Who: Greg Bastian
When: Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 July 2013, 10am-4pm
Cost: Full price: $350; Member: $250; Conc Member: $210

Hit a brick wall with your novel or short story? Are your characters adrift, your plot rudderless, your dialogue unconvincing? Chances are the story wasn’t planned sufficiently well at the outset. In this hands-on workshop we’ll explore the essential steps in designing a compelling story — characters, plot, theme, setting, point of view, voice and genre.

At a pace that suits the group, we go through the essential steps in designing a good story, each step featuring practical writing assignments and comparative discussions.  It’s surprising how much you can learn from the experiences and comments of other writers in the group. Whether you’re a beginner or an accomplished author, you’ll leave this workshop with a comprehensive plan of the story you are currently working on, as well as a sound method for designing future writing projects. Suitable for aspiring and emerging writers.

Food
Tea and coffee making facilities will be provided. Course participants are advised to bring their own lunch as there are no cafes within easy walking distance.

About the tutor
Greg Bastian is an established author of young adult fiction. His most recent title, The Goldseekers, was short-listed for the PFP Children’s Literature Peace prize and is a popular school history text. Greg teaches writing in schools, colleges, universities and writers’ centres throughout Australia and is a popular NSWWC mentor, editor and manuscript assessor. He is currently lecturing at the Australian Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Education (ACIKE), part of Charles Darwin University’s indigenous Arts program. Visit Greg’s website at www.gregbastian.com.au