Welcome to our February Newsletter.
Congratulations to our Unlocking Creativity Writers!
We’d like to celebrate all the writers in our 4-Week Unlocking Creativity Courses—both Live and Online—who are embracing the journey of kick-starting their writing.
Whether you’re just beginning or deepening your craft, you’ve taken a powerful step toward unlocking your creative potential. Writing is not just about words on a page—it’s about discovery, expression, and the joy of bringing your ideas to life.
Now that your journey is underway, you might be wondering—what’s next? If you’re ready to keep the momentum going and take your writing to the next level, explore The Writers’ Studio Pathway and see where your creativity can lead you.
Keep writing, keep exploring, and most of all—enjoy the process!
The Power of Trusting the Unknown
When writing a novel, short story, memoir, or screenplay, it pays to see the process as an act of discovery. The best stories often emerge not from rigid planning but from remaining open to unexpected possibilities. A dance between story structure and your imagination.
As Ansen Dibell wrote in Plot:
“Melville wrote a large chunk of Moby-Dick thinking the pivotal character was going to be a man named Buckington. However, Melville discovered a character called Ahab.”
Similarly, J.R.R. Tolkien admitted that a third of the way through The Fellowship of the Ring, a mysterious figure named Strider confronted the hobbits at an inn. At the time, Tolkien had no idea who Strider was, where the story was headed, or what would come next. Yet Strider evolved into Aragorn—the uncrowned king whose journey to reclaim his throne, alongside the destruction of the One Ring, became the driving force of The Lord of the Rings.
Neither Melville nor Tolkien knew exactly what they were getting into, and neither would a beginner.
Great fiction nearly always transforms as you write, taking on a life of its own. Your unconscious sends signals, characters reveal unexpected depths, and ideas seem to appear from nowhere, flashing onto the page. More often than not, what emerges along the way is more powerful than what was originally planned.
Sometimes, the key to discovering your Ahab, your Strider, your story’s true essence—is simply getting out of your own way.
So don’t give up. When the initial spark of inspiration fades, craft, experience, and feedback will keep you going and re-inspire you. Trust the process, embrace the surprises, and let the story reveal itself to you.
Intensive 6-Week Short Story Course
The 6-Week Writers’ Gym will teach you advanced writing tools and techniques to further nurture your craft and flex your creative muscles. Develop compelling characters, master dialogue, create tension through conflict, and refine your work using editing tools, culminating in a powerful, emotionally resonant short story.
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 February, designed for writers who have completed Unlocking Creativity and are looking to continue their writing journey. Limited spots available: Enrol Now!
Success Stories
The Goldfish Club by Michael Poe
Congratulations to Michael Poe, an alumnus of the Writers’ Studio, whose short story, The Goldfish Club, has been short listed in the E. M. Fletcher Writing Competition!
In Michael’s words, “I entered into this competition in 2023 and my story, A Sailors Love, was included in the publication. I was not short listed that year, but that story is the inspiration for my novel that The Writers Studio is helping me write. I have just completed the First Draft Online and will enrol in the March Second Draft Online.
“My entry in the 2024 Competition, The Goldfish Club, is a story based on an entry in my Father’s flying log – “Crashed in the sea 4.5 miles from Aran”. It tells of the crew’s first flights in an unfamiliar old aircraft that crashed into the sea in bad weather… There were 90 entries, and I was thrilled my entry was one of 15 shortlisted.”
Myrine Goes Through the Quantum Door by Amouré Kleu
Congratulations to Amouré Kleu, an alumna of the Writers’ Studio, whose novel, Myrine Goes Through the Quantum Door, has been published and is out now!
In Amouré’s words, “Whenever I speak to other writers who are battling, I refer them to The Writers’ Studio even if they are in other countries, as I firmly believe Unlocking Creativity was the beginning of my road to being a published author.”
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!
The Last Showgirl
Thanks to Madman Entertainment, we have 10 double passes to give away to The Last Showgirl, opening in cinemas on the 20th of February.
The film follows Shelly (Pamela Anderson), a seasoned showgirl who must plan for her future when her show closes abruptly after a 30-year run.
As a dancer in her fifties, she struggles with what to do next. As a mother, she strives to repair a strained relationship with her daughter, who often took a backseat to her showgirl family.
You can watch the trailer here
For your chance to win, email with your name, address, the movie title and your mobile to: rsvp@writerstudio.com.au
Whitstable Pearl: Season 3
Thanks to Acorn TV, we have 4 DVDs to give away of Whitstable Pearl: Season 3.
Private detective Pearl (Kerry Godliman) takes on investigations in her coastal English town, from missing persons to cold cases, poisonings, and vigilante justice. Through it all, she tries to help her cop friend Mike (Howard Charles) find closure.
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
Spit
Thanks to Transmission Films, we have 5 double passes to give away to Spit, a film starring David Wenham, Directed by Jonathan Teplitzky, and Written by Christopher Nyst, opening in cinemas on the 6th of March.
After 20 years on the run overseas, small-time ex-criminal Johnny Spitieri (Spit) slips back into Australia on a false passport only to find himself locked up in an Immigration Detention Centre with a massive target on his back.
As he struggles to stay one step ahead, the resourceful Spit finds new friends in detention, teaching them his version of mateship, and what it means to be truly Australian.
You can watch the trailer here
For your chance to win, email with your name, address, the movie 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.
“My life has been forever transformed by these courses. I never realised I’d have a total revamp of my soul and mind. Who would have thought writing would crack my soul open, reveal the deepest childhood wounds, I’d heal those wounds and become a more compassionate person and fearless in my writing. I’m confident in my writing now.” Amy, First Draft Online
“I loved every minute of it and found I would get really excited about sitting down to do all the exercises. I felt like I was taking a step towards doing what I really want to do and it was amazing to see what ideas would pop into my head when I used the tools and process they provided. It reinforced how good I feel when I’m writing. I’m keener than ever to write and I still have the same writing goals, plus more, but more importantly a clearer path and structure of how to get there. It was such a well-designed course.” Olivia, Unlocking Creativity Online
“You have to do this course, it frees you up so much and builds your confidence and vocabulary for writing. It gives you robust synopses and guides that are never hard rules but essential foundations. The people are lovely too. So supportive and grateful with feedback and opinions. They are friendly and as passionate and unsure as you are. The tutor always brings the energy, and chocolate to get you through the intense sessions. I can’t recommend it highly enough.” Sean, Unlocking Creativity Live
“I’ve loved how this course allowed me to establish a daily writing practice, something I have never been able to do before. It gave me the confidence to write daily, using the power of my subconscious as a guide.” Abby, Unlocking Creativity Live
“Third Draft has definitely brought back the joy of writing. White the Second Draft structure work was useful I got bogged down a little in the planning so having both your tutor and your groups being so generous with their time and feedback in the Third Draft has been game changing. I also love the confidence the Third Draft has given me to really believe that I can get my story to publishable standard. I want to thank my group members and most of all, Kelly, for sharing specific, detailed feedback and advice to support us all on our own writing journeys!” Vicky, Third Draft Course
“I knew I had a story in me that wanted to be told, I just wasn’t sure how to tell it. I’d been writing paragraphs of junk for many years, so when I started learning about story structure, it was like a magic formula or language that finally made sense to me! What my time at the Writers’ Studio has taught me, is that the most valuable lessons you will get from writing is not the journey of discovery that happens while the story is being written, but the sense of self-discovery and revelations about myself along the way. It’s been an experience I’ll always hold close to me as it’s given me the skills to be the writer I’ve always dreamed to be.” Joey, Third Draft Part Two Course
