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How do you write a mind, body, spirit book that captivates others? What are the key skills needed to get you over the line? This special genre has the capacity to make a difference to others, if you get the basics right. Join author Maggie Hamilton to learn the secrets of the mind, body, spirit genre. A former publisher at Allen & Unwin, she created and ran the Inspired Living imprint, producing over 75 books in the mind, body, spirit genre.

In this lively hands-on workshop for unpublished writers, you’ll discover how to settle on the words that best describe the inspirational experiences and approaches you wish to share, and how to build on these insights to make each chapter count. Learn what to leave in, and what to take out. Find out how to arrive at your own voice, and how to weave the voices of others into your creative nonfiction narrative.

We’ll cover:

• The current trends in mind, body, spirit books
• Who your book is for – and how to ensure you’ve got this right
• How to draw up a solid chapter plan
• The secrets of a punchy opening
• What to do when a chapter or section feels a bit thin
• The effectiveness of case studies
• The biggest mistakes mind, body, spirit writers make
• What the rules are when interviewing others
• Why layering is so important
• How to keep readers with you to the last page
• Essential tips needed to edit your work
• What you’re looking for when asking for feedback
• Why endnotes help keep your text moving

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Expected Learning Outcomes

Participants will:

1. Understand your audience for inspirational writing
2. Discover how to arrive at a workable manuscript structure
3. Know when your inspirational manuscript is complete

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Participant Requirements

Bring your own paper, two different colours of pen and two samples of your writing for workshopping, time permitting. The two samples must include the following two sections, double-spaced and on separate pages:

• the opening (max three paragraphs)
• two or three additional paragraphs