Bundaberg Writers' Club

*WriteFest - Something for everyone*

A day of workshops and a Masterclass...

WORKSHOPS

Writing Fantasy and SF ~ Richard Harland (Author)
Fantasy and SF writers need special tools, as well as the basic techniques of all storytelling.
This workshop looks at:
- creating an imaginary world
- turning great ideas into fleshed-out experiences
- strategies for making an otherworld accessible and emotionally involving for the reader
- launching a story while feeding through a (fantasy-size!) backstory
- inventing names in an invented world
The workshop also looks at how to approach and pitch to a publisher, and includes practical exercises, in the form of cooperative planning rather than writing finished sentences.

The Art of Storytelling ~ Richard Harland (Author)
In this workshop, Richard uses brainstorming and interactive exercises to develop some of the basic skills of good storytelling, working on:
- story-arcs and character-arcs
- ‘defining’ a mystery
- building to a climax
- sequencing (the right events in the right order)
- twists and emotional reversals
- pacing
- writing effective action scenes
- using point of view to create suspense
… and not forgetting the very important art of submitting and pitching to a publisher.

Richard Harland’s latest novel is a steampunk/Victoriana fantasy, Worldshaker. It came out from Allen & Unwin in Australia in 2009, and will be published by Simon & Schuster in the US and Templar in the UK this year. It’s also been sold to France and Germany. Richard describes the US advance as ‘bigger than all the advances from my previous fourteen books put together’. Richard’s novels and short stories have won five Aurealis Awards, including a Golden Aurealis for Best Novel in any form of Speculative Fiction.

Richard has put up a website on tips for writers of fantasy and genre fiction at www.writingtips.com.au. It’s as big as a small book, 145 pages of free advice on (i) good writing habits (ii) action; setting; dialogue; interior thought (iii) characters (iv) story (v) using language effectively, and (vi) getting published.

Editing your way to Success ~ Ali Lavau
Having your work edited can be rewarding, daunting, inspiring, deflating, encouraging and frustrating. Being an editor can be the same! This two-hour workshop will explore the editing process from the perspective of both the author and the editor. Exercises and discussion will focus around topics such as:
*What areas should you concentrate on in the editing of your own work?
*How can you get the most out of the editing process?
*What are some common problems that editors find in manuscripts?
The workshop will also cover:
*What if you don’t agree with your editor?
*What is the difference between structural editing and copyediting?
*What is the editor’s role within the publishing house?

Ali Lavau has a unique perspective of the publishing industry as both an author and editor. After many years working as an in-house editor, she became a freelance editor specialising in adult fiction and narrative non-fiction. She has since worked with most of Australia’s leading trade publishers, editing some of Australia’s most talented authors—including Alex Miller, Michelle de Kretser, Debra Adelaide, Matthew Condon, Tom Keneally, Louis Nowra and Andrew McGahan—and has been engaged by publishers to run editing workshops for their in-house editors. Ali is also an award-winning author of children’s books, writing under the name Frances Watts.

Get the Picture (Books)?
Writing for under-8s ~ Frances Watts

As any children’s author knows, the limited word count does not mean writing picture books is easy. In the words of Mem Fox: ‘Writing a picture book is like writing War and Peace in haiku.’ From the perspective of a writer, Frances Watts will explore the special narrative requirements of the picture book genre, including story arc, structure, pace, character development and visual narrative. Drawing on her experience as an editor, she will discuss issues such as what publishers are looking for, and share tips for getting published.
Frances Watts spent nearly ten years working with some of Australia’s most talented children’s authors and illustrators as an editor before writing books of her own, including the bestselling picture book Kisses for Daddy (illustrated by David Legge), which has sold over 100,000 copies worldwide in 20 countries. and Parsley Rabbit’s Book about Books (also with David Legge), which won the Eve Pownall Award for Information Books in the 2008 CBCA Book of the Year awards. Frances divides her time between writing and editing (under her real name, Ali Lavau). For more information, visit www.franceswatts.com.

Confronting the Enemy ~ JJ Cooper (Author)

Whether you’re writing a crime, thriller or fantasy novel, your hero or heroine will probably end up confronting their enemy, either physically, mentally, or emotionally. JJ Cooper, author of the military thriller The Interrogator, will draw on his experience as a member of the Australian Army Intelligence Corps, specialising in Human Intelligence, including interrogation (as a practitioner and instructor) to give you the skills to write these scenes with authenticity. He will also share his expertise in security techniques.

JJ Cooper spent seventeen years in the Australian Army, deploying on two tours of duty in East Timor and one tour to the Middle East in 2003. His expert knowledge and experience of interrogation techniques add value to the idiosyncrasies and depth of the characters in his novels. He is currently Australian head of security for an international gas exploration corporation.

Digital Strategies for Writers ~ Kate Eltham
How can you use digital platforms to connect with readers and other writers? What online tools will help you market and promote yourself as an author? How can you publish your work in the digital realm, through e-books or other products? Kate Eltham will provide you with an overview of digital publishing and the opportunities it can open up for writers in Australia.

MASTERCLASS
Bringing Your Characters to Life ~ Deonie Fiford

Every writer wants their characters to be as realistic as possible, but how can you make readers believe in them? How can you bring them to life? Experienced editor Deonie Fiford will help you discover how to show your characters to the reader and strengthen your writing skills. The masterclass will focus on the importance of ‘show, don’t tell’ and how this can enhance characterisation, as well as exploring voice, dialogue and other techniques. Participants will complete a number of writing exercises that will give them the skills and confidence to create vivid, memorable characters.

N.B. Writers who have, or are currently working on a manuscript or who have written a body of short stories are invited to apply for this Masterclass. Please submit 10-15 pages (and a one page synopsis if submitting a manuscript partial) to Deonie through the Bundaberg Writers Club Inc via email to novels@sandycurtis.com or hard copy to PO Box 1486, Bundaberg Qld 4670 by 9 April 2010. Participants will be selected by Deonie based on this submission. The masterclass is limited to 10 participants. Writers will be advised of the outcome of their application by 30 April.

Deonie Fiford has more than ten years experience as a senior editor within the Australian publishing industry. She currently works as a freelance editor and teacher.