Ever dreamed of becoming a world famous novelist? How about having the power of influential storytelling? Or maybe you simply want to unleash the creative writing genius inside you? If so, then you are just 5 easy weeks away from being able to ...

Don’t wait. Awaken your inbuilt creative genius by enrolling
in this powerful 5-week course, available only from the
world-famous Sydney Writers' Centre.

• Do you have a book inside you that’s been trying to bust out … but you don’t know how?
• Have you always dreamt of one day being a writer … at least in your spare time?
• Do you love to read and would love to learn the craft of creating a story that entrances people?
• Have you finally made the decision to do something for yourself … something you’ll love … something that could be your newfound passion?
• Do you simply want to express the creativity that’s been bubbling away inside you for all these years?

Your words have power
Your words have power. A well written story can allow a person feel deep emotion, inspire the minds of a group of people … or even transform the world.

From helping change the opinions of a nation (as Huckleberry Finn did with slavery in the US) to entrancing children in a world of wizardry and magic (as has J.K Rowling), the ability to tell a story is an amazing skill to possess. 

Think of YOUR favourite stories - short or long. Think about the emotion that words on paper can have. The mind expanding influence. The ability to paint a picture so vividly in someone's imagination, that they could have sworn they were there.
Be it the ability to take you on a journey, be it through a land of tiny people, like Lilliput, in Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels … or through a Wonderland of talking Cheshire cats and rabbit holes. 

Through a fantasy world or the romantic rendezvous of a Mills and Boon novel … to the philosophy shaping works of Ayn Rand in Atlas Shrugged … 

Stories open up a world where anything is possible and are a key foundation of the human experience.
And the world is eagerly awaiting yours.

Everyone has a story inside them
Everyone has a story inside them. In fact, you have many. You’ve probably thought on many occasions that you’d like to one day sit down ... and write.

You probably already have an idea of what you want to write. If you’re like most people who come to this course, it’s been bubbling inside you for a while now, popping up every now and then in moments of inspiration … only to be pushed back down by self doubt or the belief that you can’t … this is usually disguised as “I don’t have the time right now” or “I’ll get to it one day”.

Well, that’s all about to change 
You’re about to embark on an amazing adventure. One of the most profound of your entire life. You are about to unlock and uncover that creative genius inside you. You are about to discover what it’s like to create a masterpiece of the written word.

You are about to join the ranks of the thousands of people throughout history who’ve
been elevated and revered in the minds of the masses because of this one skill.
The ability to tell a story.

Take a moment right now 
Think back 5 weeks. Just over a month. It wasn’t that long ago was it?

Now imagine yourself 5 weeks into the future. Picture yourself standing there with your finished short story in hand … or your novel (the one you’ve been thinking about for years) well underway.

This creation that’s been wanting to come out of you for so long is finally a reality. You can say with absolute confidence that you are now a writer.

The thing that almost everyone dreams about doing ‘one day’ … you’ve actually done.

In just 5 short weeks.

And although it takes effort and focus, most people find that because the course is so well structured and leads you step by step through all the processes … it’s not that hard.

In fact, our attendees usually report it as being one of the most pleasurable experiences of their life. Scientists, psychologists and experts call this process "flow". And when you’re in it … writing is effortless … a perfect mix of freedom and challenge as you create your masterpiece.

And you never know which way your writing is going to go … A lot of the time, your book will write you. It’s an adventure of personal growth as much as it is about creating a piece of work.

Each week, you’ll receive a new set of lessons that will teach you the strategies and techniques used by world class, best-selling authors for coming up with ingenious plots, adding dimensions to characters … and developing dialogue to where the reader thinks they’re part of the conversation.

Each lesson builds on the previous week … and is designed to keep you just on the edge of your comfort zone, where you will learn the most but won’t be pushed into overwhelm or to the point where writing loses its fun and enjoyment.

By the end of the 5 weeks, you will have your idea for your book. Depending on your goals, you may have even finished one or two short stories that will have you filled with a  deep sense of satisfaction … and most probably more inspired than ever to write even more … now that you’ve proven to yourself you can do it.

Some will even have completed a short novel (it obviously depends on how long yours is, how fast you write, how long you want to take to write it). 

What you do is up to you … what really matters is that you’ll finally be living your dream … inspired with the passion that comes from being in the moment in an activity that you love.

"I found the course really fantastic" - Rhae Hooper "I’ve just been offered my first contract, a four-book deal with Omnibus Press ... Big thanks to you, Valerie, for the Sydney Writers' Centre, to Pamela for her course and to Geoff for reading my proposal. Thanks!" - Mitch Lewis "I now understand some key tools used in creative writing in a formal sense - previously I was aware of them without fully understanding them. I really enjoyed the clarity of the course material - both the recorded lectures and the handouts. Also, the feedback on assignments was consistently helpful." - David Andrews "It was so manageable for someone with a busy life. The assignments were great learning opportunities. "The course has given me the confidence to believe I can have a go at writing. The opportunity to read not only your own feedback on assignments but also the feedback of others helps to compare yourself." - Christine Huntsdale

MODULE ONE
How to get started

Whether you’ve got an idea for a story or novel ... or feel completely lost and don’t know where to start, this module will get you well underway.

Not only will you end up with ideas that inspire your creative juices … you’ll understand how the best writers around come up with theirs … and how you can too.

This session presents an overview of the creative writing process, from getting ideas to getting words down on paper. What to do when inspiration fails to strike? What to do when you only have half an idea for a story? Where do ideas come from? What inspires us to write?

Using practical exercises to get you started, you’ll discover different ways of producing a piece of writing. You’ll learn about foundational aspects of craft, such as voice, style and point of view. You’ll learn about why some writers write in their ‘natural’ voice, the voice in which they feel that they can write most fluidly and convincingly … and why others invent a whole new voice for each story. Throughout all this, you’ll find your own voice.

MODULE TWO
How to create memorable characters

Where do characters come from? Are the best characters drawn from real life? What makes a successful fictional character?

Characters may be drawn from life, but they are not the same as real people. They undergo a process called ‘characterisation’, in which various creative techniques are used to transform them into fiction.

This session looks at ways to create good dramatic characters, starting with appearance, body language, back story, and psychological depth.

You’ll also discover ways to interrogate characters, to learn new things about them, and make sure they work. The most powerful form of character is active character … You’ll learn how to dramatise or make characters ‘active’ and bring them to life.

You’ll discover the relationship between characters, the role of major and minor characters in fiction, and how to design a successful cast … that has your reader recalling each member … days after reading your book.

MODULE THREE
How to create gripping dialogue and vivid descriptions that make your characters jump out of the pages

Once a character has been created, how do you animate them, and put words into their mouth?

Just as characters are different to real people, so dialogue is not the same thing as spoken speech. You’ll discover exercises used by some of the best authors designed to build your dialogue technique.

You’ll also find out the best ways to write compelling description, and learn how elements of place can illuminate character, action and meaning.

MODULE FOUR
How to use form, structure and plot to create compelling stories

What makes a good story? How do influential authors develop structural shapes for their work? What makes a good beginning, or a good ending?

Real time may be linear, but fictional time can flash backwards and forwards, begin at the end, or end at the start. Utilising each of these can have a significant effect on what your reader experiences.

These session will help you understand how to use dramatic structure, ways to kick off and end a story, the role of turning points, crises, climaxes, resolutions, and the building blocks of narrative, summary and scene … to enhance your story. And how the same story can be told differently, to different effect.

We’ll also walk you through different practical exercises designed to enhance your plotting technique.

The next 5-week course starts the week beginning
9 August 2010 but you get instant access to the first
module NOW when you enrol from this page.

MODULE FIVE
How to sell your work and see it in print!

What is revision? How much should you revise? When is your work ready to show to a friend or a publisher?

Most works of fiction go through three or four drafts; some go through six, eight or more. This session looks at the drafting process and things to watch out for when you’ve finished a draft.

You’ll discover simple ways you can use to improve almost any piece of work … effortlessly. You’ll learn about the difference between revising and editing, and how to do each of them.

We’ll also look at the issue of critical input. How do you evaluate critical advice? When do you accept or reject criticism?

You’ll discover insights into the writer’s marketplace (from Authors and writers who’ve been published countless times) and how to get YOUR story or novel published.

REQUIRED READING
You should try to read To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. We will refer to it in Module 4.

Not only is this environment great for getting all your questions answered, you’ll be able to submit your work for feedback from your teacher. You need high-speed internet access (cable or ADSL) to participate in this course.

Online Creative Writing is an interactive web-based class. Lessons are delivered via our password-protected classroom.

A community of like-minded individuals
This interactive environment allows you to participate, connect and share with fellow classmates at a time that suits you.

One of the biggest pieces of feedback we get from students is the amazing community that is created. Even online, the momentum and inspiration that comes from having a team of people (students and teachers alike) all on the same path is immense. The connection you’ll share with your fellow writers is one that many people continue on … well after the course is finished.

This environment … one that keeps you accountable, while supporting you on your journey … is one of the reasons our students have such a high success rate in reaching their goals.

Not only is this environment great for keeping you accountable, you’ll be able to get all your questions answered and submit your work for feedback from your teacher.

You need high-speed internet access (cable or ADSL) to participate in this course.

Your virtual classroom
You can attend the virtual classroom any time, any day of the week. This way, you can fit your learning into your schedule and lifestyle. You do not have to commit to a set time each week. However, you MUST complete each module during the week specified, or you won't get the most out of the course.

How much time should you commit each week?
You need to commit a minimum of 2 to 3 hours a week. The audio program itself is around 2 hours a week. Beyond that, we recommend that you put into practice what you have learnt that week. 

To learn to write, you want to be taught and mentored by people with real world results.
Selecting our faculty and course teachers is something we take very seriously at the Sydney Writers' Centre. For the creative writing course, we have a very special team.

Firstly, the course structure was put together by:
Best selling international author and creative writing teacher Pamela Freeman (who has 21 published books to her name)
Pamela's most recent book, Full Circle (Book 3 of the Castings trilogy), is published in the US, UK, France, Spain, Portugal and Germany as well as Australia. Pamela’s latest children’s book, Victor’s Challenge, was published in 2009 in Australia and the UK.

Pamela is passionate about teaching creative writing. Through her innovative teachings, based on techniques and strategies that have proven themselves again and again in their ability to achieve breakthrough results, she has helped countless students at the Sydney Writers' Centre master the fundamentals of creative writing … quickly and easily.

Founder of the Sydney Writers' Centre and award winning writer Valerie Khoo
You'll be led through the course by Valerie Khoo, who is not only head of the Sydney Writers' Centre, but is an accomplished award-winning writer whose articles appear regularly in The Sydney Morning Herald. Before becoming a freelance writer six years ago, she was features director of CLEO magazine. She has worked at the three publishing giants – ACP Magazine, Pacific Magazines and EMAP – and currently works as a freelance editor and writer for several consumer and corporate publications.

Her work has also appeared in publications such as Vogue, SHE, Australian Financial Review magazine, and The Age. She has been published in magazines in Australia, the UK, South Africa and South-east Asia.

Valerie also created the popular course “Feature writing for magazines and newspapers”. Many course participants end up successfully publishing their work.

Your online tutor … Expert Editor and Manuscript Assessor, Cathie Tasker
In addition to Pamela Freeman and Valerie Khoo, your online tutors include editor and manuscript assessor, Cathie Tasker. Cathie is a fiction editor with over 25 years experience. Her specialisations are in science fiction, children’s and young adult fiction and genre adult fiction. She is a veteran of the book publishing industry, both in editorial and marketing, in children’s publishing, and in adult fiction and manuscript assessments.

With years of publishing experience with the biggest publishing houses (Scholastic Australia, HarperCollins and now at Koala Books) her knowledge and experience will save you years of frustration.

Cathie will give provide key insights as she guides you through the lessons, giving you indepth feedback as you go… inspiring you and methodically building your ability to write amazing stories.

If you’ve been thinking about writing for a while now … we’ve made it extremely easy for you to finally start living your dreams. Today.  

Being a published writer doesn’t have to be an elusive dream anymore - or something you’ll do one day. You can do it. Just follow the steps. All you have to do is decide that you want to start living your dreams.

In less than a week from now, you can be living your passion. In 5 short weeks from now, you could have completed one or even two short stories or have your novel well underway.

To make it easy for you to get started, we’ve decided to do something we’ve never done before with this course.

The course cost is $395 ... which, when you think about it, is a drop in the ocean of life when it comes to finally being able to do something that’s going to bring so much joy, happiness and fulfilment to your life.

But we wanted to make it even easy for you. So easy in fact that you could get started right now. All you need today is $79. At which point you’ll receive Instant Online Access to your first week’s materials. We’ll then bill you $79 per week for 5 weeks.

Make a decision to do something for yourself right now … and feed your passion. Like I said at the beginning of this letter …  

Everyone has a story inside of them … and the world is eagerly awaiting yours. Follow your passion and start to live your dream. Today.

The next 5-week course starts the week beginning 9 August 2010 but you get instant access to the first module NOW when you enrol from this page.

Here’s how to enrol
Enrolling is easy. Simply click the button below and fill out the safe and secure online order form and you’ll get immediate access to the first module and to the 7 Bonus Interviews with best selling writers and journalists.

The next 5-week course starts the week beginning 9 August 2010 but you get instant access to the first module NOW when you enrol from this page.

Your 100% Money Back Guarantee
Oh, and if you get to the end of the course and decide it wasn’t for you, we’ll refund every cent of your money. That’s right. Take the full length of the course to decide whether it’s right for you. If you get to the end and think it didn’t live up to your expectations, we’ll refund every cent of your investment. Plus you get to keep all the bonuses above.
(All we ask is that you complete the course and are an active participant in all the assignments.)


About the Sydney Writers Centre
The Sydney Writers’ Centre is Australia’s leading centre for writing training. We provide short courses to individuals and corporate groups in magazine writing, travel writing, fiction, short stories, kids and children's books, book publishing, business writing, online writing and much more.

The Sydney Writers' Centre boasts more than 30 courses presented by some of Australia’s most successful authors and journalists. Writing courses are available face-to-face and online with students enrolling from all over Australia and the world including: the UK, US, Afghanistan, Italy, Hong Kong, Singapore, The Netherlands, France and more.

Many students are published, get book deals or successfully change careers as a result of the Sydney Writers’ Centre's no-nonsense, practical approach to training.

So many people have done this course - and they love it! It was just what I was needing to do "I am so pleased you put this together!! I have a two year old who I am home with four days per week so the minute he went down for his midday sleep I would dash for the computer. I found the presenter's voice and sense of humour a delight to listen to and Pamela's exercises fun. "It was great to be able to stop the recording and go back where I missed something or was too slow in taking notes and the handouts will be a great reference for later on. The availability of the online course to us 'out of towners' was great. There is not always a lot available when you get out from the main cities. Also, being able to listen to it at any time of the day was very convenient. "Thank you to everyone involved in getting this course up and running, it was just what I was needing to do." - Nicole Stenson "Just wanted to say I thoroughly enjoyed the course ... a bit sad it's over actually! I found the MP3's very well structured, interesting and the information therein will prove invaluable I'm sure. "I feel inspired, motivated and much more prepared to tackle the task of fulfilling my dream of writing a novel. The tools and advice this course offers are priceless. Thank you!" - Barbara Parks "The course was well presented and lots of fun. It was tailored towards someone at my level and it was well set out in a structured way that helped us grow on what we were learning. I found the course absolutely wonderful. "It was very easy and convenient to do on the online course and it suited my working life. I could never have attended the Sydney Writers' Centre because I live too far away and it (the online course) made it possible to do something I have wanted to do for such a long time." - Penelope Leary “I have had an amazing 5 weeks. I have learnt so much in such a short time. I want more. This course gave me permission to spend hours writing. It gave me joy and it gave me focus. It gave me 'me'. My husband just looks at me and smiles now because even after I have worked all day I still want to keep going... I just want to write, write, write!" - Angelina Cimino  "I really loved doing the assignments so that I could begin to apply what we were learning throughout the course. The feedback from Pamela was honest and useful and has inspired me to hone my writing skills more and more. I have learnt so much about building character, approaching structure and creating engaging dialogue." - Jacqui Walker "I have learnt that there is a lot of untapped creativity in everyone and that it is just a matter of making time to practice. I loved the flexibility of being able to complete the course at a time that worked for me. The feedback was excellent and really constructive - I found myself looking forward to receiving feedback each week." - Katy Sheppard "I enjoyed the honesty and no fuss appraisal by Cathie of the assignments, tempered with words of encouragement. It has made me very aware of current level and the improvement needed. The convenience was the best factor, being able to schedule it into my normal daily activities." - Howard Frankland "Being taught by someone like Pamela who has had so much experience in the field of creative writing was very enlightening. The course has really given me momentum with my writing by giving me the tools that I need to improve. "It was informative, encouraging and inspiring." - Caroline Betts "It's the first time I have tried to write a piece of creating writing since school, and I have learnt so much about structure and planning. I really liked being able to download the tutorials so I can listen to them more than once. This is a great benefit over trying to take notes in a classroom." - Sarah Browne "I didn't know what to expect from the course and wondered, before the start, how it was possible to teach someone to write creatively. Well I quickly found out. I loved every stage of the course, all the tips, writing excercises, exploring different ways of writing, building character profiles. Every bit of it was thoroughly enjoyable and I'm sad that the 5 weeks has come to an end. "The course has given me the confidence to start moving ideas from my mind to paper. I see a story wherever I might to be, whatever I happen to see. It's a very exciting place to be." - Kate Bradley "The most enjoyable part of the course was the opportunity to get feedback on my writing and the opportunity to read other students writing and read feedback on other students' writing. Also, the opportunity to ask questions and to re-work writing. "I have improved my writing and I now know what I must do. I have received honest and consistent feedback and I am encouraged to do more." - Philip Harmer "I have been writing professionally as a journalist for 18 years but there was so much I didn't know until I attended this course. I left feeling inspired rather than scared about writing fiction." - Michael Smith  "It was very easy and convenient to do online and the handouts were good and you knew exactly when to look at them, it was all very well organised. I loved how I could do things in my own time." - Ruby Rebic "I found it a significant stepping stone for those like myself wishing to discover the foundation of how to write creatively for short stories or a novel." - Alex Jonesi "I liked having an audio tape that I could replay if needed. The prompt feedback by Cathie each Monday was very satisfying. I learnt heaps, and that's as an English teacher. I actually made a start on my writing and I think I have a much more realistic appreciation of what is involved, especially when it comes to drafting." - Sharon Welgus "I always thought I had a very poor imagination and I have always been stuck for story ideas. But with this course it showed me how to get past that and where to look inside myself for inspiration." - Catherine Hawthorne "This course was easy and convenient, it was great to be able to read my class mates work and the feedback for them from Pamela. I am now learning to think and write as a writer." - Mae Ashworth "I approach story-telling and my school lessons with more focus on the structure and engaging the reader/students. I enjoy hearing and reading stories more because I'm aware of the different dimensions that make good story, especially the structure." - Callum Shipley "The written feedback was excellent - personalised and detailed. The rewriting and redrafting process has been a really valuable insight. It was an advantage to listen to the tutorials as many times as you wanted. Revisiting everyone's work after thinking things through was also useful." - Sue Sim "I now feel motivated to write and feel that maybe I have something to offer to world ...We will see. The best thing was that I could do the course sitting in the comfort of my own home, sipping on a red wine!" - Karen Howe "I have learnt to approach writing as a craft and not simply to expect that inspiration will ooze out my pores whenever I sit down to write. I am also better acquainted with the creative writing process." - Karen Hamilton "It's opened my eyes to the more technical side of writing that I knew was there but couldn't put my finger on. I just loved the online format! It was very easy to do, understand, and apply." - Jackie Randall "It was certainly easy and convenient. The biggest benefit is simply that I can do it when I have the time without having to travel to Sydney (from the Netherlands)." - Elfi Gilissen "I have finally been able to understand the writing process, and what it takes to create an effective piece. The course not only helped me to understand writing but also reading, I will never underestimate written material again. My enjoyment of reading has increased!" - Gueza Chavez "I've learnt a lot about writing description, scenes, characters, plot, structure, point of view, "show, don't tell" - the whole process!" - Jennifer Carr "I'm more encouraged to start writing my own piece. I can find inspiration relatively easier as I know how. I now know how to edit my own work and read other people's work as a writer." - Adeline Kintono "I learnt more about character building and description. It was easy and convenient. The best thing was being able to pause and pick it up a little bit later." - Lloyd Jones "The content was better than expected. It was clear, concise and provide me an opportunity to learn. I have a better understanding of the writing process. As I read I am now looking at the mechanics of the story, not just the entertainment factor." - Lillian Garcia "I learnt a lot about structure, which is what I needed, and many other things. I loved getting feedback on my work." - Narelle Segecic "There was a good balance of structure and creative stimulus. Pamela's constructive and supportive feedback was great. The course has made me think about the way I write and given me some specific ideas about how to improve." - Veronica Hamer "I have learnt heaps and I feel more confident in writing something of my own." - Kate Lawson "It forced me to put pen to paper and gave me some encouragement to continue. It was very good. Pamela had obviously structured and prepared the course well." - Michael Senior "The online mode was very easy! I am currently overseas and it was so convenient to be able to log in at anytime, download the module and listen to it at my leisure." - Keryn Thiele "Great - I would highly recommend this to anybody who needs any form of guidance when it comes to any writing - not just creative writing. Pamela is a true artist." - Mona Tannous "I have more of an idea about writing as a whole, not just one aspect of it. I looked forward each week to a new module and a new assignment." - Maria Conway "Even though I am only new to writing, during the course I found so many new techniques and ways of approaching my work that I couldn’t have discovered without help. Writing is a passion I have only just recently discovered, and to have a course that offers so much in these early stages of my learning was the best experience I could have hoped for. I loved the course and would recommend it to anyone who wanted to take creative writing to the next level." - Gustavo Panucci "I have a much better understanding of the importance of structure. The best thing about the course was being able to listen whenever I wanted and to hear a real person's voice." - Patrice Connelly

So are you ready to turn your dream of becoming a writer into a reality … TODAY?

You can get started right now. As I've mentioned, the course is usually  $395. And to make it easy for you to get started, we’ve decided to do something we’ve never done before.

We wanted to make it even easy for you. So easy in fact that you could get started right now. All you need today is $79. At which point you’ll receive Instant Online Access to all the bonus audio and your first week’s materials. We’ll then bill you $79 per week for 5 weeks.

Think about it, for a mere $79 today, you can get started in your dream profession.

Here’s how to enrol

Enrolling is easy. Simply click the button below and fill out the safe and secure online order form and you’ll get immediate access to the first module and to the 7 Bonus Interviews with best selling writers. You'll also receive a password that will give you instant access all the materials in the first week of your course. We'll also enrol you in the next available online course, where you'll be able to access the rest of the module and be able to ask questions to your very own online tutor.

The next 5-week course starts the week beginning 9 August 2010 but you get instant access to the first module NOW when you enrol from this page.