WriteFest

What does digital publishing mean for writers today? With the advent of new technologies and ideas, today we have a host of choices and opportunities for writers looking to connect with readers, and writers have a lot more options when it comes to driving their own careers. From traditional publishing houses, to e-books, to social media, in today’s world there are as many paths to publication as there are writers.

Join Meg Vann, manager of Australian Writers Marketplace, to learn about digital publishing options for writers today, and what it means to be an Amplified Author. [All participants will receive a free three-month subscription to the Australian Writers Marketplace online.]

Meg Vann is Manager of The Australian Writer’s Marketplace published by Queensland Writers Centre, Convenor of Sisters in Crime (Brisbane Chapter), and a tutor and guest lecturer in Writing, Editing and Publishing for The University of Queensland. Meg has a special interest in supporting aspiring and emerging writers to develop their creative works and pathways to publication.

The Amplified Author will be a morning workshop at this year’s WriteFest, Saturday 19 May.

Publisher/writer interviews

Clan Destine Press Publisher, Lindy Cameron, will be attending the Bundaberg writers’ festival, WriteFest, on May 19 and conducting publisher/writer interviews.

Writers are required to submit the first 50 pages (in industry-standard format) of their manuscript, together with a two-page single-line-spaced synopsis and covering letter outlining details of writing experience and publishing history (if any).

Submissions must be from a completed manuscript ready for submission to a publisher – first drafts are not acceptable.

Submissions will be read by a team of experienced professionals and the best 10-12 will be forwarded to Lindy who will select the six she will interview, and those writers must be attending WriteFest.

Each submission must be accompanied by an entry fee of $25. This entry fee is non-refundable but will be taken off the entry fee to the WriteFest workshops ($75) or masterclass ($90), or combined two days of workshops and masterclass ($145).

Submissions and entry fee can be posted to the Bundaberg Writers' Club Inc, PO Box 1486, Bundaberg Qld 4670.
Submissions may also be emailed to novels@sandycurtis.com provided the entry fee, or a receipt for a direct deposit to the Bundaberg Writers Club Inc is posted in. The Club’s bank details are Wide Bay Australia Ltd, BSB 656400, Account No. 104337281
Successful applicants will be notified at least two weeks before the event. As reading and assessing the submissions will take Lindy some time, we would appreciate writers submitting as early as possible. All submissions must be received by April 15.
Any queries should be made to novels@sandycurtis.com or PO Box 1486, Bundaberg Qld 4670, and full details can be found at bundywriters.com

With over 20 years of criminology experience, Dr David Craig will share his knowledge at WriteFest when he presents his workshop Can you tell if someone is lying? What if your life depended on it?

As part of David Craig’s doctoral research, he interviewed covert operatives and those who led prosecutions against criminals caught by undercover tactics in undercover programs in Australia, the United States, Canada, the UK and the Netherlands. He now runs a consultancy for Australian and overseas agencies on covert operations, which include surveillance, informant and undercover operations.

Knowing the difference between the truth and lies can be a matter of life and death in undercover operations, and this led David to write Lie Catcher; Become a Human Lie Detector in Under 60 Minutes (Big Sky Publishing).

His workshop has two parts:
Dirty Tricks – the Nature of Undercover Operations provides a gritty insight into undercover operations; the risks, the reality and how they net criminals. It also provides an insight into the mind of covert operatives and the criminals caught by undercover tricks.

The Truth About Lying discusses the role and nature of lies in society from little white lies to outright deceit. Importantly the session will focus upon how to detect when people tell you a porky, why they did, perhaps why sometimes you necessarily do too.

This workshop may assist writers in developing deceitful characters with relevant emotional tell-tale signs of lying and deceit, and the development of shady characters, truth seekers and investigators. The session should also assist writers to formulate story lines involving the murky world of undercover police and criminals.

Booking forms for WriteFest 2012 will soon be available so keep Saturday 19th May free to catch Dr David Craig’s workshop. Check out our WriteFest 2012 pages for information on our growing program.

Writing as Kerri Lane and as Kaz Delaney (watch for Dead, Actually out in March 2012.) this hard working author  is bringing insights into the world of YA – specifically a market that’s hungry for something to read – and news of an often overlooked way to break in, the Education Market.

In her sixteen years as a published author, Kaz Delaney has written over 60 titles for children and Young Adults. Her 10 YA novels have been published in both the Australian and US trade markets, exclusively of each other. Her books My Life as a Snow Bunny and Princesses Don’t Sweat were lead titles for Dorchester’s (NY) Smooch imprint. Her current YA is entitled  Dead, Actually (Allen & Unwin) - the first in the Dead Series -  and is a March 2012 release.

Riding the Wave of YA Success – fangs optional.
Kaz Delaney
Editors and publishers can’t get enough YA fiction and everyone from Stephen King down wants a piece of the action.
If you want to know why is this happening, join  Kaz Delaney. Learn about her own journey and examine what makes a YA novel succesful. She will discuss tone, markets, audience, agents, selling across two continents and popular culture in the context of the YA novel.
You’ll be encouraged to dig deep to find the story that drives the YA character, and  come away with a compelling YA protagonist of your own.

The Other Way to Break into Writing for Children and Young Adults:

Writing For the Education Market
Kerri Lane
the Education Market can be lucrative and offers opportunities for publication. Many of Australia’s best loved children’s authors began their careers writing Education Texts, or have written for this market.
So, how do you break into it, and what are the tricks?  Look at the market with Kerri Lane. Learn about texts ranging from Early Readers through to Chapter Books and Young Adult novels, and beyond  – to ‘readers’ targeted at the Adult Education market.
Kerri will examine publisher requirements, deadlines, word counts, language level, content suitability and tone.
You’ll pick up hints and tips, analyse successful texts and work towards completing your own Early Reader text.

Black Dog Institute 8th Annual Writing Competition
Walking the Tightrope – Caring for Someone with Depression or Bipolar Disorder

1500 words – first prize $2000

www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/public/events/writingcompetition/index.cfm

It’s been confirmed – Marianne de Pierres is on board to present two workshops at next years WriteFest. We’re excited, we know you’re excited, so keep Saturday 19th May 2012 free for WriteFest.

Stranger in a Strange World – Writing Sci Fi and Fantasy

Award-wining SF author Marianne de Pierres has been described by reviewers as “an utterly convincing world-builder” whose “descriptions are lush and evocative but never bogged down in superfluous detail.” In this workshop Marianne shares her keys to creating convincing, compact world-building. Learn how to cut the waffle.

Nothing Sweet About Me - Writing Crime

Davitt award winning author Marianne Delacourt shares her insights on writing humorous crime set in Australia. Plotting backwards, making your setting one of your characters, creating a likeable protagonist and knowing when to shed blood are just some of the things covered in this lively, fun workshop.

Marianne de Pierres

Marianne de Pierres is an award-winning author who publishes novels in the science fiction, fantasy, crime and young adult genres. Her stories have been translated into other languages, adapted into a role playing game and an animation. Visit her websites at www.mariannedepierres.com, www.tarasharp.com and www.burnbright.com

The BWC has undertaken some  new and some old favourite writing challenges in their monthly newsletter, Accents. If you like short challenges, writing exercises or are looking for feedback from a diverse group of writers then BWC has it all. Critiquing has been a part of the monthly meeting and this great tool is available to all those who wish to have their work read by members in a group session. Even a coffee afterwards to chew over all that is writing related.