Coming Events

• Anytime Workshops
• Month-long Workshops
• Free Events

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Workshops Available All Year

Become a Master Storyteller 
By application only

A six-month program for novelists who: 

• Are ready to write a novel they are proud to publish. 
• Aren't quite sure how to pull all of their ideas together. 
• Are tired of collecting rejections with no clue how to fix the issues or even what to fix. 
• Aren't sure if their stories are good enough to share.
• Are confused and overwhelmed by all the rules and techniques they're supposed to master. 

Book your complimentary Storytelling Clarity Session to find out if this program is a good fit for you. ​

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Test Your Story Idea
And write an unputdownable story
​

• Clarify the central story idea. 
  
• Be clear about whose story you’re telling. 
  
• Be able to generate and sift through ideas to find the diamonds in the rough. 
  
• Ensure you have a character-driven plot. 
  
• Check that subplots and secondary characters complement the main story. 

1st March to 31st November 2023 
Bookings COMING SOON.

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Write Backstory with Confidence 
How to weave in the past without information dump telling  

Self-guided course with a BONUS 5,000-word edit! $97 

• Banish information dumps.
• Select and use appropriate delivery methods. 
• Know when to release backstory for maximum effect.
• Identify where backstory isn’t working.
• Know where your character came from and is headed, so the backstory is consistent and relevant.
• Use backstory as a baseline to show character growth.

More details and bookings here.

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The Easiest Author Website You'll Ever Build
The technophobes answer to a free but professional website
  

• Identify what makes a good website (and what you don’t need).
• Define your personal brand and what makes you distinctive.
• Transform your brand into graphics and text. 
• Understand website lingo and processes.
• Create a professional-looking website you can use immediately. 

 
1st March to 31st November 2023
Bookings COMING SOON.​

Month-Long Workshops

Master Emotive Storytelling and Showing
How to combine showing action with efficient telling
  

• Understand the difference between showing and telling.
• Discover when to show, and when it’s okay to tell.
• Explore how action can tell the story and engage the reader emotionally.
• Identify and banish information dumps. 

 
Hosted by Margie Lawson
1st February to 28th February 2023 
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BOOK HERE.

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Write Backstory With Confidence
How to weave the past in without information dump telling
​

• Ensure backstory is consistent and relevant.
• Know when to release backstory for maximum effect.
• Use backstory to develop anticipation.
• Identify where backstory isn’t working and why.
• Learn techniques for organic revelation, instead of information dumping. 

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Hosted by Romance Writers of Australia
3rd March to 31st March 2023 
​
Bookings COMING SOON.

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Plot With a Reliable Story Compass
Find your novel's through-line and write a cohesive book
​

• Move from a big idea to the details of a well-thought-out plot.
• Develop meaningful characters with strong desires and motivations that will drive the story.
• Harness the power of a story summary to stay laser-focused.
• Check that the story hits key structural marks with built-in conflict. 

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Hosted by Margie Lawson
1st June to 30th June 2023 
​
Bookings COMING SOON.

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Write Backstory With Confidence
How to weave the past in without information dump telling
​

• Ensure backstory is consistent and relevant.
• Know when to release backstory for maximum effect.
• Use backstory to develop anticipation.
• Identify where backstory isn’t working and why.
• Learn techniques for organic revelation, instead of information dumping. 

​
Hosted by Margie Lawson
1st June to 30th June 2023 
​
Bookings COMING SOON.

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Master Emotive Storytelling and Showing
How to combine showing action with efficient telling
  

• Understand the difference between showing and telling.
• Discover when to show, and when it’s okay to tell.
• Explore how action can tell the story and engage the reader emotionally.
• Identify and banish information dumps. 

 
Hosted by Romance Writers of Australia
2nd July to 30th July 2023 
​
Bookings COMING SOON.

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Fantastic First Pages
Reel readers and publishers in with a dazzling first chapter
  

• Figure out the best place for your story to start. 
• Use emotions to engage readers with your characters. 
• Plant hooks that make readers want to keep turning pages. 
• Make sure the critical parts of goal, motivation and internal conflicts are clear. 

 
Hosted by Women's Fiction Writers Association
1st August to 28th August 2023 
​
Bookings COMING SOON.

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Master Emotive Storytelling and Showing
How to combine showing action with efficient telling
  

• Understand the difference between showing and telling.
• Discover when to show, and when it’s okay to tell.
• Explore how action can tell the story and engage the reader emotionally.
• Identify and banish information dumps. 

 
Hosted by Romantic Women Fiction
1st September to 28th September 2023 
​
Bookings COMING SOON.

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Master Story Point of View
Recognise and write the POV that suits your story
  

• Recognise the different POV types and applications.
• Choose the POV that’s right for your story and author style.
• Write in first person and third person POV.
• Handle POV changes and multiple viewpoints with ease.
• Understand the effect of POV on narrative distance and genre.  

 
Hosted by Romance Writers of Australia
4th September to 1st October 2023 
​
Bookings COMING SOON.

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Plot With a Reliable Story Compass
Find your novel's through-line and write a cohesive book
​

• Identify the themes and topics you want to explore.
• Move from a big idea to the details of a well-thought-out plot.
• Develop meaningful characters with strong desires and motivations that will drive the story.
• Harness the power of a story summary to stay laser-focused.
• Check that the story hits key structural marks with built-in conflict. 

​
Hosted by Romance Writers of Australia
2nd October to 29th October 2023 
​
Bookings COMING SOON.

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Master Story Point of View
Recognise and write the POV that suits your story
  

• Recognise the different POV types and applications.
• Choose the POV that’s right for your story and author style.
• Write in first person and third person POV.
• Handle POV changes and multiple viewpoints with ease.
• Understand the effect of POV on narrative distance and genre.  

 
Hosted by Margie Lawson
1st November to 30th November 2023 
​
Bookings COMING SOON.

FREE Events for Community Members

Register here for any of these events and receive an emailed confirmation with the meeting link. 

It's all very casual so bring along a cuppa and any questions about the fiction writing craft or industry. 

Coming dates: 

• Friday 10th March 8:00 PM (Adelaide ACDT)
• Friday 14th April 8:00 PM (Adelaide ACDT) 
• Friday 12th May 8:00 PM (Adelaide ACST) 
• Friday 9th June 8:00 PM (Adelaide ACST)

Register here for any of these events and receive an emailed confirmation with the meeting link.

Quiet writing time with kindred spirits. It's a great way to keep your bum on the chair, work on your latest project and not feel alone while you do it.  

Dates: 

• Saturday 25th February 10 AM (Adelaide ACDT)
• Friday 3rd March 10 AM (Adelaide ACDT)
• Saturday 11th March 10 AM (Adelaide ACDT)
• Saturday 18th March 10 AM (Adelaide ACDT)
• No virtual writing this week (22nd March)
• Friday 31st March 10 AM (Adelaide ACDT) Note daylight savings changes
• No virtual writing this week (Easter) 
• Friday 14th April 10 AM (Adelaide ACST)
• Saturday 22nd April 10 AM (Adelaide ACST)
• Friday 28th April 10 AM (Adelaide ACST)

Want to be notified when a specific course runs?
​Contact me here or subscribe below.