In this issue:
- TIP: Comprise or Compose?
- How to promote your business, message or cause
through PR
- Sutherland Shire FAW Writers' Festival
- Continue your writing journey
- Student Success – Merle Bartlett
- Writing for the Web
- TIP: Midriffs or Midrifts?
- WEBPICK: Pile o’ books
I have to admit, occasionally I crave fish ’n’ chips. But I’ll also admit that it drives me BONKERS when I see it written like this:
Okay, I’m not annoyed enough that I won’t order it off the menu but if you see that woman saying “tsk tsk” at your local fish shop while pointing exasperatedly at the misused apostrophes, ahem, that would be me!
In the case of fish ’n’ chips, the apostrophes (which both face the SAME way) are used to indicate that there is a letter missing. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can get away with Option C: Fish ‘n’ chips.
It might look correct but it’s not, because the symbol before the n is facing the wrong way. This error is becoming so prevalent that you see it frequently – particularly on television commercials. Can someone send a memo to the advertising industry about this?
Anyhow, this isn’t the only punctuation error that’s becoming increasingly common these days. And when you write reports or documents at work, the grammar and punctuation you use gives people an indication of your level of competence. That’s why I think our one-day seminar in Grammar and Punctuation is so important.
It will give you the foundation you need to write with confidence.
You'll come away with:
- knowledge that you can apply easily and immediately in your writing
- a clear understanding of how to treat common mistakes - such as apostrophes and plurals
- the basic rules you need to know to be confident in the workplace
- an understanding of when to bend, break or keep a rule or convention
- ability to discern when more than one solution is acceptable
- empowerment to justify your corrections to your own and other people's writing
- a taste of how professional editors approach their craft
- more confidence in applying the standard hard-copy editing marks to double-spaced copy
- and much more
When: Friday 8 October 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
TIP: Comprise or compose?
What’s the difference between ‘comprise’ and ‘compose’? Is there a difference at all, or can they be used interchangeably? Well, they can, but you need to be very careful how you use these terms.According to Grammar Girl:
‘Comprise’ means ‘to contain’. Example:
The house comprises seven rooms.
‘Compose’ means ‘to make up’. Example:
Many diverse retail stores compose our shopping village.
The key to remember is that you do NOT say: “comprised of”. So this should be avoided:
The house is comprised of seven rooms.
But you CAN say: “composed of”. So this is ok:
Our shopping village is composed of many diverse retail stores.
How to promote your business, message or cause through PR
In this technological age it’s easy for your company’s message to be lost in the crowd. But a good PR strategy will help you stand out and could improve your sales. So how do you get that PR strategy? Well, you could pay a professional, or you could do our one-day seminar on PR and Media Releases That Get Results. If you want to promote your business, or you’re responsible for PR and marketing in your job, then this seminar is for you.
This seminar covers:
- the elements of a typical PR strategy
- how to determine your target audiences
- how to structure media releases and what you must include
- who you should quote and what they should say
- how to deal with journalists
- online distribution strategies
- contributing articles to publications
- how to approach bloggers as part of your PR strategy
PR and Media Releases That Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Thursday 14 October 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $495
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Student Success
In August last year, Merle Bartlett attended our self-publishing seminar. She put all the information she gathered to good use and has now published her first book – Merle’s South African Cooking.
Congratulations Merle! The book looks very tasty and we’re looking forward to hearing more about your self-publishing success.
Continue your writing journey – Online Creative Writing Stage 2
If you’ve completed our online creative writing stage 1, or the face-to-face course here in Milsons Point, you’re hopefully enjoying the world of fiction writing and have been inspired to create! Now, for your next step… Online Creative Writing Stage 2. This will expand on what you learnt in stage 1 and help you continue your writing momentum. You’ll have a chance to workshop more of your writing and refine those skills you learnt in stage 1.
You’ll cover:
- how to find, create or extend your main characters and how to place them within a world of believable minor characters
- how to make similar characters distinct on the page – what is your character’s ‘journey’?
- structuring your story
- climax and resolution: how these shape the final story – and how to write them!
- the principles of scene development: dialogue, pacing, the manipulation of time, character interaction, management of exposition
- the right process of structural editing, copy-editing and proof reading, using examples from both published and student work
- and much more.
‘I liked the writing practice - I need a deadline to get me moving! I can see improvement in my own writing from the beginning to the end of the course. As a stay at home mum with young children, the online works best for me. I also benefit from the pressure of a deadline every Sunday night!
- Heather Hutchison
‘The flexibility of an online course shines as the most enjoyable part. The course has given me direction and a structure to work with. It has shown me how to be the best writer I can be.’
- Jody Watkins
Online course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 4 October 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Sutherland Shire Fellowship of Australian Writers – Festival
If you’re lucky enough to live in the lovely Sutherland Shire in Sydney (or you can easily get there) you should definitely check out the Fellowship of Australian Writers' second annual writers festival. It will be held on Sunday 14 November 2010 at the Gymea Community Centre. Last year’s festival was a huge success, and this year they’ll also be holding two workshops – Writing Romance Fiction with Annie West and Cathleen Ross, and Creating Picture Books with Leigh Hobbs. Also appearing are Marele Day, William Kostakis, Deborah Abela and Sue Whiting.
Tickets are $50 for all panel sessions or $90 for all panel sessions plus 1 workshop.
The full program is available here. For more information or to book call Jodie on 0425 840 719, or email slowgrove@gmail.com.
Writing for the Web
Writing for your website is very different to writing for print. There are so many things you need to consider and your final product must engage your website’s visitors, not drive them away! If you want to ensure clear, concise and useful content for your website, you need to know the golden rules of writing for the web – and our one-day seminar can show you those rules.
This practical seminar covers:
- the difference between print and online writing
- good content versus poor content
- how your readers engage with web content
- writing for scannability
- guidelines for concise writing
- do you need contextual links?
- using keywords for search engine optimisation
- writing for accessibility and usability
- why you need a style guide
- and much more
‘Grant gave a clear presentation and I came away feeling excited about all I had learnt and keen to use the insights to improve our website. Grant's ability to take people step by step through the material helped me grasp the concepts. He is a gifted teacher.’
- Glenyss Barnham
‘Being able to take the workbook home is great. The course content was practical and could be implemented straight away. The content covered made me look at and/or question why certain things are done a particular way and if they can be changed to improve them.’
- Olga Kotsis
Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Monday 11 October 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm
Cost: $365
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Did you see the midriffs or midrifts on Glee?
I’m a Glee tragic. Yes, I love the show. I’m sure fellow Gleeks enjoyed the Britney Spears episode on this week. As evidenced by the Britney inspired costumes in the show, her early years were characterised by numerous midriff tops.I mention this because I often hear these tops referred to as “midrift” tops. This is incorrect. So don’t use it!
A “midriff” top is so-called because it stops somewhere between the chest and the waist.
Having said all of that, despite my love for all things Glee, I’m not likely to be breaking into song any time soon wearing any kind of midriff top. But at least I know the correct use of the word!
WEBPICK: Pile o’ booksWe all have one. And we all promise to read it all at some stage. Yep – it’s the ever-present Pile o’ Books. One publisher and chronic reader has decided that she will get through that pile and this blog is her record of this mammoth task (according to the ‘about us’ page, she has over 80 books in her 'reading for pleasure' pile).
In 2009 the blog was started with the intention of reading and writing about one book a week. This year, she’s working her way through the alphabet and reading a book related to each letter, in consecutive order.
The blog has plenty of book reviews (on everything from crime, to young adults, to fantasy) but there are also more personal musings on finding time to read and what it’s like being a book editor.
Check it out here.
Other upcoming courses
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 4 October 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker – FULL
When: Week beginning Monday 4 October 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Magazine Writing Stage 1 with Holly Nott
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 5 October 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Friday 8 October 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Writing for the Web with Grant Doyle
When: Monday 11 October 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Cost: $365
Course: Online Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 11 October 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Online Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Nicola Robinson
When: Week beginning Monday 11 October 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Novel Writing Workshop with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 12 October 2010 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $495
Seminar: PR and Media Releases that Get Results with Catriona Pollard – NEW COURSE
When: Thursday 14 October 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $495
Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Thursday 14 October 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm
Cost: $365
Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 14 October 2010 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter – NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 14 October 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Writing Letters and Emails with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Friday 15 October 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $365
Course: Online Magazine Writing Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo/Pamela Wilson/Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 18 October 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson – NEW DATE
When: Tuesday 19 October 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Online Business Booster Bootcamp with Valerie Khoo
When: Thursday 21 October 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am sharp - 5.30pm
Cost: $695
Writing Tour: Writing in Paris with Patti Miller – FULL
Dates for 2010:
Arrival: Thursday 21 October 2010
Departure: Saturday 6 November 2010
Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 27 October 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 28 October 2010 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75
Course: DAYTIME Magazine Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Wilson – NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 3 November 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395
Course: Perfecting Your Pitch with Sue White
When: Thursdays 4 & 11 November 2010
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175
Course: Your Story Structure with Kathryn Heyman – NEW COURSE
When: Fridays 5 & 12 November 2010 (two half-day classes)
Time: 9.30 - 12.30pm
Cost: $215
Course: Boost Your Creativity with Laurine Croasdale – NEW DATE
When: Mondays 8 & 15 November 2010
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $175
Seminar: Perfect Your Proofreading with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Tuesday 9 November 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: DAYTIME Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter – NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 11 November 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395
Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding – NEW DATE
When: Every Monday starting Monday 15 November 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Build Your Online Profile with Tristan Bancks
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 18 November 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: Self-Publishing with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 2 December 2010 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Friday starting Friday 14 January 2011 for six weeks
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $450
Course: Travel Writing: Get Paid for Your Adventures with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 20 January 2011 for four weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $345
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Saturday 12 March 2011 and Sunday 13 March 2011 (2 day workshop)
Time: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Cost: $450
Comments
Post has no comments.