The Writers' College

Issue 52 Newsletter

June 2015
_____________________________________________________________________________
The Nuts and Bolts Issue
FOUND ON THE WEB
COLLEGE NEWS
ON OUR WEBZINE
MY WRITING JOURNEY
SA WRITERS' COLLEGE SHORT STORY COMPETITION
COMPETITION TIME!

 

 

Writers College student feedback

my writing journey competition 

Michelle   
Writers' College Links...

 

 

 

Find us on Facebook 

Follow us on Twitter

Michelle
 

 

 

 

Welcome to the mid-year edition of the Writers College newsletter.

In this issue, we look at the 'nuts and bolts' of writing, such as correct syntax, spelling and punctuation.


Attempting to write well without a basic knowledge of grammar - what the purpose is of all those commas and semi-colons, plurals and singulars, nouns and verbs - is like trying to build a brick house without bricks or cement.

You don't need to be a grammar nerd to be a good writer, but you do need to know your way around the basics.
 
Read on for new info, opinions, and tips on this topic.
 
Best wishes

Tracey Hawthorne (Editor)   

  
FOUND ON THE WEB 

  

- Is getting all the rules right all the time really so important? Read the debate here.  
 

- The new importance of punctuation in the digital world - when that exclamation mark says it all. Read it here.

 

- Accidence Will Happen is the latest 'grammar rules' book. Read a lively review of it here.

 

- Know your its from your it's? Take this fun quiz and see which of these 10 common grammar errors trip you up.

 

- Are you a grammar nerd? Then click here for a giggle. 

 

- English doesn't have all the answers - a word for a beer you drink outside, for instance. Click here for more untranslatable words from around the world. 

   

STUDENT NEWS

  


Congratulations to our students who have achieved publishing success over the past two months. We are so proud of you!   


Well done to one of our Afrikaans students, Ronel Mostert.

 

Ronel completed the Advanced Creative Writing Course in 2014 and her novel, Dubbele Wonderwerk (A Double Miracle) was approved by Kwarts Publishers and will be available as an e-book in August. Kwarts Publishers will also assist with the printed version.

 

In the meantime her first short story was published in the April edition of the woman's magazine, Sarie.

 

Her short story on Vrouekeur's website was chosen as the best short story for April 2015. In September 2015 another short story will be published in Vrouekeur.

***
Martin Steyn, who completed the Writers College Creative Writing Course in 2011, had his first novel, Donkerspoor (Dark Trail), published by Lapa last year. The book was an instant success and best-seller, with critics heralding Martin as an interesting addition to Afrikaans crime fiction.

His second book, Skuldig (Guilty), was recently published to even greater acclaim.

 

With two excellent novels under his belt, Martin is here to stay, and readers can expect more top-shelf suspense from his pen.  

*** 

Well done to Megan Frith - a graduate of the Writers College Short Story Course and our Novel Writing Course. She recently placed third in the 2015 Page & Blackmore Short Story Competition in New Zealand for her short story titled "Till Death".

*** 

Excellent news from one of our graduates of the Writers College Travel Writing Course. Moira Swart won the competition "Readers World" in the Travel Weekly supplement in the Sunday Times.

 



THINKING OF DOING A WRITING COURSE?

We offer over 35 writing courses with all the tools, tips and training to help you write in that field. Our tutors have years of experience, and work one-to-one with you to hone your skills.
 

Find out more by contacting us for our full course curricula and enrolment details. 

 

 

On Facebook? Join us for daily tips and inspiration on our Facebook page

  
ON OUR WEBZINE

 

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

  

Hook, line and sinker

Draw in your readers and keep them hooked. Here are 11 ways to do it.

  

Throwing out the rule book

Sharlene Naidoo tells us here how writers at top digital magazine The Economist do things differently.

 

Bridging the gap

Emma Richardson interviews world-renowned natural-history writer Kennedy Warne here about how he connects with his readers.

 

Skryf-geļnspireerd gebore

Magdel Botha talks to author Annelie Botes, here.

 

 
MY WRITING JOURNEY COMPETITION

This month we acknowledge the writing of young Nigerian writer Olakunle Oladiran. His unique story about how he started writing won him the 'My Writing Journey' prize.

Read his story here.


 

SA WRITERS COLLEGE SHORT STORY COMPETITION

Short Story Writing

The results for the SAWC Short Story Competition can be found  here.  

 

Congratulations to our winners, as well as the Honours, Honourable Mention and 'More Stories We Loved' writers.   

 

 

 

 
COMPETITION TIME

The NZ Writers College Short Story Competition is open for entries.
Closing date:
30 September
More info here.

The Henshaw Short Story competition

Closing date: 30 June

More info here.

L Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future competition


Artificium Short Fiction Competition 

Closing date: 2 August

More info here.


Scribble magazine 'Why do I write?' article competition

Closing date: 31 August

More info here.  

 

The Short Story competition

Closing date: 15 September

More info here.


The Observer/Anthony Burgess Prize for Arts Journalism

Closing date: 30 November

More info 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

Spruce up your grammar with a 5-minute grammar lesson that arrives in your Inbox each day for 5 days. It takes 5 seconds to register. Click here to sign up. Your first lesson arrives the next day.

 

My Writing Journey Competition - September 2015 

 

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 newsletter and on our blog - plus the winner will get $200 (R1 000 or £100).

 

Send your story to nichola@nzwriterscollege.co.nz.

 

Open to our newsletter subscribers from around the world.

 

The next My Writing Journey competition closes noon on 30 September 2015. Full details here.