Redlitzer Anthology Gala Awards Evening – Editor

As the editor of the Redlitzer Junior Anthology I spent a wonderful day with the ten finalists earlier this year, giving editorial feedback on their stories and workshopping strategies to lift their work to an even higher level. Mentors and judges, Louise Cusack and Marianne de Pierres, worked with small groups of writers to polish their manuscripts before re-submission. 

Tonight I will be presenting the Editor's Choice Awards (it was very difficult choosing) at the Gala Awards Evening at Victoria Point Library, when the Redlitzer Junior Anthology is launched.

Each year the Redland City Council has run the Redlitzer Anthology competition for adult and teen writers with fabulous prizes on offer from the city council and The Queensland Writers Centre, culminating with a published anthology of best stories.

In 2013 the competition was extended to junior writers under 13 as well. Ten talented young writers were selected from the many entries to spend a day workshopping their manuscripts for publication with published children's authors acting as mentors.

I do not know of another city or regional council that offers a better or more supportive opportunity for gifted young writers, and I'm so proud to be a part of it. Well done, Redlands, and congratulations to all the finalists.

Gympie Literary Awards Judging

After a crazy busy weekend of Snap Magic Launches and the beginning of the blog tour, I'm now off to the Gympie Region Literary Awards Evening, followed by a workshop with the award entrants the next day.

To read another writer's unpublished work is indeed a privilege, and to judge this work is a responsibility not to be taken lightly. The six categories of 2014's Gympie Region Literary Awards – (Adult and Children's) Short Story, Poetry and Picture Book, each with their own skill sets, literary elements and nuances, required a broad range of experience and knowledge as a judge.

Following guidelines, meeting a deadline and sending off a manuscript to an unknown reader can be a daunting experience. But it is the first step forwards as a writer - putting your work out there.

I was particularly impressed with the Children's Short Story category. The strength and depth of the themes covered belied the age of the writers. 

I'm very much looking forward to meeting the writers at the awards night and workshop.

Redlitzer Junior Anthology 2014

I'm busy working on the final copyediting of the ten finalists' stories for the Redlitzer Junior Anthology 2014. As this year's editor I had the privilege of running a full-day writing and editing workshop with the finalists last month at the Victoria Point Library in Redlands City. With the help of judges and mentors, Louise Cusack and Marianne de Pierres, the junior writers worked on their rewrites in three small groups.

The day began with a warm-up exercise and editorial feedback on their stories. Overall the 10-14 year olds used consistent point of view, good opening hooks, strong endings/twists and imaginative world building. General weaknesses were paragraphing and the setting out of dialogue. I wonder whether schools are teaching paragraphing with an empty space between each. That's fine for websites, emails, letters and report writing, but creative writing and the publishing world require true paragraphing.

We then looked at Editing a Scene, working on a Scene Overview sheet after a reading of the first scene from my upcoming children's novel, Snap Magic. The junior writers had to fill in questions on characters, purpose, action, setting, sensory details and hooks in relation to their own story.

This was followed by Strengthening a Character. After showing the junior writers examples of my character profiles, they worked on their own, looking specifically at emotions, abilities, personality, physical attributes and mannerisms.

Finally, before they began their rewrites, we worked on Strengthening Plot and Structure. Using a Story Plan and Story Editing Checklist we read and discussed the parts of a story, the goals, obstacles and resolution.

Somewhere in between all this we also managed to fit in a huge cooked breakfast and lunch at the cafe next door!

Tomorrow I'll be putting up my Top Ten Tips for Story Writing (for junior writers). Tune in again!

Redlitzer Awards

If there were a day when I felt especially proud this year, it would be last Saturday as I presented the Redlitzer Awards to the young winners of the Redlitzer Writing Competition junior anthology.

Each year the Redland City Council runs the Redlitzer for adult and teen writers with fabulous prizes on offer from the city council and also The Queensland Writers Centre, culminating with a published anthology of the best stories.

This year, because of the popularity of the Redlitzer, the competition was extended to junior writers under 13 as well. Ten talented young writers were selected from the many entries to spend a day in July, workshopping their manuscripts for publication with published children's authors acting as mentors.

Judges and Mentors, Peter Matheson, head librarian, Louise Cusack, Rowena Cory Daniells, Marianne de Pierres and Angela Sunde

I was thrilled to have been invited along for the second time as mentor this year. After a group masterclass with editor and dramaturg, Peter Matheson, together with mentor and author Marianne de Pierres, we split into smaller groups to focus on guiding our young writers through the task of editing and refining their manuscripts.

We were full on busy, but it was the best fun! These talented junior writers were super keen to learn the craft of editing.

Junior Finalists

And the proof of all that hard work is the beautiful publication of the inaugural Junior Redlitzer Anthology.

The elegant Launch and Gala Event at the Victoria Point Library last Saturday, with lots of non-alcoholic fizz in fancy glasses; scrumptious, waitered, finger food; signing tables for adults, teens and juniors; and the most divine floral arrangements, was simply the icing on the cake. All the finalists and winners wore their prettiest frocks and smartest shirts. For the kids it was a grown-up moment they will never forget and a good example of a city council and library supporting (for all ages) the importance of the Arts and their place in the community.

The juniors' signing table

Louise Cusack congratulating the newly published authors

Thank you Victoria Point Librarians for your wonderful organisation. You shine so bright!

Well done, Redlands!