Sydney Writers’ Centre- The Hipster Lit Flowchart & “Write Your Novel” program & Many Other Writing Courses

Sydney Writers’ Centre- The Hipster Lit Flowchart & “Write Your Novel” program & Many Other Writing Courses

Phone: (02) 9929 0088

It was wonderful to see the inspired faces of our students at the last session of the 6-month “Write Your Novel” program this week. This wonderful program, tutored by Pamela Freeman, is the perfect course to keep you on track for your novel.

If you already have an idea for your novel, or even a first draft, this is a great opportunity for you to get feedback on how to make it ready to submit to an agent or publisher. It’s your chance to create the best possible version of your manuscript.

You’ll learn how to:
balance your cast of characters
fix structural flaws
write dialogue that advances your plot
find the best agent or publisher for your work
and so much more.
Our 6-month “Write Your Novel” program will only be held ONCE in 2013. (This year we held it twice and both courses booked out.) So we’re giving you lots of advance notice in case you want to commit the dates to your diary.

Also, if you want to secure your place, there is an early bird price of $1980 if you book before 21 December 2012. (Usual price $2150).

TIP: May versus might
What’s the difference between “may” and “might”? Both are often used to request permission but, according to most resources, there is a subtle difference – so be careful how you use them. The first difference is in the likelihood of something happening.

“May” is usually used to simply state the possibility or likelihood of something happening, while ‘might’ is used where there is more uncertainty involved.

For example:

It may rain this afternoon. (There is a possibility it will rain.)
It might rain this afternoon. (It’s possible it will rain, but unlikely.)

The second difference is in the tense of each word. The Macquarie Dictionary lists one meaning of “might” as “past tense of may”, so this should also be taken into consideration if you’re not sure which to use. The Oxford Dictionaries online suggests this distinction isn’t enforced so much these days. If you’re not sure, use “might” if you’re talking about something that’s happened, and “may” if talking about a current situation.

For example:

I may go home early if it rains. (present tense)
I might have gone home early if I’d known it was going to rain. (past tense)

Sydney Meet-up – only a few places left!
Our final Sydney meet-up for 2012 will be held next week on Tuesday 4 December from 6.30pm at the Kirribilli Club. This is your chance to meet fellow writers and the Sydney Writers’ Centre team, as well as hear from literary agent, Sophie Hamley about how to get an agent and what one can do for you.

Tickets are $10 and you can book online here.
There are only a few places left so get in quick!

Student Success
We’ve received more exciting news from one of our ONLINE COURSE: Magazine and Newspaper Writing graduates. Linda Delaney, who completed the course just a few months ago, wrote this to us:

Recently I completed the Writing for Magazines and Newspapers course, online. I loved it and it has helped me get published in Luxury Home Design magazine. I have always dreamed of writing for magazines and now I feel I have the tools and the confidence to make it a reality. My first double-page spread will be published next month (December 2012). It is the perfect complement to promoting my interior design business and an effective way to get my skills known by a broader audience than I could have imagined.

I would like to say a big thank you for the information and practical knowledge shared throughout the course.

Congratulations, Linda! We’re thrilled to hear about your success and can’t wait to read the article.

Upcoming courses
Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1

Don’t let 2012 go by without fulfilling your new year’s resolution to write! There’s still a chance for you to join our ONLINE Course: Creative Writing Stage 1, which starts soon. In this five-week course you’ll kickstart your creativity and learn how to turn those ideas in your head into a story. Lessons are delivered via our password protected online classroom so you can join us at any time, from wherever you are.

Five-week online course starting Monday 10 December 2012
(with a one-week break for Christmas)
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1

You love reading magazines. You’ve often thought of articles you’d like to write. But you’re not exactly sure about how to do this or if an editor would even be interested in your article. Join us for our final ONLINE COURSE: Magazine and Newspaper Writing for 2012. In this course you’ll learn what it takes to write a great feature and get it published.

Five-week online course starting Monday 10 December 2012
(with a one-week break for Christmas)
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Build Your Profile Using Twitter

Join us for this informative and entertaining seminar with Twitter guru, Kerri Sackville. Kerri joined Twitter just three years ago and in that time has built a devoted following and scored two book deals! In this seminar she’ll tell you how you too can build your online profile using this popular social media tool. If you’re not sure how or why you should tweet, this seminar is for you.

Two-hour evening seminar on Wednesday 12 December 2012
Time: 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

How to Get Your Book Published

Want to know what it takes to get your book into bookstores? Our two-hour How to Get Your Book Published seminar will help you navigate the often rocky road to publication. You’ll learn how to write a book proposal, how to approach publishers, what to expect in your contract and much more.

Two-hour seminar on Wednesday 12 December 2012
Time: 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

See Liberal Arts
Thanks to our friends at Icon Movies we have some free movie passes to give away, this time to the romantic drama Liberal Arts. Written, directed by and starring Josh Radnor (from How I Met Your Mother) this film is proving a hit with audiences and critics and recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

Radnor plays Jesse; a jaded, thirtysomething whose life hasn’t worked out quite the way he’d planned. But when he returns to his old university to give a speech at his beloved former professor’s retirement dinner, Jesse meets Zibby (Elizabeth Olsen) and sparks fly for the first time in a long time.

Check out more details and watch the trailer for Liberal Arts here. If you’d like to win one of 10 double passes just tell us about your favourite university or school teacher. Email your answers to courses [at] spindriftmedia [dot] com [dot] au by 5pm Friday 7 December 2012.

This week on Writing Bar – videos, James Roy, Ramona Koval
We have two fascinating interviews for you this week on Writing Bar. The first is with children’s and YA author (and Sydney Writers’ Centre Creative Writing presenter) James Roy. He spoke to us about his latest book, City, the follow-up book to his award-winning Town. We spoke to him about writing for young people and why he was initially reluctant to call himself a kids’ book author. Watch the interview here.

We also spoke to broadcaster and journalist, Ramona Koval. Ramona would be well-known to ABC radio listeners. She was part of the team there for many years and presented the popular Book Show for five years. She’s also an accomplished writer and has just released By the Book: A reader’s guide to life. We spoke to her about some of those books and the process of writing a memoir. Watch the interview here.

Plan ahead – Summer School
January is an exciting time here at the Sydney Writers’ Centre because that’s when we hold our Summer School! We want to help all our readers get their new year off to a creative start so we’ve scheduled loads of our most popular courses as weekend or daytime intensives, as well as the usual evening classes.

We’ve got everything from Screenwriting Stage 1 to Travel Writing and Food Writing. Our most popular courses, Creative Writing Stage 1 and Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1, will also be part of the Summer School. A Summer School course would make the perfect Christmas gift for someone you love – or even yourself!

Oops Word
Thanks to Get Published reader, Bambi Ward, who sent us this pic from a recent car show.

Your cute? Your cute what?! Your is the possessive of you, and refers to something that someone has. So “Your cute” doesn’t make sense. If they meant “Your cute car” that would be okay, as they would be talking about something that belongs to you.

We think they meant to say “You are cute” so they should have used the contraction “you’re”.
Gift Vouchers
It’s that time of year again – Christmas is bearing down on us and we’ve only got so many hours in the day fit in all those end-of-year parties, shopping and Christmas lunch preparation.

If anyone on your Christmas list is interested in writing we have a solution – a gift certificate from the Sydney Writers’ Centre. To save you time (and stress!) you can order a gift voucher online here or call us on 02 9929 0088 for more information on what course you should buy.

For Christmas vouchers you’ll need to get your order in by no later than 5pm Friday 21 December 2012. Once we have your order we’ll express post a certificate to you the very same day.

Christmas shopping was never so easy.

WEBPICK: The Hipster Lit Flowchart
Are you looking for ways to impress your hipster friends? Or want to know what it takes to be a hipster? Maybe you have a hipster in your family and you just can’t decide what to buy them for Christmas. Well Goodreads has the answer – The Hipster Lit Flowchart.

Starting with the ultimate in hipster lit, David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest, this chart will guide you through a hipster’s must-read list. Don’t like violence in your books? Try Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust. Do you buy your coffee at Starbucks? (If so, shame on you!) Then Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses is for you. There’s even appropriate hipster lit for lovers of vampire novels – The Orange Eats Creeps by Grace Krilanovich.

Other upcoming courses
Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Sue White
When: Friday 30 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Blogging for Beginners with Kim Berry – FULL
When: Monday 3 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 5 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Blogging for Beginners with Kim Berry – FULL
When: Thursday 6 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: From Blog to Book with Kerri Sackville
When: Monday 10 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 10 December 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Valerie Khoo – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 10 December 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Seminar: Build Your Profile on Twitter with Kerri Sackville
When: Wednesday 12 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 12 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: How to create and sell your eBook with Anna Maguire – NEW COURSE
When: Thursday 13 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Dates for 2013
Online Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 7 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 7 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White/
Allison Tait – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 7 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 7 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 7 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

WEEKEND course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Saturday 12 January and Sunday 13 January 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND Course: Food Writing with Carli Ratcliff
When: Saturday 12 January and Sunday 13 January 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Daytime intensive course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim
When: Monday 14 January to Friday 17 January 2013 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $395

Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Marina Go
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 16 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller – FULL
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for six weeks
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $450

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Saturday 19 January and Sunday 20 January 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Daytime intensive course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman
When: Monday 21 January to Friday 25 January 2013 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $395

Online Course: Travel Writing with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 21 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Seminar: Blogging for Beginners with Kim Berry – NEW DATE

When: Tuesday 22 January 2013 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Daytime intensive course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Tuesday 22 January and Wednesday 23 January 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Successful Freelancing with Gayle Bryant
When: Tuesday 22 January 2013 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 29 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Daytime seminar: Blogging for Beginners with Kim Berry – NEW DATE

When: Wednesday 30 January 2013 (two-hour daytime seminar)
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $85

WEEKEND Course: Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie
When: Saturday 2 February and Sunday 3 February 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND Course: Write a chick-lit novel with Lisa Heidke
When: Saturday 2 February and Sunday 3 February 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Thriller Writing with L.A. Larkin
When: Every Monday starting Monday 4 February 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Monday starting Monday 4 February 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle
When: Monday 4 February 2013 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Business Writing Essentials with Tony Spencer-Smith
When: Thursday 7 February 2013 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 4.30 pm
Cost: $395

Melbourne seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo
When: Friday 8 February 2013 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 1.00 pm
Cost: $295

Melbourne weekend course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Claire Halliday – NEW DATE
When: Saturday 9 February and Sunday 10 February 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Melbourne weekend course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Kylie Ladd – NEW DATE
When: Saturday 9 February and Sunday 10 February 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Tuesday 12 February 2013 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo
When: Friday 15 February 2013 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 1.00 pm
Cost: $295

Course: Introduction to Novel Writing with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 21 February 2013 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $495

Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 21 February 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: PR and Media Releases that Get Results with Catriona Pollard – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 28 February 2013 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $495

Seminar: Editing Essentials with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Friday 15 March 2013 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Course: Writing About Interiors, Style and Design with Nigel Bartlett
When: Monday 18 March and 25 March 2013 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $175

Seminar: Self-publishing – How to do it with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Monday 25 March 2013 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 27 March 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller – NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 4 April 2013 for six weeks
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $450

Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 2 with Valerie Khoo
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 1 May 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Program: Write Your Novel with Pamela Freeman – NEW DATE
When: Every Monday starting Monday 1 July 2013 for six months
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $1980 (early bird price)

Sydney Writers’ Centre

Sydney Writers’ Centre- Hal Porter Short Story competition now open & More Student Success & Many Writing Courses

Sydney Writers’ Centre- Hal Porter Short Story competition now open & More Student Success & Many Writing Courses

Professional Business Writing!

In this one-day seminar, you’ll learn:
The 11 Golden Rules of business writing
Fundamentals of effective persuasive writing
The 5 essential steps to planning a document
Determining what you MUST include and what to leave out
Business writing DON’Ts
Common writing mistakes (and how to avoid them)
How to structure reports and proposals
The art of attraction – how to gain your reader’s attention
Style guides – how to use them and how to create one
Revising and editing – how readable is it?
Presenting your documents
and MUCH more.
Professional Business Writing with Sue White
One-day seminar on Friday 30 November 2012
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

TIP: Dose versus dosage?
Get Published reader, Shannon Aitken, wants to know when you use “dose” and when “dosage” is the better choice.

While these two are often used interchangeably there is a difference, and it’s the suffix “-age” in “dosage” that gives it away.

The suffix “-age” can be added to nouns and can mean a collection, amount or rate (for example, dosage) or an action or process (like passage or coverage). Adding this suffix to “dose” changes the meaning of the word so make sure you choose the right one.

Dose is a quantity of medicine prescribed to be taken at one time. For example:

The recommended dose of cough medicine is one tablespoon every four hours.

Dosage is the administration of medicine in doses, or the amount of medicine to be given over a period of time. For example:

Adjust the daily dosage if you experience side effects.

More Student Success
Congratulations to Sam Ihring who contacted us with some thrilling news this week. Here’s what she wrote to us:

I would like to say a big thank you to the Sydney Writers’ Centre and Carli Ratcliff, who I did the Food Writing course with in June. I have recently been successful with a recipe commission from SBS Feast Magazine and two commissions from http://www.live4.com.au

Thank you again, and I will always remember the importance of a
good pitch.

Well done, Sam. We hope these are the first of many successful pitches. If you’re interested in Food Writing, find out more here.

Hal Porter Short Story Competition
If you need some extra motivation to keep you writing in this mad rush to Christmas, have a look at the Hal Porter Short Story Competition. Held by the East Gippsland Art Gallery and Hill of Content Bookshop, and now in its 19th year, this competition is open to all Australian writers.

A first prize of $1000 will be awarded for the best short story of no more than 2500 words. There will also be book prizes for shortlisted authors. There is no theme – you can write a story on whatever you want.

Entry fee is $6 and entries close on Friday 14 December 2012.
Check out all the details here.

Upcoming courses
Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults

If you want to find out what today’s kids want to read, join us for our Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults. Over five weeks we’ll show you how turn your idea for a kids’ book (for readers over the age of seven) into a reality. Learn how to write the right book for your audience and those all important steps to publishing – all from wherever you are in the world!

Five-week online course starting Monday 26 November 2012
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1

This course will give you the tools and skills to write magazine and newspaper articles that editors want to publish. You’ll learn important skills like the questions you should ask in an interview. We’ve distilled what would otherwise take you years to figure out on your own. After this course, you’ll be able to write with confidence and get published faster.

Five-week online course starting Monday 26 November 2012
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Self-Publishing: How to do it

Not sure the traditional path to publication is for you? If you’re writing a non-fiction or business book, you may be better off self-publishing. Of course, this means you need to do it all yourself so come and find out what exactly it takes to self-publish your book. In this two-hour seminar Geoff Bartlett will guide you through the process of self-publishing and you’ll leave armed with the tools you need to make it a success!

Two-hour seminar on Wednesday 28 November 2012
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

TIP: Less or fewer?
Thanks to all those Get Published readers who emailed last week after reading our Oops Word on Practice versus Practise. It seems the writers of the brochure we featured made more than one error …

In the same picture we featured last week many of our eagle-eyed readers noticed another error in this sentence: “…if there are 5 words or less they don’t know, then the book should be just right.”

What that sentence should say is “if there are 5 words or fewer…”
You should only use less for items that can’t be counted. For example:

We used less fabric on the red cushion than on the blue one.

For anything that can be counted, use fewer. For example:

There are fewer biscuits in the jar since we let the children find them.

Plan ahead – Creative Writing Stage 1
2012 may not yet be over, but we’re already locking in dates for our 2013 program. As usual, we’ll be all hands on deck from January and we have some great Summer School courses happening.

One of our most popular courses, Creative Writing Stage 1, will be held as a weekend intensive, a daytime intensive and a five-week evening course. So no matter what your schedule, you’ll be able to find a course to suit you! This is the course to enrol in if you want to start the new year with a creative boost. You’ll learn the skills you need to craft great fiction from industry professionals who’ve been there themselves.
WEEKEND INTENSIVE Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 January 2013
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00pm
Cost: $395

EVENING Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Thursdays starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for 5 weeks
Time: 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

DAYTIME INTENSIVE Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman
When: Monday 21 January to Friday 25 January 2013
Time: 10.00 am – 12 noon
Cost: $395

Click here for more information or to enrol online.

If you can’t make it to our classrooms here in Milsons Point you can join our one of our online courses starting regularly during December and January.

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman
When: Week beginning Monday 26 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Oops Word
Thanks to Patrice Connolly who sent us this pic from her local shopping centre.

Wow. This takes the use of the greengrocer’s apostrophe (an apostrophe used to create a plural) to a whole new level. The spelling of more than one dress is ‘dresses’. There’s absolutely no need for that apostrophe to be there!

WEBPICK: Pubslush
Crowdsourcing is becoming all the rage for big arts, music or literary projects. For writers it’s a great way to raise the funds to publish their work and build an audience before publication even happens. And for the creators of Pubslush, it’s also a great way to help tackle child illiteracy around the world.

On Pubslush you can gauge interest in your project by posting your summary and fundraising goal on the site. Readers can also join Pubslush and contribute financially to their favourite projects in exchange for a reward when the project’s finished. Once an author has reached their fundraising goal, they’re on their way to publication! The final step in the equation? For every book sold through Pubslush, a children’s book is donated to a child in need.

Other upcoming courses
Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman
When: Week beginning Monday 26 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman
When: Week beginning Monday 26 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White/
Allison Tait
When: Week beginning Monday 26 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson
When: Week beginning Monday 26 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle – FULL
When: Monday 26 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: PR and Media Releases that Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Wednesday 28 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $495

Seminar: Self-publishing – How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 28 November 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Sue White
When: Friday 30 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Blogging for Beginners with Kim Berry – FULL
When: Monday 3 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 5 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Blogging for Beginners with Kim Berry
When: Thursday 6 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: From Blog to Book with Kerri Sackville
When: Monday 10 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Build Your Profile on Twitter with Kerri Sackville
When: Wednesday 12 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 12 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: How to create and sell your eBook with Anna Maguire – NEW COURSE
When: Thursday 13 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Dates for 2013
Online Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 7 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

WEEKEND course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Saturday 12 January and Sunday 13 January 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND Course: Food Writing with Carli Ratcliff
When: Saturday 12 January and Sunday 13 January 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Daytime intensive course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim
When: Monday 14 January to Friday 17 January 2013 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $395

Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Marina Go
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 16 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for six weeks
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $450

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Saturday 19 January and Sunday 20 January 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Daytime intensive course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman
When: Monday 21 January to Friday 25 January 2013 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $395

Daytime intensive course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Tuesday 22 January and Wednesday 23 January 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Successful Freelancing with Gayle Bryant
When: Tuesday 22 January 2013 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 29 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND Course: Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie
When: Saturday 2 February and Sunday 3 February 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND Course: Write a chick-lit novel with Lisa Heidke
When: Saturday 2 February and Sunday 3 February 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Thriller Writing with L.A. Larkin
When: Every Monday starting Monday 4 February 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge – NEW DATE
When: Every Monday starting Monday 4 February 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle
When: Monday 4 February 2013 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Business Writing Essentials with Tony Spencer-Smith
When: Thursday 7 February 2013 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 4.30 pm
Cost: $395

Melbourne Seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo
When: Friday 8 February 2013 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 1.00 pm
Cost: $295

Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Tuesday 12 February 2013 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo – NEW DATE
When: Friday 15 February 2013 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 1.00 pm
Cost: $295

Course: Introduction to Novel Writing with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 21 February 2013 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $495

Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 21 February 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing About Interiors, Style and Design with Nigel Bartlett
When: Monday 18 March and 25 March 2013 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $175

Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Jeni Mawter – NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 27 March 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 2 with Valerie Khoo
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 1 May 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Program: Write Your Novel with Pamela Freeman – NEW DATE
When: Every Monday starting Monday 1 July 2013 for six months
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $1980 (early bird price)

2013 WRITING TOURS
Food Writing in Vietnam with Carli Ratcliff – NEW TOUR
Arrival: Saturday 6 April 2013
Departure: Saturday 12 April 2013

Writing in Bali with Patti Miller
Arrival: Saturday 3 August 2013
Departure: Saturday 10 August 2013

Writing in Paris with Patti Miller
Arrival: Thursday 24 October 2013
Departure: Saturday 9 November 2013

Sydney Writers’ Centre
Suite 3, 55 Lavender Street Milsons Point NSW 2061
http://www.sydneywriterscentre.com.au

Sydney Writers’ Centre- Plan ahead – How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett & 2012 Australian Poetry Slam National Final & Many Writing Courses

Sydney Writers’ Centre- Plan ahead – How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett & 2012 Australian Poetry Slam National Final & Many Writing Courses

PR and Media Releases That Get Results with Catriona Pollard

You’ll learn exactly how to do that in our one-day seminar, PR and Media Releases that Get Results. In this seminar you’ll discover:
the elements of a typical PR strategy
how to determine your target audiences
how to structure media releases and what you must include
who you should quote and what they should say
how to deal with journalists
online distribution strategies
contributing articles to publications
how to approach bloggers as part of your PR strategy
and MUCH more.
PR and Media Releases That Get Results with Catriona Pollard
One-day seminar on Wednesday 28 November 2012
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $495

TIP: Practice versus practise
Thanks to Meredith O’Connor who spotted this blunder in a brochure.

We see practice and practise confused all the time so it’s worth going over the rule again.

Practice is a noun or thing. For example:

The doctor set up his new practice in town.

Practise is a verb. For example:

You need to practise your dancing.

The confusion is probably caused by the different British and American usages. In American English, practice is often used as both a noun and a verb. But here in Australia, we use the British English rule where practice is a noun and practise a verb.
Word News: Oxford Word of the Year announced
Drum roll, please… Oxford University Press has announced their Word of the Year for 2012. And the winner is, “omnishambles”.

Fans of the satirical British show The Thick of It might recognise this one. It means “a situation that has been comprehensively mismanaged, characterised by a string of blunders and miscalculations”. Perhaps not surprising, then, that 2012 is the year of “omnishambles”.

Some shortlisted candidates were “mummy porn”, the genre so named thanks to the bestselling 50 Shades series of books; “Eurogeddon”, a word referring to Europe’s financial crisis; and “gif”, short for graphics interchange format and one of the internet’s oldest ways of transmitting pictures. “Gif” was also chosen by editors as America’s word of the year.
Sydney Writers’ Centre Meet-up
We’re holding our next informal networking event on Tuesday 4 December – and you’re invited!

This is your chance to get together with fellow graduates and the wider community of the Sydney Writers’ Centre, hear from a great presenter, and hopefully leave just that little bit more inspired to achieve your writing dreams.

Date: Tuesday 4 December 2012
Time: 6.30 pm – 8.00 pm
Where: The Kirribilli Club, Milsons Point (right next door to us)
Who: Literary agent Sophie Hamley from Cameron Creswell Agents will talk about how to get an agent, what they can do for you, trends in the publishing industry and much more

Tickets cost $10 each to cover venue costs. Any excess funds will be donated to the Doggie Rescue charity. Numbers are strictly limited! You can buy your tickets here.

Can’t wait to see you there!

2012 Australian Poetry Slam National Final
If you’ve never experienced the battle of words that is a poetry slam, then get yourself along to the national finals of the 2012 Australian Poetry Slam. Now in its 6th year, the Australian Poetry Slam brings together this country’s best wordsmiths for one of the biggest poetry competitions of its kinds.

Since October, organisers have been touring Australia to find the two best performance poets in each state. Those finalists will be performing at the national final. Up for grabs is a chance to tour Beijing, Chengdu and Suzhou in China with the Bookworm International Literary Festival, as well as a chance to perform at the Sydney Writers’ Festival and the Ubud Writers Festival in Bali. And, as an audience member, you’ll have a chance to choose who will be awarded this amazing prize.

The 2012 Poetry Slam final will be held at the Sydney Theatre on Saturday 1 December 2012.

Editing Essentials

Whether you’re checking your company’s newsletter, an annual report or a government tender, understanding the editing process will make this job a lot easier! Our one-day Editing Essentials seminar will show you how to turn even the clumsiest writing into a successful document. You’ll learn how to edit for structure and style, how to avoid common errors, and how use editing and proofreading symbols. This seminar is also perfect for anyone wanting an introduction into the world of editing.

One-day seminar on Thursday 22 November 2012
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450
Online course: Creative Writing Stage 2

Have you just finished Creative Writing Stage 1 or Writing Books for Children and Young Adults and want to know your next step? The Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 is starting soon and will help you continue your creative writing momentum. In this five-week course you’ll build on what you learnt in stage 1 and also have a chance to do lots of workshopping – all through our virtual online classroom, so you can do the course anywhere!

Online course starting Monday 26 November 2012
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Professional Business Writing

Making the best first impression means ensuring all your company’s written communication is top notch. If you’re working on proposals, reports or tenders, but aren’t sure you’re getting your message across, join us for our one-day Professional Business Writing seminar. We’ll show you how to create powerful and persuasive documents every time.

One-day seminar on Friday 30 November 2012
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

TIP: Back to Basics – Adverbs
Adverbs are often maligned and some people will insist you avoid using them at all costs. But knowing the different forms adverbs take, and when to use them, can help ensure your adverb use is reasonable.

Here are some of the most commonly used adverbs.

Manner – these describe how something happens and are usually placed after the main verb or after the object. For example:

She writes well.
He ran quickly.

Place – these are the adverbs that tell us where something happens. Common adverbs of place are here and there. They’re also usually placed after the main verb or object. For example:

I looked everywhere.
They built a house nearby.
Put it in there.

Degree – adverbs of degree describe the intensity of an action, adjective or another adverb. Common adverbs of degree are almost, nearly, enough, too, completely and very. For example:

The water was very cold.
She’s almost finished.

Plan ahead – How to Get Your Book Published
The year may be coming to a close, but we’ve still got plenty of great seminars coming up that will help you plan for 2013. One of them is How to Get Your Book Published. This is your chance to find out what it takes to get your manuscript seen by a publisher, and onto the bookshelves of your readers.

In this two-hour seminar you’ll learn how to write a winning book proposal, how to approach a publisher or agent and what to expect in your contract. Our publishing expert, Geoff Bartlett, will guide you through this often overwhelming process.
How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
Evening seminar on Wednesday 12 December 2012
Time: 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

WEBPICK: Storylane
Thanks to Stephanie Hunt, Sydney Writers’ Centre graduate, who alerted us to this one.

It’s difficult to describe Storylane. At first glance it’s like Facebook with stories. The developers say, “our dream is to create a community where people share things that truly matter. Together, we can build an encyclopedia of human experiences that will connect us in a genuine way with amazing people, places, and events.”

Storylane is a place for you to go and read stories from your followers, or those who follow you, and also tell your own stories. For those stories you read you can give feedback in the form of a heart for ‘like’, a tick for ‘been there’, a tear drop for ‘I am moved’ and plenty more. You can also comment or ask the reader to write more. Once you’ve set up your own account you can add stories based on popular suggestions on topics such as life’s lessons and pets, or write for a particular category.

Once you get the hang of this site there are plenty of stories to read and tell.

Other upcoming courses
Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 15 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo
When: Friday 16 November 2012 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 1.00 pm
Cost: $295

Seminar: Editing Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Thursday 22 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 26 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Cathie Tasker/Pamela Freeman
When: Week beginning Monday 26 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White/
Allison Tait
When: Week beginning Monday 26 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson
When: Week beginning Monday 26 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle – FULL
When: Monday 26 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: PR and Media Releases that Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Wednesday 28 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $495

Seminar: Self-publishing – How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 28 November 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Sue White
When: Friday 30 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Blogging for Beginners with Kim Berry – FULL
When: Monday 3 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 5 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Blogging for Beginners with Kim Berry – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 6 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: From Blog to Book with Kerri Sackville
When: Monday 10 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Build Your Profile on Twitter with Kerri Sackville
When: Wednesday 12 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 12 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: How to create and sell your eBook with Anna Maguire – NEW COURSE
When: Thursday 13 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Dates for 2013
Online Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 7 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

WEEKEND course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Saturday 12 January and Sunday 13 January 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND Course: Food Writing with Carli Ratcliff
When: Saturday 12 January and Sunday 13 January 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Daytime intensive course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim
When: Monday 14 January to Friday 17 January 2013 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $395

Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 16 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for six weeks
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $450

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Saturday 19 January and Sunday 20 January 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Daytime intensive course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman
When: Monday 21 January to Friday 25 January 2013 (5 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $395

Seminar: Successful Freelancing with Gayle Bryant
When: Tuesday 22 January 2013 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 29 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND Course: Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie
When: Saturday 2 February and Sunday 3 February 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND Course: Write a chick-lit novel with Lisa Heidke
When: Saturday 2 February and Sunday 3 February 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Thriller Writing with L.A. Larkin
When: Every Monday starting Monday 4 February 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Monday 4 February 2013 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Business Writing Essentials with Tony Spencer-Smith – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 7 February 2013 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 4.30 pm
Cost: $395

Melbourne Seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo
When: Friday 8 February 2013 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 1.00 pm
Cost: $295

Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Tuesday 12 February 2013 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Course: Introduction to Novel Writing with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 21 February 2013 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $495

Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 21 February 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing About Interiors, Style and Design with Nigel Bartlett
When: Monday 18 March and 25 March 2013 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $175

Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 2 with Valerie Khoo – NEW DATE
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 1 May 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

2013 WRITING TOURS
Food Writing in Vietnam with Carli Ratcliff – NEW TOUR
Arrival: Saturday 6 April 2013
Departure: Saturday 12 April 2013

Writing in Bali with Patti Miller
Arrival: Saturday 3 August 2013
Departure: Saturday 10 August 2013

Writing in Paris with Patti Miller
Arrival: Thursday 24 October 2013
Departure: Saturday 9 November 2013

Sydney Writers’ Centre
Suite 3, 55 Lavender Street Milsons Point NSW 2061
http://www.sydneywriterscentre.com.au
Phone: (02) 9929 0088

Sydney Writers’ Centre- Valerie Khoo’s POWER STORIES: THE 8 STORIES YOU MUST TELL TO BUILD AN EPIC BUSINESS & The Creativity Post & Writing Courses & Writing Tours

ydney Writers’ Centre- Valerie Khoo’s POWER STORIES: THE 8 STORIES YOU MUST TELL TO BUILD AN EPIC BUSINESS & The Creativity Post & Writing Courses & Writing Tours

Valerie Khoo on her book POWER STORIES: THE 8 STORIES YOU MUST TELL TO BUILD AN EPIC BUSINESS

It has gone better than I could have possibly imagined, debuting as the number two book in its category (just behind Richard Branson). And this week, it’s ahead of Bill Gates!

Needless to say, the publishers are very happy – and so am I. I’ve learnt so much from the experience and I’m keen to share this with you in our upcoming seminar How to Write a Business Book.

In this seminar, I’m going to reveal all – not only about the the book writing process, but also the strategies, timing and marketing I put in place to promote the book so that it could do so well. You’ll leave with a blueprint on exactly how to write (and promote) your own book. This is the only time this seminar will be held this year.

You’ll discover:
how to make your business book different from the rest of the market
the right way to structure your book
innovative ways to keep your reader interested and engaged
whether you should write it yourself – or outsource to a ghostwriter
your publishing options – mainstream publishers versus self-publishing
how to use your book as a lead generation tool
the basics of publicity and promotion
and MUCH more.
How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo
When: Friday 16 November 2012
Time: 9.30 am – 1.00 pm
Cost: $295

TIP: He, she, huh? How to avoid unclear pronoun referencing
One of the easiest ways to confuse your readers is with an ambiguous pronoun reference. If your pronouns don’t clearly relate back to a specific word (or antecedent) your sentence may not make sense.

There are two ways this could happen. The first is when a pronoun, such as it, they, he, or she, could refer to more than one word. For example:

Jane discussed the new strategy with Jill. She decided to proceed as planned.

It’s not clear in this sentence who decided to proceed, Jane or Jill. You can fix this by re-writing the sentence this way:

After discussing the new strategy with Jill, Jane decided to proceed as planned.

Confusion can also be caused when the pronoun is referring to a word that is implied but not explicitly stated. For example:

Jane says the course is fun to teach because it’s small, and they’re motivated.

Here, it’s not clear what the pronoun they’re refers to, but we can assume it’s the students. So:

Jane says the course is fun to teach because it’s small and the students are motivated.

Student Success – Teng Wei
Congratulations to former student, Teng Wei, who’s just scored a regular writing gig after completing our ONLINE course: Travel Writing with Sue White. He wrote this to us:

I’ve just got an offer for a one-year contract writing a regular column on travel photography related topics. The monthly magazine is called Salam Traveller, and is targeted at Muslim travel readers in Malaysia.
The December 2012 edition will be our first issue to hit the market with 60,000 copies. I’ve been a travel photographer for almost 10 years but my recent online course with Sydney Writers’ Centre has given me the confidence to accept the offer and start writing too.

Well done, Teng! We hope this is the first of many offers.
Upcoming courses
ONLINE COURSE: Creative Writing Stage 1

Boost your creativity and get those ideas for a story out of your head and onto the page. Our five-week ONLINE Course: Creative Write Stage 1 will show you how to write a compelling story. You’ll learn all about character, voice and structure, and discover new ways to kickstart your imagination, in an interactive and encouraging online classroom.

Five-week online course starting Monday 29 October 2012
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

ONLINE COURSE: Travel Writing

If you dream of making a living from writing about your travels, this is the course for you. In five weeks you’ll learn what you need in your travel writing toolkit, how to find inspiration wherever you are, and how to pitch your work to editors. This course is held in our virtual classroom, which means you can do it from wherever you are, whenever suits you!

Five-week online course starting Monday 5 November 2012
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Screenwriting Stage 1

Have a great idea for a movie but aren’t sure how to get the script written? Join us for our five-week Screenwriting Stage 1 course with experienced screenwriter Tim Gooding. You’ll learn the basics of screenwriting and get lots of feedback on your script. By the end of the course you’ll be well on your way to seeing your own film in production.

Five-week course starting Wednesday 7 November 2012
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395
TIP: What are scare quotes?
Scare quotes are the written equivalent of the air quotes people often make with their fingers when they’re speaking. You’ll see speakers using air quotes (or ersatz quotes) to express sarcasm, irony or satire.

In writing, you’ll see scare quotes used with a similar intent. If you want to indicate that you’re using a word sarcastically or to show suspicion about something, you can use scare quotes. For example:

We could hear the neighbours’ “music” all night.

(Or: We could hear the neighbours’ so-called music all night.)

Make sure that if you do use scare quotes, they really are needed. If you can remove the quotes and achieve the same meaning and tone with your sentence, don’t include them.
Word news – Misogyny
The editors at Macquarie Dictionary hit the news last week when they announced they were broadening the definition of the word misogyny. Coming so soon after Julia Gillard’s fiery, world-famous, speech about sexism and misogyny, many people assume it’s the speech that prompted the change.

But, dictionary editor Sue Butler said, “We decided that we had the basic definition, hatred of women, but that’s not how misogyny has been used for the last 20, 30 years, particularly in feminist language.”

Misogyny is a Greek word – miso- means hate and gyn means woman – so the literal meaning of the word is ‘woman hater’. But the word has had a broader meaning for a long time and even the Oxford English Dictionary saw the need to change its definition back in 2002 and now describes a misogynist as “a person who hates, dislikes, or is prejudiced against women”.

So, as powerful as Julia Gillard’s speech may have been, it’s not the sole reason Macquarie updated their definition.

Plan ahead – Editing Essentials
Editing at work can be tricky. If you’re not confident in your decisions, how will you convince others that the changes should be made? If you want to make sure your company’s documents are well written, and therefore well received, then knowing the basics of editing will help you.

Our one-day Editing Essentials seminar is ideal for anyone who needs to edit documents at work, or for those who’d like an introduction into the world of professional editing. You’ll learn how to edit for structure and style, how to develop and use style guides, how to tackle common dilemmas in writing, and much more.

Editing Essentials with Deb Doyle
Thursday 22 November 2012
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

This week on Writing Bar
We’ve been busy reading the latest releases here at the Sydney Writers’ Centre and have been lucky enough to interview a few of the authors. This week on Writing Bar we speak to the author of Dirt, David Vann. The American author visited us here in Milsons Point to talk about his latest novel and his approach to writing. Check it out here.

We also caught up with Alison Green, publisher and editor at Pantera Press. Pantera has a unique approach to independent publishing and has had lots of success with authors such as Sulari Gentil (winner of this year’s Sisters in Crime Davitt Award) and their ‘Why versus Why’ series. You can watch her full interview here.
Oops word
We recently spotted this sign attached to some kitchen utensils.

We know ‘microwavable’ is a word, but ‘ovenable’? We admire this manufacturer’s attempt at making up words, but think this one might be some way away from dictionary recognition.

WEBPICK: The Creativity Post
Want to know how checking your emails could actually help you meet your deadline? Are you looking for ways to make the most of your creative time? Or are you simply interested in the philosophy and psychology of creativity? Then you should definitely check out The Creativity Post.

The brainchild of three American academics who all specialise in some way in creativity, The Creativity Post is a non-profit platform for sharing the very best content on creativity. It explores everything from the science and philosophy of creativity to the role of creativity in business and entrepreneurship.

Other upcoming courses
Course: Thriller Writing with L.A. Larkin
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 25 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 29 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 29 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson
When: Week beginning Monday 29 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Writing About Interiors, Style and Design with Nigel Bartlett
When: Tuesday 30 October and 6 November 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $175

Seminar: Blogging for Beginners with Kim Berry – FULL
When: Wednesday 31 October 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Business Writing Essentials with Tony Spencer-Smith
When: Friday 2 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 4.30 pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White/Allison Tait – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 5 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 5 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 7 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Sue White
When: Thursday 8 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Monday starting Monday 12 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 13 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 14 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Course: Perfecting Your Pitch with Sue White
When: Wednesday 14 November and 21 November 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $175

Daytime course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Kate Forsyth
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 15 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 15 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo
When: Friday 16 November 2012 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 1.00 pm
Cost: $295

Seminar: Editing Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Thursday 22 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle
When: Monday 26 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: PR and Media Releases that Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Wednesday 28 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $495

Seminar: Self-publishing – How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 28 November 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: From Blog to Book with Kerri Sackville
When: Thursday 29 November 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Blogging for Beginners with Kim Berry
When: Monday 3 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 5 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Build Your Profile on Twitter with Kerri Sackville
When: Wednesday 12 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Wednesday 12 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: How to create and sell your eBook with Anna Maguire – NEW COURSE
When: Thursday 13 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Dates for 2013
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for six weeks
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $450

Course: Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Saturday 19 January and Sunday 20 January 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND Course: Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie – NEW DATE
When: Saturday 2 February and Sunday 3 February 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND Course: Write a Chick-Lit Novel with Lisa Heidke – NEW DATE
When: Saturday 2 February and Sunday 3 February 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Introduction to Novel Writing with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 21 February 2013 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $495

Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 21 February 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

2013 WRITING TOURS
Food Writing in Vietnam with Carli Ratcliff – NEW TOUR
Arrival: Saturday 6 April 2013
Departure: Saturday 12 April 2013

Writing in Bali with Patti Miller
Arrival: Saturday 3 August 2013
Departure: Saturday 10 August 2013

Writing in Paris with Patti Miller
Arrival: Thursday 24 October 2013
Departure: Saturday 9 November 2013

Sydney Writers’ Centre
Suite 3, 55 Lavender Street Milsons Point NSW 2061
http://www.sydneywriterscentre.com.au

Sydney Writers’ Centre- How to use per & Man Booker Prize & Overland Judith Wright Poetry Prize & Many Writing Courses

Sydney Writers’ Centre- How to use per & Man Booker Prize & Overland Judith Wright Poetry Prize & Many Writing Courses

The online course in Magazine and Newspaper Writing has been a fantastic foundation for so many graduates. It’s packed with information and so many students say they can’t believe how much they get out of it.

You’ll discover:
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
interviewing skills and the questions you need to ask
what editors expect from a freelance writer
a step-by-step guide on how to pitch your article or idea to a magazine and sell it
and MUCH more.
Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing
When: Week beginning Monday 22 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

TIP: Do you mean literally or figuratively?
Of all the mistakes grammarians simply can’t abide, this one must be one of the worst. For some seeing the word “literally” misused is like fingernails on a blackboard. And it’s an error we see all the time.

Literally is an adverb meaning “in a literal manner; word for word; to translate literally” or to take something in its literal sense. It should NOT be used when you actually mean figuratively – as the writer in this example has done:

“I can assure you we are literally bending over backwards to take into account the concerns raised.”

Unless they really are bending over backwards (and that’s a physical impossibility for most people), then there’s no need for the word literally to be here. What they actually mean is they are figuratively bending over backwards, which means metaphorical or not literal.

Here are some other examples of incorrect use of literally from Contradictionary by Fritz Spiegl:

“Her eyes were literally glued to mine.”
“… with his eyes he literally scoured the corners of the cell.”
“Crabs and lobsters are literally found crawling round the floor waiting for an order.”

Overland Judith Wright Poetry Prize
Overland Magazine is one of Australia’s premier literary magazines, as well as a major sponsor of the Judith Wright Poetry Prize for New and Emerging Poets. Judith Wright was a committed activist and writer who published several poetry collections before her death in 2000. This award is one of Australia’s richest poetry prizes with a major prize of $6,000, second prize of $2,000 and a third prize of $1,000.

The award is open to poets who have not yet had a collection of work published. All poems entered must be unpublished or should not have won other competitions. Poems must be no more than 80 lines long, but you can enter as many times as you like.

Entry fee is $18 per poem, or $12 if you’re an Overland subscriber. The competition closes on Thursday 15 November 2012.

Upcoming courses
Thriller Writing

Come and learn the eight ‘must haves’ of a great thriller with two-time author
L.A. Larkin. In this five-week evening course you’ll discover how to build pace and suspense in your novel, the dos and don’t of action scenes, and what you need to do to get published. This is your last chance to do the course in 2012
so book soon.

Five-week course starting Thursday 25 October 2012
Time: 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

ONLINE COURSE: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults

Young people are discerning readers and publishers are always on the look out for kids’ books that are engaging and inspiring.
Whether you’re still nutting out your idea for a kids’ book or you’ve been working on a young adult novel, the Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults course is your chance to learn from an industry expert – from the comfort of your own home.

Five-week online course starting Monday 29 October 2012
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

ONLINE COURSE: Creative Writing Stage 1

If you can’t make it to Milsons Point for our popular Creative Writing Stage 1 course don’t worry – you can do the course online from wherever you are in Australia or the world. You’ll learn the same great content we teach in our classroom courses, including how to kick-start the creative process, how to draw from everyday experiences to inspire your stories, and how to write great characters.

Five-week online course starting Monday 29 October 2012
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

TIP: How to use per
The Latin term per is used a lot in English, and in writing. But some grammarians suggest there’s no need to insist on the Latin term. Here’s what Mark Nichol at Daily Writing Tips suggests:

In popular usage, per is appropriate in relation to figures (“65 miles per hour,” “24 points per game,” “three items per person,” and so on). It can also, alone or preceded by as, mean “according to,” as in “Per your instructions, I deposited the check” and “She complied as per the usual procedure.” Per as part of a set phrase taken directly from Latin is usually pedantic in popular usage; see the list below for recommendations about the use of such phrases:
Per annum: This is an unnecessary substitution for the perfectly useful phrases “a year,” “each year,” or even “per year.”
Per capita: This direct borrowing of the Latin phrase meaning “by the head” is commonly employed in financial and demographic contexts, but “per person” is better in general.
Per diem: The translations for this phrase are “by the day” or “for the day,” and except in reference to a daily stipend, there’s no reason not to use daily (especially as an adjective).
Per se: This term — sometimes misspelled “per say” by those who mistakenly assume that it refers to the act of speaking — means “in itself,” as in “I don’t object to the idea per se.”
Per can also be used in business letters when a staff member signs a letter on behalf of someone else. Per or pp is an abbreviation of the latin phrase per procurationem, which means “through the agency of”.

Man Booker Prize
Yesterday Hilary Mantel became the first woman, and the first British novelist, to win the prestigious Man Booker Prize twice, after Bring Up the Bodies was announced the 2012 winner. She first won in 2009 for the prequel, Wolf Hall. Only two other authors have ever achieved a Booker double – J.M. Coetzee and Peter Carey.

Since 1969, the Man Booker Prize has awarded an annual prize of £50,000 (originally £20,000) for a work of fiction by a living British, Irish or Commonwealth writer. According to this info-graphic in The Guardian, exactly twice as many men as women have won the award, an Australian author has won four times, and winning the award led to a whopping 4895% increase in sales for DBC Pierre when he won in 2003 for Vernon God Little. You can read more fascinating facts about literature’s most famous prize here.
Plan ahead – Perfecting Your Pitch
So, you’ve learnt how to develop ideas and research and structure your feature article – now it’s time to perfect your pitch and get published! In this two-week follow-up to Magazine and Newspaper Writing, freelance writer Sue White will show you how to write a great pitch that editors will notice.

In this course you’ll learn how to sell your expertise, refine and tailor your pitch to suit specific publications, and how to increase your pitch ‘hit rate’. You’ll be given a step-by-step approach to improve your pitches and sell your stories.
Perfecting Your Pitch with Sue White
Wednesday 14 & Wednesday 21 November 2012
Time: 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Cost: $175

Oops word
This email was received in the Sydney Writers’ Centre office this week. It came from a large and well-known company.

We’ve resisted the temptation to write back to the company and let them know that it’s “should have” not “should of”. (Then again, perhaps it’s our civic duty to do just that…) While “should’ve” may sound like “should of” when spoken, it’s a contraction of “should have” and should always be typed that way.

WEBPICK: Jane Friedman – Writing, reading, and publishing in the digital age
Jane Friedman is an American editor, former publisher and all-round expert in new media, writing and publishing. She’s been blogging for more than 10 years so her blog is an excellent resource for writers.

Jane covers everything from the craft of writing, to e-publishing and marketing. You can go straight to the blog or visit the writing advice archive, which has been organised into various writing and publishing categories. There’s loads of information here for writers at any stage of their journey so well worth a visit.

Check it out here.

Other upcoming courses
Seminar: From Blog to Book with Kerri Sackville
When: Thursday 18 October 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

WEEKEND Course: Food Writing with Carli Ratcliff
When: Saturday 20 October and Sunday 21 October 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND Course: Write a chick-lit novel with Lisa Heidke
When: Saturday 20 October and Sunday 21 October 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White/Allison Tait
When: Week beginning Monday 22 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Tuesday 23 October 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Course: Thriller Writing with L.A. Larkin
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 25 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 29 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson
When: Week beginning Monday 29 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 29 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Writing About Interiors, Style and Design with Nigel Bartlett
When: Tuesday 30 October and 6 November 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $175

Seminar: Blogging for Beginners with Kim Berry – FULL
When: Wednesday 31 October 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Business Writing Essentials with Tony Spencer-Smith
When: Friday 2 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 4.30 pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 5 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 7 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Sue White
When: Thursday 8 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Monday starting Monday 12 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 13 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 14 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Course: Perfecting Your Pitch with Sue White
When: Wednesday 14 November and 21 November 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $175

Daytime course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Kate Forsyth
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 15 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 15 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo
When: Friday 16 November 2012 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 1.00 pm
Cost: $295

Seminar: Editing Essentials with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 22 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Monday 26 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: PR and Media Releases that Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Wednesday 28 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $495

Seminar: Self-publishing – How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 28 November 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Blogging for Beginners with Kim Berry – NEW DATE
When: Monday 3 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 5 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Build Your Profile on Twitter with Kerri Sackville
When: Thursday 6 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: How to create and sell your eBook with Anna Maguire – NEW COURSE
When: Thursday 13 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Dates for 2013
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for six weeks
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $450

Course: Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Saturday 19 January and Sunday 20 January 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Weekend Course: Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie – NEW DATE
When: Saturday 2 February and Sunday 3 February 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Introduction to Novel Writing with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 21 February 2013 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $495

Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 21 February 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

2013 WRITING TOURS
Food Writing in Vietnam with Carli Ratcliff – NEW TOUR
Arrival: Saturday 6 April 2013
Departure: Saturday 12 April 2013

Writing in Bali with Patti Miller
Arrival: Saturday 3 August 2013
Departure: Saturday 10 August 2013

Writing in Paris with Patti Miller
Arrival: Thursday 24 October 2013
Departure: Saturday 9 November 2013

Sydney Writers’ Centre
Suite 3, 55 Lavender Street Milsons Point NSW 2061
http://www.sydneywriterscentre.com.au

Sydney Writers’ Centre- National Seniors Literary Prize now open & Learn how to write for young readers & Many More Writing Courses

Sydney Writers’ Centre- National Seniors Literary Prize now open & Learn how to write for young readers & Many More Writing Courses

Get Published newsletter
Phone: (02) 9929 0088

Thriller Writing course

You’ll discover:
the eight “must haves” of a good thriller
how to find the story you want to tell
story structure, and how to incorporate key turning points
character creation – attributes, motivations
how to craft the all important opening lines
the dos and don’ts of action scenes
building pace and suspense
what literary agents/publishers look for in a thriller
how to craft a satisfying climax
Thriller Writing with L.A. Larkin
When: Thursdays starting Thursday 25 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

TIP: Using complements

What do complements have to do with your writing? More than you’d expect. In grammar a complement is a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical structure. In other words, it’s any word or phrase that completes the sense of a subject or object.

1. The subject complement usually follows a linking verb – like to be, to appear, to look – and is an adjective or noun that defines the subject in some way. For example:

She is a teacher.
The roast smells delicious.

2. An object complement is a noun, pronoun or adjective that follows a direct object and modifies or refers to that object. For example:

The tenants kept the apartment clean.
I call my dog Rambo.

Student Success – Sarah Martin
We were so excited to hear from former student Sarah Martin this week. She completed our online course in Creative Writing Stage 1 in February last year and her first book – a biography of one-time governor of Victoria, David McCaughey – will hit the shelves on Monday 15 October. David McCaughey: A Life is being published by UNSW Press. Here’s what she said about her writing course:

I found the process very helpful, the feedback tough, fair and helpful and above all positive. Working to the deadlines helped me focus, and I got enormous pleasure from reading other peoples’ work. It was a good way to communicate with people in the same creative boat, and nice to know others were experiencing the same sorts of highs and lows.

Congratulations Sarah!

You can read more about Sarah’s publishing journey on Writing Bar.

Upcoming courses
Online Creative Writing Stage 1

Kickstart your creative writing goals with this five-week online course. Online Creative Writing Stage 1 is the perfect starting point for anyone who’s ever considered writing short stories, a memoir, or a novel. You’ll learn all the essential elements of great fiction – including voice, character and structure – and how to use them in your writing.

Week beginning Monday 15 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395
Food Writing

Want to learn how to turn your passion for food into a paid freelance writing career? Join us for this two-day course with food and travel writer Carli Ratcliff. She’ll show you how to write riveting food reviews and the ingredients and methods you need to write great recipes. You’ll also discover how to communicate the ‘flavour wheel’ to your audience and where and how to get your work published.

Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 October 2012
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395
How to write a Chick-Lit Novel

Chick-lit is one of the biggest selling genres in publishing today so it’s no wonder one of our most popular courses in 2012 has been Write a Chick-Lit Novel. This two-day weekend course will teach you all you need to know about the chick-lit market and how to write your own chick-lit novel. You’ll discover how to write believable characters for your story, how to perfect the ‘page-turner’ effect and how to maintain the structure and pacing of your novel.

Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 October 2012
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

TIP: Raise versus rise
Raise and rise are two words that are often confused in writing. But be careful how you use them – they are different and they’re definitely not interchangeable.

Raise is a transitive verb and means “to move to a higher position; lift up; or elevate”. Because it’s a transitive verb, which requires that the subject act upon the object, raise should always be used when you’re talking about something raising something else. For example:

Raise your hand if you know the answer.

Rise is an intransitive verb, which means it doesn’t take an object. It means “to get up; to be built up; to spring up or grow”, and is used when something moves upwards by itself. For example:

Lord Vader… rise.

National Seniors Literary Prize 2012
National Seniors Australia, a consumer lobby group for older Australians, held their first literary competition last year and were so impressed with its success, they’re holding it again in 2012. This year, they’re partnering with Random House Australia and will offer the winning author a chance to work on their manuscript with a professional editor, and eBook publication of their book, as well as a $2000 cash prize.

The competition is open to Australians over the age of 50 who have not been published by a commercial publisher (self-published authors can enter). You can enter a minimum 40,000-word fiction manuscript and this year’s theme is “Change”.

It’s free to enter so if you’ve always dreamed of publishing your manuscript check out all the entry details here.
Plan ahead – Writing Books for Children and Young Adults
While many people assume writing for children and teenagers must be easier than writing for adults, there’s an art to writing convincing fiction for younger readers. If you want to engage them you need to write strong stories with convincing characters they can relate to.

If you want to learn how to unlock the imagination of your young readers, join us for Writing Books for Children and Young Adults. You’ll be learning from an industry expert who will show you how to find the right voice for your story, how to write believable dialogue and the secrets to plotting for different age groups. You’ll also learn all about the children’s and young adult publishing market. This will be the last course for 2012 so don’t miss out.
Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
Five-week course starting Thursday 15 November 2012
Time: 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Weird Words – Illeism
Illeism is the act of referring to oneself in the third person, rather than the first. You’ve possibly come across it when parents talk to their children (‘give it to mummy’) or, if you’re a fan of Sesame Street, you’ll have noticed that Elmo often does it.

According to World Wide Words, the term was coined by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and it actually refers to excessive use of the pronoun he. It come from the Latin ille, or he. Probably the most famous illeist is Julius Caesar, who wrote about himself in third person in his The Gallic Wars. Shakespeare also used illeism frequently in his plays. There are examples of illeism in Julius Caesar (possibly influenced by Caesar’s own writing), Hamlet and Othello.

Oops word

Vegetables, Manchester, Canned Fish and Stationary… Apart from the strange assortment of goods sold in this aisle we also noticed a big error on this sign. Stationary should be spelt stationery, which is the correct spelling when you’re referring to writing materials, pens, pencils etc.

WEBPICK: 10 Essential Books for Book Nerds
There are few things more satisfying than reading a great book. But reading a great book about books must be one of them. In this list from Flavorwire are 10 essential books for books nerds. Of course, Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief is here. Also on the list is Italo Calvino’s masterpiece, If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler; Nick Hornby’s The Polysyllabic Spree, a collection of his “Stuff I’ve Been Reading” columns; and Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi, a memoir in books.

Other upcoming courses
Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 11 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle
When: Thursday 11 October 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $450

Weekend Course: Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie
When: Saturday 13 October and Sunday 14 October 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 15 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Seminar: Editing Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Tuesday 16 October 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: From Blog to Book with Kerri Sackville
When: Thursday 18 October 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

WEEKEND Course: Food Writing with Carli Ratcliff
When: Saturday 20 October and Sunday 21 October 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND Course: Write a chick-lit novel with Lisa Heidke
When: Saturday 20 October and Sunday 21 October 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White/Allison Tait – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 22 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Tuesday 23 October 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Course: Thriller Writing with L.A. Larkin
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 25 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 29 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson
When: Week beginning Monday 29 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Writing About Interiors, Style and Design with Nigel Bartlett
When: Tuesday 30 October and 6 November 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $175

Seminar: Blogging for Beginners with Kim Berry – FULL
When: Wednesday 31 October 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Business Writing Essentials with Tony Spencer-Smith
When: Friday 2 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 4.30 pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 5 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 7 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Sue White
When: Thursday 8 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter – NEW DATE
When: Every Monday starting Monday 12 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 13 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Wednesday 14 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Course: Perfecting Your Pitch with Sue White
When: Wednesday 14 November and 21 November 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $175

Daytime course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Kate Forsyth
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 15 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 15 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo
When: Friday 16 November 2012 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 1.00 pm
Cost: $295

Seminar: PR and Media Releases that Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Wednesday 28 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $495

Seminar: Self-publishing – How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 28 November 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Blogging for Beginners with Kim Berry – NEW DATE
When: Monday 3 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett – NEW DATE
When: Wednesday 5 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Build Your Profile on Twitter with Kerri Sackville – NEW DATE
When: Thursday 6 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: How to create and sell your eBook with Anna Maguire – NEW COURSE
When: Thursday 13 December 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Dates for 2013
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for six weeks
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $450

Course: Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND course: Travel Writing with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Saturday 19 January and Sunday 20 January 2013 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Introduction to Novel Writing with Pamela Freeman
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 21 February 2013 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $495

Course: Travel Writing with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 21 February 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

2013 WRITING TOURS
Food Writing in Vietnam with Carli Ratcliff – NEW TOUR
Arrival: Saturday 6 April 2013
Departure: Saturday 12 April 2013

Writing in Bali with Patti Miller
Arrival: Saturday 3 August 2013
Departure: Saturday 10 August 2013

Writing in Paris with Patti Miller
Arrival: Thursday 24 October 2013
Departure: Saturday 9 November 2013

Thanks for signing up to this newsletter.

Wishing you much writing success,

Sydney Writers’ Centre
Suite 3, 55 Lavender Street Milsons Point NSW 2061
http://www.sydneywriterscentre.com.au

Sydney Writers’ Centre- ABC Open – 500 Words writing challenge & Food Writing with Carli Ratcliff & Many More Writing Courses

Sydney Writers’ Centre- ABC Open – 500 Words writing challenge & Food Writing with Carli Ratcliff & Many More Writing Courses

Food Writing with the amazing Carli Ratcliff.

You’ll discover:
How to communicate the ‘flavour wheel’ to audiences with varying tastes.
Structuring your articles so they don’t collapse like a bad soufflé.
How to write riveting food reviews (without a single cravat in sight…).
The ingredients and method to writing great recipes.
Securing fresh, juicy quotes in interviews.
How to combine your love of food with a taste for travel.
How and where to get your work published.
Bringing your food writing career to the boil – either as a full-time gig or profitable hobby!
and so MUCH more…

Food Writing with Carli Ratcliff
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 October 2012
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395
Do you really need “that”?
If you want to streamline your writing there’s one word you could almost certainly do without – that. According to this post on Daily Writing Tips, while that has five grammatical functions, it is often optional. Here are the five uses listed on DWT:
As a pronoun used directly in the form of a replacement for a noun: “That’s my ball.” “Where are you going after that?”
As a pronoun used to introduce a relative clause: “The vase that I just bought is missing.” “I’ve gone every year that it’s been held.”
As a conjunction: “She said that she’d be here.” “Be grateful that you got any at all.”
As an adjective: “I’ve been to that restaurant.” “That friend of yours is no friend at all.”
As an adverb: “The joke was not that funny.” “I’ve never been that far.”
In uses 2 and 3, you could easily remove the word that and the sentences’ meaning would remain the same. So:

The vase that I just bought is missing.
becomes
The vase I just bought is missing.

And:
Be grateful that you got any at all.
becomes
Be grateful you got any at all.

In the other uses, it isn’t possible to simply remove that, but you could re-write the sentences to avoid its use in the first place. So in use 5:

The joke was not that funny.
could become:
The joke was not very funny.

ABC Open 500 Words
Here’s a monthly writing challenge that will help you master the skill of telling a story in just 500 words. Each month, the folks at ABC Open will hold a non-fiction writing challenge on a different theme, and invite their regional audience to submit their stories on that theme. This month it’s “Being caught out”.

All stories that comply with the conditions for 500 Words will be published on the ABC Open website. In addition, October’s winner will receive an illustrated version of their story by artist, Ben Sandler.

Upcoming courses
Travel Writing

Can you believe that we’re nearing the end of the year? If you’re already making plans for your Christmas holidays, you may want to think about whether you can incorporate some writing into your vacation plans. Specifically, is there a way for you to get paid for your travels? If so, then our Travel Writing course is a must. This is the last time it’s going to be held in 2012.

Five-week course starting Monday 8 October 2012
Time: 6.30 pm – 8.30pm
Cost: $395
From Blog to Book

Want to know how to turn your blog posts into a published book? It’s not just something that happens to other people – if you build your online profile and use strategies that can get you noticed by publishers, you it could happen to you. Blogger and author, Kerri Sackville, will tell you how she scored a book deal with Random House by writing regularly at her blog Life and Other Crises.

2-hour evening seminar on Thursday 18 October 2012
Time: 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85
Creative Writing Stage 2

Have you completed our Creative Writing Stage 1 or Writing Books for Children and Young Adults course and want to take your writing to the next level? Our final Creative Writing Stage 2 for 2012 starts soon! In this course, you’ll have a chance to practice what you’ve already learnt and take part in valuable workshopping. You’ll also get practical advice from your presenter and leave with tools and techniques to make your fiction shine.

Five-week course starting Thursday 11 October 2012
Time: 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

TIP: Counting on words

There is often a lot of discussion (and sometimes argument!) about how to write numbers. That is, do you write: 3 or three?

While there is no hard and fast rule on this matter, you should be guided by your organisation’s house style. For example, some organisations choose to write “five percent”, while others prefer “5%”. Yet others write “five per cent”.

If you don’t have a house style to follow, but would like some guidelines, we suggest following the convention used by journalists. That is:

One to nine are spelt out
Numbers from 10 and above are written using numerals.

The exception to this rule is when a number starts the sentence. In this case, the number is spelt out. For example, it is correct to write:

Fifteen-year-old dog Rambo is very youthful and active, despite his age.

Did you know? The proof is in the pudding

I recently came across this headline in the media: Facebook Advertising – the proof is in the pudding. We see this saying so often it’s easy to forget how illogical it sounds. What is the proof doing in the pudding?!

The modern saying is “the proof is in the pudding” and means that the truth of something can only be judged by putting it into action. So in this headline, the proof of Facebook advertising’s effectiveness can only be determined by actually doing it. The original saying, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”, dates back to the 17th century, and has a slightly different meaning.

Back when proof meant “test” and pudding was a kind of meat sausage (usually pork or lamb), the saying could be taken more literally – the only way to know if your sausage is edible (and not likely to give you a raging bout of food poisoning) is to eat it. As the meaning of the words proof and pudding changed over time, so too did the intent of the saying and it was shortened to “the proof is in the pudding”.

Plan ahead – Business Writing Essentials
Want to learn how to communicate with confidence at work? Written communication skills are essential in today’s workplace, but many people struggle to write clear and concise emails, letters or memos. In our one-day Business Writing Essentials seminar, we’ll show you the key techniques you can use to create accurate and professional writing at work.

You’ll learn the 11 golden rules of business writing, how to deliver bad news, how to write clearly and much more. You’ll also tackle some of the more confusing elements of grammar – including when you should and shouldn’t use an apostrophe – and leave with valuable templates that you can refer to at work.
Business Writing Essentials with Tony Spencer-Smith
One-day seminar Friday 2 November 2012
Time: 9.30 am – 4.30 pm
Cost: $395

This week on Writing Bar
Want to know what we get up to on our birthday? This week on Writing Bar we revisit the Sydney Writers’ Centre’s 7th birthday party. We invited all our wonderful presenters and had a fabulous day. We also got to enjoy the amazing views from the America Club (almost as amazing as the views from our office).

Also on Writing Bar this week, more tips from Travel Writing guru Sue White. This time she looks at the five big mistakes most aspiring travel writers make – and how to avoid them. Check out all her advice here. You can also read her top three travel writing tips.

Oops word
We’ve seen some interesting spellings for “strictly”, and here’s another one, spotted by Get Published reader, Robin Henry:

We assume they mean “strictly no camping”. We also think they haven’t quite nailed the tone for this sign. Do they mean “strictly no camping unless you pay the fee”? It’s all a bit confusing.

WEBPICK: Draft – The New York Times
Twitter follower and Get Published reader, Jill Brown, alerted us to this fantastic series on The New York Times opinion pages. It’s called Draft and it’s a series of musings from writers, editors, and publishers.

There’s a fascinating article by Lee Gutkind on the art of writing creative non-fiction, and how you should incorporate scenes just as you would in fiction; Colm Toibin muses on writing fiction, Samuel Beckett and Thomas Mann; and 80s screen queen Molly Ringwald writes about how closely linked acting and writing are. There are some excellent articles here and it’s well worth spending some time reading them.

Other upcoming courses
Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White/Allison Tait
When: Week beginning Monday 8 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 8 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Every Monday starting Monday 8 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Build Your Profile on Twitter with Kerri Sackville
When: Tuesday 9 October 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 10 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 11 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle
When: Thursday 11 October 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $450

Weekend Course: Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie
When: Saturday 13 October and Sunday 14 October 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Editing Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Tuesday 16 October 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: From Blog to Book with Kerri Sackville
When: Thursday 18 October 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

WEEKEND Course: Food Writing with Carli Ratcliff
When: Saturday 20 October and Sunday 21 October 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND Course: Write a chick-lit novel with Lisa Heidke
When: Saturday 20 October and Sunday 21 October 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to Get Your Book Published with Geoff Bartlett
When: Tuesday 23 October 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Course: Thriller Writing with L.A. Larkin
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 25 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 29 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson
When: Week beginning Monday 29 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Writing About Interiors, Style and Design with Nigel Bartlett
When: Tuesday 30 October and 6 November 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $175

Seminar: Blogging for Beginners with Kim Berry – NEW COURSE
When: Wednesday 31 October 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Business Writing Essentials with Tony Spencer-Smith – NEW DATE
When: Friday 2 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 4.30 pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Travel Writing with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 5 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 7 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Sue White
When: Thursday 8 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White – NEW DATE
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 13 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle – NEW DATE
When: Wednesday 14 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Course: Perfecting Your Pitch with Sue White
When: Wednesday 14 November and 21 November 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $175

Daytime course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Kate Forsyth
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 15 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 15 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo
When: Friday 16 November 2012 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am – 1.00 pm
Cost: $295

Seminar: PR and Media Releases that Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Wednesday 28 November 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Cost: $495

Seminar: Self-publishing – How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Wednesday 28 November 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: How to create and sell your eBook with Anna Maguire – NEW COURSE
When: Thursday 13 December 2012
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Dates for 2013
Course: Life Writing with Patti Miller – NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for six weeks
Time: 10.00 am – 12 noon
Cost: $450

Course: Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker – NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 17 January 2013 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Introduction to Novel Writing with Pamela Freeman – NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 21 February 2013 for six weeks
Time: 6.30 – 8.30 pm
Cost: $495

2013 WRITING TOURS
Food Writing in Vietnam with Carli Ratcliff – NEW TOUR
Arrival: Saturday 6 April 2013
Departure: Saturday 12 April 2013

Writing in Bali with Patti Miller
Arrival: Saturday 3 August 2013
Departure: Saturday 10 August 2013

Writing in Paris with Patti Miller
Arrival: Thursday 24 October 2013
Departure: Saturday 9 November 2013

Sydney Writers’ Centre
Suite 3, 55 Lavender Street Milsons Point NSW 2061
http://www.sydneywriterscentre.com.au