Turn lived experience into a gripping story that others will want to read.
In this workshop, Shelley Davidow will show you how craft enables art in a hands-on workshop illuminating how key life events represent themes that can form the backbone of your memoir.
Learning Outcomes:
You will improve your writing through practical exercises and a workshop in the key areas listed below:
Discover your life-themes to create a plot
Uncover the essential elements of memoir
Learn how to use dialogue to reveal character and move your plot along
Key things to avoid when writing memoir
Understand the ethical dilemmas that emerge when writing your ‘truth’
Depicting your life as a Hero’s Journey.
Format:
This is a craft workshop for intermediate to emerging writers. More information on program formats and level definitions can be found here.
About Shelley:
Shelley Davidow is the award-winning author of 45 books. Writing across genres, recent titles include Shadow Sisters (University of Queensland Press, 2018), Whisperings in the Blood (University of Queensland Press, 2016), Playing with Words(co-authored with Paul Williams; Palgrave Macmillan, UK, 2016), and Fail Brilliantly(Familius, USA, 2017). She is a full-time academic at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia.
How to Connect to the Live Stream:
When you buy a ticket, you will receive two emails. One will be your receipt from Eventbrite. The other will be an email from Queensland Writers Centre on behalf of Crowdcast, our live stream provider. The latter email will thank you for registering for the course and provide you with a link to the video. A representation of this email is below; the 'Visit Event' button will take you to the live stream's landing page.
It is only through this link in which you may access the live stream, so it is important that you check that you have received it. In case you misplace this email, you will receive another email with the live stream link 10 minutes before the course is scheduled to start. If you don't receive the initial email when you buy the ticket, contact us on 07 3842 9922 or at admin@qldwriters.org.au.
FAQs
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
Unless otherwise stated, Queensland Writers Centre workshops and events are suitable for participants aged 16 years and over. If you are under 18 years of age, please check with us for suitability before purchasing a ticket.
Will I be limited in any way if I choose to view the live streamed event over attending the event in person?
Queensland Writers Centre always recommends attending our workshops in person; however, we do understand that this might not be possible for our members who live all throughout Queensland. With this in mind, we seek to deliver the event to our at-home viewers as seamlessly as we are able. During your live stream session, you can still perform the exercises and activities given by the instructor and you can also participate in group discussions with other online viewers via the online chat feature.
Can I ask the instructor questions as a live stream viewer?
We will have a live stream facilitator monitoring the chat section, so if there is a recurring question being asked, that employee will ask the instructor on the viewers' behalf. Naturally, the instructor will also provide time to answer such questions; however, depending on the number of live stream viewers, for the tutor to answer everyone's question within the time allocated can be a challenge, so please understand.
What should prepare for the event?
We suggest having either a pen and paper or electronic note-taking device as you watch the live stream.
How do I access the event?
Once you have purchased a ticket on Eventbrite, you will receive two emails: one from Eventbrite confirming your purchase and another from the live stream provider, Crowdcast, with your unique link to the live stream. If you do not receive two emails, please check your spam folder or else please contact QWC.
What am I allowed to say in the group chat?
The group chat is a fantastic way to interact and collaborate with other online participants, the QWC live stream facilitator, and the presenter. We expect members to be courteous and respectful in the group chat. The same behaviour you would conduct yourself in person at a QWC event is expected online. The QWC live stream facilitator will ban any participants who don't abide by these rules so other participants can enjoy the event. If you are banned you will not be refunded the admission.
How do I improve the video quality of my live stream?
Every live stream is broadcasted in high definition. To watch the live stream in the best quality, select the gear icon in the bottom left of the video and select the highest possible resolution (in most cases this is 720p).
What internet browser should I use?
Our live stream provider, Crowdcast, recommends using Google Chrome to watch the live stream. However, the live stream does support Firefox, Opera, Edge, and Safari.
Can I watch the live stream on my mobile device?
On Android, Crowdcast can be used with Chrome for Android or Firefox for Android.
On iOS, you can use the Crowdcast app or view in your favourite Mobile browser!
If using the app, you can access the event by clicking the link sent to your email on your device and this will open the event in the app.
How can I contact the organiser with any questions?
You can contact us by phone on 07 3842 9922 or email us at admin@qldwriters.org.au
What's the refund policy?
If Queensland Writers Centre cancels an event, we will try to reschedule it for a later date. If we cannot reschedule the event, or if you are unable to attend on the amended date, your payment will be refunded in full.
Except in special circumstances, if you cancel a booking for, or are unable to attend an event, workshop, seminar, or course, Queensland Writers Centre cannot provide a refund. You can contact us to discuss your situation on 07 3842 9922 or email us at admin@qldwriters.org.au
Terms and Conditions
All information is correct at the time of publication. We reserve the right to make changes to the advertised program information (including course content and tutors), but if this occurs, we will try to provide as much notice as possible.
We expect that all participants will behave respectfully and professionally towards their tutor and fellow students. We reserve the right to remove anyone who behaves in an aggressive or disruptive manner. If a participant is asked to leave the class on this basis, we will not offer a refund.
We cannot accept responsibility for any loss, damage or expense sustained by students as a result of an event or circumstance whether arising from natural cause, human agency or beyond our control otherwise.