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March Newsletter & Upcoming Courses
Welcome to our March Newsletter.
To those of you who have just completed their 4-Week Unlocking Creativity courses either Live in the Studio or Online, we hope you came away fired up and inspired to take the next step in your writers’ journey.
For those of you already writing your novels, screenplays and short stories with us, we trust that you are enjoying working through the writing process one step at a time and seeing your stories and characters come alive on the page.
In Tech news, our newly redesigned interactive Writers’ Boards are now live and are already receiving lovely feedback about the new look and how much it enhances the writer’s experience.
Keep Your Reader Turning the Page
In fiction, particularly commercial fiction, the most important thing is to keep your reader turning the pages. This is what the art and craft of writing fiction is all about.
As the English novelist, E.M. Forster said in his book Aspects of the Novel, a story “… has only one merit: that of making an audience want to know what happens next. And conversely it can only have one fault: that of making the audience not want to know what happens next.”
You want to keep raising questions in your readers mind that they have to know the answer to. This doesn’t happen by accident. This article explores one key ingredient in getting your readers, including agents, producers, publishers and the general public, to keep reading.
New York agent and author Donald Maas says, “So many of the manuscripts that arrive at my office go right back to their authors in their self addressed stamped envelopes. Why? The number one reason is insufficient tension. Believe it, tension on every page works. Low tension does not. Make it your mantra.”
Keep Reading
10-Month Novel & Script First Draft Online
We have a few places open for writers, who have completed Unlocking Creativity in our 10-Month Novel & Script First Draft Online course starting 13 March.
If your dream is to write a novel or screenplay, this course will get you doing it!
Our First Draft Online course will give you a step-by-step process, a practical understanding of story structure, and the accountability and inspiration you need to get your first draft finished in ten months working one-on-one with your own personal online tutor.
At the end of the course, you will be amazed at not only how good your story is, but how much it has developed and evolved over the ten months as you’ve learned how to apply the tools and techniques the course provides.
Feedback from writers who have just completed their First Draft course in February 2023:
“Simply, thank you. I would never have written this story without this course. All of my life I have wanted to be a writer and felt I was not good enough or did not have what it took. My stories lived in my mind as nebulous and unfixed ideas that never ever progressed. Without this course I would not be a writer. Now I am.” Michael
‘This has been one of the most testing and exhilarating things I have ever done! I’m really glad I eventually got round to doing it! Thank you!’ Karlene
‘Finishing the first draft has been for me a personal milestone. I have finally realised a long-term dream. Thank you for helping me make it happen.’ Jill
Register here
Quick Course Round-up
The next Unlocking Creativity Online course will commence this coming Wednesday 8 March more >
The next Unlocking Creativity Live course will commence on 27 April more >
The next two 6-Week Short Story courses are:
- Writers’ Gym – Advanced Writing Techniques course starting again on 17 April (Unlocking Creativity is a prerequisite) more >
- Character Development Short Story course starting on 12 June (Unlocking Creativity is a prerequisite) more >
The 10-Month First Draft Online course commencing 13 March is now only open to writers who have undertaken Unlocking Creativity. The course starting 19 June course is open for new writers more >
The next 10-Month First Draft Live course with Roland, Kathleen & Richard will start on 9 September more >
Second Draft Online will commence on 3 April more >
Third Draft Online will commence again on 21 August, register now for your pre-course work more >
The next Third Draft Live will commence 28 October more >
Third Draft Part 2 Online will commence on 17 July more >
The Third Draft Part 2 Live will commence on 13 August more >
Please contact Anastasia in the office on (02) 9386 4994 between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday, if you have any questions at all about which course is right for you.
Movie Giveaway!
Shackleton: The Greatest Story of Survival
Thanks to Kismet, we have double passes to giveaway to upcoming release of the documentary, Shackleton: The Greatest Story of Survival, in limited national release from 9 March.
The film follows the Antarctic expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton through the eyes of modern-day explorer Tim Jarvis.
Shackleton reveals the true story of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and the crew of the Endurance, told by the only man to have repeated their incredible feat – explorer and adventurer Tim Jarvis. Following in the beset crew’s footsteps, Tim reveals the enduring legacy of Shackleton’s leadership in the face of impossible odds – a lesson more relevant to us now than ever before.
You can watch the trailer here
To win double pass, email with your name, address and mobile to:
rsvp@writerstudio.com.au
Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Camp
Writers’ Studio alumni, Dr Shaun Matthews, who has published two books and has nearly finished a third, is organising, with Yuin elder Uncle Noel Butler, a one week  event on the South Coast of NSW, exploring relationship to country.
The retreat involves five dreaming stories about what we can learn from aboriginal approaches to caring for country and how to live well.
Bagia Narway Gabun Buridja Retreat (Dhurga language of the Yuin Nation)
LEARN TODAY FROM YESTERDAY FOR A BETTER TOMORROW
Monday 24 April to Sunday 30 April
For all details go Bulwalwanga Ran Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bulwalrangaran/
Recent Course Feedback
Some snippets of the wonderful feedback that we receive back from recently completed courses. We update these each newsletter. They show what a large variety of writers get out of our writing courses.
“I had done this course a few years ago, and I was worried that it would seem repetitive or be a waste of energy. Let me tell you, I was wrong. I had forgotten what it was like to just let go and put words together without thinking about whether it made sense or furthered my argument, etc. I was both horrified at the prospect and excited by the opportunity. I am still horrified and excited honestly, but for different reasons – horrified that it was so easy to just let go after being given the permission; excited to see what comes next.” Laura, Unlocking Creativity Online
“I have just completed a course called Unlocking Creativity. Not only did I come to realise that structure, form, and imagery are the bedrock on which creativity flourishes, but I found that when these principles are applied, provide a level of confidence that quietens the inner critic. Reading the submission of other writers and providing feedback was at once daunting and inspirational and I feel so grateful to both our tutor and to my fellow travellers for their feedback and encouragement on this journey which has motivated me to not give up but to continue to pursue my dream of writing at least one story.” Ruth, Unlocking Creativity Online
“What a transformative four weeks I’ve had! The writer’s block which has plagued me for so long is finally lifting. I took the Unlocking Creativity course and I didn’t just dip my toe in the water, I dived right in. It was scary at first, but what I learned from letting go of my inner critic and feeling my fear but doing it anyway, was that the more I wrote the more natural it felt to write, the more ideas flowed, and I could start to marry my imagination with the techniques of storytelling that we were learning each week of the course.” Emma, Unlocking Creativity Online
“I’d just like to say I recommend this course to anyone considering a writing career or even for the pure joy of writing as I feel like I’m starting to get in the zone now and I’m looking forward to writing my novel.” Clement, Unlocking Creativity Online
“Writing has overtaken my life these past four weeks, thanks to the Writers’ Studio Unlocking Creativity course. The power of thoughtful, constructive positive feedback has been a revelation. It is transformative, energising – a gift to the giver as well as the receiver. My inner critic has been muzzled by all this positivity, my critical writing skills honed, and I have been inspired by seeing and acknowledging the good, the potential, the growth in my fellow writers. My world has shifted. The urge to write, the need to write is much stronger now.” Christine, Unlocking Creativity Online
“After a lifetime of struggling with writing, this course has enabled me to do, exactly as the title suggests – unlock! I have written twenty two short pieces over four weeks. That alone is astounding, but not only did I write these pieces, I was actually pleased with some of them. The environment created was extremely positive and encouraging. The course has truly given me so much. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to have done it and I am also very grateful to have been part of this small writer’s community for a short but wonderful time.” Peter, Unlocking Creativity Online
“After having posted several pieces, my confidence and enthusiasm has increased tenfold. So grateful. I’m surprised by how quickly my writing improved and the quality of the work we were all putting out. The positive feedback templates really work! This course has made me so excited to start working on my novel.” Michelle, Unlocking Creativity Online
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