What can we do to brighten your August?

What can we do to brighten your August?

All About Writing was born of passion, rather than a business proposal – which is why we remain committed to giving you as much free help and advice as we can in these difficult times.

As we enter the fifth month of lockdown – whatever form it takes for you – we hope to remain a beacon of creative light for our community. We have listened to your requests, and are providing the free resources you asked for, and the best value in course offerings.

Here’s what we’re offering, in August and beyond: free webinars and writing advice, fun virtual Community Saturday workshops, virtual and online courses. We have something for every type of writer, and to suit every pocket.

Free webinars and resources

• Free creative writing webinar – 6 August

This webinar will be specifically and wholly devoted to improving your creative writing skills. You’ll set the agenda: we’ll be responding to your questions and discussing issues important to you. Sign up here!

• Free publishing webinar – 12 August

We’ve had so many queries about publishing, we hope this webinar will answer all the questions you’ve ever wanted to ask about publishing (with the emphasis on, but not entirely confined to, South Africa). In association with the Pan Macmillan local publishing team, we are hosting a free webinar in which your specific questions will be answered. Sign up here.

• Writing Secrets: Are you bored by your story?

Don’t forget about Jo-Anne’s writing blog, which is published every Wednesday and contains invaluable writing advice and tips. In her latest, she covers keeping yourself – and your reader – interested. Read it here.

• Three quickfire tips for reading like a writer

How do we learn about writing from the books we read – while continuing to enjoy and be transported by them? In this blog, we share our thoughts on the matter.

• Writing Makeover Resource Booklet

We’ve compiled a free guide to giving your writing an instant make-over. You can download it here!

Courses and workshops in August

• Power of Writing – Join today!

The four-module introductory creative writing course will help you develop a more creative style by giving you the tools to enhance your writing voice. It will encourage active observational skills and introduce you to the concept of showing rather than telling. Full feedback on all assignments. Sign up here.

• Saturday Writing Workshop – 8 August

Enjoy some virtual literary fun and a sense of community with fellow writers. Offered once a month, this workshop will be of equal benefit to more experienced writers wanting some five-finger writing exercises, and those with no experience at all, who are looking for a place to start. Spots limited, book yours now.

• Virtual Creative Writing Course – Starts 10 August

Our flagship “face-to-face” Creative Writing Course is now offered virtually, on Monday and Thursday evenings for five weeks. It contains all the discussion, chat, and feedback – and notes to keep forever. Learn all the skills you’ll ever need to write a book, fiction and non-fiction. All we can’t provide is the glass of wine. You’ll have to pour your own. Only one place left for August. Sign up here.

• 30-Day Writing Bootcamp – Join today!

A self-guided programme to better writing with advice, stimulation, practice, every day for 30 days. Option to receive feedback on final exercise. Sign up here.

Our extra-special retreats and weekends – for something more

• Not Quite Venice Retreat – 4 – 13 September

Since we can’t be in Venice this year, we’re offering everyone a taste of the same personal attention and sense of fun and community – but from home, where we’ll all be safer.

Join our virtual writing retreat, designed to help you launch or accelerate your writing project. It’s an intensive ten days devoted to taking your writing project further, with us to hold your hand and offer whatever help, guidance, and advice you need. Spots limited, sign up here.

• Travel Writing Weekend – 19 – 20 September

Join Fred de Vries for a fun weekend honing your travel writing craft by signing up for either the travel writing day or the ‘start your own travel blog’ day or both days. Share ideas and learn with a community of fellow travelers. Book here.

Community News

We’re so proud of our own Lynn Joffe, who began with us in 2011. Her debut novel, The Gospel According to Wanda B Lazarus is to be published by Modjaji Books, later this year.

The novel is “a bold and wild ride through two thousand years of myth and mayhem in an outrageous serio-comic work of literary fiction. Readers are invited to accompany Wanda, Lynn Joffe’s outrageous, boundaries-pushing heroine, on a soul-boggling journey that criss-crosses ancient and modern worlds and slips in and out of many centuries. As a guide, Wanda’s delightfully irreverent voice, alternately sardonic and tender, provides a running commentary that has us breathlessly trying to keep up.”

“Yentl meets Back to the Future. A heck of a ride,” says novelist Diane Awerbuck, while Professor Neville Hoad, from the University of Texas, wrote: “I can think of no other character in South African fiction who is anything like Wanda B Lazarus.”

Pictured above, the cover, Lynn, and Lynn with her publisher, Colleen Higgs.

August/September Flash Fiction Challenge

Our free-to-enter flash fiction challenge offers a delectable choice of prizes: A free literary assessment on any piece of your writing, valued at R 2750 / £ 150, or a voucher to the same value that can be used towards any of our courses or programmes! Click here to check out this month’s challenge.

Happy writing and stay safe,
Team All About Writing