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Courses - Melbourne

The Allen & Unwin Melbourne Office


Short Courses



Facts to Fiction: Drawing on real stories to create a work of fiction

with Lisa Lang

15 June 2013

Allen & Unwin - Melbourne
406 Albert Street
East Melbourne VIC 3002

Course fee: $295 (inc. GST)

Maximum of 10 students

Facts to Fiction is a one-day workshop for people who want to draw on real stories – a slice of history, a family tale, a newspaper article – in order to create a work of fiction. Having a great story in mind is just the beginning. How do we take an idea and transform it into a rich and compelling narrative? Do we stick closely to the facts, or allow ourselves total freedom to invent and imagine? What role does research play? And what happens to our concept of the 'truth'?

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Getting Published: Insiders reveal how to get your foot in the door

with Sue Hines

20 July 2013

East Melbourne Library
122 George St
East Melbourne VIC 3002

Course fee: $295 (inc. GST)

Maximum of 15 students

A one-day course offering aspiring writers the opportunity to find out what really goes on inside a publishing house, how publishers make their choices and how to improve one's chances of publication. The program will include sessions on sure-fire proposals, editing your first page, opening chapters, how to write a great covering letter and the top ten reasons manuscripts are rejected.

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Upcoming Courses


The following courses will be scheduled in the future. Check the website for updated details or register your interest now at faberacademy@allenandunwin.com. For more information please do not hesitate to contact Edwina Johnson on (02) 8425 0171 or Isabella Penna on (02) 8425 0100.

Writing a Novel

Writing a Novel is an intensive, practical course for writers ready to make the leap into creating a full length work of fiction. Using a combination of writing exercises, readings and discussions, this course will focus on the joy of novel writing and should lead to the development of a full draft of a novel.

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Writing for Children

Children are discerning readers and the children's publishing industry is highly competitive. To write a children's book that will stand out on a publisher's desk, and then on bookstore shelves, you need to be aware of what is already out there, while creating something that reflects your personality.

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Writing and Place

For most writers, 'where?' is the very first question they must ask themselves before they begin. A sense of place - of landscapes both external and internal - is everything, intrinsically linked to voice, story and character. But creating these textures is no easy task. This three-day intensive workshop involves writing exercises, workshopping and discussion of these issues.

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Getting Published as a Writer for Children

This one-day course offers new writers for children an understanding of what goes on inside a publishing house, how publishers make their choices, how to give themselves the best chance of publication and what to expect from the publishing process. It also provides an opportunity to discuss the author-publisher relationship with an experienced author and illustrator.

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Fiction: The basics

In this one-day workshop covering character, voice, narrative structure, dialogue and metaphor, participants will be encouraged to discuss and explore some of the vital elements of fiction writing. With tips for finding and developing your story's heart, techniques for avoiding dead ends and wrong turns, and revitalising pieces you're stuck on, participants will come away with renewed energy for their work, specific tools to readdress their own weak spots, and fresh enthusiasm to get back to the desk.

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