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How do you add excitement, depth and intrigue to your story?

2/27/2017

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By using your imagination. Sadly, some of us had our imaginations reined in during our up-bringing. But your imagination can be stimulated.
 
Why do we need help waking our imagination? How can someone help you wake your imagination?
 
We are all born with an imagination. You only have to watch small children at play to see that. They can imagine themselves to be anything that they want. I'm sure you have heard them. They imagine that they are their favourite heroes and give the other kids roles. They then go on to create a scene and act it out.
 
So what happened to that imagination? In my opinion and experience, parents, teachers, and others stifled it. When I was a child I had a wonderful loving mother, but she was a practical down-to-earth person. I was the kind of child who had a strong imagination and if I said something she considered not possible or practical, she would tell me to 'stop talking nonsense'.
 
Fortunately for me, my father was just as imaginative as me. I remember one day standing looking up at a flock of birds flying overhead and saying, 'Wouldn't it be great to be able to fly like a bird. I could fly all over and see the rest of the world.'
 
My mum shook her head and said, 'Humans can't fly. We don't have wings and besides, we are far too big and heavy.'
 
My dad was there and he sidled up to me and said, 'It would be great wouldn't it. Where would you go first?' We started to talk about where we would go.
 
Mum chipped in, 'Stop encouraging her to talk nonsense. She needs to focus on learning practical things that will help her when she is older, and she needs to stop being such a dreamer.'
 
'Nothing wrong with having dreams,' my dad said.  We wandered away, sat and watched the birds and talked about how they could fly. Dad told me how their wings worked and we decided that it would be fun to try to make wings so we could fly too.
 
Of course, someone whose imagination wasn't destroyed did invent a way for humans to fly, using hang gliders. People who didn't have their imagination squashed create all inventions. Imagine where the world would be without these people who can look at a problem and come up with a solution. To do this they have to use their imagination and believe that everything is possible. It is the same in writing.
 
I was lucky. My dad nurtured my imagination and at the second school I went to the teacher did too. I had home schooling until I was 12. At the first school, when we had to do creative writing we were told to write a story about what we did on our holiday. I thought about my holiday and decided that because I hadn't gone away to anywhere exciting and had spent the holiday working around the station we lived on, my story would be boring, so I made up a story about rustlers stealing our cattle and me and my brothers and sisters hunting them down. The teacher marked me down for making up a story and even accused me of lying. I was crushed.
 
But at my next school, the teacher encouraged us to make up a story for our writing assignment and I got top marks for using my imagination. I loved that teacher and spent that year having great fun making up stories, even in my spare time. I would show them to my teacher and she would praise me and gently guide me into improving my writing. I will always be grateful to her.
 
When I started to write stories for children, I had no trouble coming up with an exciting plot. If fact I had to rein it in a bit as I realised I had to make it believable, even if it was fantasy.
 
I had my first evaluation with an editor who came to Rockhampton for an editing workshop. Before the event, we had to write an example of bad writing and send her that and the first 20 pages of our current work in progress. I had a lot of fun with the bad writing exercise.

When it came to discussing our example of bad writing, she asked me to read out mine. When I did, she told everyone that my example was so bad that it was good. I was amazed. She told me it was because I used my imagination to come up with something interesting.   

We had a private 3 minutes with her to discuss our story. She told me I had a great imagination and asked me where I got my ideas. I told her I got my ideas from my wild imagination that my father had allowed me to keep. I told her a little of my childhood. She nodded and said she wasn't so lucky. I felt sorry for her. How sad it would be to have all the knowledge she has of the technical aspects of how to write a great story but not the imagination to dream one up. 
 
So back to the question of how we can stimulate our imaginations. During the
Waking your imagination workshop on March 18th we will do some exercises on using our imagination and I will show you how I develop my stories. By the time you leave, you will have stimulated the imagination you were born with and will be able to apply it to your story idea.
 
I hope to see you there.


If you want to book, go to the workshop page. Choose the Workshops tab at the top of the page, or put this address in your browser. 
http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshops.html. To pay by credit card,
phone me on 54 399 038.
​

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EXCITING NEW WORKSHOPS ON PUBLISHING AND MARKETING

2/21/2017

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After the next workshop at Gondor, Waking your imagination, on March 18th, we have an exciting new event planned.

In collaboration with Aleesah Darlison we will be presenting an intensive workshop on publishing and marketing.  

Waking your imagination: March 18th

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

April 8th and 9th. Publishing and Marketing:

Saturday 8th: Publishing: With Elaine Ouston

What are your publishing options?
No matter what you have written, 200,000 word novel, or a picture book, when most writers type ‘the end’ a feeling of satisfaction washes over them. They feel like they have completed a long and exciting journey, and so they should.

But what most writers don’t realise is that if they want their book to be chosen by a publishing house or to sell well as a self-published book, a whole new journey now begins, and unlike their writing journey this is one they have little control over.

In this workshop we talk about your publishing options and I will go into the pros and cons of those. We will examine
industry standards and publisher expectations.

Publishing has become a lot more flexible in the last few years. Once, a self-published book would not attract a distributor, end up in a library, or have any credibility at all with readers. That has changed somewhat. Now books are mostly judged on their merit.


I will show you the easiest and best way to self-publish, and if you choose to go the traditional route, I help you create a killer synopsis, perfect pitch and submission letter. 

Elaine Ouston holds a Master of Letters (MLitt) from Central Queensland University, and is a published author of a number of books for children. She is managing editor at Morris Publishing Australia. She edits and sets up books for self-publishing at Gondor Writers' Centre and organises literary festivals through Australian Literary Festivals and Book Fairs. 

She is an experienced writing tutor, editor and designer, and has had many recommendations from students for her workshops.


Sunday 9th: Marketing: With Aleesah Darlison from Greenleaf Press.
Magnificent Marketing and Super Social Media
 
If you’re looking for new and innovative ways to promote your book or your author brand, you simply must attend this incredibly informative and comprehensive workshop.
 
These days, being an author is about more than just writing books. Often, people think the hard work is in getting a manuscript accepted for publication. But the real challenges start once your book is published.
 
How do you get your book into bookstores? How do you create market awareness? And how do you get people buying your book? The publishing industry is highly competitive and is constantly evolving. If you want to stand out, if you want people to buy your books, they first have to know who you are.
 
Learn tips and techniques for marketing and self-promotion including how to establish your author brand, create awareness and carve out a niche for yourself. Learn the truth about book launches, school and library visits, securing book reviews, why publishers love self-promoters and more.
 
Plus, there will be a special focus on social media marketing. Online marketing isn’t the way of the future – it’s the way of NOW. Don’t get left behind. Creating a social media platform is within your reach and Aleesah will show you how to do it.
 
Whether you’re an aspiring, emerging, experienced or self-published author, you’ll pick up crucial knowledge in this informative session. Real life, real formulas for success that can be​.

Aleesah Darlison is a multi-published, award-winning author. She’s published thirty-six books in six short years. In a previous life, Aleesah was a university degree qualified marketing manager working in the corporate world. And now in this super-charged session she’s going to share with you the secrets of her success!

Go to the workshop page to book. Choose the Workshops tab at the top of the page, or put this address in your browser. http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshops.html

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The launch was a huge success. Here is the evidence!

2/13/2017

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Alison Quigley​ trying out Gandalf's chair in Gondor's garden.
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The launch of Gondor Writers' Centre was attended by close to 40 people and went well ​... except for the photographer (me) who managed to blur many of the photos.

Here are the best of them. If you came and you are not here, sorry about that. I must have been shaking with excitement. :)

​Paul Collin's opening speech was well received as was Aleesah Darlison's. We look forward to many more exciting events at Gondor.

Come along and check it out. The first workshop is next Saturday.

​You can still go into the draw to win a FREE workshop. Go to the Workshop page to find out more.


Turning your idea into a story: Feb 18th.
Exploring the building blocks that make a compelling story that no one can put down.
​
Waking your imagination: March 18th
This workshop will help you turn that idea into a story everyone will want to read by showing you how to add excitement, depth and intrigue.


Book your workshop by phoning 07 54 399 038 or go to the Workshop page and book and pay by PayPal. ​
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The workshop room.
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100 year old The Sacred Oak tree in Gondor's garden.
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YOUR SECOND CHANCE FOR A FREE WORKSHOP

2/6/2017

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Can't make it to the launch to go in the draw for a FREE workshop?

You don't have to miss out. Go to the workshop page and download the entry form to go in another draw at the end of the month.

http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshops.html​
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The sign is up!! Thanks to my handyman, Dr Ron Day.

​All set for the big day.


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Do you have a great story you are itching to write?

2/1/2017

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Have you started a story but are not sure it flows well enough?

Want to know how to get started or make sure your story is on track?


Our first two workshops will set you on the right track to making it a memorable story no matter what you are writing. Places are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment.

Our new workshop room is completed and waiting for you.


Saturday February 18th, 10 am to 3pm:
 
​
Turning your idea into a story: Exploring the building blocks that make a compelling story that no one can put down. The course includes, establishing the best point of view for your story, the importance of setting, creating the right character, and much more.

Saturday March 18th, 10 am to 3pm: 
Waking your imagination: This workshop will help you turn that idea into a story everyone will want to read by showing you how to add excitement, depth, and intrigue.

These workshops will be followed by an exciting program that will take you from the beginning right through to publishing and marketing. ​Check out the program to date on the workshop page.

​Already on the website is an exciting workshop
The Inside Word on Picture Books by award-winning author, Aleesah Darlison. That one is planned for July 15th. Booking details are on the website.  

Many more workshops by guest presenters are in the planning stages, including specialised workshops in Erotic Romance, Picture Books, Fantasy, Historic Fiction, Writing with humour, Writing for the educational market, and many more . More information on the dates for these workshops will be released soon.

​If there is a particular workshop you would like to do, let me know.


You can book and pay by credit card over the phone by ringing 07 54 399 038 or book and pay by using the PayPal button on the website.  http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshops.html

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