AWC Newsletter: Thursday 30 January 2020
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30 January 2020
Last week, I promised you the big reveal of the 5-metre public art installation I’ve designed that’s going to be exhibited at Circular Quay in Sydney. Well, like many things that have to go through a creative process, it’s taken longer than expected!
So I only have a progress shot for you above. (If you follow my personal profile on social media, you’ll know by now that it’s going to be a sculpture of a rooster, which is one of the signs of the zodiac being celebrated by the Lunar Festival. And in the background you can see some of its tail.)
Rest assured the full picture will definitely be ready next week. Why am I sure of this? Because the contract says so!
If you want the best outcome for any big creative project, I strongly suggest that you rely on some great experts to help you achieve your vision. With this art installation, I’m taking advice from engineers, makers, lighting experts, mentors, you name it.
The same goes for any manuscript you’re writing. While much of your writing can be done in isolation, if you want to polish it and ensure the best possible result, you need a structural editor, beta readers, proofreader and a cheer squad to keep you on the right track.
Few creatives succeed on their own. Some might, but it’s a lot harder to go it alone. So find supporters, take a course, ask your tutor for advice, and hang out with like-minded people. Your creative journey will be a whole lot more enjoyable if you do!
Have a great week…
Valerie
PS. Speaking of surrounding yourself with supporters, it’s not too late to jump on board MOJO MONTH – kicking off this weekend and running throughout February. With daily motivational topics, creative challenges and an online community of fellow MOJO members, it could be the boost you need. See below for more!
MOJO MONTH: Leap into 2020
This is it – no more putting it off. Our first MOJO Month live event for 2020 begins on Saturday and promises to be a fun, eye-opening and inspirational bootcamp of motivation and creativity – super affordable and designed to fit around your schedule. Delivering daily mojo-boosting morsels and a supportive community of like-minded writers, it could be just what you need to leap into your best year ever. The doors close very soon so click the button to find out more and join.
SPOTLIGHT: The ultimate copywriter mentorship
If you want to explore how to get more clients as a copywriter and sell your skills in the best way, our online course in How to Build a Successful Freelance Copywriting Business is for you. Yes, it’s a very long name but it has a very short goal – to make you a more profitable copywriter. Individuals would normally pay copywriting guru Bernadette Schwerdt thousands for her mentoring expertise – instead enjoy five weeks’ access to her at a fraction of the price and have your phone ringing off the dial in 2020…
WEEKLY TEASER: Don’t nod!
Can you identify the curious thing that the following five questions all have in common?
- Never odd or even?
- as it a car or a cat I saw?
- Borrow or rob?
- A nut for a jar of tuna?
- Eva, can I see bees in a cave?
Answer at the end of the newsletter.
ON THE BLOG: 21 ways to reinvent yourself
From time to time, everyone goes through stages of life where we become a bit unsure about who we are or what we should be doing. If you feel like you want to be a different version of you, check out these simple tips that won’t involve body-shifting or identity theft…
RECENT REVIEW: Write Your Novel
Karen Thurecht completed the Write Your Novel program online recently and this is what she had to say:
“My skills as a writer improved beyond my expectations as a result of participating in this course. I am a process person, and through this course I learned the steps that it takes to create a novel. My tutor had a knack for knowing exactly what I needed at each point in my progression. It's essential for anyone serious about writing a novel – a straightforward, supportive way to learn the skills, the process and the sensitivities of writing.”
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Q&A: Quick fire questions…
In this week's episode: Meet Sue McPherson, author of Brontide and discover top ways you can reinvent yourself in 2020.
You can listen on our blog or find it on iTunes or listen via Spotify.
We have a Facebook group for fans of Valerie and Allison’s weekly writing chats on So you want to be a writer – and you’re invited!
We’d love you to join in the fun, so click the button below.
COMING SOON: Fiction Essentials: Grammar and Punctuation
We have a new online course in development – sure to be a ‘must have' for any fiction writer looking to gain more confidence. Fiction Essentials: Grammar and Punctuation has been compiled by our Creative Director Pamela Freeman and we’re excited that it will be ready to launch soon. To be one of the first to know when it does, register YOUR interest today!
QUICK TIP: Suffixes and hyphens
Most suffixes are attached to words without a hyphen.
EXAMPLES:
- sizeable, manageable, pinkish
However, the suffixes –fold and –odd are preceded by a hyphen.
EXAMPLES:
- He increased revenue three-fold.
- There were 100-odd guests at the wedding.
If you want more conundrums like this solved at your fingertips, grab a copy of our Australian Business Style Guide – coming to the rescue of every office argument or sudden moment of confusion and loaded with commonly mistaken words, grammar, punctuation and more.
THIS WEEK’S BOOK GIVEAWAY
Last week, we were giving away three copies of Inner Worlds Outer Spaces by Ceridwen Dovey. Congrats to Max Graham, Natalia Bornay and Eden Annesley.
This week’s giveaway book is Mitch Albom’s (Tuesdays with Morrie) first non-fiction work in a decade – Finding Chika. You can enter on our BLOG right now…
Entries close 3 February 2020. Good luck!
Valerie’s Word of the Week: Octothorpe
Do you know what an octothorpe is? It sounds like an Ian Thorpe with eight legs – but it's not. In fact, it's the name for the hash symbol (#). Yes, the little noughts and crosses square that you use when you hashtag things on social media!
THE FINAL WORD
For more writing inspiration, follow us on Instagram.
Upcoming course dates
Online courses
MOJO MONTH: Leap into 2020 with the Australian Writers' Centre
STARTS SATURDAY 1 February 2020 for 29 days
Creative Writing Quest for Kids with Allison Tait
Week beginning Monday 3 February 2020
Writing Picture Books Masterclass with Cathie Tasker
Week beginning Monday 3 February 2020
How to Build a Successful Freelance Copywriting Business with Bernadette Schwerdt
Week beginning Monday 3 February 2020 for five weeks
Short Story Essentials with Cathie Tasker
Week beginning Monday 3 February 2020
Writing Chapter Books for 6-9 year olds with Lesley Gibbes
Week beginning Monday 3 February 2020
Freelance Writing Stage 1 with Alexandra Spring
Week beginning Monday 3 February 2020 for five weeks
Creative Writing Stage 1 with Cathie Tasker
Week beginning Monday 10 February 2020 for five weeks
Travel Writing with Sue White
Week beginning Monday 10 February 2020 for five weeks
Novel Writing Essentials with Cathie Tasker
Week beginning Monday 10 February 2020 for eight weeks
Writing Picture Books with Zanni Louise
Week beginning Monday 10 February 2020 for five weeks
Copywriting Essentials with Bernadette Schwerdt
Week beginning Monday 17 February 2020 for five weeks
Write Your Novel 12-month program with Cathie Tasker
Week beginning Monday 23 March 2020 for 12 months
SEO Copywriting with Bernadette Schwerdt
Week beginning Monday 23 April 2020 for five weeks
Write Your Novel six-month program with Cathie Tasker
Week beginning Monday 11 May 2020 for six months
Sydney courses
Life Writing with Patti Miller – JOIN WAITLIST
Saturday 1 and Saturday 8 February 2020 (Two Saturdays)
Write Your Novel with Bernadette Foley – ALMOST FULL
Monday 3 February 2020 for six months
Profile Writing with David Leser
Sunday 9 February 2020 (Half-day)
Novel Writing Essentials with Pamela Freeman
Wednesday 12 February 2020 for eight Wednesday evenings
Freelance Writing Stage 1 with Alexandra Spring
Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 February 2020 (Two days)
Plain English Business Writing with Grant Doyle
Wednesday 19 February 2020 (One day)
History, Mystery and Magic with Kate Forsyth – ONE PLACE LEFT
Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 February 2020 (Two days)
Editing Essentials with Deb Doyle
Wednesday 26 February 2020 (One day)
Creative Writing Stage 1 with L.A. Larkin
Saturday 29 February and Sunday 1 March 2020 (Two days)
Writing for the Web and Mobile with Grant Doyle
Wednesday 4 March 2020 (One day)
Writing Picture Books with Cathie Tasker
Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March 2020 (Two days)
Grammar and Punctuation Essentials with Deb Doyle
Wednesday 18 March 2020 (One day)
Travel Writing with Sue White
Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March 2020 (Two days)
Plotting and Planning with Kate Forsyth
Saturday 4 April 2020 (One day)
Life Writing with Patti Miller
Saturday 2 and Saturday 9 May 2020 (Two days)
Crime and Thriller Writing with L.A. Larkin
Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May 2020 (Two days)
Food Writing with Carli Ratcliff
Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 June 2020 (Two days)
How to Write for Children and Young Adults with Sue Whiting
Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July 2020 (Two days)
Screenwriting for Television with Holly Lyons
Saturday 1 August 2020 (One day)
The Story Doctor with Kate Forsyth
Saturday 31 October and Saturday 7 November 2020 (Two days)
Melbourne courses
Creative Writing Stage 1 with Nicole Hayes – JOIN WAITLIST
Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 February 2020 (Two days)
Freelance Writing Stage 1 with Cindy MacDonald
Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 February 2020 (Two days)
Life Writing with Patti Miller – JOIN WAITLIST
Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March 2020 (Two days)
Creative Writing Stage 1 with Nicole Hayes
Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March 2020 (Two days)
Writing Picture Books with Judith Rossell
Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May 2020 (Two days)
Perth courses
Creative Writing Stage 1 with Annabel Smith
Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 February 2020 (Two days)
Freelance Writing Stage 1 with Cindy MacDonald – SPECIAL EVENT
Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March 2020 (Two days)
Writing Picture Books with Judith Rossell – SPECIAL EVENT
Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2020 (Two days)
Brisbane courses
Creative Writing Stage 1 with Angela Slatter
Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 February 2020 (Two days)
Writing Picture Books with Zanni Louise
Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 March 2020 (Two days)
Freelance Writing Stage 1 with Cindy MacDonald – SPECIAL EVENT
Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October 2020 (Two days)
Overseas
Creative Writing in Stratford-upon-Avon with Kate Forsyth
30 August – 7 September 2020
Memoir Writing in Paris with Patti Miller
15 – 29 October 2020
Online self-paced courses
CREATIVE
Fiction Essentials: DIALOGUE by Pamela Freeman
Fiction Essentials: CHARACTERS by Pamela Freeman
Fiction Essentials: POINT OF VIEW by Pamela Freeman
COMING SOON! Fiction Essentials: GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION by Pamela Freeman
Anatomy of a Crime: How to Write About Murder by Candice Fox
Make Time to Write by Allison Tait
2 Hours to Scrivener Power by Natasha Lester
Creative Writing 30-day Bootcamp by Allison Tait
Inside Publishing: What You Need to Know to Get Published by Pamela Freeman
Build Your Author Platform by Allison Tait
Pitch Your Novel: How to Attract Agents and Publishers by Natasha Lester
Self-publish your Novel on Kindle by Linda Diggle
Book Covers That Sell by Julia Kuris
FREELANCE
The Business of Freelancing by Valerie Khoo
Profile Writing by David Leser
Content Writing by Valerie Khoo
Real Estate Copywriting by Dean Koorey
BUSINESS
How to Write Media Releases by Valerie Khoo
Professional Business Writing by Australian Writers' Centre
Successful Self-publishing: Print and Ebooks by Linda Diggle
Write a Business Book by Valerie Khoo
BLOGGING
Blogging for Beginners by Australian Writers' Centre
How to Get More Blog Readers by Nicole Avery
Reinvent Yourself by Valerie Khoo
Online membership program
Freelance Writing Masterclass Program with Valerie Khoo
Team training
If you have team members requiring training, we can bring any of our courses listed below straight to your workplace.
Plain English Business Writing – Clear, concise writing for reports, proposals and memos.
Workplace Writing Workshop – Effective business correspondence and everyday writing skills.
Writing for the Web and Mobile – Tips and techniques to communicate more effectively online.
Editing Essentials – The skills you need to edit faster with greater confidence and fewer errors.
Grammar and Punctuation Essentials – Ensure your messages (from emails and letters to longer documents and reports) are perfectly polished – concise, clear and correct.
A-Z listing of all courses
Buy a gift voucher
Teaser solution: Don’t nod!
Did you spot it? They’re all PALINDROMES – reading the same backwards as forwards. And yes, of course “Don’t nod” is also a palindrome…
- Never odd or even?
- Was it a car or a cat I saw?
- Borrow or rob?
- A nut for a jar of tuna?
- Eva, can I see bees in a cave?
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