Dear Fellow Writer,
In this issue:- So many student successes
- Where did that apostrophe go?
- Writing in Paris - more details revealed
- Book trailers
- Creative Writing course for Year 11 and 12
students in January - Win a copy of David Rollin’s Hard Rain
- Win tickets for Brideshead Revisted
- Achieve more in less time
Hi everyone,
I'm
writing this from my hotel room in Melbourne - I'm here on a speaking
gig. When I was going through my emails I was so happy to receive so
many messages from recent students who are all achieving lots of
success. Here are just a few:
* Catherine Hanrahan has just landed a job as a full-time news reporter for Medical Observer. She wrote to me: "I
just wanted to say thank you for putting me in touch with them, and
also for the skills you taught me in the feature writing course. I will
certainly be putting them to good use in my new job."
* Di Cato, who completed Online Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers, had a travel story published in The Sydney Morning Herald on the weekend. And she's been commissioned for another one!
* And Persephone Nicholas had her article published in The Weekend Australian's Professional section and has been commissioned to write two more.
Congratulations
to all of you! I love it when I get your emails and you have the words
"Freelance writer" under your name. If you want to get published or
even change career to write for magazines and newspapers, I strongly
recommend our course Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers.
If you would like to see your article in CLEO, The Sydney Morning Herald, Wheels, Ralph, Good Medicine, or BRW (just to name a few) we'll show you how.
It suits first-time writers or anyone who wants to brush up on their writing skills. If you’re interested in learning how to write non-fiction this is also a good place to start.
The course will teach you which ideas work - and where to get them, how to understand the magazine/news market, all the different types of feature articles, how to research, structure and write a feature, what editors want from a writer and how to
pitch your article or idea to a magazine and sell it!
The very experienced and talented Judy Skatssoon presents this course. She is the features editor at Australian Associated Press (AAP). She has also been a successful freelance feature writer, contributing to a diverse range of publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, Life etc, Sydney’s Child, Women’s Health, ABC Online and many more. She writes on a wide range of issues including the arts, health, politics, technology, women’s issues, business and more.
Recently, Judy has also been a lecturer and tutor in journalism at UTS and is passionate about helping students in the world of journalism and writing.
Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Judy Skatssoon
When: Every Monday from Monday 13 October 2008 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enroll online.
A very eclectic bunch
I found this site while I was looking for authors and found a ‘home’ of over 40 authors. Apart from the authors’ web pages, there are also lots of resources for all writing genres, forums, articles, as well as competitions and prize giveaways.It’s a collaboration of authors who are working together to inspire and encourage other writers - while marketing themselves as well! It’s certainly an eclectic bunch of writers.
While some of the links are a teeny bit daggy, if you can get past some of the old-fashioned pages, you’ll find some real gems.
www.eclectics.com
In our office, Elana and Tracy walk pass a giant billboard every day to get to work (pictured below). Of course, this is the kind of thing that irks any pedant but it’s also unforgivable when it’s on a massive sign at busy Milsons Point station. Who wrote this thing?
Perhaps you need to edit brochures, reports or other documents at work. You may be able to spot something as simple as the missing apostrophe in “won’t” (above) but what if you have to turn a dire piece of writing into an easy-to-understand document?
Editing can be a time-consuming, overwhelming process. But when you learn the right editing rules, you can transform all your work documents into polished and stylish professionally edited and much coveted work.
In one day, you'll learn the skills you need to free up your time and edit like a pro.
You will learn how to edit for structure and style, standard proofreading symbols and how to use them, how to determine the tone and style of your document, how to create professional documents that communicate effectively and the common mistakes in punctuation and spelling. The seminar includes practical exercises on editing and proofreading.
The presenter of this seminar is Katrina Lobley. Katrina is an experienced journalist and editor. With 20 years' experience in the publishing industry, Katrina spent five years as a sub-editor on The Sydney Morning Herald and is currently in demand as a freelance writer and editor of corporate and consumer publications.
Here's what past participant Carla Hickey had to say about the seminar:
"I was very impressed with everything. I thought Katrina was excellent and covered every question possible."
Here's what past participant Jessica Rubinstein had to say about the seminar:
"I will definitely take some of the information I learned and implement it in my field. It was an easy flowing day with lots of good tips."
All participants receive the Sydney Writers' Centre Editorial Style Guide for Business valued at $75. This is an essential guide for anyone who writes for business.
Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley
When: Friday 31 October 2008
Time: 9:30am - 4:30pm
Cost: $345
Click here for more information or to enroll online.
Writing in Paris
I love Paris in the fall
I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles
I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles
My Dad used to play
this song all the time. And I have no doubt I’ll be humming it next
year when I’m walking the streets of Paris in October/November next
year.
Some of you have already registered interest in this
once-in-a-lifetime event - 16 days of living in Paris where you’ll
experience:
- A writing course
- A literary feast
- An invitation to live the writer’s life in Paris
Want to know more? Find out here.
Creative Writing course for Year 11 and 12 students in January
Once a year we open
our doors to Years 11 and 12 students for an exclusive peek into the
Sydney Writers’ Centre and access to our wonderful presenters. I am
pleased to announce that we will be holding an intensive 5-day Creative
Writing course specifically for Year 11 and Year 12 students from
Monday 5 January to Friday 9 January 2009 (5 consecutive days during
the school holidays). Find out more here.
Book Trailers
We are a nation fixed on screens. We play computer games, we watch motion pictures, we speak to people overseas on a web camera, so much of what we do revolves around screens. So it’s no surprise thatbook trailers are gaining popularity.
Trailers are usually “tasters” used to tempt us to paying for a ticket. With a book, we’re usually only able to see the cover or read the blurb on the back. Well, here’s a novel way of viewing ‘inside’ the book pre-purchase.
Book trailers are a way of getting readers and followers. We’ve watched some Random House book trailers and we’ve no doubt that a lot of publishing houses will follow suit.
There are book trailers on YouTube hoping to reach internet savvy readers who may see these reviews and bestseller lists altogether. Authors like Jan Lancaster and Jodi Picoult’s books are on there, as well as relatively unknown authors who seemed to have found a new way to market their books.
Here’s one for Marcus Zusak’s The Bookthief
It makes me want to go out and buy the book immediately!
Win a copy of David Rollin’s Hard Rain
Hard Rain
is David Rollins fifth book and is a high tech thriller which propels
readers through Turkey, Iraq, Egypt and the United States. There are
serial killers at large, detectives at play and agents Vin Cooper and
Anna Masters in hot pursuit. A thrilling, edge of your seat read.
We have a copy of this action-packed book to give away.
To enter, answer the following question:
How many rejection letters did David Rollins receive from publishers before his manuscript was finally accepted?
And would you have persisted if you were in his shoes?
You’ll find the answer in our video about the book here. Please email your answer to competitions@spindriftmedia.com.au by 5pm 23 October 2008.
Please include your full name and address.
The most interesting and creative answer wins.
Based on Evelyn Waugh’s acclaimed novel, this motion picture was adapted for the screen by multiple BAFTA Award-winner Andrew Davies (Bridget Jones Diary) and Jeremy Brock (The Last King of Scotland), and directed by Julian Jarrold (Becoming Jane).
Brideshead Revisited starts October 23 - win one of ten double passes for the advanced screening on the 17, 18 and 19 October 2008.
Brideshead Revisited, the epic novel of life, death and spiritual renewal among the English Catholic gentry, is described as Evelyn Waugh's greatest work.
The story begins in 1925 at Oxford University where
Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) is befriended by the flamboyant Sebastian Flyte (Ben Whishaw), son of Lord and Lady Marchmain (Michael Gambon and Emma Thompson).
Sebastian takes Charles under his wing and when he's invited to 'Brideshead', the Flyte family's magnificent ancestral home, Charles becomes infatuated with Julia (Hayley Atwell), Sebastian’s beautiful sister.
I loved Brideshead Revisited when I read it so many years ago - and even named on of my teddy bears Sebastian (I can’t believe I just admitted that). So I’m very keen to see this.
To win tickets please answer this question:
Please send the answer along with your full name and address
by 5pm 9 October 2008 to competions@spindriftmedia.com.au
The most interesting answers will win a double pass.
More podcasts
We now have 12 authors on our podcast page, please do let us know what you think.
Our latest author podcast was with author Sandra Hall (pictured) who describes her love of writing as “I just find it the most demanding, most sustaining, fascinating thing I can do, really.”Sandra works for The Sydney Morning Herald and has just released her book called The Tabloid Man: The Life and Times of Ezra Norton.
You can check them out on our webpage or on iTunes.
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
Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Judy Skatssoon
When: Every Monday starting Monday 13 October 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson - FULL
When: Friday 24 October 2008 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Editing Essentials with Katrina Lobley
When: Friday 31 October 2008 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9:30am - 4:30pm
Cost: $345
Course: Online Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Valerie Khoo
When: Week beginning Monday 3 November 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 5 November 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Media Releases that Get Results with Luisa Volpato
When: Friday 7 November 2008 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Fee: $345
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman - FULL
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 11 November 2008 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 17 November 2008 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $65
Seminar: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 20 November 2008 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $65
Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Friday 28 November 2008
Time: 9.00am - 1.00pm (half day seminar)
Cost: $225
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Wishing you much writing success,
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