Welcome to our May Newsletter!
Last week, we welcomed our newest writers into our inspiring 4-Week Unlocking Creativity Online course. It is inspiring to see the work writers are generating after only one week.
It is amazing to see what is possible when writers learn to tap into the power of their imagination and unlock their authentic voice.
For those writing their novel or screenplay with us, we are so gratified to see so many of you enjoying the journey as your story comes to life on the page.
Embracing the dance between structure and your imagination creates the magic and enables you to write the best story you are capable of writing, one step at a time.
Who Has the Talent to be a Writer?
Our writing groups have proven to us time and time again that everyone who has the desire to write and does our courses, has the talent to write in a way that makes other people want to read what they have written.
Sometimes the writer can’t see it until they commit to the journey and are prepared to put their work out there and receive feedback.
It is often much easier to see the talent in other people’s work, than our own.
We tell writers in our courses, to listen to the feedback, not their internal critic.
If you truly want to write, the only thing that may be stopping you is fear or the expectations you put on yourself.
Let go of the need to be perfect right away. Writing a story is a process and a journey. It all begins with the first step.
As Natalie Goldberg said, “Sometimes people say to me, ‘I want to write, but I have five kids, a full-time job, a tremendous debt to my parents’ and so on.
“I say to them, ‘There is no excuse. If you want to write, write. This is your life. You are responsible for it. You will not live forever. Don’t wait. Make the time now.”
If you want to write a novel or a screenplay, you have to steal back the time from your busy life to learn the craft and put in the work, one day at a time.
John Gardner said, “The art of writing is immensely more difficult than the beginning writer may at first believe, but in the end can be mastered by anyone willing to do the work.”
If hard work isn’t talent, it is the best substitute for it.
Mother’s Day Gift Certificates!
Did you know we offer gift certificates for both the Unlocking Creativity Online and Live-in-Studio courses?
If you are thinking about creative Mother’s Day presents, this would be an excellent gift if mum has a desire to write!
You might have a loved one who has been wanting to write but needs a push, or is wanting to develop their writing further. Unlocking Creativity is the perfect stepping stone in helping them achieve their goals. Plus, it is such a generous act to support people in realising their creative dream.
Valid for 3 years, the recipient will have the choice to select the course dates that suit them.
For a limited time, we are offering $80 off gift certificates that are bought before 11:59PM on May 17. Purchase and use code: MDAY80
Purchase your Unlocking Creativity Gift Certificate here »
Intensive 6-Week Short Story Course
The 6-Week Short Story Character Development Course will keep your writing process alive and inspired as you learn some key story dynamics that will help you develop your characters, writing and storytelling skills.
It is designed for anyone who has completed Unlocking Creativity and are looking to continue their writing journey. 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 17th of June and is the only intake of Character Development in 2026. We recommend you enrol as early as you can before it books out.
Success Stories
The Burn by Jessica Mansour-Nahra
Congratulations to Jessica Mansour-Nahra, an alumna of the Writers’ Studio, whose second psychological thriller, The Burn will be published by Hachette Australia in August 2026!
Her best-selling debut novel The Farm, was published in 2025. If you’re looking to grab a copy, please scroll further below to enter the giveaway of The Farm!
2030. Devastating bushfires have plunged Australia into lockdown. When the stay-at-home orders lift, a group of friends decide to go on a road trip to the one place where fire didn’t reach: Eden.
But after the sun, surf, and sand, the group finds themselves stuck in isolated cabins in dense national parkland. Secrets spill out, new ideals are challenged and bitter arguments erupt. On the final morning, new fires are racing towards them, forcing the group to find another way out. But how, when the friends no longer trust each other with their lives?
In Jessica’s words, “I found the Writers’ Studio when I was working on a stressful, time-consuming corporate project. I enjoyed Unlocking Creativity so much that I signed up for the 10-Month Novel & Script First Draft Course.
“While the novel I worked on during this time did not get published, the lessons about story structure I learned at the Writer’s Studio formed the backbone of the novel that did – The Farm, published by Hachette Australia in 2025. The Farm has achieved bestseller status, and my second novel is due in late 2026. Roland and Kathleen kick-started my writing journey and helped me establish an ongoing writing practice, which has resulted in my dream career.”
Click here to preorder The Burn
Tales in a Teacup by Aimee Timmins
Congratulations to Aimee Timmins, one of our online writers who has a collection of her Short Stories—Tales In A Teacup—up on her own website that you can purchase and download.
Click here to check out Aimee’s Tales In A Teacup Short Story collection
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!
The Farm by Jessica Mansour-Nahra
Thanks to Hachette Australia, we have 2 copies of Jessica Mansour-Nahra’s debut novel, The Farm, to give away!
When 37-year-old Leila suffers a health tragedy, she doesn’t recover as quickly as she expected. Her partner, James, suggests a year away from the city – they’ll stay on his family farm, where the wide, open spaces and clean country air will help her come to terms with her grief.
But the property is remote and the house oppressive. Leila is disturbed by strange noises, fleeting visions and intrusive dreams. James worries that her medication is causing hallucinations.
As Leila’s isolation grows amid the haunted landscape, so does her suspicion that she isn’t the first woman James has relocated to the farm. Is what she’s experiencing real? Or is it all in her head?
For your chance to win a copy of Jessica’s The Farm, email with ‘The Farm Giveaway’ as the subject line and provide your name, address and mobile number to: rsvp@writerstudio.com.au
Sound of Falling
Thanks to Transmission Films, we have 5 x double passes to give away to Sound of Falling, an award-winning film directed by Mascha Schilinski, opening nationally in cinemas on 4 June.
At different points throughout the last century, Alma, Erika, Angelika and Lenka each spend a part of their childhood on the same farm in northern Germany.
The farmhouse bears witness to events both global and personal, with two world wars and a divided Germany providing historical backdrops to the girls’ more intimate experiences of growing up – innocent friendships, playful pranks, deep trauma and the burgeoning comprehension of life’s limitations for women under patriarchy.
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
Art Detectives
Thanks to AcornTV, we have 3 DVDs to give away to Season 1 of Art Detectives, a British crime drama television series.
Art-loving DI Mick Palmer (Stephen Moyer, True Blood) singlehandedly runs the Heritage Crime Unit, investigating murders and thefts in the shadowy world of art, antiquities and priceless artefacts. When straight-talking young DC Shazia Malik (Nina Singh, Virdee) helps him solve the brutal killing of an art historian, he offers her a job.
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.
“When I began I didn’t have a story—just a main character, an opponent, and a single scene from Unlocking Creativity. That scene survived and appears almost at the end of my story. By trusting the process, I have created a complete story based on these fragile beginnings. Now that I’ve finished my first draft, all the protagonists have come to life, and worked together to create their own, interconnecting stories. I have already signed up to do the Second Draft course, and this time I’m doing it LIVE in Sydney! I’m very excited about this; I think the added bonus of a workshop environment once a month will be very rewarding.” Sarah, First Draft Course
“Being part of this writing community has been one of the most rewarding aspects of the course. Sharing my work, reading other writers’ pieces, and receiving honest feedback has taught me more than I expected. Sharing my writing has been something I’ve struggled with for years, but I’m finally beginning to find the courage to offer my work openly.” Jonathan, Short Story – Writers’ Gym
“I loved getting a chance to write again. Not only making the time for it but being able to share my writing with such a talented and inspiring group of people made me a much more passionate writer. I got a chance to see people‘s writing grow and bring in all sorts of emotions. And for my own writing, I was able to begin to let go of wanting people to read my stories exactly as I intended but instead letting them use their own imagination as well.” Karina, Unlocking Creativity Live
“My writing tutor and the fellow students have been incredibly generous with their feedback and I’m very grateful for having that nurturing space where I could post my writing without fear. I feel my writing has improved as a result and I’ve seen so much growth in the other students too. After the course I feel more motivated to continue with my sci-fi novel.” Andries, Unlocking Creativity Online
“Firstly, thank you to the Writers’ Studio. You guys have done it again, taking me to another level with my writing that I never thought possible. I intended this course to be a joyful task and although it was a lot of work it absolutely was fun. After completing the Second Draft Course I feel I have the promise of a story now. Secondly, thank you Leone for being the tutor I absolutely needed.” Brenda, Second Draft Course
“Third Draft Part One has improved my work technically to a high standard. The framework we have used has given me the confidence and the tools to edit my work and give feedback in a very specific well-articulated way. These tools have also released me from the perfectionist ‘Bad Fairy’ and allowed the good ‘Create Fairy’ space to play in the sandpit and have fun. I can’t imagine how anyone could write a novel without meaningful interactions with tutors and the intelligent readers that I had in my group. We have grown together and I can’t wait to see your final manuscripts.” Chris, Third Draft Part One Course
