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To read another writer's unpublished work is indeed a privilege, and to judge this work is a responsibility not to be taken lightly.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.

My Top Ten Tips for Story Writing

Below you'll find some quotes by me as editor of the Junior Redlitzer Anthology 2014, published in the Redlands City Council's Redlands Magazine as well as my Top Ten Tips for Story Writing. 

"Think of a character, give them a challenge and delve into your imagination for ways to overcome it – you are now well on the way to becoming a junior Redlitzer finalist." 

"What young writers have to keep in mind firstly is that the Redlitzer is a short story competition. There is only so much that can be covered in 1000 words." 

"But we want a complete story from start to finish, not an essay. So make it active more than descriptive, jump straight in."

Angela, a former teacher, says the best way to start is simply put ideas down on paper "no matter how crazy."

"It's when you start firing your imagination that you start to get ideas that are original," she says. "And remember that as a short story it is just a snapshot in life - a very short timeframe."

Photo by Melanie Holtsman

My Top Ten Tips

1. Find inspiration for stories by: reading newspaper features; finding objects on the beach; childhood memories; old diaries; two randomly chosen nouns (like sausage/queen); using story starters (eg. http://www.literacyshed.com/the-story-starter-shed.html) etc...

2. Decide on who will be the main character of your story and keep the secondary characters to an absolute minimum of two or three. Give your character a name, something they love and something they have a fear or loathing of (eg. love of a family pet and... fear of heights.) 

3. Give your main character a problem, which they must solve or overcome - or at least struggle with within the 1000 words. (eg. the beloved family pet is stuck in a tree.... main character must overcome fear of heights to save it.)

4. Brainstorm/mindmap your main character's problem and possible outcomes. What does your character want more than anything? Think up crazy obstacles and solutions. Weird, funny, fantastical are all good.

5. You may plan your story first and then write it, or the other way around. Absolutely NO sub plot in a short story.

6. Keep your story within a short time frame. It is like a snapshot of the life of your character. 

7. Your first sentence is the hook. Jump right into the drama and action. Dialogue is also a good place to start, or thoughts. Introduce the main character's problem as soon as possible. Don't start with description.

8. The middle of your story should show your character trying to overcome their problem/ achieve their goal with obstacles in the way.

9. The resolution of your story may have a twist - short stories often do. Surprise your reader!

10. When editing, think about the tense, the point of view (ie. first person or third person) and grammar. Cut out all the bits that are telling or describing too much. Show your character's emotions through dialogue, thoughts and actions.

The Redlitzer Junior Anthology will be launched at a gala event on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at which the Editor’s Choice Award for the best story will be announced.

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!

Shortlisted for the Write-a-Book-in-a-Day Awards

In August this year I posted about the Write-a-Book-in-a-Day challenge. Our children's book, The Coral Sea Monster, is a shortlisted entry in the open section, and my writers group, Prana Writers have been waiting eagerly for the official announcement. We won't have to wait much longer... the announcement is tonight.

The Write-a-Book-in-a-Day challenge is a wonderful, fun, team building and writing experience, open to people of all ages and offered by the Katherine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre, WA.

Teams register 5-10 people in the Open, Secondary or Primary category and get sponsors to donate to their local state's hospital for children. Each book is also donated to their chosen hospital.

On the day of our challenge, our team was emailed a random setting, two human characters, a non-human character, an issue and five random words at 8.00am local time. Then we had twelve hours to write a book and email it to KSPWC by 8.00pm the same day.

Unfortunately we won't be able to attend the awards ceremony at the Katherine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre in Perth, West Australia, but I am expecting an email as soon as it is announced.

So fingers crossed everyone! We worked very hard for this.

Roses and Tea

I'm taking some time out, time to cut some heritage roses from my garden, pop them in a milk jug and pour myself a cup of tea. It's been a tough year.

After a summer season of disasters it was a slow start for me creatively. But recently I attained the goals I set for myself. A new manuscript is sitting with my publisher and a new picture book has just been mailed off to my mentor at Create a Kids' Book.

Not only that, but the book I illustrated and co-wrote with my writers' group, Prana Writers, has been shortlisted for the Write a Book in a Day Awards. We're in with a good chance.

The original manuscript, The Coral Sea Monster, was written within the twelve hour deadline, but now prior to publishing it, we're giving it a serious edit this weekend.

The tea has brewed. Won't you join me?

The Coral Sea Monster begins life on its own

Janis and Kerry bind our team book for mailing to Write a Book in a Day.

I run between the printer and the binder bringing the pages.

We only have to reprint one page which was accidentally crushed.

We are on a roll!

Rob and Amanda prepare our book, The Coral Sea Monster

for emailing to the Write a Book in a Day panel.

And here it is, our baby.

Introducing to the world...

The Coral Sea Monster

by

Prana Writers

illustrated by Angela Sunde

(An excerpt will follow soon)

The Prana Writers team looking justifiably proud!

We have delivered a 16,500 word children's book with illustrations within 12 hours

 and keeping within the parameters given to us by the judges.

We have raised over $650 dollars (and still coming in) for The Royal Children's Hospital Qld

and we have been able to donate our well crafted, fast paced 'fish out of water' story to the patients

 of  the Royal Children's Hospital and their siblings. 

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS!!

To sponsor us in this challenge please visit Write a Book in a Day ,

choose The Royal Children's Hospital Qld

and our team Prana Writers.

Sponsorship is open until the 31st August.

Coral the sea monster lives

The illustrations for the chapter headings are scanned into the main computer ready for formatting by Rob and Amanda.

Don't be fooled by her cute guise. This is no guppy. Coral is the size of an adult sheep and that could be useful for the sheepshearer, Jack.

Oh, yes. Looking coy, Coral.

Edit nearly complete

Pairs are working furiously to refine the work. Then we swop and re-edit another pair's.

Checking with the dictionary.

Even with a broken foot, Amanda soldiers on through the strain barrier.

And me the illustrator... I'm still working on the cover image! Aaah!
The deadline is looming and you can see it's dark outside. Thank goodness for my hairdryer; it dries watercolour so quickly.

First read through completed

OMG (LOL) we have smashed the 8,000 word minimum and now have over 16,000!

Now to the pairs edit stage.

Cover artwork well underway:

Lunch

12,000 words and still counting. Soon the first reading and the all important edit!

But lunch on the veranda is the priority now, while Tom reads aloud the manuscript to check for consistencies and voice.

We're laughing so hard at the podiatrist references throughout. What seemed like the impossible character has turned out to be the best.

We're all confident the afternoon will go smoothly.

Here's how the chapters were designated and it's now 2pm.

Time to edit in pairs.

Don't forget the illustrator

I quickly make sketches of how I see the three main characters. Luckily a wheelbarrow features prominently and I run with that (as do the characters!)

The new born baby whale who washed up on Surfers Paradise beach last week influences my sea monster.

Writers busy at work

Everyone found themselves a cosy place to work. The Gold Coast morning sun streamed in on the veranda where five Prana Writers merged their muses.

Others were lost in a cloud of cushions, couch comfort and character conundrums.

And here are our character profiles and chapter outlines for consistency across the whole book.

MMMMMuffins

Rob kept the troops sustained with various muffin flavours: cheese and herb, choc cinnamon, raspberry and white choc, lemon and coconut.

And we're off!

Well it was a hectic start to the Write a Book in a Day marathon with the starting e-mail going into my junk section. We were underway at 8:07.

Early morning breakfast and briefing.

The parameters we have been given are quite clear: Our characters are a podiatrist, a sheep shearer and a sea creature, set on a motorway with the issue: LOVE! Lots to work with and a very robust discussion for the character mapping.

Kids Book Review Interview

I have been interviewed on Kids Book Review by the lovely Tania MacCartney about the Write a Book in a Day challenge!

My writers' group, Prana Writers, is raising funds for the Royal Children's Hospital Qld by writing a children's book in one day. See more details here. You can sponsor us on the Write a Book in a Day site here .

Only one day to go!!

A Writing Marathon

I have never been in a marathon. The thought of pushing myself to reach a nigh impossible goal scares me silly. So why is it then that next Sunday, 14th August I am racing against the clock and against all odds?

I'm a Prana Writer, a Gold Coast group of eleven writers, who first came together three years ago through the Gold Coast Council's Creative Juices 'Write That Book' mentorship, and we have entered a team in the ‘Write a Book in a Day” challenge to raise funds for the Royal Children's Hospital Qld..
http://writeabookinaday.com/index.html

It’s a writing marathon to write a children's book in 12 hours. Between 8am and 8pm next Sunday our team will plan, plot, write, illustrate, edit, print and bind an 8000 word book.

Why, you may ask...

Yes, we're crazy! But we love to write and we want to support the Queensland children who inspire us.

The aim of the Write a Book in a Day challenge is to raise funds for children's hospitals in each Australian state. We will be supporting the Queensland Royal Children’s Hospital. Currently we are the only group registered in Queensland in the open category!

At 8am on 14 August our team will be emailed a random setting, two human characters, a non-human character, an issue and five random words. Our 8000 word story must be written around these and delivered or emailed to the judges by 8pm the same day. There are even awards for the best book.

Can we do it?

There will be a lot of coffee, a lot of stress (did I say a lot of stress?) before the deadline, but just think of the team building!

The funds we raise and a copy of our completed book will be donated to the Royal Children's Hospital Qld.

To sponsor us in this worthy cause, donations may be made online by credit card here – and it’s tax deductable! Just select our hospital - Royal Children's Hospital Qld and our group - Prana Writers.

Thank you sincerely for your support.

The Five Year Plan

It's now two and a half years since I first set myself a goal - to become a children's writer and illustrator. I call it my 'Five Year Plan' and I am half way there.

So how far along the road to being published have I come and is that necessarily part of the plan? Can I call myself a writer yet? It seems I'm asking more questions than telling.

It all started in 2006 when we took a six month self-drive family trip around Europe, the UK and Canada with our two kids aged 11 and 14. As family correspondent I kept over 50 friends in Australia and New Zealand amused with the emails of our adventures. After receiving positive feedback, my emails became more and more like storytelling and even now 3 years later I still bump into friends who tell me that they waited eagerly for each email and missed them terribly when I returned home and they stopped.

Here's an example:

The Italian Job. 11/7/06 (photo)

We are hurtling down a narrow Italian street late at night. Horns are tooting. An Italian car is chasing us, flags waving as vespas cut in and out. We have French plates and a big F on the back of the car. There is no chance of escaping incognito. As we come to an intersection cars swirl around us, Italian flags ablaze and fireworks go off on the street. It is a close escape from the little piazza in Tuscany where minutes earlier we sat next to the fountain watching the final of the World Cup projected onto an old stone castle wall, sipping beer and licking ice cream with the sun setting behind the cypress. Imagine if France had won.

Remember that the emails were written 'on the hop', in a mad rush before the internet time we had paid for ran out. There was no time for editing, re-thinking etc. It was just get your impressions down quickly. In the beginning we called ourselves 'The Griswalds' after the movie 'European Vacation', but by the end we had earned the name 'The Incredibles' like the super-hero cartoon family.

What I realised by the end of the trip is that I loved writing and together with my passion for drawing I might be able to incorporate the two. One day I will write up the story of our family trip.

After completing 3 creative writing courses at the Gold Coast TAFE on our return, I was hooked. My twenty plus years experience as a teacher of primary and high school students found me writing for children. I am now a member of SCBWI (The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and the Queensland Writers Centre and I subscribe to various online writing groups and newsletters. I am also somewhat of a workshop-a-holic, loving the opportunity to learn from and network with other Australian writers at conferences, seminars and workshops.

This year two of my children's stories were short-listed for the Charlotte Duncan Award, through Celapene Press, I have had a reputable Sydney literary agent submit two of my picture book manuscripts to publishers on my behalf and my application for the series of workshops 'Write That Book' with Louise Cusack, subsidised by the Gold Coast Council, was accepted (there were only 16 places and 60 applicants).

I have recently completed a light-hearted urban fantasy for 9-13 year olds and through the 'Write That Book' workshops I am currently writing the sequel. The first has been entered in the 'Voices on the Coast' competition and I am now preparing to submit it to publishers.

My motto sits on my desk: Pursue your dream until it becomes a reality.

As I sit under my apple tree, dreaming, I hope that you too are pursuing yours.

Thanks for visiting. Here take some pie home.

Angela