Gondor Writers' Centre - Gondor Writers' Centre Breaking News

MEMOIR FEEDBACK DATE EXTENDED

8/22/2020

We all have a wealth of stories to tell and one of the great joys is to be able to write those stories for others.

A memoir is a great opportunity to express an individual story in a unique manner that is not limited to chronological order. Readers expect them to be intimate and to provide personal insights into the lives of the characters.

While you can exercise creative license in the structure, style and even formatting of the work, there are technical rules that must be followed. However, the writing should reflect the writer's character and creativity.

How to get this right to make an interesting and compelling read is covered in this workshop.

Feedback: Send the first 10 pages of your writing by September 15th for feedback on the day. Appointments will be made for private Zoom meetings for feedback during the morning of the event or you can request an email evaluation.

Date: Sunday, September 20th

Evaluation: 9am to 10.30am by appointment on Zoom.
Email evaluations are now available.
Please send your submissions as a Word document if you want your evaluation emailed.

Workshop: 11am to 4.30pm

Where: Zoom online
Evaluation and workshop Cost: $80

EMAIL FEEDBACK NOW AVAILABLE: I have had requests for email feedback so have decided to include that. if you would rather have your evaluation by email, instead of on Zoom, please send it as Word document and state that when you send the submission. I will get it back to you before the workshop.

Go to the website to book. A worksheet will be emailed to you with the Zoom link. http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/memoir.html

New online workshop in the one thing you must get right...

8/8/2020

Isn't it great that we can now sit back in comfort and enjoy live workshops and have private feedback meetings at home? By connecting my computer to the TV I have been able to sit in the comfort of my lounge chair and watch many online workshops and festivals.

One thing to come out of this limiting situation we find ourselves in is the need to find a new way to do things. Over the past few months, I have been participating in and learning about online workshops on the Zoom platform. It's easy to use for both the organiser and the participant. I have been getting enquiries about workshops, so I decided I would go online too.

The first workshop covers the one thing you can't afford to get wrong no matter what you are writing. Character. If your reader doesn't care about your characters and engage with them right at the start of the story, you lose them. We will also be giving feedback on your characters in your work-in-progress. The details are below. Other workshops are listed in the calendar on the right.
Not sure how to use Zoom? It’s easy. We will send you the workshop link, and at the appointed time you click on the link and it will take you to the website page.

DEVELOPING OUTSTANDING AND MEMORABLE CHARACTERS - With morning assessment appointments for your work-in-progress. September 6th.

Many writers make the mistake of having characters who are not developed well enough and too similar to each other. Humans are not the same; we are all multidimensional beings. And you must know your character as well as you know yourself.

Nothing turns your reader off like flat and unbelievable characters.

This workshop examines the great characters in books and explores what makes them that way. We will also examine the many personality types we meet and show you how to portray them effectively.

For crime and mystery writers, the character workshop includes an examination of criminal types and what drives them to commit crimes.

Date and time: September 6th
Evaluations from 9am to 10.30am.
Workshop: 11am to 4.30 pm.
Cost: $80.00

Feedback: Send the first 10 pages of your writing by August 29th for feedback. Appointments will be made for private Zoom meetings for feedback during the morning of the event.

Go to the website page to book and pay. A worksheet will be emailed to you with the Zoom link. http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/developing-characters.html

Exciting new title - one for the budding picture book artists

6/2/2020

STRANGLED LINES AND MANGLED RHYMES -- Rosemary Coburn's Slightly Silly Snippets.

With this fun book you can create your own picture book. Read the poems and do your drawing of the scene.

This fun book is suitable for young artists and older artists who want practice turning words into art.

Lots of space on both pages to experiment and 24 poems to draw.

Go to the book's page to see a sample of the poems and set-up.

GONDOR WRITERS' CENTRE IS ON THE MOVE!

1/14/2020

From the end of January, we will be located on the beautiful Capricorn Coast in Central Queensland.

We are sad to leave the Sunshine Coast, our many friends, and our beautiful venue at Landsborough, but it's time for a change.

The new locations for workshops will be released soon. However, the services we offer will not change. Nor will the email address. If you want to contact us, email elaine@gondorwriterscentre.com, ron@gondorwriterscentre.com or phone us on 0417 351 717.

We will still be available for workshops and school and library visits on the Sunshine Coast, in Brisbane and anywhere in between when required. And still be involved in all things literary up there and down here. See you soon.

EXCITING NEW WORKSHOP PROGRAM

3/18/2019

WRITING FOR CHILDREN - CHAPTER BOOKS - DATE CHANGE - April 20th, 10am to 3pm - Instructor: Elaine Ouston
Writing for children requires as much, if not more, skill and perception than writing for adults. Many people believe it is easier than writing for adults. This is not so. The workshop includes feedback on the first 10 pages of your story.

INTRODUCTION TO SHORT STORY - April 27th - 8.30am to 1.30pm - Instructor: Elaine Ouston
How do you tell your story in a limited number of words and make it as interesting, exciting, and memorable as a novel?
The course will introduce writers to the craft of short fiction. We will be examining the structure that makes a short story powerful. And learning what to leave in and what to take out without spoiling the story. The workshop includes feedback on your story.

WRITING FOR CHILDREN - PICTURE BOOKS - May 4th, 10am to 3pm - Instructor: Elaine Ouston
Many people think writing picture books is easy. After all, they only have a small number of words. But writing an exciting story that will grip the young reader and make them want them to hear more is not as easy as it looks. Like all writing, technical skills are needed. The workshop includes feedback on the first 10 pages of your story.

MEMOIR - June 1st 10am to 3pm - Instructor Ron Day
We all have a wealth of stories to tell and one of the great joys is to be able to write those stories for others. The challenge is to express those stories with excitement and panache so that our readers can’t put the story down. We also need to know how to research the period to get the facts right. The workshop includes feedback on the first 10 pages of your story.

DEVELOPING OUTSTANDING AND MEMORABLE CHARACTERS - June 15th and 16th, 10am to 3pm - Instructor: Elaine Ouston
This workshop examines the great characters in books and explores what makes them that way. We will also examine the many personality types we meet and show you how to portray them effectively. For crime and mystery writers, the character workshop includes an examination of criminal types and what drives them to commit crimes. The workshop includes feedback on the first 10 pages of your story.

WRITERS' BOOTCAMP - DEVELOPING YOUR STORY INTO A BLOCKBUSTER - June 23rd, 8.30am to 4.30pm - Instructor: Elaine Ouston

We will be examining the construction of a few best sellers and learning what it was that made them that way. In this intensive workshop, you will learn how to develop the 7 things that make a bestseller. You will receive an evaluation on your writing and a full day of workshops and exercises to help you develop your story.

Go to the workshop page for more details and to book. http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshops.html

EXCITING NEW SCHOOL HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS

3/7/2019

WRITING AND ART WORKSHOPS WITH ELAINE OUSTON
Two different workshops to choose from:

PICTURE BOOK WORKSHOPS
APRIL 8TH AND 15TH
Students will receive fun writing tasks based around story structure, developing a character and story development. Then they will draw the pages and set up the book.

DRAWING AND CREATING A 3D PICTURE IN CLAY
APRIL 11TH AND 18TH
For children who love art, spend a fun day drawing a scene and creating a 3D image in clay. Go to the page for details:

http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/school-holiday-workshops-elaine-ouston.html

WRITING A ONE ACT PLAY WITH RON DAY
WRITING, DRAWING AND ACTING IN ONE WORKSHOP:
April 10th and 17th
This course will help students to create and perform a one-act play working in groups of two. Go to the page for details:
http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/holiday-workshops-ron-day.html

ILLUSTRATION WORKSHOPS WITH KERRY IDE
April 9th
For children who love to draw, love turtles and love the environment. Spend the day drawing turtles and learning about how we can help these endangered sea creatures that visit our very own Sunshine Coast Beaches. Go to the page for details:

http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/school-holiday-workshops-kerry-ide.html

DEVELOPING YOUR STORY INTO A BLOCKBUSTER

3/4/2019

What is a Blockbuster novel? It's a novel that out sells all others. Blockbuster novels appear in all genres. In the juvenile fiction category, Harry Potter and Game of Thrones come to mind. In the adult category, The Godfather, Gone With the Wind, The Thorne Birds are just a few. In romance, 50 Shades of Grey is just one.

No matter what you are writing, children's fiction, romance, or adult fiction, you have one goal; to write a book that the reader can't stop reading until the end.

Anyone can come up with an idea for a story, but to turn that idea into a best seller, you must use your imagination to come up with a way to make it LARGER THAN LIFE?

Albert Zuckerman, in his book, Writing the Block Buster Novel, says, 'Combine "high concept" with a strong dramatic question and you may have a better chance of coming up with a BIG BOOK.' (High concept being a radical or even somewhat outlandish premise or plot.)

Perhaps the most important ingredient in a “high concept” work is the same one that every good story requires: a main character with whom the reader or viewer can identify. The chief difference between a “high concept” story and a “regular” story is that the main character’s success or failure will have huge consequences not only for him, but for others.

At the workshops below, we will be showing you how to turn your story into a blockbuster. Send me the first 10 pages of your story for an evaluation before we start to give me an idea of help you need.

DEVELOPING YOUR STORY INTO A BLOCKBUSTER
- PROGRESSIVE WORKSHOPS

MARCH 11th & 25th & April 8th and 22nd 1.30 to 4pm
This is a hands-on course for all writers. In these intensive workshops, we will examine the technical aspects of your manuscript to make sure they are doing their job and equip you with tools and techniques to support your story and turn it into an exciting narrative. You will do exercises on all topics in the workshops.

Evaluation: If you have a work-in-progress, please send the first 10 pages of your manuscript 5 days before the workshop date for a progress appraisal.

We will cover the following subjects:

Workshop 1 – March 11th: Examining and developing your character until he/she jumps off the page. Developing strong, believable characters that your reader either loves or hates ... depending on your intention is vital. Many writers make the mistake of having characters who are too similar to each other and not well enough developed.

Workshop 2 – March 25th: Plotting your scenes to make sure the story progresses in a way that creates the tension needed to keep your reader hooked.
Examining Point of View and Tense to make sure you have chosen the best one for your story.

Workshop 3 – April 8th: Choosing the best setting for the story, describing it using all senses, and using it as a tool to add tension or peaceful interludes.

Workshop 4 – April 22nd: Adding hooks to keep the reader intrigued. Ways to strengthen your writing. The use of word pictures, metaphors and similes, show not tell, and the ability to create rising tension are all important tools. How to use these tools to create your masterpiece is covered in this workshop.

Format: Course for beginners, intermediate and advanced writers
Where: Gondor Writers’ Centre, 19 Caloundra St, Landsborough.
Cost: $60. per workshop. Pensioners $45 per workshop.

Two payment options: Discount available for payment for all workshops at once or pay before each workshop.

To book go to the website page. http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/developing-your-story.html

DO IT ALL IN ONE DAY:

WRITERS' BOOTCAMP - March 16th
Instructor: Elaine Ouston
Polish your manuscript until it shines with this intensive workshop, appraisal, and personal interview. They will get you writing and help you shape your work-in-progress into A BLOCKBUSTER.

This day of workshops and interviews will take you through all the things a publisher’s editor will be looking for and help you polish your story until it shines.

In this intensive workshop we will examine the technical aspects of your manuscript to make sure they are doing their job and equip you with tools and techniques to support your story and turn it into an exciting narrative.

Evaluation: If you have a work-in-progress, please send the first 10 pages of your manuscript for an appraisal so I can let you know what you need to focus on during the workshop. Manuscripts must be in by February 28th.

We will cover advanced workshops in:

* Ways to strengthen your writing

* Examining and developing your character until he/she jumps off the page

* Plotting your scenes to make sure the story progresses in a way that creates the tension needed to keep your reader hooked

* Examining Point of View and Tense

* Choosing the best setting for the story, describing it using all senses, and using it as a tool to add tension or peaceful interludes

* Adding hooks to keep the reader intrigued, and everything else you need to make your story exceptional.

This is a hands-on course for all writers. You will go away with ways to make your writing sing. To book, go to the website page.

http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/writers-bootcamp.htm

SOMETHING NEW!

2/25/2019

At the request of a group of writers, we are offering the following Monday progressive workshops. Details below or go to the website page. http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/developing-your-story.html

But if you want to do it all in one day you can choose the Saturday, The Writers' Bootcamp. Details below or go to the website page.
http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/writers-bootcamp.html

DEVELOPING YOUR STORY - PROGRESSIVE WORKSHOPS

MARCH 11th & 25th & April 8th and 22nd 1.30 to 4pm

This is a hands-on course for all writers. In these intensive workshops, we will examine the technical aspects of your manuscript to make sure they are doing their job and equip you with tools and techniques to support your story and turn it into an exciting narrative. You will do exercises on all topics in the workshops.

Evaluation: If you have a work-in-progress, please send the first 10 pages of your manuscript 5 days before the workshop date for a progress appraisal.

We will cover the following subjects:

Workshop 1 – March 11th: Examining and developing your character until he/she jumps off the page. Developing strong, believable characters that your reader either loves or hates ... depending on your intention is vital. Many writers make the mistake of having characters who are too similar to each other and not well enough developed.

Workshop 2 – March 25th: Plotting your scenes to make sure the story progresses in a way that creates the tension needed to keep your reader hooked.
Examining Point of View and Tense to make sure you have chosen the best one for your story.

Workshop 3 – April 8th: Choosing the best setting for the story, describing it using all senses, and using it as a tool to add tension or peaceful interludes.

Workshop 4 – April 22nd: Adding hooks to keep the reader intrigued. Ways to strengthen your writing. The use of word pictures, metaphors and similes, show not tell, and the ability to create rising tension are all important tools. How to use these tools to create your masterpiece is covered in this workshop.

Format: Course for beginners, intermediate and advanced writers
Where: Gondor Writers’ Centre, 19 Caloundra St, Landsborough.
Cost: $60. per workshop. Pensioners $45 per workshop.

Two payment options: Discount available for payment for all workshops at once or pay before each workshop.

To book go to the website page. http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/developing-your-story.html

DO IT ALL IN ONE DAY:

WRITERS' BOOTCAMP - March 16th
Instructor: Elaine Ouston

Polish your manuscript until it shines with this intensive workshop, appraisal, and personal interview. They will get you writing and help you shape your work-in-progress into an exciting narrative.

This day of workshops and interviews will take you through all the things a publisher’s editor will be looking for and help you polish your story until it shines.

In this intensive workshop we will examine the technical aspects of your manuscript to make sure they are doing their job and equip you with tools and techniques to support your story and turn it into an exciting narrative.

Evaluation: If you have a work-in-progress, please send the first 10 pages of your manuscript for an appraisal so I can let you know what you need to focus on during the workshop. Manuscripts must be in by February 28th.

We will cover advanced workshops in:

* Ways to strengthen your writing

* Examining and developing your character until he/she jumps off the page

* Plotting your scenes to make sure the story progresses in a way that creates the tension needed to keep your reader hooked

* Examining Point of View and Tense

* Choosing the best setting for the story, describing it using all senses, and using it as a tool to add tension or peaceful interludes

* Adding hooks to keep the reader intrigued, and everything else you need to make your story exceptional.

See the program below for more details.

This is a hands-on course for all writers. You will go away with ways to make your writing sing. To book, go to the website page.

http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/writers-bootcamp.html

Everything you need to be a great writer

2/7/2019

When I put out my survey last year, the thing I was most asked for was a workshop that would help stimulate imagination to expand on a story idea, and help with story structure.

Next weekend's workshop will take you through all the things you need to turn that idea into a great story.

I was also asked to include evaluations, interviews, examples and exercises. All workshops will now have all four.

I hope to see you there. Check out the details below or book now on the workshop's page http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/turning-your-idea-into-a-story.html

WAKING YOUR IMAGINATION AND EXPLORING STORY STRUCTURE

Saturday February 23rd, 8.30am to 1.30pm. Instructor: Elaine Ouston

The workshop is suitable for writing for adults and children in all forms; from short stories, memoirs, and novels to picture books.

It will help you turn that idea into a story everyone will want to read by showing you how to add excitement, depth and intrigue.

We will also explore the building blocks that make a compelling story that no one can put down.

Feedback: Send the first 10 pages of your writing by February 18th for feedback on the day.

The course includes:

From boring to exciting: Turning a story idea into an exciting story only takes a bit of imagination. We will explore how to stimulate your imagination to make this happen.

Point of view: New writers are often baffled when trying to choose a point of view for their stories and novels. In this workshop we will look at the pitfalls and benefits of them all and help you discover the right one for your story.

Plotting: Plotting your story is vital. Trying to write a story without a plot is like going on a journey without a map. Most writers who experience writer's block do so because they get lost on the way and have no clear direction.

Setting: Well described and interesting setting description will transport your reader to the world of your story. We will also examine the way we can use setting to add mood to the story.

Realistic and Engaging Characters: Characters make the story. Many characters in stories are flat. They don't have to be that way. We will look at ways to make them believable and memorable.

Rising tension: How to add excitement, depth and intrigue, and much more. What will make your reader stayed glued to the story until the end? Tension. We examine the six key things that will help you achieve that.

This is a practical, hands-on course where writers will be experimenting with different ways to use each element.

Go to the web page for more details and to book.
http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/turning-your-idea-into-a-story.html

Date: Saturday February 23rd 2018

Time: 8.30am to 1.30pm

Where: Gondor Writers’ Centre, 19 Caloundra St, Landsborough.

Cost: $60

All it takes to be great at anything is to decide that is what you want. Once you have made that decision, you will get serious about how to make it happen and search for the best ways.

Writing a great story of any kind requires much technical skill, but these skills can be learned.

Like all professions, to be the best at what you do, you have to work at it. Many people can tell a story, but if it doesn't excite and intrigue the reader on the first page they won't read on.

These skills are needed whatever you are writing: short story, picture book, chapter books for children, poems, memoirs, novels, etc. Every professional had to put in the hard yards to learn their vocation. A writer is no different.

It is time to invest in your dream and take the courses you need. The cost is very reasonable. We keep our prices down because we know how important these workshops are to writers.

Our workshop plan to April is out now. All workshops include feedback, examples, and exercises.

More details are available on the website's workshop page. http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshops.html

Many more are in the planning stages for later in the year.

Entertainment that educates

1/15/2019