Founded in 1985, Writers SA was the first writers’ centre to open in Australia.
The centre offers a range of services and resources to writers and would-be writers: everyone from award-winning novelists, to the first-time scribe wanting to pen their memoires.
Membership of Writers SA gives access to a vast array of services such as:
- advice, information and support in your writing activities
- career pathway support and opportunities
- a professional referral service
- access to a community of writers and industry professionals
- opportunities for publication and promotion
It also provides discounted access to workshops, most of which are also available to the general public, but at a higher cost.
I was lucky enough to participate in one of their recent workshops, Crime Writing: The Devil and the Details. Due to COVID issues, this was held via Zoom. Presenter, T. J. Hamilton, from Sydney, is an ex-police officer, turned writer, with novels and screenplays under her belt. On a Saturday afternoon, a large group of people, from around Australia, gathered online to hear Hamilton discuss the research needed to write an accurate and successful crime work. Prior to the workshop, she sent out resources: two coroner’s reports, and a teleplay from an Australian crime fiction series. These materials allowed us to prepare, and therefore get the most out of her workshop.
The online environment was a blessing, in that it enabled participation from outside of Adelaide, but it did also reduce the afternoon to a presentation rather than a true workshop. However, despite this drawback, Hamilton was such an engaging and passionate presenter, that the lack of participation didn’t seem to matter. For writers, and those interested in crime, the access to this bubbly wealth of knowledge was invaluable.
The Writers SA summer program will officially launch on 16 September but we can give you a sneak peek of what to expect:
- Monica McInerney’s Top Twenty Tips for Writing Fiction
- Introduction to Self-Publishing
- Prep Your Pitch
- Creating Your Kingdom: Building Storyworlds.
Workshops also often cover writing-adjacent activities, such as the upcoming Into the Darkness, which explores the Dark Web.
With more of us spending time at home, Writers SA offers activities you might not have previously considered. For example, the workshop I attended would have been a great experience for anyone with a passion for crime, true or fictional. There are often events which give readers a chance to meet and hear from, their favourite writers.
Writers SA is located in the Institute Building on the corner of Kintore Avenue and North Terrace.
Postal address: PO Box 43 Rundle Mall Adelaide 5000
Email: [email protected]
You can sign up to their email newsletter service, without becoming a member.
Click here for further information and membership queries.
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