Dear Fellow Writer,
In this issue:- Your book in Borders or Dymocks - here’s how to make it happen
- Get paid for your travels
- Do you agree with banning books?
- Words of wisdom from Isaac Asimov
- The View bookclub in North Sydney
- Daily installments of a book
It was great to meet some newsletter subscribers at last week’s lunch at the Vibe Hotel in Sydney where I spoke about “How to attract media attention”. Thanks for your compliments and feedback.
Can you believe we’re almost at the end of the financial year already? This is a hectic week for us at the Sydney Writers’ Centre as many people are booking and paying for courses in advance in order to claim a tax deduction for the expense before 30 June.
In the meantime, I have been busy writing, as well as running the Centre. I’ve been commissioned by newspapers and corporate publications to write about everything ranging from entrepreneurship to the building industry - never a dull day!
It was also great to hear from former student (and current mentoree) Georgia Rickard who is about to be published in (and photographed for) Cosmopolitan magazine.
Move over Carrie Bradshaw and congratulations Georgia!
Want to get your book published?
Would you like to see your very own book on the shelves of Borders or Dymocks? To be successful at this, it’s important you understand how the book publishing process works.In the seminar, How to get your book published, Geoff Bartlett will show you just that. Geoff is an author, writer, producer, journalist and comedian and will cover:
- How to write a winning book proposal
- How to approach publishers
- Do you need an agent?
- How much should you write before approaching a publisher?
- Negotiating a fair contract
- The editing and re-writing process
Whether
you have already written your book or are just starting out, this is
invaluable information that will help you turn your book dream into
reality.
Here's what past participant Celest Nygaard said about the seminar:
"Geoff
gave general information to everyone and then gave specific info
depending on participants' book topics. Also, as a successful published
author, I liked when he used examples from his own experience and
showed the published works, it made it more relevant to my own
ideas/work."
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 17 July 2008 for one night only
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $65
Click here for more details or to enroll online.
Webpick
http://librarianchick.pbwiki.com/I love the way the internet helps us all share information. And I especially love the fact that there are people out there who are happy to share their knowledge and resources. One such person is Stacy Reed who has set up a website called Librarian Chick.
This site links to books, dictionaries, fairytales, history, writing, online learning and so much more. It contains information for the curious or those who are doing more serious research. If you're looking for something specific or anything connected to writing … you might find it here.
Travel writing
There’s something about traveling that awakens our sense and inspires our imagination. That’s why some travel stories can leave you wanting to pack your bags and give in to wanderlust. Wouldn’t it be great to get paid for your adventures?Our Travel writing seminar with Geoff Bartlett is always sold out way in advance. So why not secure your space for his next one on Thursday 10 July 2008 by enrolling now?
Geoff’s two hour travel writing seminar covers:
- Different types of publishing opportunities and travel stories
- What it takes to be a travel writer
- Some straight talk about earnings
- Finding and focusing your story
- Getting published and making contacts
- Writing for travel guidebooks
- Insider tips from this veteran travel writer.
Geoff
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
South Pacific and Asia. He is a regular contributor to Pacific Island Paradises and Asian Paradises.
Here's what past participant Caitlin Wright said about the seminar:
"It
was exactly what I was looking for and catered to all levels of the
group. I thought it was very informative, concise and the presenter was
very honest about the industry. I felt I got a lot out of it and will
definitely be using that information."
Seminar: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 10 July 2008
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Cost: $65
Click here for more details and to enroll.
Do you agree with banning books?
Last month's controversy over Bill Henson’s art at the Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery in Sydney has brought attention to the idea of censorship.The same goes for books. Throughout history there have been many books that have been banned for all sorts of reasons – ranging from moral and religious to political reasons.
Online bookselling giant Amazon has compiled a list of books that have been banned or challenged so far in 2008. You have to wonder why Aldous Huxley’s A Brave New World would still be banned. Or the wonderful Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them by Freedom Writers. This
story was recently made into a motion picture but obviously
some narrow-minded people can’t see how inspiring this story is.
For more discussion on banned books, check out our blog.
The View book club
Abi Haddo is looking forward to seeing you all on Wednesday 2 July 2008 at the Harbourview hotel in North Sydney to discuss Life of Pi by Yann Martel for her second meeting of the View book club. Abi wrote a review of her first book club meeting on our blog.When: Wednesday 2 July 2008
Time: 7pm
Where: Harbourview Hotel
17 Blue Street
North Sydney, NSW 2060 Australia
Cost: Free
Please call Abi on 0423 298 882 or email her abi1710@hotmail.com if you would like to attend.
Read instalments of a book daily on Twitter!
DailyLit has come up with a new way to read books. They are creating a group experience for reading.Once you join Twitter, you will receive installments on the same schedule as the rest of the readers. DailyLit deliver the installments via short messages which will include a link to the installment.
You can choose to read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Tom Peters's 100 Ways to Success/Make Money or Cory Doctorow's Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom. I think it’s a great idea!
For more details have a look at our blog
Other upcoming courses
Seminar: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 10 July 2008 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Cost: $65
Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Valerie Khoo
When: Every Monday starting Monday 14 July 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 17 July 2008 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $65
ONLINE Course: Creative Writing with Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 21 July 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: Whenever it suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 30 July 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley
When: Friday 1 August 2008 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9:30am - 4:30pm
Cost: $345
ONLINE Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Valerie Khoo
When: Week beginning Monday 4 August 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Creative Writing with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 12 August 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Freelance Success with Valerie Khoo and Gayle Bryant
When: Monday 18 August 2008 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $65
Seminar: Self publishing - How to do it with Valerie Khoo
When: Thursday 21 August 2008 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $65
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson
When: Friday 22 August 2008 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9:00 am - 5:00pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Media Releases That Get Results with Luisa Volpato
When: Friday 29 August 2008 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $345
Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Judith Ridge
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 17 September 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
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Wishing you much writing success,
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