Stories & Tips: April 2023

Writers Sauce - WWC - MWS 27-April-2023

Welcome to Writers Sauce. We have two new topics for you to check out and it’s all about writing. See CONTENTS below.

Here’s what Christopher Kong said about World Writers Collective:

“Hi Mat - I came across your World Writers Collective site, including your post covering ‘editing tips’.

I’m writing this note to say a big THANKS. I think your site is a wonderful resource, and I really resonated with your comment on the benefit of giving/receiving feedback via writers groups. Despite your evident experience, I appreciate how your sharing comes across as very humble and accessible.

I’ve been working on a piece of creative non-fiction. Look forward to connecting and exchanging more ideas (and writing?) with each other!”

And Sergio about Melbourne Writers Social Group:

Hi Mat, I feel like I should grab you at least a couple of beers and a nice pub meal. It’s the least I can do to say thanks. I have no clue about being a writer and your help has been invaluable.

Kind regards

Sergio

Oliver, Kirk, Giles, Walter, Paul, Carl, Laura, Josh, Aparne, Susanne, Luke, Kale, Noel, and Prashama are our newest subscribers. We now have 381 subscribers. You’ve joined a great group of writers :)

If anyone would like to invite friends to join us, forward this email to anyone anywhere in the world.

World Writers Collective collaborates together with writers, editors and many other kinds of artists / creatives in all industries. We have actors, directors, illustrators, musicians and screen writers in the one place all eager for you to enjoy their work

Join us as a subscriber or as a writer if you would like your own promotional page on our website. To have a page on our website it costs $20 a year. Included are some minor discounts and the ability to advertise yourself for free to our subscribers.

Everyone who works on this website does so for free.

We would also like to stress that if you can not afford the $20, we would like you as a member anyway. You can pay WWC when you have the money available.

www.worldwriterscollective.com/wwc

If you want to add to this email with your own words of wisdom, let us know. Get in touch with us to let us know anything you think writers would like to learn about. We can also/otherwise add info to our NEWS section on the WWC website.

It’s all done for free and it’s off our own back. Please get involved if you have the time.

Thank you,

Mat Clarke

www.worldwriterscollective.com/mat-carke

Contents:

(Look for the *NEW* stamp below for content you haven’t read yet)

1. Book Review (more reviews on books wanted)

2. Writing competitions - suspended until a new manager volunteers

3. Promote your blog

4. Audio Book Info and workshop

5. The Story Mint: Stylefit

6. Writing, editing, predicates, grammar and sentence structure. *NEW*

7. Writer volunteer Jobs

8. Melbourne Writers Social Group events

9. All Write! upcoming events

10. We want to hear from you

11. Join us and we’ll promote you

12. Essential Information for Writers

13. Important links

1. Review a book title - It will be posted on the WWC website

Are you someone who likes to review books (poems, short stories, movie scripts, blogs, non-fiction, etc.) and give honest feedback on content, interest, characters, structure, or if you think it was just really good reading? Submit your review via this email.

For 2022 please review any book or script or poetry you like (yes, you can submit a review done on your story if you like).

Here’s a review of ‘The Man Behind the Mask’ by Rachel Martigan – A Regency Romance.

I struggled today and yesterday ��, having to work, when I just wanted to keep reading.

There was unexpected events, times where I was nervous about what the outcome might be, and happy bits.

Such a great read, you’ve done such a great job with both books.

So, when is the next book out?

I’m such a romance junkie, I can’t get enough.

Well done ��

All three reviews: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AERDMS7R4XWAMTDMWAS7A5C3PAGQ/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_gw_tr?ie=UTF8

The book: https://www.amazon.com.au/Man-Behind-Mask-Rachel-Martigan/dp/B09RJYT9N4/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Here’s a review by John Christmas and Susan Thorn of Ray C Doyle’s mystery novel, Lara’s Secret:
JC: I greatly enjoyed this tale which incorporated modern history of Cyprus into a thriller complete with action and romance. Pete West is a new investigative-journalism hero not afraid to tangle with the corrupts to uncover the truth!
ST: Fantastic story, halfway through this novel, it had me from the first chapter, mystery and intrigue, it's gripping, I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy.
raycdoyle.com
www.fishpond.com/Books/Laras-Secret-Ray-C-Doyle/9781915212047

Here’s a review by Denise Kuchmar of Cecile Ravell’s creative memoir: ravellc.wixsite.com/ravell-the-writer

Review of Dilemmas of a Middle-aged Madonna:
“Traversing the world, from Far North Queensland to Nova Scotia, Canada, and New York City, Jessica tries to work out the cards life has dealt her. A uniquely visual story that sees the main character experience many journeys: physically, emotionally, and metaphorically. Will she overcome the dilemmas in her life?

It’s a hard story to put down.”

Denise Kuchmar, Journalist.

Pre-order autographed copy: ravellc@yahoo.com.au

Here’s an industry review via Books + Publishing of S.D. Hinton’s mystery novel:
THE BROTHERS
'The Brothers is a masterclass in menacing tension ... Atmospheric and moody, the novel chills with its subtle allusions to an unknown enemy that is too close for comfort. Perfect for readers of Garry Disher, Chris Hammer and Jane Harper, The Brothers combines the idyllic Australian surf town setting with unseen dangers - both physical and mental - that lurk in the shadows.'
www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460762578/the-brothers

2. Competitions

Current and upcoming competitions have been suspended for now until we find a manager.

WANTED: competition manager

Short story competitions - World Writers Collective

A. The big one - WWC Golden Pen Award - Win $250 First Prize

Second prize is $100 to spend in a Red Bubble store and one-year membership of Creative Writers Collective. The third prize will be a FREE entry to any one of the competitions for a year and one-year membership of Creative Writers Collective.

All winners will be published in the anthology.

We may need to halt competitions after this latest big prize due to not having a competitions manager. If you would like to become the manager, please let Mat Clarke know.

Coming up (TBA):
The Quick Creative - limited words and limited time. Join us and win cash!

Need help with writing short stories? Go to our competitions tab page 1. We have added hints and tips to help you write the best short story ever. There is a video by Ray Stone, which is a great resource. Our writing competition winners have given their tips and Mat Clarke has added his thoughts. You can also check out our editing tips page.

www.worldwriterscollective.com/writing-competitions

www.worldwriterscollective.com/editing-tips

www.worldwriterscollective.com

Become a World Writers Collective member, which helps support everyone in the group as indie writers and allows you to collect prizes if you win.

Want to get published or publish your own works and have our members spread the word about your works, book launch, or other? It’s only $20 a year to join which helps pay the few hundred dollars it costs for the domain and host the website each year.

www.worldwriterscollective.com/join

If you are one of the top winners of the competition, you will be included in the next anthology. That's just one of the great reasons to get involved!

We also want to promote you and your writing. All you have to do is say the word. When you are a member, it’s free!

3. Promote your blog

We want to promote your blog. Email us a link of one of your blogs and an explanation of why WWC people would enjoy reading it.

We want to promote your blog. Email us a link of one of your blogs and an explanation of why WWC people would enjoy reading it.

Here’s a few from Magz Morgan and the positive comment she received:

www.magzmorgan.com/blog

THANK you both, and the writers’ collective for all the moral support. When I get a message like this, I feel like crying. Maggie

“I just read both of these pieces and found them to be exceptional. You really have developed your talent. When I read the article on writing, I felt that I had a tutor sitting next to me sharing her secrets, while the short story was a delicious gossipy tale that I friend might share. I think that the first article gave me an insight into how hard you have worked to hone your skills. I am impressed with the quality of your writing. Don't stop.”

Linda Douglas

Here’s another by Cecile Ravell

https://ravellc.wixsite.com/ravell-the-writer/blog

4. Audio Book info and workshop

By Mat Clarke for Les Green

Audiobook Production

Helpful dot points to help you transition from pages to narration and bring your story to life:

Why record an audio book?

- The manuscript is complete. After months or years of hard work the story is finished. An illustrator is prepping the artwork and you are looking to publish.

- Traditional print is still popular but you are leaning more towards digital. Why not, tons of people have a Kindle and everybody has a smart phone. However, most people don’t find the time to sit and read these days.

- People do spend hours in their cars and do look for distractions whilst exercising, cooking etc. So why is it important for you to start thinking about creating an audiobook for your story?

Audiobooks are now popular!

- The audiobook industry is evaluated at $3.5 billion dollars (US) worldwide and along with Podcasts continues to grow.

- Longform audio is big business while in comparison printed books and e-book sectors continue to decline.

- Basically, people are buying and consuming audio books rather than reading.

- The stories are still needed, people clearly just want quicker access to them.

- Given that independent and unknown authors have always had to struggle to make sales and to build a fanbase, having your stories in popular format makes perfect sense. Audiobooks make good financial sense, providing you understand how they work.

- Give an additional product to sell and market to sell in.

Make it easy for readers to sample your novel:

- Every writer knows just how difficult it is to get people to read your book. Even friends and family, despite making promises to read it, will struggle to find the time.

- When people are offered the opportunity to either read the opening chapters or to listen to the audiobook, most people with a preference of the audiobook will manage to find time to listen and give feedback. Engaging with the audiobook and wanting to hear more and even eager to find out what happens next.

- What’s obvious is that audiobook samples are one of the most effective ways of getting people past the initial hurdle.

Market Research:

- Traditionally the approach to recording an audiobook happens when the writing is complete with more and more emphasis being placed on social media and promotion. More people are turning to creating samples prior to completion. This allows you to effectively build potential reading groups eagerly awaiting the final manuscript. Getting people hooked on characters, especially ones who continue into a series.

- This provides a huge head start in the process of marketing and selling your book.

So, although it may seem like it’s another daunting project to tackle. Creating an audiobook will expand your readership, make your story more accessible and give you great feedback even if you haven’t released yet.

Over the next few months we’ll be breaking down how to go about giving your story the best possible voice. This will be done in person in the city of Melbourne. Notes will be added to Writers Sauce following each workshop.

*Melbourne Audio Book Production is currently offering a taster session for all WWC members which will include - 30 mins recording, 1 hour editing, 1 x finished audio clip and 1 x instagram sample. Contact us now to have a chat to see what we can do for you.

Contact: https://www.melbourneaudiobookproduction.com/contact.html

Join us! Everyone is welcome even if you’re not close to recording just yet. Next event will be announced here: https://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Writers

Les: Audio engineer, writer and musician - education and working experience - first vocal / dialogue for music and now just vocals.

Engineer for 15 years - commercial music - Artists / Producers in UK and Europe

Creative writer for 4 years .

Studying at SAE institute London

Logic Pro and Pro tools.

Began my creative writing journey 2016 whilst travelling - finding the time to complete in 2020 during pandemic / recording myself.

Started with Brisbane audiobooks - 2021

5. The Story Mint: Stylefit

Student Writing Competition

Open for participation enquiries and entry submissions

We loved holding last year's lockdown writing competition, and collaborating with our incredible judges and prize sponsors to deliver students a fun opportunity amidst our national lockdowns. It was wonderful to see the enjoyment shared by both students and teachers throughout last year's competition!

We hope we can achieve that once more with out 2022 NZ student writing competition! It's now up and running, so we invite class groups or individual students to participate!

Our two biggest goals are:

- show students that writing (and learning writing skills) can be fun

- improve students' writing skills by increasing confidence, self-direction and agency

Those participating (as a school, class or you even just a few keen individual students) will have the opportunity to craft their entries with the help of our writing skills tool, Stylefit. We loved hearing about our participating schools' experiences with the software during the 2021 writing competition - here's a video snippet on student motivation!

If you'd like to participate, get in touch with anna@stylefit.org. We'll either extend your current Stylefit licence or open up a trial version for the duration of the competition. You can also find out more about how it works by booking a demo or having a look at the feedback features here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly7EN53ldRI

6. Writing, editing, predicates, grammar and sentence structure

by Mat Clarke

After an endless string of violent fights with writers and editors which led to blood noses, broken fists and an intervention order, I decided to go in search for some tips on writing and editing so that we could settle this conflict before an unholy war began between the people who believe writing and editing is solely a subjective art, and those who believe writers should should learn all the rules before they can begin bending or breaking them, is settled by the extermination of every living thing on the planet.

This is the most basic writing skill when writing a good sentence:

Start with a subject, then verb, then object.

John played under the setting sun.

John is the subject.

Played is the verb.

The setting sun is the object (yes, setting is a verb too).

The subject is the "who" or "what" of the sentence, the predicate is the verb, and the object is any noun or concept that is part of the action of the subject.

The object can sometimes be a word that is left out and assumed to be "you" or other.

Here's another way of saying the above:

SVC

An effective sentence structure is often SVC (subject, verb, complement, with ‘complement’ meaning the rest of the sentence). You can use a short phrase to introduce such sentences.

In 2015, the group (subject) met (verb) for the last time (compliment).

At other times, you may wish to start a sentence with a dependent clause for emphasis. Such sentences often start with Although or While.

Although the lawyers went through every clause in the contract, the client still had objections.

You can improve your sentence structure by:

Having the main verb near the beginning of the sentence

Starting with a real subject, not a false subject (There is, It is)

Using which and while with caution

It is of utmost importance that… (false subject)

Got all that?

Hang on! What the hell is a predicate, a dependent clause and all that other stuff you said?

Compound sentences

Compound sentences have two or more independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. The coordinating conjunctions can be summarised by the acronym FANBOYS – for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so.

Use a comma to separate two independent clauses, unless the clauses are short and the meaning is clear without a comma.

Monday was a rainy day and the workers stayed home.

We were about to sign the contract, but the owners changed their minds.

Complex sentences

Complex sentences have an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses (cannot exist independently). They are useful for commenting on your main idea.

Although it rained on Monday (dependent clause), the work continued (independent clause).

Compound-complex sentences

Compound-complex sentences have more than one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

What is a clause in a sentence?

A clause, like a phrase, is a group of words. But unlike a phrase, a clause is pretty complete. A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate.

What is a predicate?

The predicate is what the subject is up to. In other words, the predicate “completes an idea about the subject,” according to Wikipedia. For example: John got out of the ruined car, and he laughed uproariously.

A subject almost always includes a noun (there are some exceptions), but a predicate must include a verb.

Predicates always include at least one verb to represent the action, even if that verb is be.

At the meeting, which was held on Monday, the lawyers drafted the terms of the contract, but the client objected to them.

F: for: The teachers were frustrated, for the school had cut funding for all enrichment programs.*

A: and: In this course, I will write a literature review, a case study, and a final paper.**

N: nor: The students did not complete their homework, nor did they pass the test.

B: but: The study is several years old but still valuable to this study.

O: or: At the end of the class, the students can choose to write an essay or take a test.

Y: yet: The patient complained of chronic pain, yet she refused treatment.

S: so: I have only been a nurse for one year, so I have little experience with paper charting.

Quick note:

(An inexperienced writer uses conjunctions in order to insert multiple thoughts into one sentence. Examples of conjunctions are: and, then, but, however, or, even.)

* "For" is rarely used as a conjunction in modern English.

** When the conjunctions "and" and "or" connect three or more words or phrases, use a serial comma to separate items in the series. Although I have found that many people don’t think a serial comma is required.

Transitional words such as "however" and "therefore" can also function as conjunctions:

The authors agreed on the prevalence of the problem; however, they disagreed on the problem’s cause.

Several employees complained about the new policies, and therefore, the manager held an all-staff meeting to address their concerns.

Sometimes, a comma before or after then is necessary, but it depends on the situation. You should generally only use a comma before then when it connects two independent clauses or when it acts like an interjection.

If the dependent clause is first (again, rather like an introduction to the main clause), it is followed by a comma (like in this sentence and the next). If the independent clause comes first, no punctuation separates the two.

Independent clauses are also called main clauses, and dependent clauses are also called subordinate clauses.

More info but said in a slightly different way:

The subject is what the sentence is about.

The predicate is what the subject is up to. In other words, the predicate “completes an idea about the subject,” according to Wikipedia.

Sometimes, a subject isn't included in the sentence but just implied. For example, Don't drive off bridges! Here, there is no subject, but it's implied by the context.

When you put a subject and a predicate together, you get a clause! (Yes, like Santa.) The fun thing is you can combine clauses together to form different types of sentences.

A predicate is the grammatical term for the words in a sentence or clause that describe the action but not the subject. In other words, the predicate explains what the subject does. For all intents and purposes, a predicate includes all the words in a sentence or clause except the subject (and words that modify the subject).

Predicates are one of the core building blocks of English sentences, so it’s good to understand how they work.

Common Comma Errors

The following constructions do not require commas:

Months. Do not use a comma when referring to a month within a particular year.

Example: I conducted the study in June 2003.

Complex sentences. Do not use a comma in a sentence that joins an independent clause and a dependent clause.

Example: Smith (2001) found that the results were consistent although some details in the approaches differed.

Introducing quotations (seamless). Do not use a comma when an independent clause seamlessly introduces a quotation.

Example: Freud (1900) claimed that "the dreamer...assumes that the dream--even if it does not come from another world--has at all events transported the dreamer into another world" (p. 5).

Comma splices. A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses (complete sentences) are separated by just a comma.

Example: Jessica and I went to the movies, we had a good time.

There are many ways to correct the sentence above. Review the information on run-on sentences for examples of correctly joining independent clauses.

Join sentences using subordinating conjunctions

In addition to coordination, you can also use subordinating conjunctions to connect sentences. The only difference is that subordinating conjunctions link a main clause and a dependent or subordinate clause. Example:

Juliana went shopping – a main clause

she got her monthly salary – subordinate clause

Juliana went shopping as soon as she got her monthly salary.

You can see in the above example that the main clause makes complete sense on its own but the subordinate clause does not. Thus, it needs the main clause to make meaning, which is why it is called the subordinate clause.

Below is a list of some subordinating conjunctions, their functions and examples of their usage.

Subordinating conjunctions

while, whenever, after, etc

where, anywhere

because, since, as

The lobby group opposed all proposed measures after its leader was reprimanded by the lower court for illegal protest.

There is heavy breeding of mosquitoes where the patients live.

Those in the category of non-obese claim to walk briskly every evening because they know the importance of exercise.

Quick note:

A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence.

Yeah, right.

Here are some great tips:

Do use a comma before so if it precedes an independent clause.

Don’t use a comma before so if it precedes a dependent clause.

Do use a comma before but if it precedes an independent clause.

Don’t use a comma before but if it doesn’t precede an independent clause.

Do use a comma before and if it precedes an independent clause.

Don’t use a comma before and if it doesn’t precede an independent clause.

Don’t use a comma before because as a general rule.

Do use a comma before and for the sake of clarity.

I love my dogs, Kesha and Bruno Mars.

When directly addressing a person by name, add a comma after the name.

Charlie, have you ever considered a pet tortoise?

Use a comma to separate independent clauses

Rule: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, yet, so, or nor, for) when it joins two complete ideas (independent clauses).

He walked down the street, and then he turned the corner.

You can go shopping with me, or you can go to a movie alone

More tips:

If you can substitute therefore for so in the sentence, then what follows is an independent clause.

The pet store was fresh out of kitten toys; therefore I had to improvise.

Here’s another tip:

If you can add that after so in the sentence, then what follows is a dependent clause.

I scrunched a piece of paper into a ball so that my new kitten could play with it.

Bad Sentence Structure Makes for Weird Sounding Sentences

When you write, you use a different part of the brain than when you speak. That's why writing can be so hard for many of us. You might communicate perfectly when you talk, but when you write, you stare at the screen for fifteen minutes trying to figure out what to say.

Many people especially struggle with sentence structure. Most of us are taught sentence structure in the third and fourth grade, but we usually forget it just as quickly.

Good writers vary the types of sentences they use. For example, don't use too many simple sentences. You might sound childish. However, if you use too many compound-complex sentences, your writing might be too difficult to understand.

More on predicates, subjects and stuff:

I ate.

subject: I

predicate: ate

Godzilla roars.

subject: Godzilla

predicate: roars

A predicate can also include other words and phrases that modify the action, such as prepositional phrases or direct and indirect objects.

There are a few different types of predicates, each with its own unique qualities. Let’s take a more detailed look at each now.

ADVANCED LEVEL FROM HERE ON:

What is a simple predicate?

A simple predicate is the most basic form of the predicate. It consists of only the main verb and auxiliary verbs, also known as helper verbs.

The little pig went to the market.

The simple predicate in this example is only the word went.

We have been waiting for hours!

In this example, the simple predicate includes the verb “waiting” and the auxiliary verbs “have” and “been.”

Modal verbs like can, might, will, or must are also auxiliary verbs, so they too are part of the simple predicate.

I might be wrong.

What is a complete predicate?

A complete predicate includes the simple predicate as well as all other words that describe the action. Essentially, the complete predicate is all the words in a sentence or clause except the subject and words that describe the subject.

The little pig went to the market.

Using the example above, “went” is the simple predicate, but the entire phrase “went to the market” is the complete predicate. The modifiers “the” and “little” are not part of the complete predicate because they relate to the subject.

As you can see, the complete predicate can sometimes include nouns like “market” if they’re part of descriptive phrases that do not relate to the subject.

What is a compound predicate?

A compound predicate includes two or more verbs that all share the same subject.

He showered, shaved, and dressed in his finest clothes for his cat’s birthday party.

The verbs “showered,” “shaved,” and “dressed” all use the same subject, “he.” In this example, all the verbs belong to the same clause and therefore to the same compound predicate.

However, be careful with sentences that have more than one clause. In these cases, each clause has its own different predicate.

He showered, shaved, and dressed in his finest clothes for his cat’s birthday party, but the cat never showed.

In this example, there are two separate predicates: the original compound predicate and the second predicate “never showed” that uses a new subject, “the cat.”

What are predicate adjectives and predicate nominatives?

Predicate adjectives and predicate nominatives are special types of predicates used only with linking verbs like be, seem, or become. The action with linking verbs is simply existing, so predicates with linking verbs describe the state of the subject.

A predicate adjective is when the words following a linking verb are adjectives or adjective phrases that modify the subject.

Devaj was happy with the first date.

In this example, the simple predicate is “was,” the past tense of the linking verb be. The adjective “happy” describes the subject “Devaj,” making it a predicate adjective. The prepositional phrase “with the first date” relates to the adjective “happy,” so it too is part of the predicate adjective.

Similarly, a predicate nominative is when the words following a linking verb are nouns or noun phrases, again modifying the subject.

Amirah became the company’s first CEO under the age of 30.

This example also uses a linking verb, this time “became.” Following the verb is a noun phrase centered on the word “CEO,” which describes the subject “Amirah,” making it a predicate nominative. All the words after “became” relate to the noun “CEO,” so they work together as a noun phrase, making them part of the predicate nominative too.

As you can see there is a lot to cover on this subject and many different ways to say/write it. In truth, what you have read is only half of what I found on writing and editing when it comes to sentence structure and grammar. I could include the second half, but you may eventually want to stick forks in your eyes. So instead I will leave you with something other writers have said to me:

Yes, follow the rules of writing, but clarity supersedes all rules.

Good luck and I hope you don’t find editing as laborious as me!

7. Writer volunteer jobs

We would love you to join our network of writers as a creative leader and help you further everyone's knowledge of writing. No doubt, you'll learn more about yourself and your writing as well. Have a read below and see what fits your personal skills and lifestyle. Commit to what you can and we'll see you in the trenches. Most of all, have fun!

Opportunities:

Manager of writing competitions

Website manager

Information officer

Assistant to managers and officers

Writing Competition Judges

Event host - multiple required (Melbourne only)

Further details: www.worldwriterscollective.com/job-vacancies

These are all volunteer positions.

Your position includes free membership, a discount for any events you attend, free access to catering (if supplied) and an allowance for the manager positions (see position details).

Commit for 12 months or longer.

8. Melbourne Writers Social events

Recently we discussed how to win writing competitions and what judges look for. If you would like to learn more, check out our website: www.worldwriterscollective.com/writing-competitions

The previous month we talked about our favourite books to read and linking to each other via Goodreads. We would like to start linking to each other so we can recommend books to each other and promote the few authors in our group. Post up your Goodreads link via comments below, if you are reading this on our blog, or post it via our Facebook groups:

www.facebook.com/groups/570847673015529

www.facebook.com/groups/169777419779168

Mat Clarke - link to me and find others: www.goodreads.com/author/show/6898385.Mat_Clarke

Our main flagship event runs at the Wharf Hotel on the third Tuesday of the month. Please join us - all are welcome, even if you are only thinking of starting out in a creative field.

Click here to RSVP, check time and place of events: www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Writers

We meet online every Monday from 6.30pm and show each other our work and chat about everything creative.

South Bank Write Now: Second Saturday of the month. The venue is generally quiet, opens early, free wifi, good coffee, food as well as drinks if you need them for later ;) There is music, and it is a cafe-bar, so bear this in mind and wear head phones if you need them while you write.

Melbourne Central: One Sunday a month. We are nestled in the back corner of the upstairs food court near the windows, past the colourful piano, behind the big clock. We meet to write mostly, but you are free to chat with others who would like to do so.

In South Bank each month for the next six or so months we are running a workshop on audio book creation. Please join us for an enjoyable information session. See Meetup for details.

Not currently running: Eastern suburbs meet. Laura, Stephanie and Mat are exploring a cafe in Croydon to meet at, which will be run on certain Sundays. We will get back to you soon on how it will be run and what the format will be. Likely it will involve the return of our writing games event with prompts to get you writing and enjoy yourself.

Not currently running: Writers of the South, let’s write: This is for southern Melbourne, down as far as the Clayton and Mentone area. Anyone can attend and join in and write your heart out (and have ice cream).

Not currently running: Writers Workshop: If you want to work through a piece, then come along to the Eltham Library and let us help you create your best work.

Not currently running: Treehouse Writing: Join us in Olinda for a sanctuary in the hills where we write and relax.

As with all our events, please get in touch if you would like to help with running events. The best way to do this is to come to one of our events and chat to the current event hosts about what you would like to do. We prefer to have two event hosts at each event, so where there is an opening we are happy for you to get involved.

There are many other Writing groups in Melbourne that you may be interested in as well. Go to them all and see what you like . . . but then come back to MWS and bring more great people with you. Haha ;)

www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Writers

Stories & Tips

Wednesday 26 April 2023

Writers Sauce - WWC - MWS 27-April-2023