|
September Newsletter & Upcoming Courses
Welcome to our September Newsletter.
We’d like to say another big thank you to our Sydney writers who are doing their Live Studio courses via Zoom during lockdown.
We’ve been thrilled with how much everyone has enjoyed the Zoom experience and we are looking forward to seeing writers in person before too long.
We hope to have an update in October about the resumption of Live Workshops at our Studio in Bronte, and we will be in touch with you directly if you are currently booked into a Live course.
It’s also been wonderful to see how people have utilised this extended lockdown to tap into their creativity and begin their writing journey by joining our 4-Week Unlocking Creativity Online course and recently completed August Genre Short Story course. We’ve seen some great pieces of writing come out of the courses.
Why We Write
In researching an article he has written, about getting your novel published, Roland Fishman found one of the key issues that came up was – what motivates people to write.
Seeing your novel in print is great, but it only comes at the end of the process and is not the reason most people start writing and keep writing.
Stephen King, who has sold over three hundred and fifty million books, summed up the pleasures of writing in his book, On Writing.
He said, ‘Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates or making friends. In the end it is about enriching the lives of those who will read your work and enriching your own life as well. It’s about getting up, getting well and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.
‘Writing is magic, as much the water of life as any other creative art. So drink. Drink and be filled up.”
 Writers’ Studio alumni Loraine Peck, who completed our 10-Month Novel & Script writing course, enjoyed the pleasure of writing her novel and seeing it published this year.
This summary of her writing journey is adapted from the Curtis Brown websites.
‘A native of Sydney, Australia, Loraine Peck started out as a painter, then a magician’s assistant, croupier, bartender, sales manager and finally a marketing director and consultant to the property industry, working in Australia, the Middle East, Asia and the US.
‘She finally succumbed to her burning desire to write thrillers by undertaking a creative writing course with The Writers’ Studio, in Sydney, in 2016.’
Interviewer: You’re represented by Curtis Brown agent Alice Lutyens. Can you tell us a bit about how you worked with Alice to get your book ready to submit to publishers?
Loraine: ‘Alice read The Second Son in two days and told me she loved it. It was one of the happiest days of my life when she decided she wanted to represent me. Then the work began. We went through three rounds of new drafts.’
 Interviewer: Your debut novel The Second Son is to be published by Text – what was the first thing you did when you heard the news of your book deal from Alice?
Loraine: ‘I screamed, jumped up and down and then I may have cried. Both Harper Collins and Text Publishing wanted to meet with me and then both put in offers. These offers were discussed, then a second round of offers came in from both publishers. Alice, Pippa Mason (Curtis Brown Agent) and I agreed Text had the winning offer. They had a bigger intention for the book. It amazes me daily that I’m a writer now.’
Interviewer: If you could pass on one piece of advice to aspiring authors, what would it be?
Loraine: Enrol in writing courses, learn the craft and write the book you want to read. Because you’ll be reading it over and over and over.
Click here to read the full article
Quick Course Round-up
The next Unlocking Creativity Online will commence this Wednesday 22 September with a few places still open more >
The next Unlocking Creativity Live on Zoom course will commence on 7 October more >
The next 6-Week course is the Short Story Genre course starting 25 October (Unlocking Creativity is a prerequisite) more >
The next 10-Month First Draft Online course open for bookings will commence on 14 March (The 25 October course is now wait-list only) more >
The next 10-Month First Draft Live with Roland, Kathleen & Richard will start on 12 March more >
Second Draft Live will start on 5 February. Register now so you can join a pre-course bonus workshop coming up in October more >
Second Draft Online will start on 27 September with two places open. Register now for your pre-course work. The April 2022 course will be open for booking soon more >
Third Draft Live is starting 30 October, register now for pre-course work more >
Third Draft Online starts on 7 February, register now for your pre-course work. Limited places more >
Third Draft Part 2 Online will commence again on 8 November, register now to start your pre-course work and first session work more >
Third Draft Part 2 Live will commence again on 9 July, register now to join 3 x bonus workshops November, February & April more >
Please contact the office on (02) 9386 4994 between 10am and 5pm Monday to Friday, if you have any questions at all about which course is right for you.
Success Stories
 Elizabeth Spratt
Elizabeth let us know that a short story of hers will published soon as part of an Anthology of Short Stories to be published by Hot Doggy Press.
Congratulations, Elizabeth!
Aylish Dowsett
Aylish, one of our online tutors, has let us know that she has won Second Prize in a Short Story competition, run by the University of Sydney’s Honi Soit newspaper.
Congratulations, Aylish!
DVD Giveaway!
The Nest
Thanks to Acorn Media, we have DVD of UK Series 1 of The Nest to give away.
Martin Compston (Line of Duty, In Plain Sight) and Sophie Rundle (Peaky Blinders, Bodyguard) star in this suspenseful Scottish drama about a wealthy couple who would do anything to have a baby. When Emily accidentally hits Kaya a down-on-her-luck 18-year-old, with her car, the two make an instant connection. After learning about her desperate situation, Kaya offer to carry Emily’s last embryo as a surrogate. Although Emily’s husband warns about the legal and moral implications of such an agreement, the women are adamant. But as buried secrets emerge about Kaya’s past, Dan and Emily start to wonder if they’re the ones being used.
To win a Series 1 DVD of The Nest email: rsvp@writerstudio.com.au and include your name, address and mobile no.
Recent Course Feedback
Some snippets of the wonderful feedback that we receive back from recently completed courses. We update these each newsletter. They show what a large variety of writers get out of our writing courses.
“This course has profoundly rekindled my love of writing and storytelling. But what I have really taken away from this course is the importance of regular writing, regardless of its quality. I am committed to continuing the daily dabble with words, and who knows, I might write something extraordinary!” Amanda, Unlocking Creativity
“I have learnt many great lessons throughout the Unlocking Creativity course. I have to say, the course definitely delivered on its promises. To sum it up, the Unlocking Creativity course was absolutely fabulous. Particularly the warm, positive and encouraging way my fellow writers and Tutor gave feedback. Loved it!” Tamara, Unlocking Creativity
“This course has given me an understanding of writing as a craft, and a skill that needs to be both understood and developed, that there are frameworks and structures that guide and liberate rather than restrict, that it goes well beyond talent and into persistent application and determination, quite simply, doing the work. The assurance was that our writing would improve dramatically. That’s the confidence that comes from knowing that the principles and structure work if we’ll give it a go. Well, we did, and it’s been gleeful to see us all produce some wonderful work over the four weeks, which actually, is such a short time to see such tangible results! Jump on board my friend, you will be better for it.” Sandi, Unlocking Creativity
“I realised how silly the pursuit of perfection was and how much it was holding me back. I’m sad the course is coming to an end. It really has gone far too quickly. I’m incredibly grateful for this experience; I feel so much more confident in my writing and inspired to continue writing to see where this journey will lead me.” Lauren, Unlocking Creativity
“The course kept my bum on the seat, which allowed the time and space for the words to flow onto the page. I realise the reason I’ve felt like I was free-falling at times with my writing is because I didn’t have anything in place to catch me. I hadn’t built a firm structural base with which to build scenes or the greater story.” Kelly, Unlocking Creativity
“This course has been full of discoveries about the nature of writing and how by just getting words on a page something happens to the mind and a story will flow out right before your eyes. I found it to be enjoyable and more importantly I enjoyed what I produced. There has been a spark of excitement lit for me, this was such a pleasant surprise. I was expecting it to be a lot harder to come up with ideas.” Beck, Unlocking Creativity
“I’ve pushed the boat out on my writing journey this last month, after decades in hiatus, and have loved every minute of it. The Writers’ Studio course has been inspiring and liberating.” Gerard, Unlocking Creativity
“I have loved the structure of the Unlocking Creativity course. In some ways it seems quite a simple structure but I now know that it has been very cleverly and painstakingly created to get the very best out of each writer, both experienced and inexperienced. I have loved that the environment is so encouraging and even online it is warmly human!” Judith, Unlocking Creativity
“Nothing to report other than your course is BRILLIANT for pushing me to face what I didn’t want to face (Leonard)… The Writers Studio course is BRILLIANT in pushing me to delight the reader.” Rachael, First Draft Online
“I tell everyone about Writers Studio courses and why I stick with them. I love the real time interactive tutor and other student engagement. That is what is missing in some other on-line courses I’ve participated in. The course material is excellent, all the tutors I have had have been excellent. I am very much looking forward to seeing this through to the end. I have no doubt that if I follow the wise counsel of my Tutor (Rich), follow the course material, put in the time and do the hard work, that I will have something that somebody wants to publish, even if that someone is only me… That in itself will be another journey that I look forward to also, another opportunity to learn, and to me, the learning gives me the joy, the AH HA! moments, when I finally get it, give me the MOST joy. So looking forward to continuing on with this.” Mary-Ann, Second Draft Online
“This is indeed a wonderful course which has guided me and supported me step by step to achieve beyond what I could imagine. With what I have learned through the course and the great learning process that I have experienced, I have more confidence to move on to further develop my story and to learn more.” Xiachuan, Second Draft Online
|
