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BEACHSIDE WRITERS’ RETREAT August 10th to 12th 

OUR PRESENTERS AND WORKSHOPS


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PAM RUSHBY is a multi-award-winning author of many popular novels.
She is best known for her historical novels for children and young adults.
 
Her latest books include; Lissie and Margaret Rose, Princess Parsley and Sing a Rebel Song.


WORKSHOP: Writing “faction”: fact-based historical fiction and memoir:
The best, the strangest, the most riveting, heart-breaking, laugh-out-loud stories aren’t fiction. They’re real. They come from history. This workshop covers how to take an incredible historical moment and develop it into a gripping historical novel. Participants will work together to develop the outline of a historical story.

This workshop covers how to take that WOW! historical moment that fascinates you, and develop it into a gripping historical novel. We'll look at:
 ·         What is historical fiction: when and where can a historical novel be set?
·         Your WOW! moment: recognising it and developing it. Case studies of novels that were developed from the germ of an idea.
·         Very popular (too popular?) periods in history: how to make your novel stand out from all the others.
·         Three main types of historical fiction: three ways of blending fictional and "real" characters.
·         Research: how much is enough? How much is too much? Where to start – and when to stop.
·         Four dangers to be aware of in writing historical fiction: information overload; dialogue authenticity; historical accuracy; gender roles.
·         Travel: how far to go for your research; absorbing the atmosphere.
​www.pamelarushby.com


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MARIANNE DE PIERRES is the multi-award-winning author of the popular Parrish Plessis trilogy and the  Sentients of Orion  and Peacemaker series. The Parrish Plessis series has been translated into many languages and adapted into a role-playing game, while the Peacemaker series is being adapted into a novel adventure game. Marianne also writes under the name Marianne Delacourt and has won awards for her Tara Sharp series. 

WORKSHOP TOPICS:
Research and World-building
Research - how to start, where to look and when to stop!
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World-building - creating authentic worlds without turning your novel into an indigestible travel diary. How much do you need to know? Learn what to put in and what to leave out.
 
Conflict and Narrative Structure and Drive
Conflict – what are the stakes? What motivates your characters? Build page turning tension.
 
Narrative Structure – every story needs a backbone from which to hang its glad rags. Avoid the jelly fish syndrome.
 
Narrative Drive – how to get from beginning to end without getting lost in the middle, including foreshadowing events and introducing back story in an elegant, organic manner.
 
Characterisation and Point of View
Characterisation – how to create a protagonist that readers will believe in, and surround them with interesting secondary characters.
Point of View - who do you wish to tell this tale? Eliminate head hopping and choose which viewpoint best serves your story arc.
​www.mariannedepierres.com


​Select the buttons below to make your selection and make a booking. 
Program
Booking

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​Richard Newsome is the award-winning author of the best-selling Billionaire series of Middle Grade adventure mysteries. While his speciality is writing novels for children, his PhD research was in dialogue in historical fiction so Richard brings a breadth of experience and insight to his sessions.
 
In the 1980s he spent three very enjoyable years in Rockhampton working with The Morning Bulletin and the ABC, and far too many days covering Livingstone Shire Council  meetings.
 
Richard is currently working on a new series of books for younger readers as well as an historical novel set in the horror of the 18th century transatlantic slave trade. He lectures in creative and professional writing at the University of Queensland in Brisbane at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level.

His series has been sold to publishers in the US, Canada, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain and Turkey. 
 
WORKSHOP: With more than 30 years’ experience in journalism and corporate communications, as well as a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Queensland, Richard’s workshops cover everything a fledgling author needs to know: narrative drive, pacing, character development, scene setting, plot advancement and language use. 
​www.richardnewsome.com


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ELAINE OUSTON has a Master of Letters in Creative Writing. She teaches writing to adults, and writes books and short stories for children and young adults.
She conducts workshops at Gondor Writers’ Centre in Landsborough on the Sunshine Coast and visits schools, libraries, and writers’ groups to help inspire the next generation of writers. http://www.elainejouston.com
WORKSHOP: Advance class: Creating memorable characters:
Developing strong, believable characters that your reader either loves or hates ... depending on your intention is vital. Many writers make the mistake of having characters who are too similar to each other and not well enough developed.

Humans are not the same; we are multidimensional beings. This workshop examines the many personality types we meet and shows you how to portray them effectively.

​For crime and mystery writers, the character workshop includes an examination of criminal types and what drives them to commit crimes.
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This is a two-day workshop.​


Unfortunately ALEESAH DARLISON and ANNIE SEATON are now not able to come to our event. ​

    For more information fill in this form: 

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