Welcome to our July Newsletter!
One of the key takeaways from our 2026 Pitching Your Novel Day last month was the need for a writer to uncover what is unique about their story and why only they could write it.
Most writers will take the lessons gained from the day into the writing of their novel. When they have completed their manuscript, they can then submit it to one of the publishing professionals they met on the day.
On the opposite end of the scale, our next Unlocking Creativity Course held at our studio in Bronte starts on the 23rd of July. The Live Course is run over four consecutive Thursday nights from 6.30pm to 9.45pm. This is the chance for Sydney writers to learn how to tap into the power of their imagination, learn about story structure and improve their writing from the very first session.
The Power of Process to Complete Your First Draft
Only a small percentage of people who start writing a novel actually finish the first draft. It has been estimated the completion rate is as low as 3 per cent.
Writers, when starting out and who don’t have a process to follow, can waste an awful lot of time getting caught up in one of the following traps:
- Perfectionism: Getting stuck in an endless loop of editing the first few chapters instead of drafting the rest, trying to write the perfect first draft.
- Plot Hole Wall: Writers often hit the 20,000 to 30,000-word mark and realise their plot has lost momentum or direction.
- The Shiny New Idea: When the current draft gets difficult, a new story idea suddenly emerges, feeling easier and more exciting, causing the writer to abandon the current project to start another one.
As Ernest Hemingway said, “The most important thing about a first draft is finishing the damn thing.”
In our 10-Month Novel & Script First Draft Course we encourage writers to follow a step by step process. By following the process, they discover the story they truly want to write, knowing they can then refine and develop that story in later drafts.
Everyone who follows our step-by-step process is invariably delighted with the discoveries they make along the way and the quality of their completed first draft.
As Terry Prachett said, “The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.”
Part-Time Studio Assistant Position!
We’re looking for a friendly and super reliable Part-Time Studio Assistant to join our team at our Bronte Studio.
The role will involve setting up the Studio for workshops, welcoming and assisting writers, responding to enquiries and other administrative duties, on Thursdays & Fridays for 6 hours per day and Saturday mornings for 4 hours.
This position will suit someone who lives locally and who can attend the Bronte Studio on these days, and is looking for a role that fits around study, creative pursuits or lifestyle interests.
If you’re organised, have good admin skills, enjoy working with people, and would love to be part of a vibrant writing community, we’d love to hear from you.
Read more about the position and apply on SEEK here
Intensive 6-Week Short Story Course
The 6-Week Writers’ Gym Course will keep your writing process alive and inspired as you learn some key story dynamics that will help you create compelling moral dilemmas and develop your characters, writing and storytelling skills.
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 26th of August, designed for writers who have completed Unlocking Creativity and are looking to continue their writing journey.
Success Stories
Sunrise at Sunny Cross Farm by Maya Linnell
Congratulations to Maya Linnell, an alumna of the Writers’ Studio, whose 8th novel (yes 8th!), Sunrise at Sunny Cross Farm has once again been published by Allen & Unwin.
Widowed, cautious and clearly out of his depth, Spencer Hawkins never expected to find himself in front of a reality TV crew, let alone as a contestant on Love on the Land.
Clem Crossley has her hands full with her sunflower-filled property, two daughters, her new farm gate cafe and catering for the TV crew, without adding romance to the mix.
As the TV show airs, misleading edits and small-town gossip threaten to undo the bond Spencer and Clem are building. Clem, fiercely protective of her daughters, begins to wonder if Spencer is a risk she can’t afford.
In Maya’s words, “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.”
Click here to buy Sunrise at Sunny Cross Farm
Share the Good News!
If you have completed courses with the Writers’ Studio and you’ve earned recognition for your writing in competitions or received awards, we’d love 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.”
Giveaways!
Not My Shame by Martina Zangger
Thanks to Ventura Press, we have 2 copies of Writers’ Studio alumna, Martina Zangger’s intensely personal memoir, Not My Shame, to give away!
A testament to the power of female courage and strength, this intensely personal memoir reveals how one woman confronted her dark past and broke free from lifelong trauma bonds.
No longer silenced by shame, Martina’s greatest discovery is that love doesn’t have to be dangerous, that it can be respectful and kind instead. This is her story, and it is a story of hope for all survivors.
For your chance to win a copy of Martina’s memoir, email with your name, address, the book title and your mobile number to: rsvp@writerstudio.com.au
Dark Winds: Season 4
Thanks to AMC, we have 2 DVDs to give away to season 4 of Dark Winds!
The search for a missing Navajo girl takes Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon), Chee (Kiowa Gordan), and Manuelito (Jessica Matten) from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.
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
Murder Before Evensong
Thanks to Acorn TV, we have 2 DVDs to give away to Murder Before Evensong!
After finding a dead body in his church, empathetic Canon Daniel Clement is pulled into a murder investigation. Clashing with the strict DS Neil Vanloo and his overbearing mother, Clement pursues a killer among his congregation. Based on the best-selling novels set in 1980s England by The Reverend Richard Coles.
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
Recent Course Feedback
Some snippets of the wonderful feedback that we receive back from recently completed courses.
“This First Draft course has taught me to trust. To trust the process because it literally creates story from where there was none. To trust myself that if I do the work, the work moves my story forwards. And mostly to trust my characters. As long as they keep pursuing their own goals, the story reveals itself to me. I’m remarkably impressed with this course, its techniques and most of all, its teachers. Their spirit of generosity is a beautiful thing.” Simon, First Draft Course
“Writing using specific methods and prompts has helped me so much. Having a structure has helped me to let go creatively, trusting that the scaffolding is there to help me create a piece of writing that will actually work. I am starting to understand that maybe I do have it in me to create a whole novel – something that, until recently, felt as out-of-reach as becoming a prima ballerina or an astronaut. I don’t know what the future holds for me as a writer, but I am so enjoying the process of finding out.” Kate, Short Story – Writers’ Gym
“I just finished the 4-Week course – and it miraculously really did unlock creativity I was always afraid I lacked. This course helped me so much with practical ways to get writing and prioritising it. It gives me joy, and I want to finally pursue my dream of writing a screenplay. Richard, our instructor, made sure everyone felt safe and comfortable, and the people were so supportive, creative and lovely. I feel grateful.” Tanya, Unlocking Creativity Live
“I have recently finished a writing course that I have enjoyed immensely. Along the way, I have learned many valuable lessons; one has struck me as vital. The idea of unlocking your imagination by keeping the pen moving and allowing yourself to connect with your imagination has been nothing short of a revelation. I really do feel like the process frees up your spirit, letting you wander deeper and further into who you really are. I feel more motivated and inspired than ever and can’t wait to continue this most wonderful of journeys.” Chris, Unlocking Creativity Online
“Thank you, Andrew and the Writers’ Studio, for such a fine experience. I have felt pushed to my limits at times, yet always wanting to keep going! Reaching the end of the Second Draft feels like a significant mountain to have climbed, and it leaves me feeling fit and ready to tackle the next one!” Susan, Second Draft Course
“I feel like my story has expanded into this rich and exciting thing. This course has been frustrating and illuminating and confounding, and the best thing I could have done for my novel. The feedback from my tutor and group has been so priceless, and whilst a crisis of confidence is never far away, I feel like I’m on the road to being a great writer and storyteller.” Sally, Third Draft Part One Course
