Welcome to our September Newsletter.
Some exciting news for this month, our 2023 Short Story Competition is open! See below for the details including the submission closing date.
Congratulations to all our writers who have finished or are just starting in our Unlocking Creativity courses! We love seeing the transformation your writing goes through, and the confidence in your storytelling ability that develops throughout the course.
Writing Your Story
To any writers who have long been thinking about starting their novel or script and going on a creative journey, you are in good company, as author, Alan Watts says;
“The desire to write is linked to the desire to evolve. We are here to express ourselves.
Creativity is not an occupation; it is our birthright … It is a way for us to make sense of our lives, to reframe our relationships … Story is about transformation. As writers, our job is to track the beats in a compelling and believable way that leads to a journey of transformation. There is a dilemma for your main character at the heart of your story and that is where the real tension lies.”
For many people, writing their story takes them on a profound, immersive experience. When you take a character on a journey towards transformation, you go on the journey with them. Write about something that will change your life, it is the best gift you can give yourself.
For those who are interested in joining our upcoming First Draft Online course and have completed Unlocking Creativity, the prerequisite course, the next courses commences 25 September.
This course will enable you to write the best story you are capable of writing, while going on a creative journey and having fun along the way.
The Writers’ Studio
wstudio@writerstudio.com.au
First Draft Online Starting 25 September
We have a few spots remaining in our upcoming 10-Month First Draft Online commencing 25 September. 
This course will help you write the best story you are capable of, while having fun along the way.
“I always knew I wanted to write a book, but the idea of a framework made me more confident to start the journey. My tutors were my cheerleaders throughout the process. The course gave me a great insight into the classic novel structure, with great hints, tools and suggestions along the way, and the all-important accountability.” Maya Linnell
Second Draft Online Starting 25 September
There are limited spots available in our upcoming 8-Month Second Draft Online course commencing 25 September.
The First Draft is where you find the possibilities of your story. The Second Draft writing course is the pivot draft where you focus on making your story come alive and work for your reader.
There are limited spots available in our upcoming 8-Month Second Draft Online course commencing 25 September.
The First Draft is where you find the possibilities of your story. The Second Draft writing course is the pivot draft where you focus on making your story come alive and work for your reader.
The Writers’ Studio 2023 Short Story Competition
We are excited to announce our 2023 Short Story Competition is now open.
First Prize $500 / Second Prize $250 / Third Prize $100
Winners will be announced in our December Newsletter & published on our website.
Competition closes 5pm AEST 31 October 2023.
Get writing, and good luck!
Success Stories!
Julia Levitina
Congratulations to Julia, who let us know that her debut novel A Girl From Moscow is due to be published in March 2024 by Pantera Press. 
1983. USSR. Twenty-one-year-old Ella dreams of playing Natasha Rostova in War and Peace at the Moscow Theatre Academy. But when she meets her friend, Vlad outside a city synagogue, Ella finds herself in the middle of a protest and attracts the glare of the KGB.
“I started writing in 2005. A friend suggested I do the Unlocking Creativity course at the Writers’ Studio. I did. I completed the First, Second and Third Draft courses with Roland. And then I stopped writing. I finished my Masters in Design, my children left home, and in 2017 I started writing again and did a Third Draft Part 2 course with Zahid (as my tutor) and embarked on my own writing path.
In 2022, I was shortlisted by Australian Society of Authors for its commercial fiction unpublished manuscript prize. I found an agent in New York and a publisher in Australia and NZ. My novel is now at the typesetter with Pantera and is due to be released in March 2024.
The Writers’ Studio inspired me to continue writing. It gave me the tools and techniques to start my own writer’s journey.”
A big congratulations again, Julia!
Sean Barker
Congratulations to Writers’ Studio alumni, Sean Barker who has co-authored a graphic novel with Sydney based disability advocate, Abdul-Karim Bouchafaa.
Karim’s Super Mojovational Disco, is the story of Karim’s triumph over prejudice and discovery of his super power for positivity and connection.
It’s a wonderful book for anyone who’s ever felt pigeonholed or limited by others’ perceptions of them, with a great message about loving the skin you’re in, living in the moment and helping others to do the same.
Karim’s Super Mojovational Disco will be available in October through Rosey Ravelston Books.
Ticket Giveaway!
Shayda
Thanks to Madmen Entertainment, we have double passes to give away to the upcoming October 5release of Shayda. 
Premiering at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and winning the Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic, SHAYDA stars Iranian French actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi (Holy Spider) alongside newcomer Selina Zahednia.
The film follows Shayda, a brave Iranian mother who finds refuge in an Australian women’s shelter with her six-year-old daughter, Mona.
Over the Persian New Year, they take solace in Nowruz rituals and new beginnings, but when her estranged husband re-enters their lives, Shayda’s path to freedom is jeopardised.
For your chance to win a double pass, email with your name, address and mobile to:
The Crime Is Mine
Thanks to Vendetta Films, we have double passes to give away to The Crime is Mine, a film from master director, François Ozon starring Isabelle Huppert and Dany Boon, opening nationally in cinemas on 12th October.
Set in the 1930s in Paris, The Crime is Mine tells the story of Madeleine, a pretty, young, penniless and talentless actress, who is accused of murdering a famous producer. Helped by her best friend Pauline, a young unemployed lawyer, she is acquitted on the grounds of self-defence. A new life of fame and success begins, until the truth comes to light.
For your chance to win a double pass, email with your name, address and mobile to:
Recent Course Feedback
Some snippets of the wonderful feedback that we receive back from recently completed courses. We update these in each newsletter. They show what a large variety of writers get out of our writing courses.
“This was one of the most interesting and enlightening experiences I have ever had. I can honestly say that I have learnt things that I wasn’t thinking about going in. The course is structured in such a way that you slowly and effectively build a writing habit and develop confidence, via regular writing exercises, which you put up for others in the course to comment on…. The entire process is conducted in a safe and respectful manner, that helps the learning.” Sarah, Unlocking Creativity Online
“If you have the urge to create and the passion to write but you are stuck on the how, then this course is for you. It will demonstrate your potential, show you techniques and instil confidence in yourself. You will re-discover your love for writing again and be courageous enough to follow through once the course is complete. To be in a room full of creative minds, all showing the possibilities of the imagination is what I will miss most. If you need a kick-start, then this for you.” Clare, Unlocking Creativity Live
“What is amazing about this course is the growth I, as well as the other writers, experienced. There is not a single one of us who did not improve in some form or manner
And now I am off to re-work my fantasy novel (a struggle of good versus evil) and apply every valuable lesson I have learnt in this course.” Amoure, Unlocking Creativity Online
“I’ve been incredibly lucky to be surrounded by wonderful writers who showed me what’s possible, it never ceases to amaze me the quality of writing on display every time I take part in one of these courses. I could see everybody rising to every challenge and it pushed me to keep the pace, the creative energy was infectious.” Chris, Unlocking Creativity Online
“The First Draft course has been an enriching experience. I’ve learnt to trust my creativity and that the story will reveal itself with trust of the process. It’s been a pleasure to be surrounded by other writers with such imagination and witness the bravery of sharing their stories in such a safe environment. The mentorship has really helped guide my story and opened my eyes to the possibility that I would write a finished novel, that working with clear guidelines is key to setting out my ideas and story. I’ve loved every minute of the course” Lisa, First Draft Live
“This course has ignited my entire soul… I don’t know how Rich does it, but every session and every email, you just know that Rich was put on this planet to do this. More than learning to write a book, it has been a deeply spiritual journey that we’ve embarked on. I’ve learned the joys of ‘capturing first thoughts’ and ‘writing junk’ which has been the antidote to my paralysing perfectionism and editor brain. This course has unlocked so much in me – stuff that I never dreamed of seeing written down. I’ve improved as a creative writer and am just so grateful that the Writers’ Studio has made it a loving, fun experience.” Tiffany, First Draft Live
“Who would have thought working out what you are trying to say would be so difficult, and there is that bit about trying to make what you are saying sound beautiful. The hours disappear and the coffee cups mount up and at the end of a long day you emerge triumphant with a page of text.” Philippa, Third Draft Part 2 Live
Upcoming Courses
4-Week Unlocking Creativity
Whether you are a complete beginner, a professional writer or somewhere in-between, this is the first step towards achieving your writing goals, whatever they are. This introductory writing course will give you essential tools and techniques to unlock the power of your imagination and dramatically improve the quality of your writing.
20 September: Unlocking Creativity – ONLINE
12 October: Unlocking Creativity – LIVE
10-Month Novel & Script First Draft
If your dream is to write a novel or screenplay our first draft course will get you doing it. You don’t need to have a clear idea for a story to start. The course’s step-by-step process begins by helping you find and clarify the key characters and story in a broad outline before embarking on writing your actual first draft.
25 September: Novel & Script First Draft – ONLINE
4 March 2024: Novel & Script First Draft – ONLINE
9 March 2024: Novel & Script First Draft – LIVE
6-Week Short Story Course Online
Our Short Story courses are ideal for writers who have completed Unlocking Creativity and want to continue with their creative journey.
If you do the work and implement the tools and techniques you will be amazed at how much your writing and story-telling ability develops. These courses will also prepare you for the 10 Month First Draft course should you want to do that down the track. Receive targeted feedback on every piece you post.
30 October: Short Story Genre – ONLINE
8-Month Second Draft
The First Draft is where you find the possibilities of your story. The Second Draft writing course is the pivot draft where you focus on making your story come alive and work for your reader.
25 September: Second Draft – ONLINE
4 February 2024: Second Draft – LIVE
7-Month Third Draft
You have found the dramatic spine of your story in The Second Draft. The Third Draft is where all the hard work you have put into finding, developing, clarifying and structuring your story in the First and Second Drafts dramatically pays off.
5 February 2024: Third Draft – ONLINE
28 October: Third Draft – LIVE
12-Month Live & 10-Month Online Third Draft Part Two
By following the course process, learning advanced tools and techniques and giving and receiving feedback enables everyone to take their writing and story to another level. ‘The voice of each writer is much clearer and confident; there is a sense of finding and settling down with the voice.
6 November: Third Draft Part Two – ONLINE
TBA August 2024: Third Draft Part Two – LIVE