Welcome to the Writers Connect newsletter Issue 39.
Writing is a human experience. It’s about connection with everyone and everything around us.
We understand you’re busy. So the newsletter usually has just four or five main items of content. A brief but satisfying read.
In this issue:
- Write Here, Right Now: Livestream Writing Events
- Word of the Day. An unusual word to keep your writing fresh
- Get Inspired
- Writing Tip
Write Here, Right Now: What’s Happening in Writing
Writers Connect Issue 39 features several livestream events run by Queensland Writers Centre. The first event is on Sunday 14 February 2021.
For dates and times, the events in this newsletter all relate to the time zone for Queensland, Australia, so check your time zone converter.
Livestream Event 1: Let’s Write About Sex
This workshop is about ‘the craft of writing a sex scene. From the nitty gritty of the act, to how to build tension that leaves your reader wanting more…’ This is both a live-stream and a face-to-face event. Links are given below for both formats.
Organiser: Queensland Writers Centre
When: Sunday 14 February 2021
Time: 1.30 pm—4.30 pm AEST
Presenter: Amy Andrews
Entry: $35—$49
To attend the face-to-face event: https://queenslandwriters.org.au/events/write-about-sex
To attend the live-stream event: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/live-stream-lets-write-about-sex-with-amy-andrews-tickets-131808415519
Livestream Event 2: Historical Fiction: Don’t Forget The Story
In this workshop, New York Times bestseller, Natasha Lester, takes you through the four key elements of historical fiction – character, research, setting, and plot. You’ll learn how to write ‘a compelling story that sweeps them away to another time and place’.
Organiser: Queensland Writers Centre
When: Saturday 20 February 2021
Presenter: Natasha Lester
Entry: $35—$49
To attend the live-stream event: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/live-stream-historical-fiction-dont-forget-the-story-with-natasha-lester-tickets-133172204649
Livestream Event 3: Freelance Writing Masterclass
‘Get insider knowledge from an award-winning feature writer on how to get paid for good writing!’
Organiser: Queensland Writers Centre
When: Sunday 21 March 2021
Time: 10.30 am—1.30 pm
Presenter: Christine Jackman
Entry: $35—$49
To attend the live-stream event: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/live-stream-freelance-writing-masterclass-with-christine-jackman-tickets-136384891883
Livestream Event 4: Kickstart Your Self-Publishing Career
This is both a face-to-face and a livestream event. You will learn to ‘set yourself up for self-publishing success by developing a lead magnet and learning how to distribute and market your work’.
Organiser: Queensland Writers Centre
When: Saturday 27 March 2021
Time: 10.30 am—4.30 pm
Presenter: Kylie Fennell
Entry: $55—$69
To attend the face-to-face event: https://queenslandwriters.org.au/events/kickstart-your-self-publishing-career
To attend the live-stream event: https://queenslandwriters.org.au/events/stream-self-pub
Livestream Event 5: Tight Tense Thrillers
In this workshop, you will ‘learn new skills and approaches to plotting out a compelling narrative from the killer hook at the beginning to landing the big twists throughout’. Sounds thrilling!
Organiser: Queensland Writers Centre
When: Saturday 17 April 2021
Time: 10.30 am—1.30 pm
Presenter: J.P. Pomare
Entry: $35—$49
To attend the live-stream event: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/live-stream-tight-tense-thrillers-with-jp-pomare-tickets-140616926011
Word of the Day
haboob
This Arabic word refers to an intense dust storm carried on a gravity current. Haboobs occur regularly in arid regions of the world.
Inspirational Quote
The most beautiful things are those that madness prompts and reason writes. Essential to remain between the two, close to madness when you dream and close to reason when you write―André Gide (1869—1951), French author and winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Writing Tip
I like this suggestion from a writer on the site Daily Writing Tips. It resonates with what I say to my book coaching clients: ‘Just write, put your internal critic on hold at first, there’s plenty of time for editing later!’
Bill Harper says, ‘Try not to edit while you’re creating your first draft. Creating and editing are two separate processes using different sides of the brain, and if you try doing both at once you’ll lose. Make a deal with your internal editor that it will get the chance to rip your piece to shreds; it will just need to wait some time’ (Daily Writing Tips, 11 December 2007, https://www.dailywritingtips.com/34-writing-tips-that-will-make-you-a-better-writer/).