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Dear Fellow Writer

In this issue:

• Are you on our brag wall?
• Stop! Do you really need that exclamation mark?
• Creative Writing success story - Kylie gets to write a James Patterson thriller
• DON'T MISS: Life Writing with Patti Miller
• Win a copy of Royal Exile by Fiona McIntosh
• WEBPICK: Six word memoirs

Are you on our brag wall? What's our brag wall I hear you ask? Well, that's me standing in front of it (pictured). Yes, I know the picture is pre-new-haircut but I haven't had a chance to take a new one in front of the wall yet. Anyhow, our brag wall showcases the work of some of our students - it includes published articles, books and more. We quickly ran out of space on our brag wall and now we have a giant brag book - although that's overflowing as well.

I often look at the wall and flip through the brag book. It almost gives me chills to see the wonderful successes experienced by our students. We receive lovely notes of thanks from them but the reality is it's YOUR talent and your work that have helped you succeed. We've just helped you find it inside you. I hope we can help even more of you in the months to come. From the bottom of my heart, thanks for making my job such a joy.

Stop! Do you really need that exclamation mark?

Here’s a hint I found on a writers’ help website which we also teach in our courses:

Don't use exclamation marks

Not at all? Why? This could be merely a reaction to the tendency for some to overuse exclamation marks - either by using multiple exclamation marks (My dog is so cute!!!!) or using too many in one document or paragraph (My dog is so cute! He loves to come to work with me! I’d like to take him with me everywhere I go!).

Always keep in mind that exclamation marks are used to emphasise a word or emotion in your writing. Used
too often, their effectiveness is reduced. They can be
used for an exclamatory sentence, a strong command,
or an interjection (Wow!).

But there is definitely no need to use more than one at the end of a sentence!

Airborne winner - Congratulations Kylie.

You may remember a few weeks back (5 February 2009) we wrote about a Chain Thriller being written by James Patterson and 28 lucky writers selected to co-author.

Well, we’re very pleased to announce that one of our Online Creative Writing students has been selected! Kylie Williams will be writing one chapter of the chain thriller, Airborne, and also has a chance to win a one-on-one mentoring session with James Patterson himself. We're so thrilled for Kylie (pardon the pun).

You can read each chapter as they’re released, daily from Friday 20 March 2009. Click here for more information.

Kylie took our Online Creative Writing course this year
with Cathie Tasker. Here’s what she had to say:

“I just wanted to send Cathie, Valerie and the team a VERY BIG THANK
YOU for coaching me in the online Creative Writing course. The
information I received during the course has been invaluable and gave
me the tools I needed to become one of the 28 winning co-writers of
James Patterson’s Chain Thriller AirBorne.

"I still cannot believe the news... but as I have had emails from Random
House and my name has been posted on Facebook, I had better get my
head around it! Thank you once again."

Congratulations Kylie - we can’t wait.

Life Writing with Patti Miller - new date announced

It’s rare that we get a chance to run Patti Miller’s Life Writing course twice in one year, but this year we’ve been lucky enough to book her in for a second date in March 2009.

The January course was booked out well before the course started and if you want a chance to learn from one of Australia's best memoir teachers, you need to get in now. The course explores creative autobiographical writing and will set you on the way to writing your life.

Topics covered include:

• awaken memory and creativity
• create the lived reality of your experience on the page
• bring details to life
• find structure to your work

Patti is the author of Writing Your Life and is also leading our first international writing tour to Paris in November.

Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Friday for six weeks from Friday 13 March 2009
(with a one-week break for Easter)
Time: 10am-12noon
Cost: $450

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

Win a copy of Fiona McIntosh’s Royal Exile

In the world of fantasy fiction Fiona McIntosh has been praised as one of 'our best fantasy voices'. Royal Exile is book one of her newest series, the Valisar Trilogy. I interviewed Fiona for our podcast and we talked about everything from world building to how she manages the multiple storylines in her books.

If you'd like to win a copy of Royal Exile, just watch this short 1 minute video and email us your answer.

To enter this competition please send your answer along with your full name and postal address to competitions@spindriftmedia.com.au by 5pm Thursday 19 March 2009.

And don't forget, if you’re interested in writing fantasy and would like to attend a World Building seminar later in the year at the Sydney Writers' Centre with Pamela Freeman, email us your preferred day (Saturday or Sunday).

Six word memoirs

Established by Smith’s Magazine in the US, the Six Word Memoir idea originally took off with the release of Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs from Writers Famous and Obscure in 2008. It is exactly what the title suggests - life stories in only six words.

The writing can be funny, moving, weird and occasionally completely undecipherable. For writers, this is a great exercise in choosing your words carefully.

If you think you’re up to the challenge, visit www.smithmag.net/sixwords

Business and Careers Institute in Milsons Point

Remember to check out our sister training organisation - the Business and Careers Institute - which we've just opened in Milsons Point. Thanks to those of you who have already enrolled in some of the courses! You'll find the same high quality of courses and presenters here.

As you know, I'm a big believer that technology can help you achieve more in less time. If you want to get the most out of everyday software like Word, Excel and Outlook, these fun and interactive courses will help you become a pro-user in just one day.

You can check it out here. I'd love to know what you think!
www.bcinstitute.com.au

Other upcoming courses
Seminar: Self-Publishing - How to do it with Valerie Khoo
When: Monday 9 March 2009 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $75

Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett - FULL
When: Wednesday 11 March 2009 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Feature writing for magazines and newspapers with Pamela Wilson
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 12 March 2009 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12.00noon
Cost: $395

Seminar: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 12 March 2009 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $75

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Friday starting Friday 13 March 2009 for six weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12.00noon
Cost: $450

Course: Online Creative Writing with Pamela Freeman / Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 16 March 2009 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Online Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Valerie Khoo
When: Week beginning Monday 16 March 2009 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Feature writing for magazines and newspapers with Judy Skatssoon - FULL
When: Every Monday starting Monday 16 March 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Novel Writing Workshop with Pamela Freeman - FULL
Evening classes held approximately every six weeks
Course starts: Tuesday 17 March 2008
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson
When: Wednesday 18 March 2009 (one day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman - FULL
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 24 March 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 25 March 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 26 March 2009 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $75

Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Monday 30 March 2009 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $325

Course: Feature Writing Stage 2 with Judy Skatssoon
When: Every Monday starting Monday 4 May 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Judith Ridge
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 6 May 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 12 May 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Hook Your Reader with Maree Giles
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 17 June 2009 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395

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Wishing you much writing success,