In this issue:
- How to ensure your book is a best-seller
- TIP: I imply, you infer
- Get your short film to the big screen!
- Dungong Film Festival – In The Raw program
- How to write crime
- Did you know? Tmesis
- Writing a better blog for your business
- Word Wise - Tantalize
- WEBPICK: An Awfully Big Blog Adventure
Last week I had the pleasure of having a long chat with Christopher Ride, author of The Schumann Frequency and its sequel, The First Boxer. Although now signed to Random House, Christopher initially self-published The Schumann Frequency and successfully sold more then 10,000 copies. This involved a strategic, concerted effort to market his book – and the results were obviously well worth it because it made Random House pay attention.The reality is that you could be the best writer in the world – or have the most amazing story to tell – but if no one knows about it, you won’t sell any books. Whether you self-publish or are represented by a mainstream publisher, it’s vital to know how to market your book to give it the best chance at being a best seller. That’s why I’m so excited about our course Marketing Your Book: your best-seller blueprint with Amanda Falconer.
Marketing Your Book: your best-seller blueprint with Amanda Falconer
When: Every Monday starting Monday 18 January 2010 for three weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $265
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
TIP: I imply, you infer
I was watching TV last night (My Family on the ABC) and the writers slipped these amusing lines into a conversation about cheating at pub trivia:
Man at bar 1: “Are you inferring that I’m cheating?”
Man at bar 2: “I imply, you infer.”
OK - so only a grammar geek would find that funny. But he has a point. To ‘infer’ means you conclude something from a remark, and is something that you (the reader) does yourself. It means that the reader of the information makes a guess using specific evidence. For example:
“From these facts, we can infer that many young people are drink driving during the holidays.”
If you imply, it means you (or the writer) are suggesting something indirectly. For example:
“Are you implying that I’m cheating?”
I was watching TV last night (My Family on the ABC) and the writers slipped these amusing lines into a conversation about cheating at pub trivia: Man at bar 1: “Are you inferring that I’m cheating?”
Man at bar 2: “I imply, you infer.”
OK - so only a grammar geek would find that funny. But he has a point. To ‘infer’ means you conclude something from a remark, and is something that you (the reader) does yourself. It means that the reader of the information makes a guess using specific evidence. For example:
“From these facts, we can infer that many young people are drink driving during the holidays.”
If you imply, it means you (or the writer) are suggesting something indirectly. For example:
“Are you implying that I’m cheating?”
Script Writing for Short Films
Before you write your Oscar winning screenplay, you have to start small. In fact, many successful feature film writers and directors started their careers with short films. If you have a short film you want to get written and seen, then our Script Writing for Short Films is a perfect way to start. This course will cover:
- how to select and develop suitable ideas for a short film
- what narrative elements you need in a short film screenplay (characters, plot, dialogue etc)
- what technical elements you must consider in a short film screenplay (locations, props, budget etc)
- the roles of the writer/director/producer and how they interact
- getting your film seen and sold
Here’s what some previous participants had to say about the course:
"Geoff's real world experience was invaluable and worth the price alone."
- Chris Bradford
"The presenters information was very practical, he knew what he was talking about and came across genuinely interested and helpful. I have a better idea of the steps involved in the overall process."
- David Owens
This course is presented by Geoff Bartlett who has written for several Australian TV shows and produced three short films. Two were semi finalists at Tropfest and one screened in competition at Flickerfest. They were also bought by Foxtel (The Comedy Channel), ABC TV, Qantas, Telstra and Japanese TV.
Script Writing for Short Films with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesdays 20 and 27 January 2010 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $165
Click here for more information or to enrol.
Dungog Film Festival – In The Raw
Still on the theme of screenwriting, the Dungong Film Festival is happening again in 2010 and their ‘In the Raw’ program is now open for submissions. This is a unique opportunity for writer/producer teams to workshop and present their scripts with Australian industry professionals. Previous writers have included Fiona Seres (Love My Way), Dave Warner (Garage Days) and Julia Leigh (The Hunter).
'In The Raw' is now calling for submissions of unproduced feature, miniseries and TV series scripts from Australian writers and producers. Selected scripts will receive $9000 in script development support and will have the chance to perform the script live for audiences at the 2010 film festival in Dungong.
Entries close Monday 1 March 2010.
Click here for more information or to download an entry form.
How to write crime
A good crime thriller will have you hooked from page one. And if you find yourself reading through the night because you can’t put it down, then you know you’re on to a winner! If you want to discover the secrets to writing believable suspense and convincing criminals, then join us for our Crime Writing Workshop with Marele Day.During this weekend workshop, you’ll discover:
- the “rules” of crime writing and how to get started
- research resources for crime writers
- how to develop credible heroes and intriguing villains
- how to develop a sense of place in crime fiction
- the importance of plotting your crime
- how to plant clues and create suspense
- what crime fiction publishers are looking for
Here’s what some recent participants had to say about the course:
"The presenter was very knowledgeable - the content was excellent and the size of the group was good. I am feel better equipped to continue on with my novel and am certainly more inspired and motivated."
- Kate Walter
"The presenter was very experienced and gave lots of useful tips. Lots of ideas for how to improve my writing and especially my research."
- Elizabeth Foster
The workshop is presented by Marele Day, author of four crime novels – The Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender, The Case of the Chinese Boxes, The Last Tango of Dolores Delgado and The Disappearances of Madalena Grimaldi – as well as a collection of crime-comedy stories – Mavis Levack, PI. She is also the editor of How to Write Crime. Other novels include the acclaimed Lambs of God and Mrs Cook: The Real and Imagined Life of the Captain’s Wife.
A highly experienced teacher, Marele conducts creative writing courses throughout Australia, and mentors emerging writers. She has won several awards including the Ned Kelly Lifetime Achievement in 2008. Her latest novel, released in 2009, is The Sea Bed.
Crime Writing Workshop with Marele Day
When: Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 January 2010 (two-day workshop)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Did you know: What is a ‘tmesis’?
Tmesis is an actual word. I was surprised when I typed it and it didn’t come up as a spelling error! It’s the only word in the English language beginning with ‘tm’ and it means ‘the separation of parts of a compound word by an intervening word or words’. You’ll see it happen a lot in informal writing or on Twitter and Facebook. It’s basically the insertion of one word inside another. For example:
‘a whole-nother-story’The word comes from the Greek ‘tmēsis’ meaning ‘cutting’.
‘abso-frikkin-lutely’
‘put it back any-old-where’
Writing a better blog for your business
If your company or business is thinking of writing a blog for customers, you want to be sure it’s a good one! With so many blogs being written on so many different topics, it’s important that yours stands out for the right reasons. Our Blogging for Business seminar will give you the tools, and the confidence, to write an engaging blog for your customers and staff, that could help build your company’s market share and reputation.
The seminar will cover:
- the critical distinctions between a blog and an ordinary company webpage
- the terminology of blogging
- what readers expect from a corporate blog
- how to write a blog that stands out
- finding and building an audience
- how and what to measure
- common internal objections to blogging and how to overcome them
- best practice policies and guidelines for corporate bloggers
- building the business case for your blog
- what you should be looking for in your blogging software
Here’s what some of our recent participants had to say about the course:
‘The seminar was at the perfect pace to learn and be stimulated – great presenter and teacher. It dragged me out of the dark ages of social networking knowledge to be talking the talk!’
- Sally Berry
‘The presenter Steven Lewis is an expert in his field, which made the seminar relevant and up to the minute. I will be changing my Style File to a blog as soon as I can!’
- Kandy Russo
Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Thursday 28 January 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $365
Click here for more information or to enrol online.
Word Wise - TantaliseWe all know what it’s like to be tempted, or tantalised, by something that is just out of reach. Just today I was thinking how tantalisingly close the Christmas holidays are!
The word ‘tantalise’ comes from Tantalus, one of Zeus’ half-mortal children. Tantalus was not well behaved. At a feast in Olympus he embarrassed his father by stealing nectar and ambrosia to share with his mortal friends back in the real world. As punishment, Tantalus was banished to Tartarus in the underworld and forced to stand in a river up to his chin with low-hanging fruit above him – forever just out of reach.
WEBPICK: An Awfully Big Blog AdventureThis is a writers’ blog or, as the creators call it, ‘the ramblings of a few scattered authors’. And it really is ramblings – insightful and inspiring ramblings from people who write.
The writers are mainly UK authors and they talk about everything from writing for kids, plotting (or how not to do it), writers’ block, and poetry, as well as book reviews. All contributors are published authors and include Karen Ball, Linda Strachan and Anne Cassidy. There are links to all the authors’ websites as well.
So, visit http://awfullybigblogadventure.blogspot.com/ for a daily dose of writing advice and inspiration.
Other upcoming courses
Seminar: Self-publishing - How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 9 December 2009 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 5-day Intensive course with Jeni Mawter
When: Monday 11 January - Friday 15 January 2010 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00am - 12noon
Cost: $395
Course: Online Creative Writing with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman
When: Week beginning Monday 11 January 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Online Feature Writing Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo - NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 11 January 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Crime Writing Workshop with Marele Day
When: Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 January 2009 (2-day workshop)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Marketing Your Book with Amanda Falconer
When: Every Monday starting Monday 18 January 2010 for three weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $265
Course: Script Writing for the Short Films with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 20 January and Wednesday 27 January 2010 (two evening seminars)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $165
Course: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 21 January 2010 (2-hour morning seminar)
Time: 10.00am - 12 noon
Cost: $75
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Friday starting Friday 22 January 2010 for six weeks
Time: 10am - 12noon
Cost: $450
Seminar: Blogging for Business with Steven Lewis
When: Thursday 28 January 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Cost: $365
Course: Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Pamela Wilson
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 28 January 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Tuesday 2 February 2010 (2-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75
Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 3 February 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Online Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Week beginning Monday 8 February 2010 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Professional Business Writing with Mel Wilkinson
When: Thursday 11 February 2010 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Cost: $395
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller - NEW DATE
When: Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 February (two-day workshop)
Time: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: $450
Course: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Monday 15 February 2010 (2-hour morning seminar)
Time: 6.30 - 8.30pm
Cost: $75
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 16 February 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Feature Writing Stage 1 DAYTIME course with Vanessa Waters - NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 3 March 2010 for five weeks
Time: 10.00am – 12 noon
Cost: $395
Course: Feature Writing Stage 2 with Judy Skatssoon - NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday beginning Wednesday 14 April 2010 for five weeks
Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
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