Monday 11 March 2019

Workshops filling up!

Workshops for the Grassroots Weekend are filling up fast. 
'Not Just Poetry' is already fully booked. 
Please give second and third preferences when booking. Registrations close 8 May. 
And don't forget to register now for the fabulous Grassroots Writers' Dinner on Saturday night 18 May at the Park Beach Surf Club. 
A great opportunity to mix with other writers, enjoy some general trivia and have a delicious meal. All for just $35 a ticket. 
Partners/friends welcome. 
Book here.

How to book your ticket: Contact Julianna Garaty on 0404236762 or jgaraty1946@gmail.com

Paying for the weekend of workshops and optional barbecue and dinner: Indicate your preferred method of payment in your email or phone contact with Julianna.

Direct credit can be made to our bank account:
Coffs Harbour Writers’ Group Inc
BSB: 533000
Account no: 46423
Note: Make sure your name is in the required field

Gill Goater


Gill Goater
Gill’s been involved in writing for many years. She’s especially interested in modern poetry and the breadth of human experiences poets write about. She facilitates a poetry group in Port Macquarie and is a member of a writers group where she presents occasional workshops. Gill’s work has been published in anthologies, magazines, on ABC regional radio and in her book Occupied by Gods.






Not Just Poetry  Facilitator  Gill Goater

The techniques poets use will be helpful for anyone who’d like 
to lift their poetry or prose to a higher level. In this workshop
we’ll look first at how to create lively imagery followed by a written
 exercise using a template to write a poem or evocative prose piece.

Roby Aiken


Roby Aiken
Roby Aiken is the author of The Traders Series, an epic fantasy trilogy. She has written many short stories, and is currently working on a suspense thriller set in the Australian Outback. She has been a member of the Nambucca Valley Writers’ Group for twenty years, and is proudly their current President. 













Kick Start your Writing:
Facilitator: Roby Aiken
Roby Aiken takes you through a practical guide to make sure your writing resolutions for 2019 stick! Roby has a number of published works and speaks from the experience of knowing what works!
Where do you begin? How do you start? Do you schedule your writing time? Are you a plotter or a ‘pantser’? How many words do you write each day? How many do you need for your WIP? 
This discussion will look at these questions and more, and will help both experienced writers and new writers find out how others write and what works for them. 

Greg Barron


Greg Barron
Crime, terrorism, history, international politics and the wide open spaces of outback Australia are all passionate interests of author Greg Barron. He has lived in North America, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. His books, published by HarperCollins Australia and Stories of Oz Publishing, are gutsy page turners that tell the truth about the world, then and now. Rotten Gods was long listed for the prestigious Ned Kelly awards, and has been lauded as "one of the most sophisticated geopolitical thrillers ever written." Savage Tide was described by ABC Radio reviewer Rob Minshull as: "Both supremely intelligent and written at breathtaking pace."

Camp Leichhardt is the first of his Australian Stories , and was serialised in 2016 to wide acclaim. Rotten Gods, Savage Tide, Voodoo Dawn and Lethal Sky all feature Marika Hartmann, the Australian intelligence agent who won the hearts of readers all over the world.



Writing Historical Fiction


Facilitator: Greg Barron
Make your historical fiction ring true with tips from widely published author, Greg Barron. The authenticity of historical fiction depends on your knowledge and use of historical detail but also your characterisation, your creation of setting and use of language. You must build the world of your characters and make the period and the characters come alive

Elizabeth Bond


Elizabeth Bond
Elizabeth Bond is the copywriter behind Whirlybird Words, and she’s on a mission to grow innovative business in regional Australia, one word at a time.
As a self-confessed word nerd and marketing junkie, she enjoys crafting engaging, strategic and search-engine-optimisation (SEO)-friendly content that helps businesses genuinely connect with their ideal customers. 
She’s been writing professionally since 2003, and has qualifications in media, journalism, marketing and training. She lives on a property by the beach with her two dogs (office managers) in the spectacular Nambucca Valley, NSW.




Marketing for Writers
Facilitator: Elizabeth Bond
Does marketing your work make you tremble? Whether you’re self-published or have a publishing contract, you’ll need more than just a great book.
Having a personal profile helps engage your audience, expand your network and makes you appealing to publishers.
Filled with practical tips, this dynamic workshop will cover: your audience, personal brand, online profiles, social media, networking and more.
With the power of technology, it’s time to start building yours now!    

Michael Burlace



Michael Burlace
Michael Burlace is a newspaper sub editor who is learning fiction writing as he goes. He teaches others to write, edit and rewrite so their work flows and draws the reader along. This method liberates writers from their pesky inner critic and allows them to drop habits that interfere with good writing.
His workshops are fun and full of useful tools and techniques for writing, editing, publishing and promoting works.











Engaging your Reader
Facilitator: Michael Burlace

The most important character in your book is the reader.
How do you get that person to stay in the story all the way from the title to the final lines that wrap it up neatly?
Editor and writer, Michael Burlace, will look at how to carry a reader along with you and what turns them off!
Bring some of your writing. Also bring a novel you've read and love re-reading.

Laurel Cohn


Laurel Cohn 
Laurel Cohn is an editor passionate about the power of stories to communicate. As a developmental editor she has been helping writers since the 1980s prepare their work for publication. She spent five years with one of Australia’s top literary agents and four years as Consultant Editor to the NSW Writers’ Centre before turning freelance. She works with individual writers, publishers and self-publishers, and is a popular workshop presenter. She has a PhD in Literary and Cultural Studies. www.laurelcohn.com.au










Nail your Story and your Pitch
Facilitator: Laurel Cohn
In a world of communications dominated by headlines and key words, it is crucial to pitch your project to others concisely. You may be required to give a verbal pitch as well as one in writing or asked for a one-liner or for an extended synopsis. The key to a successful pitch is a clear and fundamental understanding of what it is you are writing and where it fits in the publishing world. This is relevant whether you are just starting out on a story idea of whether you are well under way.  Sounds easy in theory, but in practice, encapsulating your writing project in one sentence, a short blurb or even a 500 word synopsis can feel more difficult than writing a book-length work. This workshop offers tips and tools to help frame your work for different publishing opportunities, and shows how synopsis writing can help you develop your ideas from an early stage. Whether you are applying for a mentorship or grant, entering a pitching competition, submitting work to an agent or publisher, self-publishing, or just beginning your writing journey, your ability to pitch your work well and appropriately plays a crucial role in success.




Graeme Gibson


Graeme Gibson
Graeme Gibson has a background in adult learning, principally in the environmental and   community services sectors. His approach to learning is that that people learn from and with each other, not just from a teacher. He also works as a group facilitator and mediator, getting close to people’s core concerns. Most of his writing is non-fiction with a focus on nature, community, politics and their intersection. He has published essays, contributed to and edited a number of short story collections, and self-published Beyond Fear and Loathing: Local politics at work. This account of local politics and community activism is based on personal experience.
Graeme has been presenting writing workshops, including life story and writing about place, since 2013. These have been mostly in regional areas – he likes to get around. Another interest is Little Literature, poetry or prose responding to or interpreting art, place or events, real or imagined. Graeme and his partner relocated to the NSW northern rivers in early 2016.







Writing from Life 1: Memoir, Biography, Personal Essay - wherever your creative non-fiction takes you
Facilitator: Graeme Gibson
  • Starting/overcoming any blocks
  • Consider voice – active/ passive
  • Openings – finding a hook
  • Contrast narrative (facts) with plot (story)
  • Using sensory language
Bring an idea or an empty slate and see what happens.

NOTE: Writing from Life 1 and Writing from Life 2 workshops are independent sessions not repeats.



Writing from Life 2: Memoir, Biography, Personal Essay – wherever your creative non-fiction takes you
Facilitator: Graeme Gibson
Show, Don’t (Just) Tell Participants should be familiar with the term “Show, don’t tell,” before the workshop: if not, Google it. Bring an idea or an empty slate and see what happens.

Leonie Harrison


Leonie Harrison
Leonie writes mainly short stories and flash fiction across a range of genres with a number of publications to her credit. She has also had success in the competition sphere with several winning and highly recommended entries. Leonie enjoys sharing her love of writing and encouraging others to create their best work.   













Writing for Competitions Facilitator: Leonie Harrison
Writing competitions can be an adrenaline rush for your writing or they can leave you feeling like the proverbial deer in the headlights. Should I? Shouldn’t I? Join Leonie, serial competitor, as she guides and skills you through the maze of writing competitions for short story and flash fiction and explains how competitions can help to hone your writing skills. Key points include: why enter; the challenge of writing to a deadline and strict criteria such as word length and key words/phrases/themes; free versus paid entry and keeping track of your entries.

Wendy Haynes


Wendy Haynes
Wendy Haynes has been learning the craft of writing for over ten years and has completed a Diploma in Creative Writing at Southern Cross University. Her writing focuses on middle-grade fantasy and contemporary stories for children, picture books, and YA.
Her first picture book Hayden’s Bedtime was published in March 2019, and she is working on a children’s fantasy series, with Book One due out in August 2019.
She believes that having a regular writing practice, and understanding the device at your disposal, is the key to not only completing a story but in building the skills required to produce a worthy manuscript.
She was a judge for the Port Writer’s In-house competition for the creative non-fiction category in 2018, and one of the judges of the fiction category in 2019.
Wendy won first prize for her short story Going Nowhere, at Port Writers In-house competition 2018, and enjoys helping and motivating writers and has developed a mentorship program to help writers tell stories. Armed with a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, she conducts writing workshops on and offline through her business. http://writingforkeeps.com.au/
Being part of a writing community Wendy has volunteered for both roles of the President and Treasurer of Port Writers Inc., a not for profit local writing group, bringing writing workshops, presentations and writing exercises to the group.


From the Writer’s Toolbox – Skills and Devices to Engage the Reader
Scenes up close!
Facilitator: Wendy Haynes
Pull apart the elements of what makes a scene effective, using a selection of techniques, in this interactive workshop. You will build a picture to engage the reader, look at applying strong Point of View (POV), add dialogue that is only recognisable to a particular character, select a character type and determine why it is important, and embed effective character moments to keep the reader turning the page. Participants can send a scene to Wendy for comment prior to session (writingforkeeps24@gmail.com by 20th April)

Leonie Henschke


Leonie Henschke
Leonie Henschke is a freelance journalist and writer with a background in book publishing, newspapers and magazines.
She was Managing Editor of Angus & Robertson Publishers based in Sydney and London and worked closely with well-known Australian writers including Peter Carey, Frank Moorhouse and Michael Leunig.  Leonie also managed the extensive Australiana backlist that included works by Henry Lawson, Banjo Paterson, Miles Franklin, Thea Astley, C.J. Dennis, and Xavier Herbert.
She began her career as a feature writer, sub-editor and editor with Sir Frank Packer’s Australian Consolidated Press after a degree in English and politics from the University of Sydney. She was on the staff of a number of the company’s newspapers and magazines.
Following her time with Angus & Robertson Publishing, Leonie was Managing Director of UNE (University of New England) Partnerships, using her communication skills in the management of corporate education and training, both within Australia and overseas.
 Now living on the beautiful north coast she continues to write and undertake workshops for writers, manuscript assessments and guidance on publishing options. She is also active in the creative industries networking with local, state and federal governments for arts funding and support.



Writing like a Journalist
Facilitator: Leonie Henschke
Learn how to think like a journalist in your approach to blogs, publicity, short articles for newsletters and magazines and even your family Christmas letters and emails!
Number one tip: always put the most important information in the first line.

Yvonne Kachel


Yvonne Kachel
Yvonne Kachel worked in both community and government sectors across NSW, Tasmania and the ACT at an executive management level before retiring to Coffs Harbour over five years ago. Yvonne has an Honours degree in Sociology, a Diploma in Agency and TESOL and has travelled extensively, speaking at International Conferences about her work. It is Yvonne’s hobbies that have drawn her to writing. With two years at Newcastle University pursuing drama, acting on the stage, playing in television commercials and back up advertisements for cinema, Yvonne also featured in videos and scenarios for the Medical Faculty. Yvonne has taught children’s drama and written plays for children that have been performed at the Jetty Theatre in Coffs Harbour. She enjoys writing short stories, especially humourous stories with quirky ends, as well as travel stories. Yvonne has nearly completed her first serious novel and is currently putting together a travelogue of her travels encompassing countries as Africa, Europe, Great Britain, South East Asia, China and Scandinavia. Yvonne has been a member of the Coffs Harbour Writers’ Group for several years and has contributed to their Anthology and website with some of her stories as well as presenting workshops. Yvonne now contributes to Nambucca Writers’ Group and enjoys all writing challenges as Mad Monologues, Furious Fiction and the occasional nonfiction serious writing.


Making your Characters Come to Life
Facilitator: Yvonne Kachel
Develop your character in words and then act out the character. It will allow you to see your character through the eyes of the reader and the group. It could be a murderer, a child, an aged person, a beautiful heroine, but as the writer you need to develop a character that is believable. You will be able to use humour, suspense,darkness and intrigue. Bring along a short paragraph about your character to work with.

Yvonne is a skilled actress and writer so be prepared for fun! 

Wendy Laharnar


Wendy Laharnar
Wendy Laharnar grew up in the central west, NSW, graduated from UNE, Armidale, with a BA in English Lit., Classical Lit (in translation), and History, both modern and ancient. She writes historical fiction, science fiction, and fantasy. Her medieval novel, The Unhewn Stone, won third prize in the 2013 International Digital Awards for best YA novel and short stories. Wendy lives on the South Coast of NSW with her husband and mini Schnauzer. When she is not writing, she creates with fabric and wool and enjoys travel and photography.









Igniting your Reader’s Curiosity
Facilitators: Wendy Laharnar and Rosalie Skinner
An action packed, practical session considering seven ways to ignite your reader’s curiosity so that he/she is drawn into your story and trapped! The group will work on examples that excite our unique creative spirit and have fun with lateral thinking.
Participants should bring along:
  • A 5 star rave review, written by you, of the novel you yearn to write.
Or
  • A list of first lines that sparked your curiosity.



A Plan of Writing Action for the Future
Facilitators: Rosalie Skinner and Wendy Laharnar
Keeping up our level of enthusiasm for writing is the objective after we leave a weekend such as Grassroots. What works for you? Critique groups, beta readers, writing sites and writing meet ups (online and face-to-face). We will be looking for what participants feel they need and if possible, create solutions from the Grassroots group.

Fiona McDonald


Fiona McDonald
Fiona McDonald is an Australian illustrator, author, publisher and doll maker. Based in Armidale,NSW, she has had eleven books published internationally, including an illustrated graphic novel for children, Ghost Doll and Jasper, and a bestselling history of street art, The Popular History of Graffiti: From the Ancient World to the Present. Fiona is also the co-founder of the independent children’s publisher, Christmas Press, and its two imprints, Second Look and Eagle Books. Her most recent titles include illustrations for the acclaimed picture books Two Fearsome Fairy Tales from France (retold by award-winning British author Adele Geras) and Two Selkie Stories from Scotland (retold by popular Australian author Kate Forsyth), both books published by Christmas Press. She is currently undertaking a Master of Arts in Creative Practice at the University of New England where she is working on a novella featuring Jenny Wren, the dolls’ dressmaker, from Charles Dickens’ Our Mutual Friend.
http://www.fionamcdonaldart.com/ 




Writing for Young Adults

Facilitator: Fiona McDonald
Join noted children’s and young adult fiction author (and dragon lover), Fiona McDonald in a fantastical and fabulous exploration of what works for each age group.
·       a brief introduction to the world of YA fiction
·       some warm-up exercises in getting the right voice for the audience
·       plotting a novel opening to hook the reader 
·      general discussion at the end of the session

Lisa Milner


Lisa Milner
Lisa Milner is an academic, with a background of production in film, video, radio, theatre and writing. Based on the mid-north coast, she also works with local groups involved in producing a range of works. A member of the Nambucca Valley Writers’ Group, her books include Fighting Films: A History of the Waterside Workers Federation Film Unit and her recent biography of activist Freda Brown, Swimming against the Tide.











Real Life as a Basis for Fiction
Facilitator: Lisa Milner

Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction. This practical and inspiring workshop introduces you to ways that you can use real experience and research to bring inspiration and authenticity to your fiction. 

Desley Polmear



Desley Polmear
Desley was born in Brisbane, QLD. Growing up she always had an interest in writing and her teachers reported that she had a great imagination. She contributed to a local magazine on the Sunshine Coast, QLD and produced an inspirational verse book in the 1990s. She ran seminars in ‘mind, body and spirit’ on the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.


Desley became involved in a writing group when she moved to South West Rocks, NSW in 2008 and began writing seriously. She published in anthologies in the mid-north coast area and then wrote her first trilogy. In 2014, her second book of the trilogy, ‘Just before Midnight’ had a review in the New York Times. She followed that up by writing about her life, titled, ‘My Early Years.’ She ran a successful workshop at Grassroots Port Macquarie, 2017.
Desley writes daily and is working on her next novel. She is a high-energy person whose interests cover the arts, musicals, writing and travel. She has fond memories of being in the production of many musicals, but the highlight was to be in the production of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and ‘Les Miserables.’ For over eight years, she has been singing with ‘Sing Australia.’ She believes singing is good for the soul.




Keeping the Mystery in your Writing
Facilitator: Desley Polmear
Here’s a chance to create characters, a murder, a setting, and a motive. This will be a fun session with mystery writer, Desley Polmear, and everyone will leave with a short story.
Imagination begins with the writer, and finishes with the reader. 
In every story there is conflict, climax and a resolution. You will explore these in your stories and show that we each have our writing style: our word choice, tone, syntax and voice.

Penelope Pratley


Penelope Pratley
Emerging Illustrator, writer and educator, Penelope Pratley spends her days creating wonder, one illustration at a time. Using watercolour, ink, pencil and mixed media her particular focus is creating picture books. She adores stories for children and owns far too many pencil cases. Penelope made her illustration debut in February 2018 with The Art Garden, published by EK Books, and is currently illustrating books to be published in 2019 and 2020. Living with a surfer, an inventor, a ballerina, three chickens, a rabbit, an ancient guinea pig, and a rescued cat, her heart is never short of inspiration. She only emerges from her garden studio to hunt for chocolate freckles, seek sunshine and take care of her beautiful family.











Creating Picture Books for Children
Facilitator: Illustrator, Penny Pratley
Getting started - Subject / Character / Story / Research
Word Count - Beginning / Middle / End
Pages & Spreads - Planning your book
Keep It Simple - Don’t forget the pictures
Submit - Research who publishes what
Winner - Making it through Acquisitions
What comes next - Publisher / Editor / Illustrator / Marketing / Online presence



Carrolline Rhodes


Carrolline Rhodes
Carrolline is a passionate and inspiring tutor whose courses at Bellingen’s Camp Creative were booked out during the nine years she was a tutor there. Published in Australia the UK and Italy, she is a multi-award winning writer across a range of genres. Her workshops inspire and empower: they take students on a journey where the ultimate destination is the writer-self.













The Hero’s Journey:
Facilitator: Carrolline Rhodes
Hollywood knows that the way to box office blockbuster is to base its screenplays on the hero’s journey, which is said to be the basis of all storytelling. In this practical workshop Carrolline will demonstrate its effectiveness by presenting immediately recognisable examples that range from film to fairy story. It will bring you the tools to create memorable narratives as well as insight into what it means to be human; many will find this workshop profoundly spiritual.


Note: The Hero’s Journey and Flash Fiction  in combination are a master class in writing fiction.




Flash Fiction:
Facilitator: Carrolline Rhodes
Hemingway is credited with writing the following six-word story (although authorship is disputed): For sale: baby shoes, never worn Flash Fiction - which ranges from extreme brevity up to 1,000 words - has become the flavour of the moment and there are many competitions that offer worthwhile prizes. This workshop isn’t about prize money, although that’s a good spinoff. It is about telling compelling stories that are like a vodka shot: they have punch. If you long to write fiction, but struggle, this workshop will bring you the insights you need to succeed.


Rosalie Skinner




Rosalie Skinner Rosalie spent the first forty years of her life as an obsessive reader before taking up a quill and penning The Chronicles of Caleath. Fantasy and science fiction allowed her to weave life experience with imagination to create a world where her main character would fulfil his quest.
Writing became an obsession while watching her teenage daughter cope with chronic disease. There is a theme running through the series that reflects the courage and despair experienced as her daughter’s potential for a successful future evaporated. Watching her daughter’s courage in the face of adversity inspired Caleath’s story.
Eight ebooks and print books are the beginning of her writing journey.
Rosalie can be contacted through Rosalie Skinner or her blog Ramblings from Lady Rosalie http://rosalieskinner.blogspot.com.au





Igniting your Reader’s Curiosity
Facilitators: Wendy Laharnar and Rosalie Skinner
An action packed, practical session considering seven ways to ignite your reader’s curiosity so that he/she is drawn into your story and trapped! The group will work on examples that excite our unique creative spirit and have fun with lateral thinking.
Participants should bring along:
  • A 5 star rave review, written by you, of the novel you yearn to write.
Or
  • A list of first lines that sparked your curiosity.
A Plan of Writing Action for the Future
Facilitators: Rosalie Skinner and Wendy Laharnar
Keeping up our level of enthusiasm for writing is the objective after we leave a weekend such as Grassroots. What works for you? Critique groups, beta readers, writing sites and writing meet ups (online and face-to-face). We will be looking for what participants feel they need and if possible, create solutions from the Grassroots group.