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In great stories, the setting does more than provide a backdrop—it becomes a character in its own right, influencing the plot and shaping the emotional tone. A well-crafted setting interacts with characters, driving their decisions and reflecting their inner states.

Consider 'Wuthering Heights', where the wild moors mirror the turbulent relationships, or 'To Kill a Mockingbird', where the small town shapes the story’s moral struggles. Setting should actively enhance the narrative, creating a vivid world for readers to immerse themselves in.

“Places are never just places in a piece of writing. If they are, the author has failed. Setting is not inert. It is activated by point of view.” ~ Carmen Maria Machado

Treat your setting as a living element, and readers will feel as though they're walking through your world.

This fascinating article explores how to create compelling characters using personality psychology.

Read the full article here...

How to create compelling characters | Psyche Guides It’s not only writer’s intuition. Use personality psychology to create just the right blend of surprise and believability

Congratulations to Emma Lord, an alumna and tutor of the Writers’ Studio, whose debut YA novel, 'Anomaly', will be published by Affirm Press and is OUT NOW!
Piper Manning survived the apocalypse. Barely.

She recovered from the virus that killed millions, but it left behind a new, uncontrollable power that’s forced her to isolate herself from others — for their sake. Now she’s on the run, risking everything for a shot at an actual future. But to get there, she’ll have to trust a stranger, control her abilities … and face her ghosts.
If you would like to show your support, you can find out more about Emma's debut novel in the comments below.

"If you’re writing a novel, you probably have a good handle on its central narrative arc, but you might’ve realized that to really make your book sing you need to create subplots.

"Or perhaps you’ve discovered you have too many subplots, and now you’re wondering if they’re all required. Balancing, identifying and executing multiple subplots can be a real challenge!

"In this article, The Novelry writing coach and Sunday Times bestselling author L.R. Lam provides definitions of subplots, as well as tips and techniques to make sure your main plotline and subplots are working in tandem."

Read the full article here...

Weaving the Plot: How to Write a Brilliant Subplot | The Blog | The Novelry Learn how to write a brilliant subplot with definitions, tips and techniques from the world’s top-rated writing school.

Our next Novel & Script First Draft Online Course starting on the 23rd of September, is the ideal place to turn your writing dreams into a reality.

This highly creative, yet totally practical writing course provides you with a step-by-step process that breaks the writing of your novel or screenplay into manageable tasks. This will enable you to complete your first draft in 10 months, while working with your personal online tutor.

Please visit our website for all information, including reviews from course participants.

Hope to see you join our wonderful community!

"Whether you’ve been struck with a moment of inspiration or you’ve carried a story inside you for years, you’re here because you want to start writing fiction. From developing flesh-and-bone characters to worlds as real as our own, good fiction is hard to write, and getting the first words onto the blank page can be daunting.

"Daunting, but not impossible. Although writing good fiction takes time, with a few fiction writing tips and your first sentences written, you’ll find that it’s much easier to get your words on the page."

Read the full article here...

How to Start Writing Fiction: The 6 Core Elements | Writers.com What are the elements of fiction writing? This article dives deep into the tools you need to start writing fiction.

We recently had the pleasure of celebrating the launch of Writers' Studio alumna and tutor Zahid Gamieldien's debut novel, 'All the Missing Children', at the Better Read than Dead bookshop in Newtown.

Zahid was a brilliant course participant and a terrific tutor for many years. So, it was a real thrill to see 'All the Missing Children' published by Ultimo Press and launched with over twenty Writers' Studio alumni there to celebrate the occasion.

Well done and a huge congratulations, Zahid! We're proud to see your book published and out in the world for people to enjoy.

Below is a link to our September Newsletter, which features an exciting announcement about our annual Short Story Competition, upcoming courses, success stories and exclusive giveaways.

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Newsletters Archive - The Writers' Studio September 2024 Lessons in Creative Chemistry Never give up on a dream because you are worried about how long it might take to realise it. As Elizabeth Gilbert said when she held up her National Book Award, "This is for all the late-bloomers in the world." Writing is not like dancing or modeling; it'...

We are constantly evolving as writers. Embrace it.

Don't let the fear of not writing something transcendent stop you from just writing.

Can't resist the allure of writing to the perfect soundtrack 🤣
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John Cleese attributes much of his writing success to one key principle: patience. He recognised that solving story problems often requires time and persistence, rather than rushing to find a solution. Rather than forcing answers, Cleese would approach the problem with a calm and open mindset, allowing space for creativity to emerge. His belief was that by keeping your mind "resting against the subject"—engaging with it consistently but without pressure—the unconscious mind would eventually reveal the solution.

This approach underscores a vital aspect of writing: creativity can’t be rushed, and often, the best ideas come when you give yourself the freedom to step back and let the story breathe. It’s a lesson in trusting your instincts and knowing that the solutions to creative roadblocks will emerge if given time.

You don't need all the answers right away—sometimes, simply staying engaged with the problem is enough to bring a breakthrough.

Award-winning poet Rajinderpal S. Pal discusses his personal (and unexpected) challenges of completing and publishing a novel after retirement.

Read the full article here...

However Far Away—The Race Toward a Shifting Finish Line Award-winning poet Rajinderpal S. Pal discusses his personal (and unexpected) challenges of completing and publishing a novel after retirement.

If your dream is to write, our courses will get you doing it.

This practical and inspirational 4-Week online creative writing course will take you on a profound journey and give you the tools and techniques to dramatically improve your writing.

Enjoy the support and camaraderie of a small like-minded group, while working with your personal online tutor.

Please visit our website for all information, including reviews from course participants.

Hope to see you join our wonderful community!

Congratulations to Emma Lord, an alumna and tutor of the Writers’ Studio, whose debut YA novel, 'Anomaly', will be published by Affirm Press!

If you’re in Sydney, join us next week to celebrate the release of 'Anomaly' on the 11th of September at Better Read Than Dead, Newtown! Emma will be joined by author, Lauren Keegan.

Emma Lord in-conversation with Lauren Keegan | Better Read Events Join us with Emma Lord to celebrate the release of Anomaly! Emma will be joined by Lauren Keegan.

There’s an old saying in fiction: just because something happened doesn’t mean it belongs in your story. The reality is that in storytelling, authenticity is key. Even the most extraordinary events need to resonate with the reader on an emotional level. This means that every plot point, every twist, and every character action must connect to a deeper emotional truth. Readers need to feel that what’s happening on the page is not only possible but also meaningful. If your story events don’t strike that emotional chord, the reader may lose interest, and the magic of the narrative fades. Keeping your audience engaged isn’t just about telling a good story—it’s about making them feel the truth within it.

To fully harness your creative potential, it is essential to grasp the subtleties of the creative process and understand how at first, elements of the craft of writing and storytelling can feel counter-intuitive or counter-instinctive.

In this article, we discuss the power of creative tension. Read the full article here...

The Power of Creative Tension - The Writers' Studio Writing longer stories such as a novel or screenplay requires you to learn to use both sides of your brain. Learn about The Power Of Creative Tension here.

Do you dream of writing your novel or screenplay but are overwhelmed by the enormity of the task, especially if you're working full-time?

This course provides you with a step-by-step process that breaks the writing of your novel or screenplay into manageable bite-sized chunks, enabling you to complete your first draft over 10 months.

Special Offer: When you enrol directly into our 10-Month Novel and Script First Draft course, you will receive Unlocking Creativity for free.

Our next Novel & Script First Draft Online Course starting on the 23rd of September, is the ideal place to turn your writing dreams into a reality.

Click to read more or to contact us for further information: https://buff.ly/3xPEDeG

Hope to see you join our wonderful community!

As the days get warmer heading into September, there’s a fresh energy in the air—a perfect time to embrace something new. It’s that time of year when everything feels possible, and if you’ve been thinking about diving into creative writing, now is the moment to do it. Just like the changing season, writing can bring a sense of renewal and excitement.

Writers are people who write. Thinking about writing or talking about writing isn’t writing. In our 4-Week Unlocking Creativity Course, participants quickly discover the unique quality of writing that emerges from the imagination, distinct from the logical and rational thoughts that often dominate our minds. What appears on the page often surprises and delights them, evoking a sense of wonder as they ask, “Where did that come from?”

This journey into the imagination is where true creativity is born. As Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For while knowledge defines all we currently know and understand, imagination points to all we might yet discover and create.”

"Are you able to look beneath the surface? Go to the deep dark places and explore what is there. Ask what's beneath that? And what's beneath that? Look for what is underneath your assumptions of life. That's where you find something that will touch the soul." Barnet Bain -- 'What Dreams May Come'

Write your world! Writing is an art and a craft. But the most important ingredient is the doing.

We'll work it out in the rewrite!
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If your dream is to write, enrol in our 4-Week Unlocking Creativity Online Course. In this course you will:

✅ Tap into the power of your imagination, the true source of creative power.

✅ Learn high-impact tools and techniques that will bring your writing to life on the page and engage readers.

✅ Gain a practical understanding of classic story structure and write a guided short story.

✅ Overcome writers’ block, unlock your creativity, develop a daily writing habit and discover where you want your writing journey to take you.

✅ Go on a profound creative journey that will give you a clear sense of who you are as a writer and where you want to take your writing.

If you enrol directly into our 10-Month Novel and Script First Draft course, you will receive this 4-Week Unlocking Creativity creative writing course for free.

For more information about all our courses, including more reviews from course participants, please visit our website.

If you're a writer and/or reader and you're looking for something to watch, here’s a selection of the best (and most enjoyably bad) literary film and TV that came to streaming services this month...

The Literary Film & TV You Need to Stream in August Every month, all the major streaming services add a host of newly acquired (or just plain new) shows, movies, and documentaries into their ever-rotating libraries. So what’s a dedicated reader to w…

There’s a story inside you, one that’s yearning to be told. Don’t let it go unsung, trapped within your heart. Life is too short for the “what ifs” and “if onlys.” In the end, the things we regret most are the chances we didn’t take, the stories we were too afraid to tell, the creative risks we were hesitant to embrace.

Your story is unique, and the world needs to hear it. Don’t let fear or doubt hold you back. Take the leap, write your story, and let your voice be heard.

“Stories, like people and butterflies and songbirds' eggs and human hearts and dreams, are also fragile things, made up of nothing stronger or more lasting than twenty-six letters and a handful of punctuation marks. Or they are words on the air, composed of sounds and ideas-abstract, invisible, gone once they've been spoken-and what could be more frail than that? But some stories, small, simple ones about setting out on adventures or people doing wonders, tales of miracles and monsters, have outlasted all the people who told them, and some of them have outlasted the lands in which they were created.” Neil Gaiman