Ongoing workshops

These workshops are available throughout the year.

All workshops require payment at time of booking. Bookings can be made by phone on 6262 9191 (Tuesday-Saturday), online at https://app.formassembly.com/forms/view/10261 or in person at the Writers Centre office, Gorman House, Ainslie Avenue, Braddon. The Writers Centre has credit card facilities and EFTPOS. If paying by cheque, make payable to ACT Writers Centre. Enrolment will not be confirmed until payment is received.

Free the writer in you

online workshop with Valerie Parv

Why do words come easily to some people, while you stare at a blank screen? Are there techniques to make writing easier and more successful?

YES! And the answers are in this online course, which comprises 14 lessons with printer-friendly options so the notes form an invaluable reference source for you to keep, 28 assignments to return for helpful feedback, and optional reading to supplement your studies. In 14 lessons you will learn to:

• Overcome the most common writing blocks
• Understand and use right and left brain skills to your best advantage
• Overcome traps like perfectionism and tomorrow-itis
• Write even while you sleep

You'll be guided through each lesson by Valerie Parv. Valerie is a writer, trainer and counselor who conducts seminars on creativity and all aspects of the writing craft throughout Australia. Published since age 14, she has written 55 romance novels and 20 nonfiction books including The Art of Romance Writing, now in its fourth edition, and The Idea Factory, on which Free the Writer in You is based. Her work has been translated into more than 20 languages.

Course outline

• General introduction: First things first –ideas on demand –matter versus manner – finding your theme – creativity self-check
• Believing is seeing: The difference belief makes – new ways of seeing – change locations and methods – write your thoughts – thought switching
• Right brain, right idea: Identify your inner writer – understanding right and left-brain functions – handling interruptions – five steps to creativity – your dominant side
• Trust your inner writer: Mental workouts – fostering creativity – psychological safety and psychological freedom – rule breaking
• Start seeing UFOS: The UFOS formula for writing success – the work of writing – how to focus on results
• Excuses, excuses: Create your own deadlines – the only two excuses – the critic over the shoulder – disappearing words
• The Perfectionist Trap: Five steps you can take – the research trap – the fear factor – the writer's eye – overcoming tomorrowitis
• Solving Creative Problems: The ISISI formula – ideation - hardening of the categories – identifying the work of the writing
• Tools of the writing trade: Creativity workout – literary lightning rods – brainstorming – clustering – journals and notebooks
• Daydream believers: Your imaginary camera – visualization – memory – the cognitive interview
• Write while you sleep: Alpha – beta – delta – theta – importance of relaxation – capture the lightning – your intuitive edge
• The incubation process: Idea triggers – the why questions - interviewing – your treasure file – stranger than fiction
• Eureka moments on demand: Intuitive flashes – how to attract the lightning – the felt sense – the SIFT formula
• Your writing environment: Budget your time – writing goals – the paddling duck syndrome –distractions and self talk

Participants may also choose to undertake the first 7 lessons over seven weeks.

Cost: (14 week course) Members: $730. Non-members: $742.50.  (7 week course) Members: $369. Non-members: $380

Bookings: 6262 9191 or online here.

Script Mentoring

Online workshop with Hunter Cordaiy

This service takes a project (feature film or TV drama) from story to screenplay over 15 weeks - which can begin at any time of the year. It is an in-depth development process using email and Skype conversations, with an academic-based schedule of assignments, feedback and clearly defined steps, which will progress a project to a completed screenplay package. The mentor, Hunter Cordaiy, teaches script at tertiary level and works professionally as a writer and script editor.  Biography and credits at www.huntercordaiy.com   

Student testimonials:

I have been very grateful to Hunter and his deep experience in the area of storytelling - he has great  insight and understanding of how stories work - he can work with students individually  over the arc of a course - ie he establishes structure suitable for mentoring one to one and within groups. Since Hunter joined us our Writing for Digital Media class numbers have doubled and the student feedback is nothing short of excellent ! - students are inspired by his passion for the subject. - Dr Phillip George (Senior Lecture Bachelor of Digital Media College of Fine Art UNSW)

I had, over the past decade, made several unsuccessful attempts to write a feature film script. I found that the exciting idea I had for a movie soon turned into a confused tangle and writing became a chore. That was until I found Hunter's online course...several weeks later I had the first draft of my screenplay. This would never have happened without Hunter's guidance and mentorship. - Bruce Davie

Put simply and honestly - had I not done the course with Hunter, I would not have two feature film scripts under my belt with my first getting coverage in Los Angeles. He was not only encouraging, motivating and an overall great mentor, but he was also honest about my story, which is incredibly important. I highly recommend his service! - Tom Judd

Hunter's mentoring has been an extremely valuable and worthwhile exercise for me in developing my script. I came from a very basic level of understand of film (with no formal training) and after three months I have the completed screenplay package in hand at a level that is ready to send to a producer. His enthusiasm and support has encouraged me to develop my own style while benefiting from the high level of knowledge he has on the architecture of script-writing; accumulated through his many years of experience in the film industry. I am deeply appreciative of Hunter's commitment and generosity throughout the process! - Claudia Cooney

Cost: $750 for members, $800 non-members.  Enquiries on phone 6262 9191.