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    Writing courses, free resources and webinars, and developmental editing Writing courses, free resources and webinars, and developmental editing
    • Home
    • About
      • About
      • Facilitators
      • Testimonials
      • Contact
      • How to enrol
    • Courses
      • Venice Writing Retreat
      • Creative Writing Course
      • Stow-on-the-Wold Writing Weekend
      • Karoo Writing Retreat | Memoir & Fiction Getaway in South Africa
    • Shop
    • Free resources
      • Free offerings for writers
      • Downloadable writing resources
    • Blog

    Archives

    Tag Archives for: "Creative Writing Course"
     Recharge Your Creative Spirit: Join Our Cotswolds Writing Weekend in Stow-on-the-Wold
    By Richard Beynon
    In Creative Writing Courses, How to write a book, Writing Retreats
    Posted April 9, 2025

    Recharge Your Creative Spirit: Join Our Cotswolds Writing Weekend in Stow-on-the-Wold

    Immerse yourself in our Cotswolds Writing Weekend in charming Stow-on-the-Wold (June 6-8, 2025). Perfect for writers and authors seeking inspiration, personalised mentoring, and structured [...]

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     The foundation of good writing: the sentence
    By Jo-Anne Richards
    In Jo-Anne Richard's blog, Newsletters
    Posted February 15, 2025

    The foundation of good writing: the sentence

    Had you met me in my first year of school, you would never have pegged me as a future writer. Besides my awkwardness and social difficulties, I could not learn […]

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     Setting your writing intentions
    By Jo-Anne Richards
    In Jo-Anne Richard's blog, Newsletters
    Posted January 9, 2025

    Setting your writing intentions

    I’m not sure that anything I’ve ever resolved to do at the start of the year has come to fruition. Something about the demands made by new year’s resolutions, the […]

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     Six effective techniques to overcome writer’s block and boost creativity
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    By Richard Beynon
    In Monday Motivation, Richard Beynon's blog
    Posted June 24, 2024

    Six effective techniques to overcome writer’s block and boost creativity

    As writers, we often face a dilemma: we need to keep writing, but sometimes our creativity runs dry. That’s when taking a break isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. But […]

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     Monday Writing Motivation: A tangle of stories
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    By All About Writing
    In Monday Motivation, Richard Beynon's blog
    Posted May 24, 2024

    Monday Writing Motivation: A tangle of stories

    In the final paragraph of his Origin of Species, Charles Darwin talks about the grandeur of nature in its many forms. He remarks on the fact that the complexity of […]

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     Hats off to our flash fiction winners!
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    By Richard Beynon
    In Writing Challenge, Writing Competitions
    Posted April 23, 2024

    Hats off to our flash fiction winners!

    Today we’re announcing the winners of both our October/November and December/January flash fiction challenges with huge apologies for the delay, but with huge congratulations too. [...]

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     The hidden secrets of writing with Jane Evans
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    By Jo-Anne Richards
    In The secrets behind the practice of good writing, Tips for Writers
    Posted August 30, 2023

    The hidden secrets of writing with Jane Evans

    Jane Evans, former CEO of Ntataise Network Support Programme, which provides extensive early childhood development across South Africa, has been part of our community for many years. A [...]

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     Marketing For Authors: Free Webinar
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    By Emma Hutton
    In Invitations, Publishing, Tips for Writers, Webinars
    Posted August 22, 2023

    Marketing For Authors: Free Webinar

    Getting your book published is the culmination of a long journey. The hard work is done and now you can sit back and let your book find its way to […]

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     The hidden secrets of writing with Jo-Anne Richards
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    By Richard Beynon
    In The secrets behind the practice of good writing, Tips for Writers
    Posted August 17, 2023

    The hidden secrets of writing with Jo-Anne Richards

    This is an extract from Jo-Anne’s first book, The Innocence of Roast Chicken.  Much of the coming-of-age novel is devoted to the narrator’s life on her grandparents’ chicken farm in […]

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     The hidden secrets of writing with Gail Gilbride
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    By Jo-Anne Richards
    In The secrets behind the practice of good writing, Tips for Writers
    Posted August 9, 2023

    The hidden secrets of writing with Gail Gilbride

      Gail Gilbride is part of the All About Writing furniture (in the best possible way), which is why we were as thrilled as she when a boutique American publisher […]

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     Unleash your writing potential at our retreats in Venice and Istria in October
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    By Emma Hutton
    In How to write a book, Invitations, Newsletters
    Posted August 3, 2023

    Unleash your writing potential at our retreats in Venice and Istria in October

    READ MORE
     Shift from Storyteller to Story Seller: Promote your book without selling your soul
    By All About Writing
    In The secrets behind the practice of good writing, Tips for Writers
    Posted August 2, 2023

    Shift from Storyteller to Story Seller: Promote your book without selling your soul

    by Cathy Park Kelly I have a small vase on my desk (a gift from a writer friend) that I look at when I’m wrestling with self-doubt. It says: Hey […]

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    INSTAGRAM
    📚Calling all memoirists - aspiring and accompli 📚Calling all memoirists - aspiring and accomplished! Join acclaimed memoirist and editor @joanne.hichens and @merlelevinwriter, who recently published The World According to Merle @nbpublishers @melindafergusonbooks, for a FREE webinar on Wednesday 4June 

They'll be diving deep into the emotional and creative journey of writing from life, covering everything from finding your unique voice to deciding what to reveal. Whether you're just starting your memoir or deep in the writing process, this is an opportunity you won't want to miss.

Get ready to be inspired, informed, and truly ready to write your story!

🔗 Link in bio to register for free!

#MemoirWriting #WritingCommunity #AspiringAuthor #WriteYourStory, #MemoirTips  #AuthorLife #Storytelling #CreativeWriting #WritersOfInstagram
    The path to publication isn't always straightforwa The path to publication isn't always straightforward, but our latest webinar brings you insider guidance from those who've successfully navigated it.

Featuring conversations with debut author @bonnieespie, thriller writer @marinaauer_sa, and publisher Stevlyn Vermeulen, we unpack:
📝 Crafting effective writing routines
📝 Overcoming "writer's reluctance"
📝 Navigating the revision process
📝 Understanding what publishers look for
📝 Setting realistic timeline expectations

Plus, we've created a FREE downloadable guide with practical tools to support your publishing journey.

Link in bio to watch the replay and access your publication guide!
#WritingCommunity #AuthorLife #PublishingTips #WritersOfInstagram #BookPublishing #WritingAdvice #AuthorAdvice #WritingJourney #AmWriting
    🍾 📚 Join us for a special webinar featuring 🍾 📚 Join us for a special webinar featuring All About Writing alumna @bonnieespie whose darkly witty debut novel Making A Killing has just been launched. 

Bonnie will be joined by acclaimed psychological thriller author @marinaauer_sa (Single Minded, Double Edged and the soon to be released Three Echoes) and their publisher Stevlyn Vermeulen from Kwela Books.

Together, they’ll explore their writing journeys, the path to publication, and the creative process behind their compelling stories. Bonnie’s journey from All About Writing student to published author offers a particularly inspiring example of where dedication to craft can lead.

This is a unique opportunity to learn about the publishing process directly from authors and a publisher, with time for your questions. 

Don’t miss this celebration of literary achievement within our community!

Register via the link in bio.
    👁️ THE WRITER'S EYE: Learn to spot what other 👁️ THE WRITER'S EYE: Learn to spot what others miss

"We all think we notice people and events, but most of us don't."

In our recent webinar, Jo-Anne and Richard shared how the best writers train themselves to observe details others overlook—and how you can too!

Did you know that focusing on just the right distinguishing detail can replace paragraphs of description? 

Or that watching people interact in a language you don't understand can actually improve your ability to read body language?

Our participants discovered exercises to sharpen their observation skills and techniques to translate everyday moments into vivid prose.

Watch the replay through the link in our bio!

#WritingCommunity #WritingTips #CreativeWriting #WriterLife #ObservationSkills
    Observation: The Secret Weapon of Successful Story Observation: The Secret Weapon of Successful Storytellers

In this month's newsletter, Jo-Anne shares her personal journey of learning to observe—from spotting elusive eagle rays underwater to studying human behaviour as someone on the autism spectrum. She reveals how deliberate observation became not just a survival skill but the foundation of her writing craft.

Here are our top takeaways:

*It’s a matter of observing actively – training your eyes to see what is before them.
*Notice the way people speak to each other, the things they say, the way they seek love, friendship or companionship.
*A book doesn’t simply consist of plot, or even character. You want to spirit your readers into another world.
*A ‘small’ life doesn’t make for a small story. There are stories everywhere, and often the most compelling are those which are closest to home.

#ObservationSkills #WritingInspiration #WritingSkills #StorytellingTips
    ✍️ THE CRITICAL SCREW IN YOUR STORY ✍️ "T ✍️ THE CRITICAL SCREW IN YOUR STORY ✍️

"The integrity of your entire story could well rely on the solution you seek – and so it's worth whatever hard labour it demands of you."

This week, Richard explores how a single narrative flaw can determine the value of your entire manuscript.

Swipe up in our story to read Richard's practical tips on identifying and repairing those seemingly small but critical elements in your writing.

#AmWriting #WritersOfInstagram #WritingAdvice #StoryStructure #WritingCommunity #AuthorTips #CreativeWriting #WritingJourney
    ✍️NEW ON THE BLOG: Building a Community & Bran ✍️NEW ON THE BLOG: Building a Community & Brand Around Your Writing ✍️

Key takeaways from the London Book Fair 2025 panel. Huge thanks to @rosiekellett @paruledits @emmagannonuk Georgia Henry from @pitchagencyco for the great session

📝Community is more valuable than audience: Quality connections matter more than follower counts, with platforms like Substack fostering genuine engagement rather than superficial follows.

📝Focus on sustainability: Choose platforms and strategies you can maintain consistently rather than spreading yourself too thin across multiple channels.

📝Balance online and offline engagement: Create intimate in-person gatherings (like retreats or supper clubs) alongside your digital presence for more meaningful connections.

📝Social media can be valuable but only if you enjoy it: Georgia Henry emphasised that if you're not enjoying a platform, it's not worth forcing yourself to use it.

📝Authenticity is essential: Rosie Kellett noted that her most popular content comes from genuine vulnerability, while Emma Gannon advised writers to "follow your gut" and do what feels right rather than following trends.

#WritingCommunity #AuthorBranding #WritersOfInstagram #AuthorPlatform #LBF25
    ✍️ WRITING TIP: "There was a loud crash that ✍️ WRITING TIP: 

"There was a loud crash that echoed through the empty hallway."

Better: "A loud crash echoed through the empty hallway."

Eliminate unnecessary "there was/is" constructions to make your writing more direct and powerful.

Learn more sentence-crafting techniques in our Strong Sentences, Stronger Stories webinar. Link in bio to watch the full replay! 

#WritingCommunity #WritingTips
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    NEWS & TIPS
    • How to Write a Memoir: Essential Tips from Published Authors
      How to Write a Memoir: Essential Tips from Published Authors
    • How to Write Compelling Scenes Using Sensory Writing Techniques
      How to Write Compelling Scenes Using Sensory Writing Techniques
    • What to Include in Your Memoir: Choosing Your Story
      What to Include in Your Memoir: Choosing Your Story
    • The Road to Publication: Expert Author Publishing Advice
      The Road to Publication: Expert Author Publishing Advice
    • Unlock Gripping Stories: The Power of What Your Character Wants
      Unlock Gripping Stories: The Power of What Your Character Wants
    • Transform Your Writing Through Observation: Webinar Replay & Actionable Tips Download
      Transform Your Writing Through Observation: Webinar Replay & Actionable Tips Download
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