Welcome to Grassroots 2019

We would like to invite you to the 2019 Grassroots Writers’ Weekend hosted by Coffs Harbour Writers’ Group at the Coffs Harbour Community Village from the 17 to 19 May 2019. It is a fabulous weekend of hands-on, practical workshops held each year in our region. Starting on Friday afternoon and finishing on Sunday afternoon, the ‘doing’ sessions and conversations are available to everyone from school students to seniors, everyone who loves storytelling. Places are limited so please make your bookings early.

The aim of this weekend is to provide affordable, practical workshops for the beginning, the aspiring, and the published writer. It’s only $25 for the whole weekend with a barbecue and dinner optional paid extras.

Participants will also have the opportunity to have manuscripts and story pitches assessed for an additional fee by well-known editor and manuscript development consultant, Laurel Cohn.

There are sessions on memoir and life writing; writing for children and young adults; murder mystery and historical fiction; flash fiction, short stories, blogs and competitions; writing craft such as perfecting your dialogue, structure and setting; using humour and imagery; making your characters and their relationships real; and techniques for effectively starting and finishing your manuscript (plans of actions and review). And there are sessions on editing and the final polish and how to get published, marketing and social media.

What: Coffs Harbour Grassroots Writers’ Weekend

When: Friday 17 May 2019 (3.00 pm) to Sunday 19 May 2019 (4.00 pm)

Where: Coffs Harbour Community Village, Earl Street, Coffs Harbour (off Harbour Drive near skate park)

Cost

Weekend of Workshops: $25

Optional extras:

Friday night Barbecue: $25 Chill Out Café, Coffs Harbour Community Village (Partners welcome)

Saturday night Dinner: $35 Park Beach Surf Club (Partners welcome)

Manuscript appraisals: Dr Laurel Cohn $80. Payments on day to Laurel. Manuscript sample (synopsis and first 4000 words) submitted by 8 May 2019 and 30 minute consultations with Laurel on Sunday 19 May 2019. Please see requirements.

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

Registrations required by 8 May 2019

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.

More information on the sessions: 0412668315 or 0437221619

Choosing your workshops: There is a full selection of workshops for the beginning and experienced writer. Please choose your workshops by consulting the  program and noting to Julianna with your payment so that we can accommodate your first choices.

Accommodation: There is a range of accommodation on the Coffs coast to suit all budgets and special needs. See www.coffscoast.com.au

and www.coffscoast.com.au/accessible

The Grassroots Writers’ Weekend hosted by Coffs Harbour Writers’ Group at the Coffs Harbour Community Village 17-19 May 2019 has something for everyone and is affordable and practical.

Please note: The program is subject to changes beyond our control.

2019 Grasssroots Writers’ Weekend Program Coffs Harbour 

Manuscript appraisals Dr Laurel Cohn $80

Grassroots Editorial consultations info

Feel free to join the Grassroots Writers Weekend Facebook Group, go to: Grassoots Writers’ Weekend on Facebook

Meet Your Workshop Facilitators

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. 

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.

http://whirlybirdwords.com.au/

https://www.facebook.com/whirlybirdwords/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethjbond/

https://www.instagram.com/whirlybirdwords/

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!    

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.

You can find Wendy at https://www.facebook.com/wendyhaynesauthor/

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://fionamcdonald.blogspot.com/

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.