Dear Fellow Writer,
In this issue:- Student successes including a new book
- How to get your book published
- Creative Writing - Stage 2
- Online Creative Writing - learn from wherever you are
- Reinvent Yourself
- Would you like to learn how to blog?
- We're on My Space
- Author podcasts
- We'll take you writing in Paris - yes you read that correctly!
They did it!
It’s been a big week here at the Centre. Last night, I went to the book launch of The Invisible Entrepreneur by William de Ora and Louise Woodbury. William and Louise have done several courses at the Sydney Writers' Centre and I’ve been thrilled to mentor them through this book. It was so exciting to celebrate the birth of their "baby".This week I also received a copy of Little Wins for Working Women by Jen Dalitz. I took it home and devoured it in one sitting - I love it! Jen included a note:
"Hi Valerie,
Well, I've done it! This is by first 'little' book. Thanks for your encouragement over the past couple of years, I'm really enjoying my writing.
- Jen Dalitz"
Congratulations Jen! I predict both these books are going to do very well!
How to get your book published
If you want to join the ranks of Jen, William and Louise, we can help you!Come to our How to get your book published seminar and Geoff Bartlett will tell you what you need to know to turn that dream into reality.
The seminar will cover how to write a winning book proposal, approaching publishers, procuring an agent, how much you should write before approaching a publisher, editing and reediting your work and all the other ins and outs of mainstream book publishing.
Here's what past participant Eric Grayson had to say about the course:
"Geoff was very approachable and had excellent advice. All of the questions I had in mind when I booked the seminar were answered in one way or another. Geoff knew the industry really well."
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 11 September 2008 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $65
Click here for more information or to enroll online.
Try before you buy
Lookybook is one of Time Magazine's 50 of the best websites of 2008.Lookybook is a picture book site where you can actually look at the entire book online. It's wonderful because it gives you an idea of what books are being published, you can read the entire book and get to know children’s authors.
I love this idea because Lookybook believes that picture books are there to be looked at.
They welcome reviews from librarians and teachers and they even have tools on the site to promote your own picture book, once you submit a book for people to look at.
It's free to register and growing really quickly. Have a look at these books, they're wonderful.
http://www.lookybook.com/
Creative Writing Stage 2
Steer your writing into a novel or short story.If you have completed a Creative Writing Course with us and you have an idea for a book or story but you would like to hone your skills even further, why not enrol for Creative Writing Stage 2?
Judith Ridge covers the topics you covered in your first writing course in more depth. She will help you workshop your potential novel or short story.
She will challenge you to improve your character, plot, setting and ideas and get you ready to create a piece of work you can be proud of.
By the end of the course, you should be able to complete a short story in first draft. If you’re already working on a short story, you can use the course to improve it with guidance and feedback.
If you are working on a novel, you may choose to write a short story about one of your characters, or work on the opening chapter and synopsis.
Here's what past participant David Andrews had to say about the course:
"As a result of the course I have become even more conscious of the importance of getting exactly the right words in the right place. I have always known this was important in other types of writing but in fiction it becomes absolutely vital."
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
Click here for more information or to enroll online.
Would you like to write in Paris?
I'm
so thrilled that I can finally share with you our latest news! Does the
sound of writing in your very own apartment in Paris sound good to you?We'll help you make that happen. In 2009, we're running "Writing in Paris" with Patti Miller.
For two weeks, you'll learn from one of the best life writing teachers in Australia in the mornings. Then in the afternoons, you'll be able to wander through the character-filled streets of Paris, visit boutiques, explore historical places and go to the hangouts of famous authors and much more.
We're still finalising the dates but it will be around the
end of October 2009. I’ll bring you more details soon,
but if you want to register your interest to receive more information about this, click here.
Online Creative Writing course
Our Online Creative Writing course is a great way to learn - from wherever you are. The next online course starts the week beginning 29 September 2008 - so enrol now!Learn how to use voice, character and dialogue to create the characters and stories in your imagination and to get them on paper. The very talented Cathie Tasker is your online tutor and she'll guide you on how to develop your plot, creating the right settings and how to edit and revise your work.
Cathie Tasker is a fiction editor with over 25 years of experience. She is judge for the Aurealis Awards, fantasy novel section. Her publishing background has
been at Scholastic Australia, HarperCollins and now at Koala Books.
Here's what past participant David Walker had to say about the course:
"The delivery was excellent, the handouts were the right quantity. The critique session was excellent."
Course: Online Creative Writing with Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 29 September 2008
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Click here for more information or to enroll online.
How to blog
Would you like to attend a seminar on how to blog? We're developing a seminar on blogging but we want to make sure it covers the topics you want.
So we'd be very grateful for your opinions.
Email your thoughts on the following to courses@spindriftmedia.com.au (or just hit "Reply")
- Are you interested in attending a seminar on blogging?
- What would you like this seminar to be about?
- Are you already a blogger?
- Do you want to know how to set up a blog - or is that too basic?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Reinvent Yourself is an audio workshop that is ideal for people who are interested in changing their careers. I created this workshop, I was originally an accountant at an international chartered accounting firm before following my passion and switching careers to become a full-time writer.
The audio workshop will help you formulate a plan to become a writer. It includes a step by step guide and encourages you to take action.
This is a downloadable audio workshop - you can listen to it on your computer or your iPod. It runs approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. It also includes a downloadable workbook to help to make your career change happen.
- If you choose to download the workshop and workbook, the cost is $65.
- If you would prefer us to send you a CD of the audio workshop and a printout of the workbook the cost is:
- $85 (for postage anywhere in Australia)
- $95 (for postage outside of Australia)
So if you’d like to change careers and pursue your dream of becoming a writer click here for more information.
Over the past six months we’ve become fans of social networking. And we’re amazed at how many writers there are, especially on My Space.
We’ve found what it seems like thousands of authors, publishing houses and magazines, so we decided to join and put Sydney Writers’ Centre on My Space:
www.myspace.com/sydneywriterscentre
We had a lot of fun setting up our profile and even more fun looking at all the talented author's profiles on there. If you’re on MySpace, join us!
Interviews with successful authors
Our author podcasts are coming along nicely. No, to be honest,
I am actually thrilled with the result. I received a lovely email last week from a podcast subscriber who said he downloaded all the Sydney Writers’ Centre podcasts so he could listen to them on his
long haul flight overseas.
Elana, our ideas coordinator, has been finding the authors, scheduling them in and preparing the questions and I’ve been interviewing authors to get their take about their books and writing. Tracy, our new media coordinator, has been editing our podcasts and putting them on our website and iTunes (Not a simple task!).
One of the ways of learning how to write is to learn from the best. And these authors offer great tips on how they have made it. You can check them out on
www.sydneywriterscentre.com.au/podcast.htm
Other upcoming courses
Seminar: Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett - FULL
When: Wednesday 10 September 2008 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $65
Seminar: How to get your book published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 11 September 2008 (one-evening seminar)
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $65
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
Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman - FULL
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 23 September 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: 6:30 - 8:30pm
Cost: $395
Course: Online Creative Writing with Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 29 September 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Course: Online Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers with Valerie Khoo
When: Week beginning Monday 13 October 2008 for 5 weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
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
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: 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
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
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Wishing you much writing success,
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