The Writers' College
Issue 47 NewsletterMay 2014
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The Deadline Issue
FOUND ON THE WEB
STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES
SPOTLIGHT ON...
ON OUR WEBZINE
MY WRITING JOURNEY
SAWC SHORT STORY RESULTS
NZWC 2014 SHORT STORY COMPETITION
COMPETITION TIME!
FREE GRAMMAR ZAP!

 

 

Writers College student feedback

my writing journey competition 

 
Michelle   
Writers' College Links...

 

 

 

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Michelle
 

 

Almost all publications, whether digital or print, have two immovables: editors and deadlines.

 

In the world of freelancing, if you miss your deadline for unavoidable reasons, such as illness or an interview subject who messed you around, most editors will understand. If, however, you just couldn't get it together to get your work in on time, it's unlikely that that editor will commission another article from you.

 

When you do a writing course through the Writers' College, consider your course deadline practice for writing in the real world of freelancing. Even if it means burning the midnight oil, do your very best to meet it.

 

Yours in the spirit of getting things in on time,
Tracey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tracey Hawthorne

Editor

The Writers' College Newsletter  

   

  
FOUND ON THE WEB 

  

- How the world's most brilliant people scheduled their days. Read it here

 

- Why writers are the worst procrastinators. Read it here.

 

- 15 time-management tips for writers. Read them here.

 

 

In other topics...

 

- Email interviews may be convenient, but are they the best way to go? Read it here.

 

- What writers say about keeping a writers' journal. Read it here.

 

- The adverb is not your friend: Stephen King on simplicity of style. Read it here.

 

 

For fun...

 

- The history of language, animated (and in 10 minutes). See it here.

 
- Terrifying two-sentence horror stories. Read them here.
 
- Myths about being a writer. Read them here.
 
 
STUDENT SUCCESS STORIES 

Well done to our fabulous graduate students at The Writers' College for their latest writing successes.
 

  

Suzanne Main, who completed The Basics of Creative Writing Course in 2012, won the 2014 Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award. Her book for children - How I Alienated My Grandma - will be published by Scholastic. A huge congratulations to Suzanne.

Carl Beck completed the Magazine Journalism Course in 2013. His article was accepted for publication in Idealog Magazine.

Zelda Fourie completed the Writing for the Web Course. She now writes articles for Caxton Publishers for East Rand and online. Read one of her articles here.

Ansie van der Walt completed the Copy-editing and Proofreading Course and the Magazine Journalism Course at The Writers' College. She has been accepted as an associate editor at Katy Mc Devitt Editorial Services. Ansie has also created an excellent author platform online to showcase her published articles. Find her here: http://www.ansievanderwalt.com/.

Congratulations to all of you!

 
SPOTLIGHT ON SARAH LANG 

 
Self-confessed bookworm Sarah Lang got her first job on a magazine after sending in a zany CV.
 
Today she's a multi-award-winning writer who's interviewed Helen Mirren and Diane Kruger, among other celebrities.

We asked her some questions about the writing life. Read it here.
  
ON OUR WEBZINE

 

 

  

Our webzine is a fantastic place to find guidance, writing tips and information. Immerse yourself in the world of writing. 

 

  

Work smarter, not harder: 5 time-management tips for journalists by Cara Versveld 

The same time-management tips apply for writers as for someone running a small business. Read them here.

 

- We directed you to two more excellent articles on time management in our last edition. If you missed them, you can read them here and here.

 

20 essential editing tips

Before you hit that 'send' button, spend a bit of time editing your article to ensure you submit the very best work you can. Read what to do here (and get a handy print-out-and-keep checklist).

 

8 vital skills for online journalism

These are skills you may have overlooked but which are crucial if you want to become a digital superstar. Read them here.

 

5 trends reveal the evolution of print media by Fady Zaki

Has the digital age killed print journalism? Not necessarily. Read why here.

 

Spotlight on Nora Vagi Brash by Kiara Worth

Living in one of the most remote regions in the world hasn't stopped playwright and poet Nora Vagi Brash finding writing success. Read how she did it here. 

 
MY WRITING JOURNEY COMPETITION - MARCH WINNER

'My first word was "home" and that word has stuck with me ever since,' writes Lyllie Colway, our March My Writing Journey competition winner.

Home - by Lyllie Colway

 

'Everything that ever is or was, started with a story, and there is no story unless there is someone willing to listen.  I first told a story when I was 5 years old. I was in trouble ... because I'd run through the living room with muddy feet... In an attempt to avoid being scolded ... I thought up a tale.' Read more here.

 

 
SA WRITERS' COLLEGE SHORT STORY COMPETITION WINNERS

'What a wonderful experience it was judging the refreshing, quality stories this year,' says Writers' College Principal Nichola Meyer, who describes the entries as 'brimful of originality and excellence'. Well done to the winners!
 
1st place (literary fiction): Melita Vurden for 'That Night'. Read it here.
2nd place (popular fiction): Mike Forde for 'The First Time'. Read it here.

Runner-up (literary fiction): Gina Kukard for 'Death and Sandwiches'. Read it here.
Runner-up (popular fiction): Natisha Parsons for 'On the Way Home'. Read it here.

 

NZ WRITERS' COLLEGE SHORT STORY COMPETITION

The fifth annual New Zealand Writers' College Short Story Competition aims to acknowledge excellence in creative writing in the Short Story genre. 

Short Story Writing 

The contest is open to any emerging writer residing in New Zealand or Australia who is unpublished, or who has had fewer than four stories/articles published in any format or any genre (print or digital).

 

PRIZES:

  • First Prize: $1 000 and publication in an anthology of winning stories
  • Second Prize: $500 and publication in an anthology of winning stories
  • People's Choice Award: $500

The top three entries will receive editorial comments on their submitted works.

 

THEME:  'It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.' - Charles Dickens

 

CLOSING DATE: 30 September 2014

 

Find the full details here.

 

 
WRITING COMPETITIONS

The Fiction Desk Ghost Story Competition
Closing date: 30 May
More details here.
 
The Bridport Prize (poems, short stories, flash fiction)
Closing date: 31 May
More details here.
 
Boston Review Annual Poetry Contest
Closing date: 2 June
More details here.
 
Golden Baobab Prizes
Closing date: 29 June
More details here.
 
Short Story Day Africa Speculative Fiction Competition
Closing date: 30 June
More details here.
 
International Aeon Award Short Fiction Contest
Closing date: 30 June
More details here.
 
The Garden Route Botanical Gardens Trust Children's Story Competition
Closing date: 15 August
More details here.

International Children's Story Competition
Closing date: 31 August
More details here.

Aura Estrada Short Story Contest
Closing date: 1 October
More details here.

 
Monthly entries
 
For regular competitions, or if your writing is aimed at a more local readership, country-specific competitions can be found on the bottom right-hand corner of our individual home pages. There you will also find regular, monthly and weekly competitions. Keep checking in for updates!
F
FREE GRAMMAR ZAP! e-COURSE

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Click here to sign up. Your first lesson arrives the next day.

 

My Writing Journey Competition

 

Write us a 1 000-word story about your journey as a writer. Make it funny, quirky or inspirational. We'll publish the best story in our quarterly newsletter and on our blog - plus the winner will get $200 (R1 000 or �100).

 

Send your story to [email protected].

 

Open to our newsletter subscribers from around the world.

 

The next My Writing Journey competition closes noon on 30 June 2014. More details here.