KERRY ASHWIN MAKES BLOGGING EASY

At the WITS meeting on Wednesday evening, 31 August 2011, our widely published author and experienced blogger Kerry Ashwin gave us the lowdown on how to start and maintain a free blog. Kerry began with first principles: what is your objective in starting a blog? do you want it to raise your web profile? She showed how you can make your blog stand out in the crowded cyber-space by inventive titles and keywords (tags); and how to compose an effective biography for your blog. The presentation focussed on Google blog -- www.blogger.com -- rather than WordPress, given that both are free options.

Designing your blog was covered in a lot of detail, from templates; to headers; to posting; and editing, once you have begun the process. Kerry's message stressed experimenting with the various settings, and she went through a number of experiments during the evening, prompted in part by enthusiastic questions from the audience. A strength of the presentation was Kerry's use of the technology available, including having the internet live on the big screen, so that she could show us, among other things, several of her personal blogs to illustrate points.

All told, the presentation was excellent. There was so much to take in, it was very information-rich, but Kerry very kindly offered to send those present her power point presentation, which contained her session notes as well as graphics of the various screens she spoke on, and much else besides. A totally worthwhile evening!

$10,000 prize for unpublished manuscript.

Inaugural Writing Australia Unpublished Manuscript Award

$10,000 + $2,000 for a mentor of your choice

The Award, to aid in the development of the next stage of an unpublished manuscript, is for a work of adult literary or genre fiction. It will be granted to the work that shows the greatest promise and likely to benefit most from this opportunity.

The winner will receive a cash prize of $10,000 and, in consultation with organisers, will be offered a suitable mentor selected from some of Australia’s best authors.

The Judges

Valerie Parv, international best-selling author, is a successful writer of romance and non-fiction. Valerie’s books have sold more than twenty-six million copies internationally, and been translated into over twenty languages from Russian to Japanese and Icelandic.

Mark Macleod is a Senior Lecturer in English at Charles Sturt University and well known as a Television and Radio Presenter. Mark was Project Manager of ‘My Favourite Book’ for ABCTV. He published books for young readers and for adults under his own name imprint at Hodder Headline.

Peter Bishop is one of Australia’s most effective writing teachers and mentors. Working with Australia’s leading authors he has enjoyed outstanding success as the Creative Director of Varuna -The Writers’ House in the Blue Mountains - from 1994 to 2010.

Applications close: Thursday 13 October 2011

Entry form: http://writingaustralia.org.au/

Blogging for beginners workshop

DITCH THE TYPEWRITER AND GET BLOGGING.

Don't forget the workshop is on the 31st August 2011 at 7pm at the Aitkenvale library room.Ten dollar fee.

there is still time if you would like to come.

Learn about blogging and get yourself on the world wide web.

Non members are also welcome.

Michael Fitzgerald Clarke published.

Michael our resident poet has done it again with another poem being published. Obviously he is working hard.

Under a Bridge in Gloucestershire has just appeared in the August 22, 2011 post of the e-journal Dr. Hurley's Snake-oil Cure click on the Snake oil link to take you there.

Queensland Writers Centre

Hi Writers in Townsville

We’ve got exciting, free workshops aimed at writers curious about crime writing coming up in Townsville and Cairns on 17 and 18 September respectively. I hope you can make it, They’re free for Queensland Writers Centre members and $115 for non-members. Details below:

Crime fiction writer PM Newton is coming to North Queensland (Townsville - 17 Sept, Cairns - 18 Sept) to take you into the dark and suspenseful world of crime fiction.

PM Newton will introduce you to the seething underbelly of crime writing and arm you with the ammo that will give you the confidence to get started with a life of crime.

This workshop is designed for beginners interested in learning the basics of beginnings, plot, structure, setting, and suspense. This workshop is FREE to QWC members so book soon to avoid disappointment..

Bookings essential: phone (07)3842 9922 or visit the QWC website.

Just to reiterate: Wits is a member of QWC so anyone who is a paid up member of Wits for this year (2011) is FREE

Also: Writers should support these regional events. The more bums on seats the more workshops etc we will have up here.

Queensland Premier's Literary Awards Shortlist

2011 Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards shortlist announced

The shortlist for the 2011 Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards has been announced.

The Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards is one of the richest and most diverse literary awards programs in Australia, with a proud history of recognising, celebrating and supporting outstanding Australian writers on a national scale.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Tuesday 6 September.

Wits Web help WRITERS DIGEST

Click this link or cut and pastehttp://www.writersdigestshop.com/

Writers Digest is a comprehensive site for all your writing needs.

Not only do they have a shop where you can purchase cheap books on the craft but they have a wonderful array of help. From Dictionaries, to composing your first query letter and more.

check out the site and you might want to subscribe.

You are never too old to learn. You can only get better with Writers Digest help.

Shaun's mini workshop

10 minutes turned into a very informative half an hour. Shaun took us through his process of researching his Sci-Fi novel and how history can still be relevant today.

It was fascinating to learn his main character is based on the the Duke of Wellington. A stalwart character who never lost a battle. The topography of some of Shaun's battles are from real locations, ie. the hills, the sea, the battle lines etc.

Why not borrow from history?

We quizzed him on the need for foreign languages in Sci-fi, and Shaun explained that he uses Nouns in this way, but the day to day language is English. Also a fact that he has created a whole new world so why use the word earth for dirt. He has refrained from 'earth' and used soil, sods, dirt etc. Makes sense!

Thanks Shaun for an interesting insight into your thought processes.

Wits web help: writing meter

If you are looking for a gadget/widget to show the world how your writing is coming along then check this out.

gadget link It is a good way to keep track and quite easy to install. Just follow the instructions from the link and best of all it can be personalised ie. 80000 words, 10000 words or just 500 what ever you want.
check it out.

Also here are two web sites that one our members found helpful
Bad Language click the link or cut and paste.

http://www.badlanguage.net/concentration-22-ways-to-stay-focused-on-writing

The artists way

http://www.theartistsway.com/tools/the-basic-tools

Shaun's mini workwhop 17th August

Shaun is a writer of war/fantasy/SF. His novel is complete and is in the dreaded editing stage.

This is Shaun's second workshop. The last one on weapons was amazing. Guns, spears, ammo, bombs,swords and bows and arrows. It just makes you want to go and write a fight scene.

Here is a run down of his up and coming mini workshop.

For WiTs; Mini workshop on researching for Zicastor.

A brief rundown of how I prepared for the writing of my novel Zicastor:

A quick overview on:-

What inspired me to write.

How I created my characters

What tools I used to get my story started and flowing.

How I researched weapons and tactics

And what I’ve done since finishing the novel.

Very happy to answer questions throughout