Sydney Writers' Centre- Reader's Digest 100 Word Story competition ...

Sydney Writers? Centre- Reader?s Digest 100 Word Story competition
More student success ? Congratulations

Magazine and Newspaper Writing
TIP: It?s or its?
WEBPICK: 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels

Online Travel Writing Course

It?s info-packed and full of practical ideas that can help you get started straight away. I co-created this course so I know it?s full of useful tips and ideas that you usually only learn about when you?re in the industry.

You?ll discover:
about the different types of travel articles and why they suit different markets.
how to speak the language ? understanding the industry lingo.
how to develop the right angle for your travel story so it doesn?t resemble a six hour
holiday slideshow.
how to structure your articles, using photos and trip notes effectively.
how to research travel stories, plan your itineraries and find interview subjects on the road.
how to write without ever getting on a plane ? discovering your hometown or state.
how to stay out of trouble by following travel writing ethics.
the best way to approach editors and pitch your story to perfection.
insights from professional travel writers around the world through access to exclusive
audio interviews!
and MUCH more!

Online course: Travel Writing with Sue White
5-week course starting Monday 3 September 2012
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Click here for more information or to enrol online.
TIP: Should you end a sentence with a preposition?
Giving advice on grammar is hard ? especially when there is so much disagreement around some of the ?rules?. Like the rule that says you should never end a sentence with a preposition. As Winston Churchill (apparently) said, ?This is the type of errant pedantry up with which I will not put.?

So what does this rule actually mean? According to Robert Lowth, who wrote one of the first English grammar textbooks in 1762, the preposition should always be placed before the noun, because the word preposition means ?position before?. A preposition is a positioning word ? at, by, for, into, off, on, out, over, to, under, up, with.

If you adhere to this rule, this sentence:

What did you step on?

Should be changed to:

On what did you step?

This rule (or myth, as some call it) is contentious because in conversation, we often end sentences in prepositions. Now, most grammarians agree that if the sentence sounds right when it?s ending in a preposition, it?s perfectly ok to do that. But if you think you can remove the preposition without changing the meaning of your sentence, you should do so.

More Student Success

Congratulations to Yatu Widders, who emailed us this week with some very exciting news. After completing the Magazine and Newspaper Writing course with Marina Go in March this year she?s been busy pitching ? and has just scored her first commission. Here?s what she wrote to us:

Just wanted to say a huge thank you for the courses you offer. After taking two of them earlier this year, I have just been offered my first paid writing job!

I took the Magazine and Newspaper Writing course and the Twitter seminar. Both were incredibly useful and it was through the contacts I made on Twitter (once I took the course and figured out how to use it effectively) that led me to my first paid gig. I am now a regular paid blogger for Peppermint Magazine ? which just happens to be my favourite mag!

I can?t believe it has only been a few months since I have done the courses and I?m already getting paid to write!

Great news, Yatu. We can?t wait to hear about more of your articles.

Reader?s Digest 100 Word Story Contest
Can you write a story in exactly 100 words? That?s the challenge Readers? Digest has set. They want stories of 100 words, no more and no less, and the winner will receive $1000 plus publication in Reader?s Digest. Two runners-up will also be awarded $250.

Think you can do it? You can submit your story here until Friday 30 November 2012.

Upcoming courses

Writing Picture Books

Learn how to turn your story idea into a picture book that will capture the imagination of children. Cathie Tasker, editor and children?s book expert, will guide you through this five-week course, covering illustrations, language and rhythm, finding the right voice, and much more. This course is perfect if you?d
like to write for children aged 7 and younger.

5-week course starting Wednesday 5 September 2012
Time: 6.30 pm ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Online course: Writing Book for Children and Young Adults

Are you writing longer books for children aged 8 and up? Then you should consider our Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults. These older readers want stories and characters they feel passionately about, and Judith Ridge will show you how to achieve that. During this course you?ll learn how to get started, the secrets of plotting for different age groups, finding the right voice and much more. And you can do all this from wherever you are, at a time that suits you.

Week beginning Monday 3 September 2012 for 5 weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Successful Freelancing

If you?ve been freelancing for at least six months and want to take your business to the next level, our Successful Freelancing seminar will show you how. During this intensive two-hour seminar you?ll cover the business basics of freelancing, how to get repeat commissions and build your profile as a writer, and how to ensure your freelancing work brings you a regular income. The most important thing to remember is that ?freelance? does not equal ?poor?.

2-hour evening seminar on Tuesday 11 September 2012
Time: 6.30 pm ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Did you know? The New Yorker and teen-agers
If you?re a regular reader of The New Yorker, you may have noticed their liberal use of hyphens, in particular their odd spelling for the word ?teenager? ? teen-ager.

There was a time when The New Yorker was not alone in using the hyphen in teen-ager. Teenager is a relatively new word and first started appearing in written form back in the 1920s. Then, it was usually written as two words ? teen age or ager ? but the Oxford English Dictionary first listed the word as ?teen-ager? in 1941. The hyphen was used until around the late 1950s when it started being dropped and the word ?teenager? became the preferred version.

So why does The New Yorker still use the hyphen? It seems the editors there are reluctant to
update their style guide. The magazine is known for its very conservative (some would say
old-fashioned) grammatical and spelling choices, a style that hasn?t changed since it was first
published back in 1925.

TIP: It?s and its
One of our sharp-eyed readers spotted this typo in last week?s newsletter:

None of us would admit to judging a book by it?s cover.

Did you spot it? We should have written its cover, not it?s. Confusing it?s and its is one of the most common errors we see in writing, but it?s important you remember the difference between the two.

It?s is a contraction of ?it is? or ?it has?. For example:

It?s (it has) been a busy week at the Sydney Writers? Centre.
It looks like it?s (it is) going to rain today.

Its is a possessive pronoun, like his or her. It never takes an apostrophe. For example:

Every dog has its day.
The football team won its first game.

A good way to test if you?ve made the right choice is to replace it?s/its in your sentence with ?it is? or ?it has?. If the sentence still makes sense, use it?s. If not, use its.

Plan ahead ? Magazine and Newspaper Writing
One of our most popular courses here at the Centre is Magazine and Newspaper Writing. And it?s no wonder ? we regularly hear from students who have fulfilled their writing dreams in just five weeks, thanks to this course. Being such a popular course, we want to make sure anyone can do the course, no matter where you live. So we have three options coming up ? a weekend intensive, a five-week evening course, and an online course.

If you want to know how you can get paid for your writing, this is the course for you. You?ll learn how to develop story ideas, how to analyse publications, how to structure and write a feature article and, most importantly, how to pitch your story and get paid for it.
Magazine and Newspaper Writing WEEKEND INTENSIVE with Sue White
Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 September 2012 (two consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am ? 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Magazine and Newspaper Writing with Marina Go
Five Wednesday evening classes starting Wednesday 26 September 2012
Time: 6.30 pm ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

ONLINE COURSE: Magazine and Newspaper Writing with Sue White
Week beginning Monday 3 September for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

WEBPICK: 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels
In case your reading list isn?t long enough already ? here?s a list of the 100 best novels for young adults as decided in a book poll in the US that garnered over 75,000 votes. Whether you?re into writing young adult fiction or reading it, you?re bound to find plenty of inspiration in this list. It?s not a list of bestsellers ? it?s the young adult books readers have chosen as their favourites.

Not surprisingly, Harry Potter and The Hunger Games come out on top. But there are plenty of classics included here, such as To Kill a Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies. It?s also great to see some Australian authors included here ? Garth Nix comes in at number 40 with The Abhorsen Trilogy, and Markus Zusak?s The Book Thief is at number 10.

Other upcoming courses
Online Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Week beginning Monday 3 September 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White/Allison Tait
When: Week beginning Monday 3 September 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with James Roy
When: Every Monday starting Monday 3 September 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Build Your Profile on Twitter with Kerri Sackville ? NEW COURSE
When: Tuesday 4 September 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Course: Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 5 September 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge/Nicola Robinson
When: Week beginning Monday 10 September 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker ? NEW DATE
When: Week beginning Monday 10 September 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Course: Perfecting Your Pitch with Sue White
When: Tuesday 11 September and 18 September 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $175

Seminar: Successful Freelancing with Gayle Bryant
When: Tuesday 11 September 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Seminar: Self-publishing ? How to do it with Geoff Bartlett
When: Thursday 13 September 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Weekend course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Sue White
When: Saturday 15 September and Sunday 16 September 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am ? 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Online Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Pamela Freeman/Cathie Tasker
When: Week beginning Monday 17 September 2012 for five weeks
Time: Whenever suits you
Cost: $395

Program: Write Your Novel with Pamela Freeman ? FULL
When: Every Tuesday starting Tuesday 18 September 2012 for six months
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $1980

Seminar: From Blog to Book with Kerri Sackville
When: Thursday 20 September 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Weekend course: Your Story Structure with Kathryn Heyman
When: Saturday 22 September 2012 (one-day course)
Time: 10.00 am ? 4.00 pm
Cost: $250

Seminar: Introduction to Travel Writing with Geoff Bartlett
When: Tuesday 25 September 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Course: Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 with Marina Go
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 26 September 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Professional Business Writing with Sue White ? NEW DATE
When: Wednesday 26 September 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am ? 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: PR and Media Releases that Get Results with Catriona Pollard
When: Thursday 27 September 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am ? 5.00 pm
Cost: $495

Seminar: Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle ? NEW DATE
When: Tuesday 2 October (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am ? 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

Seminar: Business Writing Essentials with Tony Spencer-Smith ? NEW DATE
When: Friday 5 October 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am ? 4.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Travel Writing with Sue White
When: Every Monday starting Monday 8 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30pm
Cost: $395

Course: Creative Writing Stage 2 with Jeni Mawter
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 11 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Writing for the web with Grant Doyle ? NEW DATE
When: Thursday 11 October 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am ? 4.00 pm
Cost: $450

Weekend Course: Travel Memoir with Claire Scobie
When: Saturday 13 October and Sunday 14 October 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am ? 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: Editing Essentials with Deb Doyle
When: Tuesday 16 October 2012 (one-day seminar)
Time: 9.00 am ? 5.00 pm
Cost: $450

WEEKEND Course: Food Writing with Carli Ratcliff
When: Saturday 20 October and Sunday 21 October 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am ? 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

WEEKEND Course: Write a chick-lit novel with Lisa Heidke
When: Saturday 20 October and Sunday 21 October 2012 (2 consecutive days)
Time: 10.00 am ? 4.00 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Thriller Writing with L.A. Larkin
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 25 October 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Course: Writing About Interiors, Style and Design with Nigel Bartlett
When: Tuesday 30 October and 6 November 2012 (2 evening classes)
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $175

Seminar: Blogging for Beginners with Kim Berry ? NEW COURSE
When: Wednesday 31 October 2012 (two-hour evening seminar)
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $85

Course: Screenwriting Stage 1 with Tim Gooding
When: Every Wednesday starting Wednesday 7 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Daytime course: Creative Writing Stage 1 with Kate Forsyth ? NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 15 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 10.00 am ? 12.00 noon
Cost: $395

Course: Writing Books for Children and Young Adults with Judith Ridge ? NEW DATE
When: Every Thursday starting Thursday 15 November 2012 for five weeks
Time: 6.30 ? 8.30 pm
Cost: $395

Seminar: How to Write a Business Book with Valerie Khoo
When: Friday 16 November 2012 (half-day seminar)
Time: 9.30 am ? 1.00 pm
Cost: $295

2013 WRITING TOURS
Writing in Bali with Patti Miller ? NEW DATE
Arrival: Saturday 3 August 2013
Departure: Saturday 10 August 2013

Writing in Paris with Patti Miller ? NEW DATE
Arrival: Thursday 24 October 2013
Departure: Saturday 9 November 2013

Sydney Writers? Centre
Suite 3, 55 Lavender Street Milsons Point NSW 2061
www.sydneywriterscentre.com.au

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