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

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!    

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.

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