Resources
All writers have their own way of working. Some work a consistent fifty hours a week and set a word target, others create in brief and fierce flurries of activity. Some writers know their plot exactly and walk their characters through it, while others watch their characters run off in all directions and struggle to keep up with them. There’s no right way of writing but there are simple things you can do to improve your chances of writing something others might want to read.
All writers have their own way of working. Some work a consistent fifty hours a week and set a word target, others create in brief and fierce flurries of activity. Some writers know their plot exactly and walk their characters through it, while others watch their characters run off in all directions and struggle to keep up with them. There’s no right way of writing but there are simple things you can do to improve your chances of writing something others might want to read.
- Read as much as possible. This will help you hone your craft and gain knowledge of the industry and the writers who have already succeeded.
- Understand that you are writing for an audience. Look for opportunities to get opinions on your writing.
- Take every available opportunity to develop your skills and practice your writing. Workshops, conferences, training, seminars, readings, author talks, festivals and other industry related events will all benefit your writing.
- Find your voice. You may be influenced by the writers you fall in and out of love with as you develop but along the way you need to carve out your own niche and way of looking at the world.
- Write. So many writers find excuses not to write. If you can’t find time to write then you might not want it badly enough. If you don’t write, you’re not a writer.
useful links
As a writer it is vital that you develop your craft, just like any other profession. We encourage you to apply for and engage in appropriate opportunities, whenever possible.
The Writing Zone:
https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/writing_and_society/about/the_writing_zone
WSU Poetry & Poetics Project:
http://poetryandpoetics.org
- Canva resources for DIY publishing:
- https://designschool.canva.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/groups/CanvaDesignCircle/
- https://katedanielle.com/10-things-everyone-should-know-about-canva/
- wordpress https://wordpress.com/refer-a-friend/w7XYK1esVO1NLwOoX2eN/
The Writing Zone:
https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/writing_and_society/about/the_writing_zone
WSU Poetry & Poetics Project:
http://poetryandpoetics.org
events & Courses
Online: Writing Romance
11–17 May 2022
Come to this workshop with author Anne Gracie prepared to write and read, and improve your writing skills with practical writing exercises.
Writing Fiction From Life
14 May, 10am-4pm
Join Kavita Bedford, author of the critically acclaimed novel Friends & Dark Shapes, for a workshop on how to draw from personal perspectives to shape fiction and characters.
Writing Mind, Body, Spirit
28 May 2022, 10am-4pm
Join author and former publisher at Allen & Unwin, Maggie Hamilton and discover the secrets of the mind, body, spirit genre.
The Art of Poetry
6 x Tuesday evenings: 24, 31 May; 7, 14, 21, 28 June 2022, 6.30-9.30pm
This six-week poetry course, which follows on from Judith Beveridge’s Poesis: The Making of a Poem, is open to all writers with some experience in poetry.
Writing Emotions
4 June 2022, 10am-4pm
This course with Meera Atkinson explores emotion, feeling, affect and embodiment, and why they matter when it comes to writing.
Balancing Backstory
4 June 2022, 10am-4pm
Through writing exercises and looking at excerpts from published books, this course with Laurel Cohn will give you a deeper understanding of how to use backstory effectively
Online Feedback: Manuscript Development
6 June to 19 August 2022
Rebecca Lim will provide feedback on your manuscript and a synopsis in an online classroom environment, enabling you to hone your skills over three months.
Online Feedback: Short Stories
6 June to 19 August 2022
Author Eugen Bacon will provide feedback on your short fiction in an online classroom environment, enabling you to hone your skills over three months.
Advanced Memoir Writing Masterclass
18 June 2022, 10am-4pm
Look at the very real reasons for avoiding the truth, navigate the borderlands with fiction, explore ways of telling the truth and surviving
Learn on-demand with Writing NSW
Writing NSW has on-demand courses you can do at any time, from anywhere. Sign up to one of our courses today.
11–17 May 2022
Come to this workshop with author Anne Gracie prepared to write and read, and improve your writing skills with practical writing exercises.
Writing Fiction From Life
14 May, 10am-4pm
Join Kavita Bedford, author of the critically acclaimed novel Friends & Dark Shapes, for a workshop on how to draw from personal perspectives to shape fiction and characters.
Writing Mind, Body, Spirit
28 May 2022, 10am-4pm
Join author and former publisher at Allen & Unwin, Maggie Hamilton and discover the secrets of the mind, body, spirit genre.
The Art of Poetry
6 x Tuesday evenings: 24, 31 May; 7, 14, 21, 28 June 2022, 6.30-9.30pm
This six-week poetry course, which follows on from Judith Beveridge’s Poesis: The Making of a Poem, is open to all writers with some experience in poetry.
Writing Emotions
4 June 2022, 10am-4pm
This course with Meera Atkinson explores emotion, feeling, affect and embodiment, and why they matter when it comes to writing.
Balancing Backstory
4 June 2022, 10am-4pm
Through writing exercises and looking at excerpts from published books, this course with Laurel Cohn will give you a deeper understanding of how to use backstory effectively
Online Feedback: Manuscript Development
6 June to 19 August 2022
Rebecca Lim will provide feedback on your manuscript and a synopsis in an online classroom environment, enabling you to hone your skills over three months.
Online Feedback: Short Stories
6 June to 19 August 2022
Author Eugen Bacon will provide feedback on your short fiction in an online classroom environment, enabling you to hone your skills over three months.
Advanced Memoir Writing Masterclass
18 June 2022, 10am-4pm
Look at the very real reasons for avoiding the truth, navigate the borderlands with fiction, explore ways of telling the truth and surviving
Learn on-demand with Writing NSW
Writing NSW has on-demand courses you can do at any time, from anywhere. Sign up to one of our courses today.
opportunities
9 May: Barbara Jefferis Award
The Award is offered biennially for “the best novel written by an Australian author that depicts women and girls in a positive way or otherwise empowers the status of women and girls in society”.
9 May: The Writers’ Room
Think+Do Tank Foundation has opened applications for The Writers’ Room, an opportunity for writers in Greater Western Sydney working in languages in addition to English to develop their craft.
10 May: QLD Writers Centre – Publishable 2022
Publishable gives up to 25 successful applicants with completed manuscripts the chance to take part in a tailored manuscript development program
14 May: ZineWest
ZineWest is a print anthology and competition for new Western Sydney poets and writers
16 May: The WestWords/Ultimo Prize
The Prize welcomes submissions from emerging writers of fiction and narrative non-fiction with a completed, previously unpublished manuscript who have a connection to Western Sydney.
27 May: AALITRA Translation Awards 2022
The Awards aim to acknowledge the wealth of literary translation skills present in the Australian community.
30 May: Copyright Agency Environmental Writing Fellowships
Notre Dame University is offering six writing mentorships as part of the Environmental Writing project.
30 May: Hunter Writers Centre – Grieve 2022
Submit stories up to 500 words and poems up to 36 lines about grief and loss
31 May: Rabbit - Issue 36: the ART Issue
Rabbit is currently accepting submissions of nonfiction poetry, to be guest co-edited by Leah Muddle and Angela Gardner.
31 May: The Australian/Vogel's Literary Award
Open to writers under 35 with an unpublished manuscript. $20,000 prize.
1 June: The Long Way Home 2022 Writing Competition
All Clarence Valley writers, poets, dreamers and creatives are encouraged to submit their work
outLOUD: First Nations LGBTIQA+ Story and Writing Group
outLOUD is a much-needed step to invite, encourage and upskill members of our First Nations LGBTIQA+ communities across Australia. For more information and to register for future meetings please contact [email protected]
The Award is offered biennially for “the best novel written by an Australian author that depicts women and girls in a positive way or otherwise empowers the status of women and girls in society”.
9 May: The Writers’ Room
Think+Do Tank Foundation has opened applications for The Writers’ Room, an opportunity for writers in Greater Western Sydney working in languages in addition to English to develop their craft.
10 May: QLD Writers Centre – Publishable 2022
Publishable gives up to 25 successful applicants with completed manuscripts the chance to take part in a tailored manuscript development program
14 May: ZineWest
ZineWest is a print anthology and competition for new Western Sydney poets and writers
16 May: The WestWords/Ultimo Prize
The Prize welcomes submissions from emerging writers of fiction and narrative non-fiction with a completed, previously unpublished manuscript who have a connection to Western Sydney.
27 May: AALITRA Translation Awards 2022
The Awards aim to acknowledge the wealth of literary translation skills present in the Australian community.
30 May: Copyright Agency Environmental Writing Fellowships
Notre Dame University is offering six writing mentorships as part of the Environmental Writing project.
30 May: Hunter Writers Centre – Grieve 2022
Submit stories up to 500 words and poems up to 36 lines about grief and loss
31 May: Rabbit - Issue 36: the ART Issue
Rabbit is currently accepting submissions of nonfiction poetry, to be guest co-edited by Leah Muddle and Angela Gardner.
31 May: The Australian/Vogel's Literary Award
Open to writers under 35 with an unpublished manuscript. $20,000 prize.
1 June: The Long Way Home 2022 Writing Competition
All Clarence Valley writers, poets, dreamers and creatives are encouraged to submit their work
outLOUD: First Nations LGBTIQA+ Story and Writing Group
outLOUD is a much-needed step to invite, encourage and upskill members of our First Nations LGBTIQA+ communities across Australia. For more information and to register for future meetings please contact [email protected]