Writers Sauce - WWC - MWS 25-February-2024
Welcome to Writers Sauce. We have one new topic for you to check out and it’s all about writing. See CONTENTS below. Then, in about three weeks time, we’ll have an article for you from Lee, who spoke to us last week about how he was able to achieve over a million downloads for his podcast.
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
Ilya, Daryl, Nadia, Crystal, Sarah, Jackie, Matthew, Gil, Shev, Anthony, Sebastian, Lavinia, Javier, Srash, Juaioi, Alex, Ash and Daniel are our newest subscribers. We now have around 400 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 there is a donation cost per 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 donation of approximately $20, we would like you as a member anyway. You can pay WWC when you have the money available.
www.worldwriterscollective.
If you want to add to this email with your own words of wisdom, please let us know. 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.
Contents:
(See *NEW* below)
1. Book Review (more reviews on books wanted)
2. Writing competitions - suspended until a new manager volunteers
3. Promote your blog
4. James Pletch’s talk on Book Sale Statistics 2023 *NEW*
5. The Story Mint: Stylefit
6. Where to Go and Write During Happy Hour
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
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1. Review a book title - It will be posted on the WWC website
READ MORE HERE: www.
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 2023 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/
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-
Here’s a review by Denise Kuchmar of Cecile Ravell’s creative memoir: ravellc.wixsite.com/ravell-
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/
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.
www.worldwriterscollective.com
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.
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:
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/
4. James Pletch’s talk on Book Sale Statistics 2023
By Mat Clarke for Roger Wakelin
January 2024 Wharf Writers talk on Book Sales by Jim Pletch filling in for Lee who had covid and could not give his guest talk on developing audience on his podcast that has 1 million downloads. Lee will now be doing this in March.
From the research group WordsRated 2023:
l In 2023 the global book publishing revenue was $129 billion - up from $122 billion in 2018
l Print books account for 77% of the market.
l Audio books will grow by 27% in the next 5 years.
l The big 5 in the global market are the US, China, Japan, Germany and India.
l Since 2021 fiction books have become the dominant trade book category overthrowing nonfiction books. However adult nonfiction is still the biggest single category among trade books at 38% of the market.
l 11.7% of US citizens read poetry at least once a year, with women reading it more than men.
l Since 2017 in the US the majority of book sales have occurred online.
l Book sales survived and even thrived during covid.
l The highest selling time is late November until year’s end.
l Used books accounted for 15% of the global market in 2020. Over 70% of students choose to buy a used book over the newly-published one.
l Amazon revolutionized self-publishing enabling millions of authors to compete in the book market.
l 300 million self-published books are sold each year.
l Over 90% of self-published books sell under 100 copies. Writing and publishing a book is clearly a popular form of creative self-expression in people’s lives now, rather than a means of acquiring serious income.
l Amazon is the biggest book-selling company in the world, selling $28 billion annually. In the US it controls over 40% of all print book sales.
l Jim asked the room for a show of hands on their most popular form of book and it was printed books, with ebooks coming second and audiobooks third.
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?
6. Where to Write During Happy Hour
by Mat Clarke
You've been writing at home, on the train, while waiting for friends or at one of our writing meetups. Now you need somewhere to go that will aid you in finding inspiration and allow you to buy food and drinks without breaking the bank. You'll need a nice venue now that Melbourne is getting back on the horse again, albeit slowly. It's time to get back out there!
One of my favourite places is The Wharf Hotel in Melborne CBD opposite Jeff's Shed. You'll enter the venue via the waterfront, as it has no street entrance. While sitting outside under the sun or resting comfortably inside, you can look out over the Yarra River and the many people entering Crown Casino or walking past Polly Woodisde to DFO. As you turn your mind to the bar you'll notice that happy starts at 4pm and ends at 7pm Monday to Friday. So grab yourself a schooner, spirit or wine for $7, sit back and relax.
What you can do:
A game will usually be on so you can cheer and enjoy the excitement.
One of the friendly staff will be happy to chat and talk about what you can see and do nearby.
No food discounts anymore, unfortunately. They used to be great with the Monday to Thursday cheap eats, but maybe that will return in Summer. Otherwise, download The Pass app and get $10 off your first purchase.
TGI Fridays is a good favourite in any part of Melbourne. Inside Melbourne Central you'll find that TGI Fridays is up two sets of escalators from Swanston Street. They run a happy hour from 4pm to 6pm. It includes $6 schooners, wines and spirits. They also do cheap cocktails which I love. If you stay on, they generally run a late night happy hour as well which is from 8pm to 10pm. Not bad if you want to chat your friend's ear off all night. Sit at the bar and talk to the bartenders if you like. They're happy to make you feel welcome when they're not run off their feet. You can also download their app and get some small discounted snacks.
Melbourne Central Lion starts happy hour at 4pm and ends at 7pm, but only Monday to Thursday. You'll be able to buy pints for $9 and pay $7 for wine and spirits. If you like the idea of food specials Sunday to Thursday, then check them out upon arrival. They usually do great cheap pizza too.
Just a little north of the CBD is the Queensberry Hotel. If they aren't busy they'll sometimes close early, so get in before they do. Happy Hour is a standard 25% off from 5pm to 7pm except Mondays when it is $6 beer and $6 spirits. They also do great meal options at budget prices, such as a parma on Wednesday for $20.
I've always enjoyed happy hour at Father's Office, especially considering they love to double dip. Your first happy hour is 5pm to 7pm and your second is from 8pm to 10pm. It just may force you to stay all night! Oh no, what a pity :) It runs every day with selected cocktails at $12, pints from $8 and $9 spirits. They also do some cheap meals during some of their weekdays. The part I like is the balcony that looks out over Swanston Street. A lovely view I have enjoyed many times over. Oh, and they also have a venue in Flinders Lane as well as their original spot on Little Lonsdale.
One of the things I found hard to find in the city was good pizza. Domino's on the thin crust will sometimes do, but if you need good American pizza or chicken wings, try Sal's Pizza on Flinders Lane. It's a tiny place, but the food is great (greasy and tasty). Otherwise, the Universal Hotel a little north of the CBD is your best option for traditional pizza.
The sponsored part:
If you want to spend these great moments with writers or other people who share your many interests, but you're yet to find friends in Melbourne, or all your friends are busy, then sign up to www.friendlyfamiliars.com and find someone who gets you. There's so much to do now, so it would be even better if you were not doing it alone.
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.
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.
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/
www.facebook.com/groups/
Mat Clarke - link to me and find others: www.goodreads.com/author/show/
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-
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-
More links below
9. All Write! upcoming events
A place where you can write in Melbourne Central. All you do is turn up and write with others. You can chat to other writers as well if you like and grab a bite or a cuppa.
Most of all, enjoy yourself.
www.meetup.com/Melbourne-
More links below
10. We want to hear from you!
Yes, we really do.
We want feedback in any way shape or form. Even if it is to tell us you love us.
Stuff you may wish to reply about for our next Writers Sauce:
1) A few sentences on what writing means to you.
2) A paragraph or two about how you became a writer (or want to).
3) A great skill you picked up regarding editing, writing, publishing, etc.
4) The best place to write.
5) How chatting to others about writing made you a better writer.
11. Join us and we’ll promote you
You're Not Alone
Come take the journey with us
Become a member for $20 per year. 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.
This is a collaborative group created so that in greater numbers we will be heard rather than forgotten
JOIN
Your $20 helps to pay for the website and member writers platforms
12. Essential Information
Sites Authors Should Know
This is an unofficial list I have created as a useful writer’s tool. I receive no royalties, or kickbacks from any sites below. Use as advice only.
-(Dean MacAllister)
SELFPUBLISHINGADVICE.ORG- Before submitting to a publisher or self-publishing I highly recommend you check out the ‘Writers Beware’ section of this site! It has lists of scams to look out for and lists the less-than-reputable companies that have ripped writers off globally. Learn from the mistakes of others.
Smashwords- Creates and publishes E-books in all formats for free.
Takes some getting used to and has to be done properly. For a small fee people on site will convert your file through the “meat-grinder” converter for you.
Kindlepreneur- Writer who joined most author sites to compare.
Links to the best author friendly tools. Marketing advice included. Free website with free manuals. (Highly recommended!)
Goodreads- Author/Reader site. Many discussion forums. Very popular. Good place to find fans, create an author profile and source reviews.
Librarything- Poor-man’s version of Goodreads, but much less commercial.
READ MORE HERE: www.
13. Important Links
Post news about your writing, book launch, events, or event just a link to your latest blog/post/tweet: www.facebook.
Important information about writing in general, and the Melbourne Writers Group: www.facebook.com/
Discuss anything you like that’s creative: www.facebook.com/
For people who want to discuss writing on a forum that is for everyone around the world: www.facebook.com/
Information on writing, writing competitions, professional editing, getting published, and more. Become a member for discounts: www.
Near Melbourne? Come to our group and meet other writers and chat. Everyone is welcome: www.meetup.com/Melbourne-
Previous email-outs with great information.www.
The Story Mint newsletter for even more information. Subscribe here: www.thestorymint.com
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Writers Sauce - WWC
World Writers Collective
