Dear Friends, Thank you for your support. Opportunities like this are rare in the regions. In return, we hope to return the favour, and to continue supporting your individual Muses. Keep checking the site for more news.
Writers retreat to the beach!
Three storytellers will each offer their unique insights into writing at a mentoring retreat at Kelly’s Beach Resort, Bargara on the coast near Bundaberg, in Queensland.
The Bundaberg based professionals will mentor emerging novelists, short story crafters and playwrights over three days from 15-17 October 2010.
Mentors:
Novels – Sandy Curtis
Short Stories – Diane Esmond
Plays – Rod Ainsworth
Please see the individual mentors’ pages above for submission details.
News Flash Because of the broad mix of applicants the format has been changed slightly to include a Bootcamp. The submission deadline has also been extended to 3 September. Later submissions will not change the status of earlier applicants.
Earlier applicants will be notified of outcomes by 3 September.
COSTS:
Retreat Fee: $375 (covers professional fees, lunch, morning and afternoon teas for three days, and meet-and-greet dinner on the Thursday evening)
Accommodation is at attendees’ expense. Kelly’s Beach Resort has self-contained accommodation at varying rates, e.g. single, family etc. www.kellysbeachresort.com.au or Ph: 1800 246 141.
There is no obligation to stay at the Resort.
Kelly’s Beach Resort restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner or a range of eateries are available in Bargara.
Travel to and from Bargara: Bundaberg, the closest centre to Bargara, is serviced by plane, train and bus, and is four hours’ drive from Brisbane. Bargara is a 15 minute drive from the city. A coach runs from the airport to Bargara. Duffy’s Buses service Bargara from Bundaberg. A taxi service is also available. See www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au for further information on the area.
Kate Eltham, CEO of the Queensland Writers Centre, says this about the mentoring retreat:
“One of the most common pieces of feedback QWC receives from Australian publishers and literary agents is that writers are submitting manuscripts to them that “just aren’t cooked”. Writers may develop manuscripts at home but often, without some experienced guidance and editorial input, it’s impossible for them to identify the strengths and weaknesses in their own work or understand how to address them.
Mentoring the Muse is proposed as an intensive retreat-style development program similar to iniatives like the Varuna Manuscript Development Awards in NSW or the QWC/Hachette Australia Manuscript Development Program. These have been highly successful at supporting writers to improve their work to publishable standard, resulting in numerous publishing contracts for participants.
Bundaberg would be the only regional city in Australia to host a locally-developed program of this structure and calibre. It is only possible because of the depth of professional writing expertise that exists in Bundaberg because of writers like Sandy, Diane and Rod.”
This project is being supported by Bundaberg Regional Council and Arts Queensland through the Regional Arts Development Fund. The Regional Arts Development Fund is a Queensland Government and Bundaberg Regional Council partnership to support local arts and culture.
