The last week has been a big one:
we wrapped up our final school workshops for the year
enjoyed a Writing Hour led by a new guest facilitator
held our third (sold out!) Story Soirée
… and I flew back to Paris, which has been like a second home for the last few years. (I’ll be teaching online-only from here until October :)).
I have so many stories to share, but they are far too many for one newsletter. For today, I wanted to tell you about one of our school workshops from last Tuesday. It was with a group of 14 x Year 1s, selected from their classes to participate in a series of creative writing sessions. We had been working together for four weeks. Every week, their enthusiasm for storytelling was obvious. They were brimming with ideas. They wrote, and they wrote well, but more than half of them also finished quickly and spent the rest of the time wanting to draw, craft, or play games. All of these activities are wonderful, but that’s not what I was there to offer them. They’d been chosen to be challenged (in a fun environment), and none of my usual ideas were inspiring them to stretch themselves.
So for our final workshop, I put all of the lined paper away. I put the grey lead pencils away and replaced them with boxes of coloured textas. Using blank paper, I taught them how to fold an eight-page booklet. They spent the rest of the session creating stories in words and pictures; some of them even made a little series of books! The stories all had a spark to them - the kind that comes when we shift from writing what we’re ‘supposed to write’ and start writing what excites us.
Sometimes, all it takes is a new format. Switch from the laptop back to paper. Try writing outside. Write on giant butcher’s paper. Paint your poems.
You might just surprise yourself with how creative you can be.
I hope to see you soon!
Best wishes,
Coming up…🍃
✏️ Creative Writing Workshops for Kids - Term 4
Online on Wednesdays, 4 - 5pm AEST
The year is speeding by, and bookings are now open for Term 4!
These weekly workshops are for highly motivated young writers who are eager to write, learn new skills, and find inspiration in a variety of prompts and engaging discussions each week.
Kids are welcome to join us casually, or book the full term at a discounted rate!
Or join us in our last sessions of Term 3 for a trial
✨ Woafie Writing Hours (Adults)
Online on Thursdays, 6.30 - 7.30 pm (AET)
Join us as we show up for ourselves every Thursday for a workshop and writing exercises to stretch our creative writer muscles and learn from each other. It's a bite-sized creative outlet and dose of inspiration, like a vitamin for our creative souls!
We have just two more Writing Hours left for this term. The next one is on August 29th. Hope to see you there!
Check out all Term 3 themes and book your place!
📝 Writing Mentorships (all ages)
We work with young* writers one-to-one, in person and online, throughout the week. Whether you seek once-off feedback on a specific story, ongoing support to improve your writing skills and confidence, help to prepare for a scholarship exam, or guidance to write and publish a novel or memoir, our experienced and friendly writing mentors are here for you.
Contact us to discuss how we can support you or a young writer you know. We’d love to hear from you!
Meet your Mentors
Enquire about a Mentorship
News & Opportunities🍃
☁️ Last chance to submit to FLOAT: An Anthology of New Writing 2024
Closing date: Friday August 23 (deadline extended!)
Words of a Feather & The Provocative Inklings are looking for dreamy new writings to include in our upcoming anthology, set for publication in December 2024. Take inspiration from our theme and let yourself float away on the ideas that carry you.
If you’ve joined us for any workshops or events this year, you are eligible to submit - and we would absolutely love to include your work!
This anthology is a collection of writings by participants aged 16+.
🌴 Call for Submissions: Island Magazine #172
Closing date: September 2024 (various dates)
Island Magazine is now accepting submissions for new fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. For more information, please visit their website.
📖 100 Word Writing Contest - Tadpole Press
Closing date: November 30, 2024
Open to all ages, from anywhere in the world, in any genre, Tadpole Press are inviting entries of tiny stories to their bi-annual writing contest. Pieces will be judged on creativity, uniqueness, and how the story captures a new angle, breaks through stereotypes, and expands our beliefs about what’s possible, or unexpectedly delights. Oh, and the first prize is one of the most generous we’ve ever seen!
For more information, please visit their website.
