Welcome to our September Newsletter.
Firstly, some exciting news! We want to let you know that our inaugural Short Story Competition for 2024 is now open. Please read below for more details.
Secondly, it was wonderful to see the incredible work produced in our 4-Week Unlocking Creativity Online course, which wrapped up today. This course has been a profound and inspiring journey for all of our writers who committed and put in the effort. We hope that everyone who has enrolled in the Live-in-Studio Course starting this week at our Bronte Studio is excited and ready to embrace the process.
And it’s amazing to see the writers in our Novel & Script Writing Courses continue to develop their stories, one step at a time, as their unique voices and creativity continues to shine through.
Lessons in Creative Chemistry
Never give up on a dream because you are worried about how long it might take to realise it.
As Elizabeth Gilbert said when she held up her National Book Award, “This is for all the late-bloomers in the world.” Writing is not like dancing or modeling; it’s not something where, if you missed it by age 19, you’re finished. It’s never too late. In fact, your writing often gets better as you grow older and wiser.
Bonnie Garmus is a perfect example of perseverance paying off. She struck gold with her second novel, Lessons in Chemistry, at the age of 64. Her journey wasn’t easy—her first novel was rejected by 98 agents. Only the last agent, number 98, bothered to reply, criticizing her for writing a 700-page debut and misunderstanding the industry.
When asked if she wanted to give up, Garmus admitted, “Oh, yeah, I was pretty beaten up inside. I was confused and depressed. It took me a long time to get back on the writing horse. But the thing with writing, I think, which is so important for people to realize, is that the only one who says it’s over is you. It’s OK for other people to reject me. But if I reject me, then that’s on me. And I just wasn’t going to do that.”
With Lessons in Chemistry, a more concise book at just over 350 pages, Garmus aimed to prove to herself that she could write another book. “I never felt this pressure to get things done by a certain age. My pressure on myself is just to get things done.”
During the five years it took to write the book, Garmus balanced her life as a wife and mother, woke up at 5:00 am each day, kept her full-time job as a copywriter, and even taught herself chemistry.
Much has been made of the fact that Garmus began her literary career later than most debut authors. However, she emphasises that age is irrelevant when it comes to writing. “Age will never matter when you’re a writer because no one ever sees you. You might be on the back cover, but no one really cares how old you are.”
During the bidding war for her novel, her age never came up in discussions with editors. “Nobody picks up a book and says, ‘I wonder how old this author is?'” she notes. “I read dead writers all the time. I never say, ‘Well, this guy has been dead 300 years, why would I read him?'”
So, if you want to write your novel, memoir, short story collection, or screenplay, remember: the only failure is stopping. Keep going, regardless of how long it might take. Excellence is a commitment to completion.
If you’re interested in embarking on the journey of writing a novel, check out our 10-Month Novel & Script First Draft Online Course.
The Writers’ Studio Short Story Competition 2024
We are excited to announce that our annual Short Story Competition is now open for submissions! The Writers’ Studio Short Story Competition is a celebration of emerging writers and is open to anyone aged 18 and over. Writers can write to any theme.
DEADLINE: 5pm AEST, Thursday, 31 October 2024
First Prize $800 | Second Prize: $400 | Third Prize: $200
The Top 3 Winning Entries will be published on The Writers’ Studio website.
Intensive 6-Week Short Story Genre Course
The 6-Week Short Story Genre Course will keep your writing process alive and inspired as you learn some key story dynamics within the framework of four key genres. By learning the basics of the various genres you can add drama, depth and resonance to your characters and stories.
It also gives writers considering the 10-Month Novel & Script First Draft Course an excellent opportunity to explore ideas before embarking on the longer journey of writing your novel or screenplay.
This comprehensive short story course starts on the 30th of October, designed for writers who have completed Unlocking Creativity and are looking to continue their writing journey.
Success Stories
Anomaly by Emma Lord
Congratulations to Emma Lord, a former course participant and Writers’ Studio tutor, whose novel, Anomaly, published by Affirm Press, is out this month! Anomaly is her debut and was published after an early draft was selected for the Varuna and Affirm Press Mentorship Award in 2020.
If you’re in Sydney, join us next week to celebrate the release of Anomaly on the 11th of September at Better Read Than Dead, Newtown! Emma will be joined by author, Lauren Keegan. Learn more about the Book Launch here
Piper Manning survived the apocalypse. Barely.
She recovered from the virus that killed millions, but it left behind a new, uncontrollable power that’s forced her to isolate herself from others — for their sake. Now she’s on the run, risking everything for a shot at an actual future. But to get there, she’ll have to trust a stranger, control her abilities … and face her ghosts.
A high-octane YA debut, Anomaly will force you to question destiny, memory and how far you would go to survive.
Click here to buy Anomaly or see giveaway details below!
Share the Good News!
If you’ve earned recognition for your writing in competitions or received awards, we’d like to showcase and celebrate your accomplishments!
Please share a brief note along with relevant details or links to wstudio@writerstudio.com.au with the subject line “Success Stories.”
We look forward to showcasing your achievements.
Giveaways and Ticket Deal!
Anomaly
Thanks to Affirm Press, we have 4 copies of Writers’ Studio tutor, Emma Lord’s debut novel, Anomaly, to give away!
Piper Manning survived the apocalypse. Barely.
She recovered from the virus that killed millions, but it left behind a new, uncontrollable power that’s forced her to isolate herself from others — for their sake. Now she’s on the run, risking everything for a shot at an actual future. But to get there, she’ll have to trust a stranger, control her abilities … and face her ghosts.
For your chance to win a copy of Emma’s novel, email with your name, address, the book title and your mobile number to: rsvp@writerstudio.com.au
The Vanishing Triangle
Thanks to Acorn Media, we have 5 DVDs to give away of thrilling mystery series, The Vanishing Triangle.
Investigative journalist Lisa Wallace publishes an article about her mother’s murder, which sparks the disappearance of Amy Reynolds. After a series of disappearances of young women, Lisa, alongside Detective David Burkely, set out to find the man responsible, whom she believes is the same man who murdered her mother almost 20 years earlier.
You can watch the trailer here
For your chance to win, email with your name, address, the series title and your mobile to: rsvp@writerstudio.com.au
COLDER THAN HERE
As exclusive Writers’ Studio subscribers, Ensemble Theatre is offering 20% off performances of COLDER THAN HERE, from 16 Sep – 12 Oct.
Huw Higginson and Hannah Waterman return to the Ensemble stage in COLDER THAN HERE by Laura Wade (HOME, I’M DARLING), directed by Janine Watson. An offbeat comedy about finding light even in the darkest of times.
Myra might be busy researching flatpack coffins and creating a PowerPoint presentation of her dying wishes, but her last big project is to fix her family.
You can watch the trailer here
To take advantage of this offer, make sure that ticket type, Company Newsletter 20% Off Full Price, is selected and check your quantity of tickets before continuing to review your basket.
Click Here to See: COLDER THAN HERE
Recent Course Feedback
Some snippets of the wonderful feedback that we receive back from recently completed courses. We update these each newsletter.
“I’m so happy that I took the plunge and signed up for this course. The complete and overwhelming doubt that I had before the first session has given way to hope and a little boost of confidence. This course has given me tools to find the creativity I feared was not there. I have discovered a road map to begin to achieve my writing goals. It’s just going to take some time and a lot of discipline.” Danielle, Unlocking Creativity Live
“The First Draft course has confirmed both creative inspiration and practicable guidance to commit to a manuscript’s trajectory, character development and arc, from start to finish. I have loved it and have gained new purpose and hope in my life. As well as making new friends and allies – I can honestly say that it’s the best investment in me I have ever made.” Carl, First Draft Live
“Third Draft Part 1 has been my favourite course with The Writers’ Studio but it has also been the most challenging. I feel as though I have pulled my writing apart and put it back together again, and I am better for it. The process has felt a bit like rearranging a room in my house. I feel like I had to make a huge mess and sit with it in order to ultimately create a new status quo that is better than what existed before. This would have been impossible without the feedback and generosity from my tutor and group members. I’m so grateful to them and to have been a part of their journeys.” Miranda, Third Draft Part 1
“For the first time in years, I’ve felt myself be able to access my creative side – I thought it was dormant, dead even! It’s incredible how much this has gotten out of me.” Gemma, Unlocking Creativity Live
“I’ve enjoyed the Third Draft. I have felt I’ve made progress with my novel and it’s now something I feel proud of! The feedback I received from Kelly was brilliant, absolutely spot on and when I get on it, I can really see the difference in the story overall… I’ve loved reading others’ work and the feedback they’ve given me has been amazing. All of the exercises have been great, Rich and Roland are brilliant as always, I give it all 5 stars!!” Brie, Third Draft Part 1
“Well, I finally did it! After years of talking about doing a writing course, I finally enrolled in one and completed it. It was only a short course and I can’t believe that the four weeks are over already. I’ve enjoyed the writing experience – so much so that I’ve already enrolled in another short course which starts next week.” Shaun, Unlocking Creativity Online