Draw your reader into another world and create a captivating story from beginning to end. Pick up valuable beginner’s writing tips and learn about structure options. This session includes hands-on activities to inspire and practice your new writing skills.
Join experienced English teacher and published author, Beth Wilkins and find inspiration to put pen to paper.
Register quick! Limited spaces available per workshop.
| Location | Date and Time | Registration |
| Nambour | Monday 8 March, 10.00-11.30am | Register |
| Caloundra | Wednesday 10 March, 10.00-11.30am | Register |
| Maroochydore | Friday 12 March, 10.00-11.30am | Register |
Free. Registration essential.
COVID-19 event information
• Under Queensland Government restrictions, customers must provide their contact details to library staff when entering and exiting the library.
• Customers are required to act on the advice of library staff, observe social distancing and practice good hygiene.
• Customers must be in good health prior to attending the session. If you feel unwell, cancel your registration and do not attend the event.
More information on COVID-19 in Libraries.
More great info to get you started
Time to step away from the fridge and start that great Australian short story.
Get inspired by Lee Child, author of the infamous and long running Jack Reacher fiction series. When Lee wrote his 20th Jack Reacher novel, Make Me, Andy Martin shadowed the master and watched him write it, as described in Martin’s own book Reacher Said Nothing. The two authors discuss the writing process and what it takes to make great fiction stories.
With a 100 million novels sold around the world, the best-selling author lays down his six top writing tips:
- Set daily word counts – "I will try to do about 1,500 in a day"
- The only qualification you need to be a writer is be a reader
- Character is king
- Do not fall in love with your characters
- The beginning of the story is crucial
- Ignore advice!
Libraries members have borrowed creative writing titles 1,541 times! If you are deep in the middle of the dreaded writer’s block, check out the huge range of how-to write titles to get you back on the page.
How to write a great short story: the 8-point story arc | Educational Tutorials
Libraries members have borrowed creative writing titles 1,541 times! If you are deep in the middle of the dreaded writer’s block, check out the huge range of how-to write titles to get you back on the page.
eBooks
Dive into these how-to writing guides from famous fiction writers on eBook
- Writing mysteries by Sue Grafton
- Writing from start to finish: a six-step guide by Kate Grenville
- Writing the memoir by Judith Barrington
- How to write your blockbuster by Fiona McIntosh
- Seven steps to confident writing by Alan Gelb
- A writing life: Helen Garner and her work by Bernadette Brennan
Borrow up to 30 eBooks on your device. To get started download the ePlatform by Wheelers and Libby apps. Select Sunshine Coast Libraries and enter your member number and password. Need help setting up your device for eBooks? Watch this video tutorial.
eAudiobooks
Be inspired to rack up the word count with these short stories eAudiobooks:
- Killing time: short stories from the long road home by Jimmy Barnes
- No middle name: the complete collected Jack Reacher stories by Lee Child
- Stories: the collected short fiction by Helen Garner
- The short, the long and the tall by Jeffrey Archer
eMovies
Stream writing tutorials:
- Writing great fiction – storytelling tips and techniques
- Peter Elbow: on Writing
- Overcoming Obstacles to Writing
Set up a Kanopy account to stream more films and documentaries for free.
Podcasts
Listen on the go with these writing-related podcasts:
- Grammar Girl
- The Writer Files
- Writing Excuses
- I Should Be Writing
- Dead Robots Society
- Crime Fiction Friday with Emily Webb
Search for these free podcast titles and more in your preferred podcast provider.
Stephen King on the craft of short story writing
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