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

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.