Jessica Shirvington was travelling overseas with her husband and children when she first enrolled in an online course with the Sydney Writers’ Centre.

Situation:

A fulltime mum, Jessica Shirvington started tinkering with a story idea that eventually evolved into a book. “I was reading a lot at the time and then I don't know why, I just started with a story idea one day and it evolved into a book,” she says. “I didn't plan it but, once I started, I knew I would keep going. I didn't care if it took me years to get it published, I was going to keep going.”

While Jessica was in the middle of writing her first book, she started looking for a way to develop her writing skills - to see if she was on the right track. Jessica says: “I knew where it was going and what I wanted to do with it but, I didn't know if I was fooling myself, just living in some fantasy world that I could be a writer, so I enrolled in the Creative Writing course.”

Solution:

As Jessica was travelling, she enrolled in the online course in Creative Writing in 2009. “A big plus in doing the online course is you can give it as much time as you want and you not only get feedback on your work but you can read the feedback on everyone else's and that is very valuable.

“My main motivator was to put myself around people who knew the industry and could talk through how it all worked. The other motivator was to simply learn more about the rules ... structure, plot strategies and so on.” Throughout the courses, Jessica continued to work on her draft, reworking and rewriting everything from sentence structure to whole chapters of what was to become her first book, Embrace.

After completing an early draft of her manuscript, Jessica undertook a Manuscript Assessment with Cathie Tasker from the Sydney Writers’ Centre in December, 2009. The manuscript assessment confirmed many of Jessica’s intuitions, clarifying the issues and forcing her to work on them.  “There were two really big things I got from the manuscript assessment,” says Jessica. “The first was to cut back on exposition, which I knew I had to do but really needed someone to put it there in black and white to force me to start cutting. The second was a suggestion actually led me to create a new character in the book and add an additional chapter to the front half. Now, I can't imagine the story without that character, so I am completely indebted!”


In 2010, Jessica enrolled in a face-to-face course at the Sydney Writers’ Centre, Creative Writing Stage 2.
“By the time I enrolled for the second course - I had written and re-written Embrace a number of times. I did the course at that time just to keep myself moving forward really. I knew I wanted this so much and was hoping my manuscript would get picked up, but if it wasn't I didn't want to just drop the bundle so I used that course to just keep moving on.”

She sent her manuscript to veteran literary agent Selwa Anthony and by the last couple of weeks of the course, her hard work paid off. Selwa signed her as a client and told Jessica that publishing powerhouse Hachette were interested in Embrace. “It was a very exciting time,” says Jessica.

Result:

Two weeks after agreeing to represent Jessica, Selwa announced that Hachette wanted to sign Jessica to a three-book deal. Embrace is the first book in the series entitled: The Violet Eden Chapters. Jessica can still recall her joy at releasing her dream. Jessica says: “I smiled. A lot. For about a week, everywhere I went - this huge cheesy grin plastered on my face!”
 
With the second installment of her series, Enticed, out in March 2011, Jessica is busy working away writing the third book.  Now a full-time writer with her first being reprinted twice within the first two months of release, Jessica says: “If you want to be a writer, the Sydney Writers’ Centre is a great place to learn. You can't force writing but you can refine it.  The Sydney Writers’ Centre helps with this. It’s also a good way to surround yourself with people that want to be doing it, too. You get to hear from published authors that have all been there, done that.

“The time when I took the first writing course was definitely a landmark time in my life - and the Sydney Writers’ Centre was a part of that.”

Georgia, 25, is a successful freelance writer who transitioned from recruitment into full time writing via the Feature Writing course. She now writes for a range of glossy magazines and has had articles syndicated all around the world.

Situation:

Georgia was 21 and, after graduating from her communications degree, worked in sales for a recruitment firm in Sydney. “Deep down, however, I knew that I wanted to write for a living – I was just too scared to chase the dream! I also kept telling myself that writing couldn’t possibly pay well.” 

Solution:

One day an ad popped up on her browser for the Sydney Writers’ Centre. “I clicked through on impulse, booked then and there, and showed up two days later for my first session. That was at the beginning of 2008.” Georgia booked into the course Feature Writing Stage 1 and found the practical structure of the course empowering. “The structure matched exactly how to pitch story ideas in a compelling way.”

Result:

Georgia says the skills she learned in the Feature Writing course completely transformed her life. Not only did she get her first article accepted on week 4 of the course, she also rapidly got snapped up as editor for Healthy Food Guide. “Wow… it’s quite amazing to compare the ‘before’ and ‘after’ – now I’m on a completely different life track, doing what I truly, truly love. After completing the course, I very quickly built up a steady base of clients and created this wonderful lifestyle of working from cafes, my beautiful little nest, and sometimes, on rainy days, from bed.”

From being published for the very first time in the Fitness First magazine to editing Healthy Food Guide magazine, Georgia has also written for CLEO, Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health, Life etc, Prevention Magazine, and Body + Soul.

From the foundation built on the skills she learnt at the Sydney Writers’ Centre, Georgia has continued to develop her career in the media. “I became a regular guest on several metropolitan radio stations, garnered my own breakfast spot on Sydney’s Classic Rock FM (with Anthony Maroon), appeared on several TV stations as a ‘health expert’, chatting on programs like Sunrise, Kerri Anne and Today Tonight about all sorts of food and health-related topics, was taken on several free trips all around Australia, Japan and New Zealand, became an industry advisor to the NSW government for health and nutrition. I’m now in training to launch my TV career. It’s a beautiful existence.”

Georgia’s Recommendation:

“I think Sydney Writers’ Centre is an excellent starting point for anyone looking to springboard into writing – whether as a full-time career, or a part-time pursuit. It’s full of useful information and advice that’s truly practical. Four years later, I look back and I’m truly thankful that I took the first step. The only person stopping you from leading the life you want is you, and if writing is part of that dream, then enrolling at Sydney Writers’ Centre is a great first step to take. Just do it!”

Aoife, 44, is now a freelance writer living in Sydney. She completed the online course in Feature Writing for Magazines and newspapers. Aoife has written for Body and Soul (Sunday Telegraph), Echo Paper and TNT magazine. She is a regular contributor to Australia and New Zealand Magazine in the United Kingdom.

Situation:

Aoife had always loved writing, and was looking for a way to earn money while caring for her children. Aoife says: “When they were all at school, I thought it was about time I did something for myself.” She decided to explore freelance writing to re-invigorate her creative side, yet still be able to look after her kids when they got home from school.

Solution:

Aoife enrolled in the online version of Feature Writing Stage 1. “I simply Googled writing courses and I loved that the Sydney Writers' Centre offered online courses with flexibility, and the tutors were always there to answer questions and offer amazing feedback. It really was just like sitting in a classroom,” says Aoife.

“I also appreciated that the course was only five weeks long. Some organisations offered year long journalist diplomas and I really didn't want to commit to that length of time, as I wasn't sure if I'd be any good at writing.”

Result:

Aoife is now a full time freelance writer, and believes achieving this goal is possible for anyone. She has interviewed a host of interesting people including authors, singers, celebrities and politicians. One of her favourite assignments was a cultural feature on the Sydney Opera House in 2009.  “It was just so interesting learning how long it takes, almost 5 years, to get an opera on the stage, and I got to climb up all the backstage stairs exploring,” says Aoife.

“The best thing is getting paid to do what I enjoy. I still run around after the kids, but I do as much writing as I can while they're at school.”

Aoife’s Recommendation:

Aoife highly recommends the Sydney Writers' Centre. “The practical and informative courses with great support and wonderful teachers make the Centre a great place to learn”. She believes that becoming a freelance writer is an achievable goal for anyone. “I am the living proof that you don't have to have a degree, which is what I had previously thought. You just have to have the determination to follow your dreams,” says Aoife. “I know it sounds corny, but it's true really. I have really pushed myself. There have been times when I could have given up, especially trying to get published for the first time. But after that first time, I think your confidence grows and you think 'I can do this'.”

Susannah Hardy, 42, is an actor who always knew she could write, but wondered how she could improve her skills, and if it was possible to make a living from her writing.

Situation:

Susannah had always had a love for writing, often creating material for her performances. But she admits, “I wrote from instinct, and I realised I needed tuition.” Unsure of how to get that tuition, she says her mother noticed an ad in the local newspaper in 2006 advertising a Feature Writing course at the Sydney Writers’ Centre. She decided then and there that the course would be the perfect way to polish her nascent skills, and so she enrolled immediately.

Solution:

Her instincts proved spot on. “The Feature Writing course was perfect, just what I wanted. It helped me to work out what makes for a good story idea, how to pitch it well, and how to get it published.”

Valerie was also integral to her learning experience. “She was so inspiring.” But the inspiration didn’t stop at the end of the course, for which Susannah is immensely grateful. “Valerie always made herself available for advice and encouragement, which is impressive considering how busy she is.”

She followed up the Feature Writing course with Creative Writing Stage 1 in 2010 and found this equally as good. “Jenni [course presenter] was fantastic, and I am currently tentatively working on an idea for a novel at the moment, when time permits [she is a mum to two kids].”

Result:

Following the Feature Writing course, Susannah submitted an article to the “My Career” section of the Sydney Morning Herald, which was accepted, convincing her she could make it as a writer. On the back of this initial success, she proactively approached other magazines, and was subsequently published on at least two occasions in Notebook.

Her proactive approach, which she freely admits is something actors routinely employ to gain work, yielded placements with Country Home Ideas, Modern Home and Inspirational Kitchens and Bathrooms, a relationship that continues to this day. “I have a profile on a home in most issues of Modern Homes, and the work is quite consistent.”

She also had articles accepted to Practical Parenting, My Child and Cosmo Pregnancy, which are not magazines she initially thought she would target. “I was going to write for Cosmopolitan and Cleo, but I realised that as a wife and mother that I should write about what I know and love.” Renovating is also a passion so writing for magazines like Modern Homes was a good fit too. “I will give any topic that interests me a go, even obscure ones.”

She is appreciative of what writing has given her. “I find that writing is a great way to earn a living since I can fit it in around my work as an actor, and the demands of being a wife, and mum. It also keeps me sane.” She is the first to admit that the life she has now as a freelance writer would not have been possible without the Sydney Writers' Centre, and that it made all the difference in pursuing her dreams of being a writer.

Susannah’s Recommendation:

“I have recommended the Sydney Writers’ Centre to so many people because the courses are great, the teachers are excellent, and Valerie is amazing. I was fortunate to be published quickly but if it weren’t for Valerie and the Sydney Writers' Centre, my writing career wouldn’t have progressed in the way that it did.”

Sue White, 38, is now one of the busiest feature/travel writers in Australia with an enviable portfolio that includes the country’s most respected publications including The Good Weekend, The Sydney Morning Herald, Vogue Australia, Travel + Leisure (Australia), Sun Herald Travel and Women’s Health to name just a few.

Situation:

Sue had flirted with the idea of being a freelance writer since she first wrote the school column for her local newspaper on a typewriter. Turning down a cadetship to spend the decade following her high school graduation travelling, she managed to pop back to Australia long enough to squeeze in a degree and work for a range of NGOs, government bodies and health researchers, before throwing in the 9-5 world to train yoga teachers. But the call to write continued and Sue says: “I eventually realised that freelance writing might give me the mix of creativity, freedom and brain food that I'd struggled to find in the nine-to-five world.”

As Sue prepared to focus her career on freelance writing, she decided she needed to do a practical course to brush up her skills, and ensure she was up to date with the latest industry standards and procedures. She says: “After I met the Sydney Writers’ Centre founder Valerie Khoo, I was inspired by her energy and experience. I thought: ‘This is the place for me’.”

Solution:

Sue chose to study the course Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers at the Sydney Writers’ Centre because she was attracted to its practical, no-nonsense focus. “Not only was the structure watertight and utterly practical but all my additional questions were answered honestly and upfront,” says Sue. “It gave me the momentum and the tools to dive straight back in to writing, but this time, to take it to another level.”

That was nearly five years ago. Her experience and focus as a writer paid off, and Sue has since made a name for herself as a successful freelance feature writer and travel writer. In short, she has never look back.

Result:

Sue is now one of Australia’s busiest feature/travel writers. She has covered stories from Belize for Vogue Entertaining and Travel on the origin of Fair Trade Chocolate to an unforgettable trip by boat along the shores of the Kimberley Desert for CNN Traveller.

Sue describes the impact pursuing her writing dreams has had on her life. “Now, instead of teaching yoga retreats, I get paid to go and write about them; I have access to some of Australia's most interesting sustainability leaders and business people through interviews; and I get to travel whenever I choose, in the name of work,” says Sue. “My new career gives me more than simply the freedom to work from home: it allows me to (mostly) write on subjects I'm interested in - I've carved out a career writing on travel, environment, wellbeing and career.”

Sue’s Recommendation:

With this wealth of experience under her belt, Sue has come full circle. She now teaches the course in Feature Writing for Magazines and Newspapers at the Sydney Writers’ Centre. She knows exactly what new writers need to do to make it in the industry. “The courses are so practical in nature,” says Sue. “They're also short and shiny - you can dip into something that interests you, soak up all the information you need to get started, and then decide if it's right for you.”

Sue says she loves sharing her knowledge while teaching at the Centre. “Joining the SWC team in 2010 was fantastic, it's been a lovely way to be able to give something to new writers, in an effort to make their own journey as positive a path as mine has been,” says Sue. “It's also a fabulous balance between working from home, where I only get to talk to the plants!”

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