tony for some years now and have always admired his skill and talent, not only in corporate writing but also training. Tony is teaching our brand new seminar Business Writing Basics. This seminar is ideal if you want to write confidently at work. You’ll learn easy-to-follow rules so that your writing is clear and concise, and discover the right conventions for emails and letters.
In this one-day workshop, you’ll learn:
- a step-by-step process on how to write most business documents
- the 11 Golden Rules of business writing
- the right way to write salutations, honorifics and signoffs
- a clear framework on how to write clearly and concisely
- how to order information effectively
- how to use apostrophes correctly
- and be provided with valuable templates to help you write your letters and emails
Business Writing Basics with Tony Spencer-Smith
When: Tuesday 28 February 2012
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
What's new at the Sydney Writers' Centre- Filling fast: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding, starts Monday 30 January 2012.
- Our latest podcast is now up! Hear what Jessica Rudd has to say about writing and her latest novel, Ruby Blues.
- We’re looking forward to kicking off our first Thriller Writing course with L.A. Larkin on 15 March 2012.
- I'm revising one of my books for its new edition. But I'm changing the title and would value your feedback. Which one would you choose? Click here for our quick survey.
TIP: Each other’s or each others’?
The rule for apostrophes and ownership is fairly straight forward: - for singular nouns, the apostrophe goes before the “s”
- for plural nouns, the apostrophe goes after the “s”.
Students are encouraged to comment on each other’s/each others’ work in the classroom.Many writers assume that because students in this sentence is plural, then each other must be also, therefore the apostrophe goes after the “s”. Actually, that’s not the case. Each other acts as a singular pronoun so the apostrophe goes before the “s”.
Student Success – Kirsten Hyam
This week we heard from Magazine and Newspaper Writing graduate, Kirsten Hyam, who has just had her first feature published in Girlfriend magazine. Here’s what she wrote to us:One year ago today I received my certificate for the Magazine and Newspaper Writing course with Sue White. Since completing the course I have had my first pitch commissioned, which resulted in my first glossy magazine article published in the January edition of Girlfriend. I am also in the process of writing my second commissioned article for a health and well-being publication. I found the course to be very beneficial in understanding the freelance market and learning more about the trade in general, including brainstorming and pitching ideas, and tips for research and writing. Thanks to Sue and the entire team at the SWC who have great knowledge and such a passion for teaching
their students the art of writing.
Congratulations Kirsten!
If you want to try your hand at writing features for your favourite magazine, our next Magazine and Newspaper Writing course is filling fast. Click here for more information.
Turn your travels into a memoir
Do you want to turn your dream trip into a published memoir? Do you have travel journals you’d like to see published? Travel memoir is an incredibly popular genre with readers and publishers alike. It seems that for every successful travel memoir published, there must be 10 more inspirational stories waiting to be told.Our five-week Travel Memoir course, with successful journalist and author Claire Scobie, will show you how to turn your journeys into a book. You’ll discover how to make your story unique, how to structure your travel memoir, and how to craft a compelling and readable story.
What past participants say:
"I wanted to write about my experiences and this course made me realise that I could actually do it. Claire was a warm, engaging presenter who really unlocked the creative potential in all of us."
- Chula Murray
"Claire is a phenomenal presenter with a wealth of writing technique knowledge and practical experience. She lives and breathes writing and it comes through as a passion that embraces and motivates her students."
- Penny Cannan
Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie
When: Tuesdays starting Tuesday 31 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
WEEKEND INTENSIVE Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie
When: Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 February 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Amazon Breakthrough Novel AwardThe Amazon Breakthrough Novel competition is a chance for two writers (one general fiction, one young adult fiction) to score a publishing deal with Penguin worth $15,000.
Writers are invited to submit a 300-word pitch for the first round, which ends at 11.59pm on Sunday 5 February 2012. From those entries, staff at Amazon will select the best 1,000 pitches to go on to Round 2.
For more details visit the Writing Bar.
Did you know? Exclamation comma
Just when you thought we had every conceivable use for punctuation covered, along comes the exclamation comma. All the excitement of the exclamation mark without the finality, the exclamation comma allows you to continue a sentence after its use.
While it’s unlikely to come into regular use anytime soon (mainly because it’s near impossible to type it in Word) there are some devoted fans out there who’d like to see the exclamation comma accepted in common English, along with its close relation, the question comma.
(If you’re keen to try out the exclamation comma it is possible to type it, if complicated. Check out this post for instructions on how to do it.)
Master the art of storytelling
Whether you’ve been writing for a while or just starting your creative writing journey, knowing all the elements of good fiction can only enhance your stories. If you’ve decided it’s time to let that book you’ve always had in you out, our Creative Writing Stage 1 course will help you.Over five weeks we’ll teach you the importance of structure, plot, voice and character, and show you how to apply it to your writing. If you want to write engaging and absorbing stories, this is a great way to start.
What past participants say:
"I enjoyed learning the theory behind the structure in writing. I really loved being able to sit with like-minded people who understand what it's like to want to write."
- Shae Blizzard
"I've had lots of light bulb moments since I finished the course. The presenter was generous with her time, leaving her apprentices with a cart piled high with hot tips to take away on our writing journeys."
- Janice Dibb
Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman
When: Tuesdays starting Tuesday 31 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
WEEKEND INTENSIVE Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 February 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395
Creative Writing Stage 1 with Melina Marchetta
When: Wednesdays starting Wednesday 22 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
In the news
We were thrilled to spot this article on Jessica Shirvington in the January/February 2012 issue of Mindfood. Jessica completed our Creative Writing Stage 1 and Creative Writing Stage 2 courses and has gone on to publish three books from her Violet Eden Chapters series.
TIP: Peak or peek?
Here are two words we often see confused – peak and peek. They sound exactly the same when used in speech, but their meanings are very different, so it’s important to know the difference between the two.Peak, with an "a", is the pointed top of a mountain, or the maximum or highest point or degree of something. For example:
The small town reached the peak of its prosperity last century.Peek, with two "e"s, means to peep or peer at something. For example:
The climbers aimed to reach the peak of the mountain by nightfall.
The children couldn't resist taking a peek at their christmas presents.
Online course: Travel Writing
Want to know how you can explore the world and get paid for it? Join us in our virtual classroom for the ultimate guide on becoming a travel writer. Over five weeks you’ll learn the fundamentals of travel writing, including how to develop the right angle for your stories, how to structure your articles, and how to research travel stories and find interview subjects on the road.
You can do this course from wherever you are, whenever you like. You’ll have a chance to pitch your own travel stories and get feedback from an expert on your writing.
What past participants say:
"I would find it impossible to attend five nights of a course given family committments, so completing it online means I can do it whenever suits. I download the podcasts and listen to them in the car or on the train. Great!"
- Leanne Anderson
"Sue was extremely professional and offered constructive feedback. She was inspirational and I could really relate to her, even in the online environment. I now feel totally motivated to pursue my goals relating to travel writing."
- Jocelyn Pride
This course is taught by freelance writer Sue White. She's lost count of the number of countries she’s visited for work and play. As a travel writer, she has written about everything from the Golden Temple (Amritsar, India) to Gianni Versace’s 24-carat gold toilet (Miami, USA) while indulging her own itchy feet.
ONLINE COURSE Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 6 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
What we’re reading
This week Sydney Writers’ Centre communications coordinator, Rose Powell, is reading Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami. She writes: Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami reads like an oddly coherent, crazy dream. The parallel worlds narrated by the same voice is an effective tactic for escalating tension throughout the book, as you wonder how the Tokyo-based narrator ends up without his shadow in a walled town no one can escape from in the middle of a forest.
Despite the fantasy elements of underground rivers in Tokyo city, complete with sacrificial shrines, armies of leeches and INKlings, it's a much easier story to follow than some of Murakami's more recent work. The story moves with a roaring pace, except for a chapter in the middle that is the biggest info-dump I've ever read. I read this chapter three times because it gives the rest of the book an intellectual heaviness woven into the simple story.
The novel is plot-driven, but the characters are one-dimensional, especially the female characters who were almost painfully superficial. That said, Murakami's quirkiness saves the book. This book is a world-building tour de force, and would be an interesting sidestep for readers who love crime fiction.
We want to know what you're reading! You can write a book review for the Writing Bar and we'll feature an excerpt here in the newsletter. If you'd like to submit, check out the review guidelines here.
WEBPICK: Readers’ Niche
For lovers of great literature what could be more appealing than a PG Wodehouse apron ("Carry on, Jeeves"), a Dickens badge (to celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birth), or a wild heather scented candle inspired by Emily Bronte? Readers' Niche has everything from the quirky to the practical to satisfy any book lover.Established in Melbourne by Pam Saunders, Readers' Niche is an online store selling mugs, t-shirts, tea-towels, book marks – even charm bracelets featuring portraits of classic authors such as Jane Austen, Shakespeare and F Scott Fitzgerald. They're constantly adding to their stock so if you're stuck for a present for a book lover (or feel like indulging for yourself), this is a great place to look.
Check it out here.
Other upcoming courses
Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Monday starting Monday 30 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 31 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 31 January 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Daytime Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter – NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 1 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $395
Seminar: Sell Your eBook on Amazon with Steven Lewis
When: Wednesday 1 February 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85
Seminar: Daytime Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 2 February 2012 (two-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am – 12.00noon
Cost: $85
Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Marina Go
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 2 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Daytime How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Friday 3 February 2012 (two-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $85
Course: Weekend Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Marina Go – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 4 February and Sunday 5 February 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395
Course: Weekend Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 4 February and Sunday 5 February 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395
Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 6 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 6 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 6 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Online Course: Travel Writing with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 6 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Every Monday starting Monday 6 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Sue White
When: Tuesday 7 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $450
Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 8 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $450
Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Thursday 9 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $450
Course: Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 9 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Weekend Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 11 February and Sunday 12 February 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395
Course: Weekend Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 11 February and Sunday 12 February 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395
Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 13 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Melina Marchetta – NEW PRESENTER
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 22 February 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Plotting and Planning with Kate Forsyth
When: Wednesday 22 February and Wednesday 29 February 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $175
Seminar: PR and Media Releases that Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Thursday 23 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $495
Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Friday 24 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Weekend Life Writing with Patti Miller – SUMMER SCHOOL
When: Saturday 25 February and Sunday 26 February 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $450
Seminar: Business Writing Basics with Tony Spencer-Smith – NEW SEMINAR
When: Tuesday 28 February 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 1 March 2012 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 1.00pm
Cost: $295
Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Monday starting Monday 5 March 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Self-Publishing – How to do it with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Monday 12 March 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85
Seminar: Edit with Confidence with Deb Doyle
When: Thursday 15 March 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Thriller Writing with L.A. Larkin
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 15 March 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Writing about Interiors, Style and Design with Nigel Bartlett
When: Thursday 15 March and Thursday 22 March 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $175
Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 19 March 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85
Seminar: Perfect your Proofreading with Deb Doyle
When: Thursday 22 March 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 26 March 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller – NEW DATE
When: Every Friday starting Friday 13 April 2012 for six weeks
Time: 10.00am – 12noon
Cost: $450
Seminar: From Blog to Book with Kerri Sackville
When: Monday 16 April 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85
Seminar: Successful Freelancing with Valerie Khoo and Gayle Bryant – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 19 April 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $85
Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 24 April 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Food Writing with Carli Ratcliff – NEW COURSE
When: Saturday 28 April and Sunday 29 April 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395
Course: Screenwriting Stage 2 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Monday starting Monday 9 July 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
WRITING TOURS
Writing in Bali with Patti Miller – NEW DATE
When: Saturday 21 July to Saturday 28 July 2012
Writing in Paris with Patti Miller – NEW DATE
Arrival: Thursday 18 October 2012
Departure: Saturday 3 November 2012
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