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Prime Minister''s Literary Awards - Advice for Newcomers
Australia''s top authors, poets and illustrators were asked for their advice for aspiring writers. Here, the nominees for the 2020 Prime Minister''s Literary Awards share their insights. The winners' ceremony will be livestreamed this week - 8-9am AEDT (7-8am Qld) on Thursday 10 December. You can find it here: https://www.facebook.com/pmliteraryawards
In the meantime, we hope the advice below will help inspire your own writing!
Christina Thompson (Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia, Nonfiction)
One: You cannot write well without understanding how writing works and the best way to learn that is by reading. Although the ultimate goal is to develop your own voice, the way you get there is by experiencing the voices of lots of other writers. Two: Writing is a long game and you will get better at it over time.
Johanna Bell (Cheeky Dog: To Lake Nash and Back with Dion Beasley, Children's Literature):
Read, read, read!
Dion Beasley (Cheeky Dog: To Lake Nash and Back with Johanna Bell, Children's Literature; excerpt):
Look out for a blue man, taller than the moon
and a giant dog that lives at the dump.
He can squash you with one foot.
Joie Boulter, carer and guardian of Dion Beasley (Cheeky Dog: To Lake Nash and Back with Johanna Bell, Children's Literature):
Don't expect anything to happen quickly!
Jasmine Seymour (Cooee Mittigar, Children's Literature):
Go for it. We all have stories. It is inherently part of the human condition to tell stories. Stories matter because they are dreams and hopes. To tell a story is one of the most powerful parts of being human.
Judith Brett (From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting, Australian History):
Be patient, Life is long. Don't write until you have something to say.
Lisa Gorton (Empirical, Poetry):
I would say: that it never gets easier. Every work sets every writer at the very beginning again. So, there is no other or better, safer or more certain place. 'There is no there there.' Meaning, that they are there already.
Also, if you love an author, it is illuminating to read the works that your author loved, and the works that those authors loved, to track the play of influence across cultures and times.
LK Holt (Birth Plan, Poetry):
My best advice for a newcomer is to read like an s.o.b.
Lucy Treloar (Wolfe Island, Fiction):
I think we all have to find the way of writing that suits us. A big breakthrough for me was realising that writing is real work. It's hard. Sometimes, even quite often, you might not like your writing. Don't let that stop you. The other thing I'd say is it's worth having a few publications of short fiction/creative nonfiction/essays in journals etc. before approaching an agent or publisher with a novel. You learn a lot doing them, it demonstrates your interest in and commitment to writing, and it shows that other people thing your work has merit.
Malla Nunn (When the Ground is Hard, Young Adult Literature):
Sit down and write. Finish the book, short story or poem. Even if you think it isn't good enough: FINISH IT.
Tiffany Shellam (Meeting the Waylo: Aboriginal Encounters in the Archipelago, Australian History):
My book took ten years to write. For some people, writing can be a slow process, but that is ok. Don't give up. Finding a network of writers to share your progress with can be very rewarding.
Tara June Winch (The Yield, Fiction):
To read and to keep a paper journal.
Vikki Wakefield (This is How We Change the Ending, Young Adult Literature):
For me, the hardest part of being an emerging writer was learning the art of finishing. I tended to accumulate mostly excellent but incomplete pieces, rather than finishing an imperfect draft of a novel. It helps to lock out perfectionist tendencies and imagine you're playing without an audience until the final draft, otherwise you can get stuck in a cycle of fixing rather than creating.
Ms Wai Chim (The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling, Young Adult Literature):
Be kind, work really really hard and amazing things will happen. (paraphrased from Conan O'Brien)
We have six books from the shortlist to give away. Just email your name and address to editor@qldwriters.org.au.
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The winner of November''s Write Left Right Competition is
Kylie Fennell with The Publican''s Return. Read More...
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Face to Face courses are back in 2021!
Check out our What''s On page for all the details.
Numbers will be limited due to the SLQ Covid Plan so please book early to avoid disappointment. When possible we will run courses both face to face and livestream.
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[Live stream] Rabbit Hole Writing Challenge
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[Face to Face] Writers'' Resolution with Eileen Herbert-Goodall
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From the comfort of wherever you like, come and join a supportive group of committed writers for two full days of fast-paced writing. Whether you wish to conquer the challenge, or you''d just like a quiet space where you can write in blissful silence, dive into the rabbit hole and transport yourself into your next writing project.
This event is FREE for Queensland Wrtiers Centre members. However, we are running a raffle for those wanting to donate $5 or more to Queensland Writers Centre''s Fellowships and Access Fund.
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Writer's Resolution is designed to help you gain clarity around your individual writing goals - from completing a first draft, to polishing your work for submission and identifying publishing opportunities. Join author and writing educator, Dr Eileen Herbert-Goodall, to learn how to complete an individualised writing plan that revolves around an understanding of your targeted audience and suitable publishing pathways. Tap Eileen's extensive experience in the literary industry and be well prepared for upcoming writing opportunities, competitions, and conferences.
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The Summer Bundle is back. Use the code SUMMERBUNDLE2020 to get 50% off when you purchase any set of 5 courses on the Online Learning Centre at https://learn.qldwriters.org.au/
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Now, more than ever, belonging and finding your tribe is important. Consider becoming a Queensland Writers Centre member to join a passionate community focused on making you bloom as a writer. With online courses, live streams and workshops with fellow writers, now is the time to build upon and invest in your love of writing. Find your tribe today by visiting our membership page.
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Member Milestones
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TALENTED WRITERS ON THEIR MANY ACHIEVEMENTS.
We would love to hear your writing success story!
Email us at editor@qldwriters.org.au to be included.
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Jealous vs Envious
The trouble is that "jealous" and "envious" have overlapping meanings
and are often used interchangeably, but some people argue that they mean different things.
Some sources say "jealous" is supposed to be limited to resentful emotional rivalries (often romantic) with another person, whereas "envious" can expand to cover desiring or coveting objects or accomplishments gained by another person. Jealously can also come with an element of fear that you might lose someone. On the other hand, if you're envious, you want
what somebody else has.
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Open for entries now!
Will you be pitching your novel
at Gold Coast Film Festival in 2021?
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Australian Writer''s Guild Christmas & End of Year Drinks
When: 6pm, 9 December 2020
Where: The Valley Social Club, 188 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley
Tickets: Members $15, Guests (non-Members) $20 - register via the AWG website (AWG Members will need to log in to obtain discounted tickets.)
Welcome to the party, pal! Well, 2020 has had more twists, turns and challenges than a Christmas party at Nakatomi Plaza. So it''s only fitting to end the year going out in true die hard style - sharing some drinks, dreams and war stories with fellow writers and film industry folk. Yippee-ki-yay!
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Prime Ministers Literary Awards
When: 10 December 2020 (8am AEDT)
Where: Online - Livestream
The winner''s ceremony is an important part of the Prime Minister''s Literary Awards and provides recognition and acknowledgement to the shortlisted authors, poets, illustrators and historians. It is an opportunity to celebrate and bring our talented authors together from across the nation.
This year we have encountered many challenges navigating everyday life in a COVID safe way. Thankfully we have the opportunity to host a small in person event and to share this moment with you live!
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WE''VE FOUND THE PERFECT GIFTS FOR WRITERS!
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Wear your #Writer colours - Visit our new online store!
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COMPETITIONS & OPPORTUNITIES
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Don''t miss these opportunities to motivate you and help share your work with the world. Click on the competition title for more information.
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The Cloncurry Prize - Spirit of the Outback
Submissions Open: 15 December 2020
Submissions Close: 1 February 2021
'The Cloncurry Prize ~ Spirit of the Outback' will showcase the essence of Cloncurry and uncover the next bard of Australia, to celebrate our past, our present and our future.
The Cloncurry Prize is expected to become an annual event with a generous cash prize of $10,000 for the successful winner, plus an additional section and prize for juniors. Announced today, entries will be accepted from 15 December 2020 to 1 February 2021 with the prize announcement on 22 March 2021. The competition is open to any Australian Citizen, living in Australia with all entries to be assessed by a select panel of judges.
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Kuracca Prize for Australian Literature
Submissions Close: 4 January 2021
This new competition encourages excellent and original works of Australian literature. For the purposes of this prize, literature refers to and includes fiction, poetry, essay, memoir, creative non-fiction, cartoon or graphic stories, and digital or audio storytelling.
Submissions do not need to be themed. A winner will be awarded the first prize of $5,000, and two runners-up will receive $1,000 each. Where possible, all three winners will be published in the 2021 autumn issue of Overland.
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Stringybark Open Short Story Award
Submissions Close: 31 January 2021
We are looking for great short fiction stories on any theme but which must have a link (no matter how small or inconsequential) to Australia. This is our seventh open-themed award since 2010 and it invariably encourages wonderful writing.
The story must be: 1500 words or fewer in length; have a link, no matter how tenuous to Australia; and be written for an audience aged 16 and above.
There is an award pool of over $1000 in cash and books
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Entries close midnight 31 December.
Queensland Writers Centre will be editing a collection of Queensland writers who have written, or are yet to write, a 500-word piece on their genuine experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.
Submit HERE
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Reader''s Survey
We are looking for readers to help us with a first pass of projects that are submitted to the centre.
Apply Now!
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