Expressions of Interest are invited from Australian writers and industry professionals to provide seminars, workshops, masterclasses and talks for the ACT Writers Centre in 2013.
The ACT Writers Centre is a not-for-profit incorporated association. It is the leading provider of specialised services for the writing community of the ACT region. Through its annual programs, the ACT Writers Centre promotes skills development and professional practice, and works to advance the recognition of ACT writers and writing, locally and nationally. The Writers Centre creates a program of training and professional development for writers based on a range of inputs, including feedback from members, industry trends and proposals from interested tutors. Proposals we receive through this submission process are used as a guide only and we reserve the right to alter the structure, content and description of events to suit the needs of our members. This is done in consultation with the successful presenter.
The Centre invites proposals from authors, poets, playwrights, screenwriters and writers of fiction and nonfiction, to teach writing workshops and seminars in our 2013 program of events. We also welcome proposals from editors and publishing industry professionals. We are only interested in tutors capable of professional, well-prepared and instructional presentations, who are serious about delivering value to participants and members. We use the Australian Society of Authors recommended rates as a guide for remuneration of writing tutors.
We are interested in proposals for events, from 2 hours duration to multi-day workshops. Proposals for workshops, seminars, masterclasses and other learning activities will be considered. Content we are interested in includes: All aspects of writing craft and technique: structure, style, characterisation, plot, self-editing etc
- Specific genres: crime, romance, science fiction, fantasy, literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, historical fiction, travel writing etc
- Specific forms: playwriting, poetry, scriptwriting, non-fiction articles, short stories etc
- All aspects of the business of writing and publishing: queries, synopses, finding an agent, writing as a business, self-publishing, marketing and promotion etc
- Content for different age groups and skill levels
PROGRAMMING TIMELINES (2012)
5 October Closing date for receipt of proposals
30 October Liaison with applicants will occur around this time
WHAT SHOULD YOU SUBMIT?
Please email a proposal of no more than 2 pages for each event you wish to teach, by the closing date. Use the submission guidelines below and be sure to include all requested components. You must include a writer’s CV (maximum 2 pages) outlining your publication history and teaching experience. Please include all current contact details.
COMPONENTS OF YOUR SUBMISSION
Proposals should be a maximum of 2 pages. Please ensure you include the following components in your proposal:
- Proposed title of event
- Type of event i.e. workshop, seminar, masterclass, other (specify)
- Description of event
- Duration of event
- Intended audience
- Expected learning outcomes
- Materials/equipment required (optional)
- 2013 dates you are available to teach
- Your current residential address, email and phone contact, website address (if available)
- Writer’s CV including teaching experience and publication history (maximum 2 pages)
- High resolution photo (emailed if possible)
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
We consider the following factors when assessing workshop proposals:
- Quality of content proposed
- Experience in teaching writing and related topics
- Author publication history
- Relevance of proposal to our membership
Below is a list of the proposed themes and months for 2013 (these may change):
Feb Poetry
March Editing
April Scriptwriting
May Business writing
June Young Writers
July Digital publishing
Aug Short Stories
Sept Writing for YA and children
Oct Spec Fiction
Nov Memoir/Life Writing/Biography
Dec Travel/food/lifestyle
SUBMISSIONS
Email submissions to The Director, ACT Writers Centre, at director@actwriters.org.au by 5pm Friday 5 October.
OPTIONAL
Tuesday Chats
The Writers Centre is also interested in hearing from anyone who feels that they have something to offer our writers and would like to give a free talk to our members. Our Tuesday Chats are informal talks that go from 1-1.30pm followed by Q&A, fortnightly or monthly, depending on the number of speakers that respond to our callout. The Centre will promote the speaker’s topic and bio and provide a room and tea/coffee. Entry is by gold coin donation and there is no payment for speakers.
We find that the highest number of people attend events when they feel that they can pick up some tips on achieving publication for themselves. If you would like to be considered as a speaker, please send your proposed topic, your bio and your preferred dates, to director@actwriters.org.au
CAPITAL LETTERS 
My name is Marjory Gardner and I am a freelance children’s book illustrator in Melbourne. I would be interested in putting in a proposal to give workshops in picture books . May I be blunt and ask what fees you pay? And as I am coming from interstate, do you pay for airfares and accomm?
Hi Marjory, I’ve forwarded your question on! Hopefully you’ll hear from the Centre soon. – ACTWC