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WRITERS
CAREER CONSULTANCY (WCC)
an
on-line service for writers
Experienced
author, Dianne (Di) Bates* has worked with professional colleagues
to create modules of interest & practical information to those
who would like to
learn how to negotiate their way to publication
and to market their books, themselves, and their products to the
best advantage.
WCC currently offers:
 AN INTRODUCTION TO WRITING BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
© Dianne Bates
Here is a four-module course for those who wish to write for children - perhaps new writers or those who wish to brush up their writing skills. Each module comes with a series of exercises to be undertaken as well as an assessable assignment to be sent to the tutor, Di Bates, at your leisure. You will then receive a written report. Cost of each module, which can be taken separately, is $75. Money order or cheque (payable to Di Bates) c% PO Box 2116, Woonona East NSW 2517. Payment can also be made online on application HERE
Module outline
1.HOW YOU TOO CAN BECOME A WRITING SUCCESS
2.WRITING FOR CHILDREN:
Writing forms; Manuscript lengths; What you must know about every magazine you write for; Types of manuscript Submission; How to present a manuscript.
3.THE PUBLISHING BUSINESS:
Key people; Publlishing truths; Education versus trade books; Why manuscripts are rejected; an editor's view; How to find publishers for your work; Australian Children's Book Publishers.
4.BECOMING A CHILDREN'S WRITER:
Quallities needed; Writing skills; Writing style; Humour; Time management; Goal setting.
5.HOW TO GET BOTH FEET PAST PUBLISHERS' LOCKED DOORS:
Top secret; The major players; Networking; Key personnel; Contacting authors; Author as mentor; The market; Non-ficiton markets; Future trends
6. RESOURCES:
Professional library; Books about writing for children; Helpful addresses; Children's book review magazines.
7. YOUR ASSIGNMENT.
GETTING IDEAS & GETTING STARTED
© Dianne Bates
Module outline
1. HOW TO COME UP WITH BRILLIANT IDEAS
2. OTHER WAYS OF FINDING IDEAS
3.STARTING AN IDEAS' BOOK
4. HOW TO READ AS A WRITER
5.KEEPING NOTEBOOKS
6.GETTING STARTED
7.MARATHON WRITING
8.THE WRITERS' CIRCLE
9.ADVICE FROM WRITERS IN WORKSHOP GROUPS
10.YOUR ASSIGNMENT
PICTURE BOOK COURSE
© Dianne Bates
Module outline
1. WHAT IS A PICTURE BOOK? Picture book pitfalls; Types of picture books; Format; Text & illustrations;
Page turns; Word choice; Poetic devices; Reading it aloud.
2. DO'S AND DON'TS OF WRITING PICTURE BOOK TEXTS
3. TO RHYME OR NOT TO RHYME?
4. CHOICE OF SUBJECT MATTER: Picture book themes; Writing for the very young
5. STYLE AND VIEWPOINT
6. FIRST SENTENCES OF POPULAR CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOKS
7. PICTURE BOOK STRUCTURES: Cumulative stories; Reverse cumulative tales; Problem resolution tales; Days of the week tales; Circular stories; Journey stories; Repeating, single event stories; Climatic tales
8. POPULAR PICTURE BOOKS
9.ANALYSING A TEXT
10. SUBMITTING A PICTURE BOOK TEXT:
11. AUSTRALIAN TRADE PICTURE BOOK PUBLISHERS
12. YOUR ASSIGNMENT
BOOKS FOR YOUNGER READERS & GENRE FICTION
© Dianne Bates
Module outline
1. STAGES OF CHILDHOOD AND READING INTERESTS
2.GENERAL FEATURES OF BOOKS FOR YOUNGER READERS: Suuggested children's authors reading list.
3. EASY READERS
4.BOOK SERIES: Types of series; Well-known publishers' book series; Well-known book series by single authors; Creating a book series
5.GENRE FICTION: What is genre:; Speculative fiction; Fantasy; Historical fiction; Action and adventure stories; Mystery fiction; animal stories; Family and school stories.
6. CHAPTER BOOKS: Advice on writing chapter books
7. JUNIOR NOVEL: Types of junior novels; A junior novel reading list
8. STARTING A BOOK FOR YOUNG READERS: The topic; Manuscript lengths; Preparing to write; Your book's characters; Confict; Starting your book; Chapter openings
9. YOUR ASSINGMENT
BUZZ
WORDS (THE LATEST BUZZ ON
CHILDREN'S BOOKS). A new online professional monthly newsletter for
children's writers, illustrators, editors and librarians is now available.
Compiled, written and edited by Dianne (Di)
Bates, it reports on up-to-date industry information, markets, opportunities,
festivals, courses and competitions for those writing for young people.
It also features regular interviews with authors, illustrators, editors,
book publicists and literary agents as well as new publications, book
reviews and helpful books and websites. The annual cost is $44 per
annum (GST inclusive). Contributions to Buzz Words are invited and
publicists are invited to submit book review copies c/o PO
Box 2116, Woonona
East NSW 2517. All cheques are payable to Di
Bates. Online subscription payment can be
made by contacting Di
COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF CURRENT AUSTRALIAN CHILDREN'S
& YOUNG ADULT BOOK PUBLISHERS The list includes
editor's names and contact details (over 100 publishers) COST: $60.00
(Available only via snail mail, so please advise of your postal address
when you place your order.)
HOW TO SELF-EDIT: WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR WRITING
- A
book containing 500 editing exercises (with suggested revisions) COST:
$20.00 (includes P&P)
NOTE:
INTERNET PAYMENT CAN BE MADE, IF YOU PREFER. ALL CHEQUES TO BE MADE OUT
C% DI BATES, THANK YOU.
TESTIMONIALS:
“When
I started looking to be published I felt that I was drowning in an ocean
of information. Di Bates showed me a clear path to writing success.”
Jackie Hosking, Editor 'Pass It On'
“(Your
assessment) was refreshingly honest and straight forward. You have highlighted
some plot difficulties, which can be fixed and I am very grateful to have
you pick these up for me.”
MW, Central Coast, NSW
Re
Di Bates' module, The Best 50 Tips & Information for New Writers plus
bonus article: How to Get Both Feet past Publishers' Locked Doors - I
really recommend it. Although it did contain tips I have long put into
practice, the majority I haven't, either through lack of knowledge or
lack of confidence. If you have aspirations of living off your income
as a writer, or improving your publishing chances, this module is worth
purchasing. I'm hoping to end up better organized for a start, and a lot
more confident of writing success. From a satisfied customer,
PIO, December 2004
Thanks
for the articles that you sent me, 'The Best 50 tips' and 'How to Get
Both Feet past Publishers’ Locked Doors'. I have found the information
to be insightful and inspiring. I was playing with my writing career,
but your articles have given me the boost I needed to become serious and
start working hard.
Pauline Burgess
Thank
you for sharing your knowledge and skills with me. I found the process
enlightening. Your comments confirmed my lack of confidence in the manuscript,
but then highlighted precise areas that needed more work. Whilst initially
I was alarmed that there were so many flaws, the negatives were balanced
with encouraging comments, and I'm excited to receive such valuable feedback.
Your mini-manuscript assessment has increased my understanding of writing
for children, and I look forward to honing my skills.
Kathryn Apel
I
gathered courage to take up Di Bates' offer of a manuscript assessment
on my attempt at a children's novel and was so delighted with the thoughtful,
helpful, useful comments she sent back immediately that I would love to
recommend this service to others. … She had an uncanny knack of
focusing on some of the words and sequencing decisions I'd agonised over
for ages and offering really great solutions. And there was advice and
suggestions there that will help with all my writing, not just this attempt.
So go for it if you are hesitating - it is a very generous, spirited offer. Donna
Gibbs
I
found the (assessment) process enlightening. Di's comments confirmed my
lack of confidence in the manuscript selected, highlighting precise areas
that needed more work. Whilst initially I was alarmed that there were
so many flaws, the negatives were balanced with encouraging comments,
so that I wasn't disheartened or overwhelmed. Di's mini-manuscript assessment
has increased my understanding of writing for children. I value her honesty
and look forward to honing my skills.
Kat
Dianne
(Di) Bates has published over 90 books, mostly for young people since
1980, and is the author of Revise, Edit & Re-Write (Scholastic
Australia
& Enterprising Words), How to Self-Edit (Emerald Publishing), The
New Writer’s Survival Guide: An Introduction to the Craft of Writing
(Penguin Books) & Wordgames: Activities for Creative Thinking and
Writing (Longman). She has presented hundreds of writing courses to
adults over the past twenty years and has a background in magazine
and newspaper editing. Currently Di is a freelance writer who offers
a range of help to new writers through her business Writers Career
Consultancy. She and her author husband, Bill Condon, live near Wollongong,
NSW.
IF
YOU WISH TO PROCEED WITH PURCHASE OF ANY OF DI’S PRODUCTS OR SERVICES,
CONTACT DI AS FOLLOWS:
Dianne
(Di) Bates
www.enterprisingwords.com
Email
PO
Box 2116
Woonona East
NSW 2517 Australia
Ph:
61 2 4284 3020 |
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