    | ENTRIES CLOSE ON SUNDAY 28TH FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A FREE WORKSHOP AND MANUSCRIPT EVALUATION AT PAUL COLLINS AND MEREDITH COSTAIN'S WORKSHOPS. FRESH FROM PRESENTING AT THE CYA CONFERENCE, WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO HAVE PAUL COLLINS AND MEREDITH COSTAIN VISIT US FOR A WORKSHOP. You will never again have the chance to workshop with these two popular authors at such a low cost. And never have the chance to have them do a free evaluation of your manuscript. Don't miss this opportunity. COMPETITION: Some workshop participants have asked if the presenters would do a quick assessment of their 'work-in-progress'. Unfortunately, there is not time for all attendees to be given this privilege, but we have come up with a way around this. From July, our workshops will include an opportunity for 4 lucky winners to have their manuscript assessed by our exciting presenters and one to win a FREE workshop! CONDITIONS: The manuscript must be in the genre of the workshop being presented. Please send a Word document, spaced at least 1.5 with a 4mm margin. Below are a list of July’s workshops and presenters, with guidelines for the competition for each. See the Gondor website for more information. The first place winner will get a FREE workshop and a 15 minute consultation and assessment. The 3 runners-up will receive a FREE 15 minute consultation and assessment of their entry. HOW TO ENTER: Enter the competition by booking your workshop and sending your entry to [email protected]. The first prize winner will have their booking fee refunded. ******************************************************************************** NEW REMOTE ACCESS OPTIONS. CAN'T MAKE IT TO KILCOY? No problem now you have two more options to be at the workshops, no matter how far away you are. VIDEO CONFERENCE OR SKYPE. What's the difference? With Skype you see the slide screen and hear the voice of the presenter. You can join in with questions and comments verbally. With Video Conference you see and hear the presenter live, see the slide on your screen, and comment by chat text. You can still enter our competition. For Skype participants, your 15 minute evaluation will be on Skype, and for Video Conference participants, your consultation can be by Skype or phone. Limited numbers for both of these options, so book quickly. ***************************************************************************************************************** JULY WORKSHOPS: July 5th Paul Collins: Workshop—Fantasy Creation and Worldbuilding. Paul Collins is best known for his fantasy and science fiction titles: The Jelindel Chronicles and The Quentaris Chronicles. His latest series is The Warlock's Child in collaboration with Sean McMullen. The Beckoning is his first adult horror novel. Paul has won the Inaugural Peter McNamara, A Bertram Chandler, Aurealis and William Atheling awards. Paul is also the publisher at Ford Street Publishing. www.paulcollins.com.au www.fordstreetpublishing.com Join Paul as he guides you through creating a world and a plot for a fantasy novel. Participants can work singly or in groups. Paul uses examples from The Hunger Games, Lord of the Rings and other classics to illustrate the 12 point structure of all good fantasy. It's a fun, no pressure workshop. Cost: 1 day $80. Competition: Send through the first 20 pages and a synopsis for your fantasy, speculative fiction, or science fiction novel by June 28th. Paul Collins is also a publisher from Ford Street Publishing. Book Launch: At this workshop, we will also launch Paul’s new book in the Warlock’s Child series: The Burning Sea. To book: Ph: 07 54 981 332 or visit the website bookings page: http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshop-bookings.html July 5th Meredith Costain: Workshop—Writing for early readers for the education market. Meredith Costain is a versatile writer whose work ranges from picture books through to novels, poetry and narrative non‐fiction. She has also written over 200 books for the education market. Her latest books are The Ella Diaries and The Cuddliest Hug. Visit her at www.meredithcostain.com Workshop: Writing for early readers for the education market. Every year, hundreds of books are produced by Australian educational publishers for beginning and independent readers all around the world. In this interactive, ‘hands on’ workshop you will find out how to write across a range of text types, formats and styles for the education market. Bring writing materials and your best ideas! Cost: 1 day $80. Competition: Send through the manuscript for your chapter book for early readers by June 28th. To book: Ph: 07 54 981 332 or visit the website bookings page: http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshop-bookings.html Book Launch: At this workshop, we will also launch Meredith’s new book in the Ella series: I [Heart] Pets. July 11th: Ron Day: Workshop –Memoir and Historical Fiction. Competition: Send through the first 20 pages of the manuscript for your memoir or historical fiction by July 1st. July 18th Aleesah Darlison: Workshop—Introduction to Making Picture Books. (Now a one day workshop) Cost $80 Competition: Send through the manuscript for your picture book by July 10th. July 25 & 26th: Elaine Ouston: Workshop—Creating Memorable Characters – 2 day intensive workshop. Cost $100. Competition: Send through the first 20 pages and a synopsis for your manuscript (any genre) by July 15th. Elaine Ouston is also a publisher from Morris Publishing Australia. *************************************************************************** ACCOMMODATION PACKAGES NOW AVAILABLE FOR TWO DAY WORKSHOPS: Full weekend package: Includes 2 day workshops, lunch two days, evening meal at Gondor Saturday night and accommodation at the Kilcoy Motel: GUEST PRESENTERS WORKSHOPS: $300 with share accommodation in 3 bedroom cabin. $320 if single motel room accommodation. GONDOR PRESENTERS WORKSHOPS: $240 with share accommodation in 3 bedroom cabin. $260 if single motel room accommodation. To book: Ph: 07 54 981 332 or visit the website bookings page: http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshop-bookings.html |
|
0 Comments
 There is much talk about hooking the reader in the first page by creating an inciting incident and posing a question that they want answered.
But that is not enough. The goal for every writer should be to compel readers to stay hooked until the story ends. To hypnotize them into staying with the book. To do this requires much knowledge and skill. Too many books promise a great story, start and end well, but sag in the middle. The reader gets lost in the mundane waffle of the middle chapters and gives up. Some of the important elements to hook your reader are pace, foreshadowing, building expectation, creating questions, planting seeds and creating rising tension. How to do all of these things and more are what you will learn at the Keeping Them Hooked workshop on Saturday 20th June at Gondor. To book go to http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshop-bookings.html I hope to see you there. Don't forget that from July, our workshops will include an opportunity for 4 lucky winners to have their manuscript assessed by our exciting presenters and one to win a FREE workshop! Check out the exciting workshops at http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshops.html Regards Elaine Exciting news from Gondor Writers’ centre:
Some workshop participants have asked if the presenters would do a quick assessment of their 'work-in-progress'. Unfortunately, there is not time for all attendees to be given this privilege, but we have come up with a way around this. From July 1st all workshops will include an opportunity for 4 lucky winners to have their manuscript assessed by our exciting presenters and one to win a FREE workshop! CONDITIONS: The manuscript must be in the genre of the workshop being presented. Below are a list of July’s workshops and presenters, with guidelines for the competition for each. See the Gondor website for more information. The first place winner will get a FREE workshop and a 15 minute consultation and assessment. The 3 runners-up will receive a FREE 15 minute consultation and assessment of their entry. July 5th Paul Collins: Workshop—Fantasy Creation and World building. Competition: Send through the first 20 pages and a synopsis for your fantasy, speculative fiction, or science fiction novel by June 28th. Paul Collins is also a publisher from Ford Street Publishing. Book Launch: At this workshop, we will also launch Paul’s new book in the Warlock’s Child series: The Burning Sea. July 5th Meredith Costain: Workshop—Writing for early readers for the education market. Competition: Send through the manuscript for your chapter book for early readers by June 28th. Book Launch: At this workshop, we will also launch Meredith’s new book in the Ella series: I [Heart] Pets. July 11th: Ron Day: Workshop –Memoir. Competition: Send through the first 20 pages of the manuscript for your memoir by July 1st. July 18th Aleesah Darlison: Workshop—Introduction to Making Picture Books. (Now a one day workshop) Competition: Send through the manuscript for your picture book by July 10th. July 25 & 26th: Elaine Ouston: Workshop—Creating Memorable Characters – 2 day intensive workshop. Competition: Send through the first 20 pages and a synopsis for your manuscript (any genre) by July 15th. Elaine Ouston is also a publisher from Morris Publishing Australia. HOW TO ENTER: Enter the competition by booking your workshop and sending your entry to [email protected]. The first prize winner will have their booking fee refunded. For more information on the competition, workshops and bookings go to http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshops.html This emotional connection enhances their reading experience and makes your story memorable.
Charles Dickens said, ‘Make them laugh, make them cry and make them wait.’ Another writer, whose name escapes me, said, ‘Make them laugh, make them cry and scare the pants off them, and you’ve got them hooked.’ One of the important emotions mentioned here, humour, is one that many writers don’t believe they need to know how to write. After all, they argue, I’m not writing a comedy, my book is romance, SF, fantasy, crime etc. (choose one). But humour is an integral part of all of our lives. Our ability to laugh and desire to do so serves essential life functions; it lessens tension and anxiety. When speaking about preparation for an expedition, Edmond Hillary is quoted as saying, ‘I've also regarded a sense of humor as one of the most important things on a big expedition. When you're in a difficult or dangerous situation, or when you're depressed about the chances of success, someone who can make you laugh eases the tension.’ This is what we need to do to some degree in our writing. Many famous writers include humour in their stories. Stephen King is one. If you are a fan, and have his novel 11.22.63 lying around, read the first few pages. The start of the story (the inciting incident) is a sad story of his protagonist’s marriage break up, but he throws in a humorous line every now and then to break the tension. Like on page 12 where he is talking about a diner where he regularly eats, and says, ‘I had been in just yesterday, to grab an early supper. A Fatburger, fries, and a strawberry milkshake. I believe it’s important for a guy living on his own to hit all the major food groups.’ This one line, in the middle of a paragraph full of tension, makes you smile. Using humour at the right place, to lighten some of the darker situations in your story or provide a moment of relief for your reader, can cement the bond your reader has with you as a writer and with your character. Studies have shown that humour enhances our connection to what we are reading and makes us remember it more. It also gives you, the writer, a boost. By challenging you to add another element to your story and finding the funnier side of what you are writing, you can lighten your mood and enhance your creativity. Many people think of humor as exaggeration or fabrication, but it can be added in many ways, some of them as simple as a comparison jokes with a metaphor or a simile chosen specifically for comedic effect: like the old saying, ‘Getting Joe to buy a beer is like pulling hens’ teeth’. Knowing how to write humour effectively is a specialist subject. But it is something you can be taught. Someone who makes a living out of writing humour is Michael Gerard Bauer. Michael is a multi-prize-winning, Brisbane based writer of YA and children's books. His first novel The Running Man, published in 2004, received immediate acclaim, winning the 2005 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year for Older Readers. The first book in the YA series Don't Call Me Ishmael! was published in April 2006. It is a comedy set in a boys' school where Ishmael and his intrepid band of grade nine misfits take on bullies, bugs, babes, the Beatles, debating and the great white whale, in the toughest, the weirdest, the most embarrassingly awful … and the best year of their lives. Michael's most recent publications have been the very popular Eric Vale series and its spin-off series, ’Secret Agent Derek Danger Dale. These hilarious books for younger readers are fully illustrated by Michael's son Joe Bauer. His books are used widely in schools and are currently translated into 12 languages and sold in over 40 countries. His stories are often about serious issues that children face every day. They are deep and meaningful and help to guide the reader to handle difficult situations in their lives. But these messages are delivered in a light hearted, humorous way that makes the reader want to read on, and then read more of his books. If you want to learn how to inject some humour into your writing, Michael is conducting a workshop at Gondor Writers’ centre on June 13th. Who better to learn from than the man who makes a living out of writing humour. Michael's Workshop: How to Write Funny. In this workshop we look at the basic question, 'What makes something funny?'. Once we've identified the key ingredient of humour, we will apply what we have learned to important aspects of storytelling, such as plot, character and language use, in order to produce laugh out loud results. I thought I would end this post with a little humour from some famous people: If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers. - Doug Larson It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give it up, because by that time I was too famous. - Robert Benchley When I was a little boy, they called me a liar, but now that I am a grownup they call me a writer. - Isaac Bashevis Singer If you’re interested in improving your writing by attending Michael’s workshop, please phone 07 54 981 332 to book or go to http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshop-bookings.html ATTEND VIA SKYPE: Can't make it on the day... no problem, just Skype in. Please indicate when you book that you want to be linked by Skype and send us your Skype profile. Limited numbers, so book early. GROUP DISCOUNTS: Get your writing friends together and save money. Group discounts apply to groups of 3 or more for all of Gondor’s workshops. The other two emotions mentioned in quotes at the top of the page are covered in future workshops: Charles Dickens' quote 'make them wait' is covered in the Keeping Them Hooked workshop on June 20th and 'scare the pants off them' is covered in Writing Scary Stories on August 8th and 9th. Learn more at http://www.gondorwriterscentre.com/workshops.html |