NZSA WebWorkshops

Posted: Wednesday Jun 10, 2020

A series of webinars to enable ongoing professional development

This series is kicking off with some workshops we had planned for the NZSA National Writer’s Forum 2020 and will feature writers and industry professionals offering virtual workshops on topics such as self-publishing, romance writing, poetry, structure, short stories, pitching, contract advice, dystopian writing and the business of writing.

All WebWorkshops are hosted on Zoom. Zoom is free to download

From the First Sentence: A Workshop on Crime Writing – with Paddy Richardson

12PM TO 2PM, 11 JUNE

‘It was a wrong number that started it, the telephone ringing three times in the dead of night, and the voice on the other end asking for someone he was not.’ Paul Auster, City of Glass From the first sentence, a crime novel has to generate intrigue, tension and conflict. This 2 hour workshop will explore the creation of plot, pace and structure in crime writing. Questions can be submitted before and during the session.

Paddy Richardson is the author of two collections of short stories and seven novels. Four of her crime novels have been published overseas and her most recent historical novel, ‘Through the Lonesome Dark’ was shortlisted for the New Zealand Historical Novel Award and longlisted for The Dublin International Literature Award. Paddy has been awarded four Creative New Zealand Awards, the University of Otago Burns Fellowship, the Beatson Fellowship, the James Wallace Arts Trust Residency Award and the Randell Cottage Residency. Her novels ‘Traces of Red’ and ‘Cross Fingers’ have been long-listed for the Ngaio Marsh Award and ‘Hunting Blind’ and ‘Swimming in the Dark’, short-listed. She is an experienced teacher of creative writing, has been a speaker at many writing festivals, is a mentor for the NZSA Creative Writing Programmes and has judged many awards.

NZSA MEMBERS – $30
NON-MEMBERS – $60
BOOK IN

Introduction to Flash Fiction: The what, why and when of it – with Michelle Elvy
2PM TO 4PM, 18 JUNE

This is a class for people interested in discovering the craft of writing small. In writing 250-500 words, you’ll stimulate your creativity, pay attention to language and think in new ways about structure and story. You might blend poetry and prose; you might push yourself towards experimentation; you might write a small moment, or a whole world. All welcome. Discover the what, why and when of flash fiction with Michelle Elvy.

Michelle Elvy is a writer, editor and manuscript assessor based in Dunedin. You can find her teaching online at ’52|250 A Year of Writing’, or at ‘Flash Frontier: An Adventure in Short Fiction’, ‘Best Small Fictions’ and National Flash Fiction Day. She is co-editor of ‘Bonsai: Best small stories from Aotearoa New Zealand’ (CUP 2018) and ‘Ko Aotearoa Tātou | We Are New Zealand’ (OUP 2020). Her book, ‘the everrumble’ (Ad Hoc Fiction, 2019) is a small novel in small forms. michelleelvy.com

NZSA MEMBERS – $30
NON-MEMBERS – $60
BOOK IN

Ethical Storytelling – with Pip Desmond

10AM TO 12PM, 8 JULY

Writing creative non-fiction poses unique ethical challenges. In this workshop, we’ll explore the courage it takes to write about real people, the place for compassion, and ways to manage the tension between the two. We’ll also look at how to tell the truth while still telling a gripping story. You are welcome to send questions in advance to be answered during the session.

Pip Desmond is an award-winning writer of creative non-fiction. ‘Trust: A True Story of Women and Gangs’ won Best First Book at the 2010 New Zealand Post Book Awards and her latest memoir, ‘Song for Rosaleen’, was longlisted for the 2019 Ockham Book Awards. She has also written ‘The War That Never Ended: New Zealand Veterans Remember Korea’. Pip has a background as an oral historian, journalist and parliamentary press secretary. She was Massey University’s 2019 writer in residence. Her TEDx talk on ethical storytelling can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHR8fWAr43k

NZSA MEMBERS – $30
NON-MEMBERS – $60
BOOK IN

Picture Book Magic – with Kyle Mewburn

2PM TO 4PM, 22 JULY

There are as many ways to write a picture book as to tame a dragon. This workshop will unravel my personal process for writing picture books that spellbind kids and parents alike. It will cover key aspects such as creating hooks, boosting re-readability and weaving themes which resonate with young readers.

Kyle Mewburn is one of New Zealand’s most eclectic and prolific writers. From multi-layered picture books to laugh-out-loud junior fiction series, her titles have been translated into eighteen languages and won numerous awards including Children’s Book of the Year. She was Children’s Writer-in-Residence at Otago University in 2011 and President of the New Zealand Society of Authors from 2013-2017. Originally from Brisbane, Kyle lives with her wife, Marion, two cats and 24 chickens, in a house with a grass roof near the sleepy village of Millers Flat. When she’s not writing she’s either searching for hidden eggs or exploring the exciting world she discovered in her closet. www.kylemewburn.com

NZSA MEMBERS – $30
NON-MEMBERS – $60
BOOK IN

ONCE YOU HAVE SIGNED UP AND MADE PAYMENT, YOU WILL BE BOOKED INTO THIS WEBWORKSHOP. ATTENDEES WILL BE SENT A ZOOM VIDEOCONFERENCE INVITATION 1 DAY BEFORE THE WEBINAR.

Using Zoom for the first time? We will issue instructions along with the link to the event.
Not a member of NZSA? Find out more about the benefits of membership.