Dear Fellow Writer,
In this issue:- Feature writing course: Starts 13 September - last session for 2006
- Congratulations to our creative writing teacher Pamela Freeman who has been shortlisted for a Premier’s Award
- September seminars – Freelance Survival and Travel Writing
- Author interview: Geoff Bartlett – presenter of How to Get Your Book Published
- Bookfest 2006 – this weekend
Feature writing for magazines and newspapers – last session for 2006
The next feature writing course starts 13 September and I have to announce that it will be the last chance to do the feature writing course in 2006. I know it’s a really popular course, so don’t worry, it will definitely run again in 2007.
I love running it, not least because so many students get published as a result – some before the course even finishes (that’s always a great thrill for me!).
So why is this the last feature writing course this year? Basically, I’m in the middle of writing my fifth book and need to give it more attention as I have to finish it by the end of the year.
The feature writing course will teach you about:
• which ideas work – and where to get them
• understanding the magazine/news market
• different types of feature articles
• how to research, structure and write a feature
• what editors want from a writer
• how to pitch your article or idea to a magazine and
sell it!
When: Every Wednesday for five weeks from Wednesday 13 September 2006
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
Cost: $395
September seminars
There are two excellent seminars in September.
This is great if you want to really make a go of a freelancing life. Many people think the concept of freelancing is scary and people often ask me if I find it hard to “make ends meet”.
It never ceases to amaze me when I’m asked those questions because the reality is that when you are on a salary, there is a ceiling to the amount you can earn. When you are a freelancer, the sky is the limit. As long as you make smart choices and work efficiently, you can have a very lucrative freelance career.
Gayle Bryant and I will show you how.When: Thursday 14 September
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
Cost: $65
If you’d like to enroll, please call us on (02) 9929 9237 or visit our website.
Travel writing seminar
Combine your wanderlust with your writing and you could potentially pay for some (or perhaps even all) of your trip. Savvy travel writers are able to fund their adventures. You can learn how.
You just need the right tools to make it happen. You need to know what editors want, what they don’t want, and how to write an article that’s more than just a travel journal.
Or perhaps you’d like to write for a travel guide like Lonely Planet, or a vicarious travel book like Vroom With a View. Veteran travel writer and former managing editor of Insight Guides, Cameron Duffy, will show you how.
When: Monday 18 September
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
Cost: $65
Whether you want to write about sipping coffee in Paris or trekking to Base Camp, please call us on (02) 9929 9237 to enroll or visit our website.
Wonderful recognition for Sydney Writers’ Centre creative writing teacher Pamela Freeman.
Congratulations to Sydney Writers’ Centre creative writing teacher Pamela Freeman. This week, Pamela’s book The Black Dress: Mary Mackillop’s Early Years has been shortlisted for the 2006 NSW Premier’s History Awards Shortlist (Young People’s History Prize).
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Some comments from the judging panel:
“This tough book seeks to reveal experience which would be unfamiliar to many young readers and perhaps uncongenial to some. However, beyond any particular faith issues raised, Pamela Freeman's account of growing up in an extended Scottish-Australian Catholic family illuminates the experience of many settler families in mid-nineteenth century Australia.” |
As one of only three books shortlisted for this category, this is a wonderful achievement and we’re very excited for Pamela. We’re also thrilled that Pamela is teaching creative writing here at the Sydney Writers’ Centre.
I know that students will get a lot out of Pamela’s wealth of teaching experience. Not to mention the experience she’s gained from publishing 18 books!
If you are interested in Pamela’s next creative writing course:
When: Every Tuesday from Tuesday 17 October 2006
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
Cost: $395
If you’d like a course outline or would like to enroll, please call us on (02) 9929 9237 or visit our website.
Many years ago, before I had written any books at all, Geoff mentored me on how to get published. Within two years, I had three books to my name – all sold internationally.
Geoff has a lot of experience writing/editing books and helping people take their concepts to publication. I chatted to him about his upcoming book Cattitude – which stemmed from a simple idea that turned into a fully-fledged book deal only one week later!
Valerie: Why did you decide to write about cats?
Geoff: My friend Gudrun (who is the photographer for Cattitude)
has a cat. When she bought her latest digital camera, she wanted to
test it out. Before I knew it, Gudrun was showing me about 50 pics she
had taken of her cat. She thought he looked so angelic. I suggested he
was trading on his looks and was of a far more devious nature. I wrote
some captions of his "inner thoughts" which Gudrun really liked. Then I
remembered how popular The Blue Day Book was, so I put together a mock up of Cattitude, and had a book deal about a week later.
Valerie: What's the most rewarding thing about writing a book?
Geoff:
Being able to give copies of it to friends and family. It's also a
great calling card anytime I have a meeting with a prospective client.
Valerie: What would your advice be to people who want to get their book published?
Geoff:
Put yourselves in the shoes of the publisher. They want authors who
will be easy to work with, who have a book that will appeal to wide
audience and who can deliver their work to deadline.
Geoff’s advice is invaluable and the seminar How To Get Your Book Published 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
When: Tuesday 10 October 2006
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
Cost: $65
Bookfest 2006 will be held from Saturday 9 September to Wednesday 13 September 2006. Open 10am to 4pm. You'll find thousands of books of all kinds including fiction and children's books.
However, if you're like me and in spring-cleaning mode - and don't want any more books cluttering your home - remember there's always the rental option www.slimink.com.au.Regular readers of this newsletter will know that I use Slim Ink - and I think they're great!
Other upcoming courses
Seminar: Travel Writing
When: Monday 18 September
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
Cost: $65
Seminar: Freelance Survival Seminar
When: Thursday 14 September
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
Cost: $65
Seminar: How to get your book published
When: Tuesday 10 October 2006
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
Cost: $65
When: Every Tuesday for 5 weeks from Tuesday 17 October 2006
Time: 6.30-8.30pm
Cost: $395
If you'd like more information or would like to enroll, please call us on (02) 9929 9237 or visit our website.
Wishing you much writing success,
Director
Sydney Writers‘ Centre
102 Alfred Street Milsons Point
Ph: (02) 9929 9237
valerie@spindriftmedia.com.au
www.sydneywriterscentre.com.au
About Valerie:
Valerie Khoo is a journalist, author of five books and founder of the Sydney Writers' Centre. She is passionate about helping people achieve their writing goals. The Sydney Writers' Centre runs short courses and seminars that will help you improve your writing skills and get published.
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