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StoryCraft a Finalist in Two Categories in the Peninsula Business Awards

Last month, I received the very exciting news that StoryCraft Creative Writing Workshops has been named a finalist in two categories in the Peninsula Business Awards.

The Peninsula Business Awards supports and recognises small businesses across the Mornington Peninsula Shire and the Frankston Region. They celebrate the hard work business owners put in, and their contributions to the local community and the local economy.

StoryCraft Creative Writing Workshops is a finalist in two categories:  Best Education / Training Service and ‘Rising star – Best new Business’. I couldn’t be happier!

StoryCraft was born from a dream to combine my passion for storytelling with my passion for inspiring and supporting writers of every age and ability, and it’s very satisfying and humbling to see it honoured in this way.

Believe in the beauty of your dreams, everyone. Woo Hoo! And thank you all from the bottom of my heart for supporting StoryCraft over the past twelve months. It’s been a heck of a journey 💞💞💞
Winners are announced at a Gala Dinner at the Mornington Racecourse on 2nd May, so keep your fingers crossed for me!  Congratulations to all the finalists in the Peninsula Business Awards, and good luck!

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Creative Writing Workshops for Kids – Book Now For April School Holidays

Can you believe the Easter break will soon be upon us? I don’t know about you, but it feels like I just packed the Christmas Tree away!

With Easter comes the school holidays, and after the excitement of a certain rabbit has come and gone, the kids will be busy looking for fun activities to keep them occupied for the next two weeks. A creative writing workshop could be just what the young writer or budding author in your family is looking for to scratch their creative itch …

My ‘Five Alive’ Workshop is a fun, fast-paced way to stretch the imagination and flex creative muscles!

Drawing on writing prompts inspired by the five senses – sight, smell, hear, touch, taste – kids will learn to think outside the box while inspiring their own character and story ideas.

This two hour workshop is popular among writers of every age and ability.

Workshop 1:  Kids aged 8 – 12 years
Date:  Wednesday 11th April
Time:  9:30am – 11:30am
Venue:  Room 7, Mount Martha Community House, Dominion Rd, Mount Martha
Cost:  $30 per child

Workshop 2:  Kids aged 12 – 16 years
Date:  Wednesday 11th April
Time:  12:30pm – 2:30pm
Venue:  Room 7, Mount Martha Community House, Dominion Rd, Mount Martha
Cost:  $30 per child

Places limited to 10 per workshop, so if you want to reserve a place, make like the Easter Bunny and hop to it!  

You can book directly via the Contact Form, or drop me a line at info@storycraftworkshops.com.au

Thanks everyone…
Happy writing, happy reading, and happy days

Rebecca Fraser

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Short Story Workshop at Rosebud Library

Last week I had the great pleasure of facilitating a workshop at Rosebud Library on the Mornington Peninsula focusing on ‘How and Where to Get Your Short Stories Published’.

Short Story Workshop at Rosebud Library

The workshop was specifically targeted towrads writers who love writing short stories or poems, but don’t know how or where to get them published. A wonderfully engaged group of fifteen participants learned how to submit like professionals, as we explored the essentials for any writer who wants to be taken seriously.

My group had some terrific questions, and were such an enthusiastic audience. We covered a lot of ground, including how to:

  • Present and format your work to industry standards.
  • Find appropriate markets for your work.
  • Follow and adhere to submission guidelines.
  • Prepare a professional cover letter and author bio.
  • Handle the fundamentals of the industry – payments, contracts, networking, and more.
  • Deal with rejection.
  • Avoid publication pitfalls and traps, and rookie errors.
  • Build a list of publication credits.

For the beginner writer, or writer who is new to the submission process, this workshop is a great resource for your toolkit.

I received some generous feedback from my workshop attendees, including this lovely comment, “Thanks for a brilliant workshop on how and where to get your short stories published, Rebecca. I loved it! So much valuable information and detailed handouts. It’s taken me from a place of wishy-washy dreams and plans to a position of action. I now feel I have all the tools I need to get my work out there. And miraculously, the dread of rejection has become the desire to gain my writer’s badges of honour.”

Is it any wonder I truly love what I do?!

A big thanks to Rosebud Library and the Mornington Peninsula Library Service for being so warm and accommodating – I’m really looking forward to working with them again in the near future.

If you would like to learn more about ‘How and Where to Get Your Short Stories Published’, drop me a line at info@storycraftworkshops.com.au

Rebecca

 

 

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School Holiday Creative Writing Workshops – Great Fun for Everyone

The September school holidays are done and dusted, and everyone’s back to the school routine all too quickly.  I ran a couple of creative writing workshops for children (aged 8 – 11 years) over the school holidays, and I can’t say who had more fun: me or the kids!

The talented group of upcoming scribes at both workshops were such a creative bunch. I was blown away by their enthusiasm and talent. The two-hour workshops were held at beautiful Mount Martha Community House and

Mount Martha Community House
The stunning views from beautiful Mount Martha Community House

revolved around a ‘Pirate and Princess’ theme. But don’t be fooled by the title – there are no gender stereotypes in my workshops. Participants were invited to create their own memorable characters and let them loose in their very own adventure. From swashbuckling adventure on the high seas to royal shenanigans, the ‘Pirates and Princesses’ Workshops were high energy, creative fun.

A cricket-playing pirate, a princess who can breathe underwater, a snow leopard for a pet, a guinea pig named Spirit, a crossbow-wielding buccaneer with two red crabs that follow her everywhere, a ship called ‘High Tide’, a princess-turned-pirate who fled the kingdom to sail the seven seas, a pirate with a history of turning to the dark side, and a pearl dancer … and that’s just a snapshot of the creative energy that flowed in the first week.

The cast in week two included Lucy, a young female pirate who had stolen the Titanic (and you thought it sank), a princess who could speak to animals and roamed the wild jungles at night, Princess Rainbow Tree VI, who was ready to cross paths with an evil wizard, and the completely illustrated works of cunning Captain Food Pirate who with his trusty rabbit, Tug, tricked a sea monster into turning around his ship!

 

 

StoryCraft’s Mornington Peninsula creative writing workshops are designed to foster creative thinking and engagement and boost confidence in a fun 

environment. It really is an honour to be able to facilitate these workshops, and help kids explore and express their unique, diverse, and wildly imaginative voices.

I’ve got six workshops coming up in the January 2018 school holiday period, so keep your eye on the website and Facebook page for all the details.

 

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StoryCraft in the News

Big thanks to The Mornington Peninsula Leader for running a feature article on StoryCraft’s ‘Pirates & Princesses’ School Holiday creative writing workshops.

The Mornington writing workshops, aimed at kids between the ages of 8 – 11 (as a general guide), are proving to be a popular addition to the school holiday activities list as parent’s are increasingly seeking out fun and educational activities to keep kids busy and engaged over the school holidays.

I’m really excited to be presenting these workshops to budding young authors. I’ve had a lot of fun putting the content together – as you can see from the props in this picture – and I can’t wait to see what the kids come up with as they create their own characters and unleash them in their very own adventures!

To read the article by fab journo, Lucy Callander, click here.

Photo Credit: Wayne Taylor (Mornington Peninsula Leader, Sept 11, 2017)

The workshops will run between 9.30am and 11.30am at Mount Martha Community House, and parents have a choice of two dates: Wednesday, 27th October, or Wednesday, 4th October.  For full details and to make a booking, click here.

Let’s get writing! 🙂
Rebecca

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Creative Writing Workshops for Confidence and Creativity

Participation in creative writing workshops has a positive impact not only on children’s imagination and writing skills, but also their confidence and well being.

According to the initial findings of a research project by The University of Sydney commenced in 2015, and using participants of not-for-profit organisation, Sydney Story Factory, early findings are positive and include:

  • significant improvement in writing quality
  • increased engagement with writing, for longer
  • better planning, organisation and ideas
  • enhanced ability to reflect and self-evaluate
  • increased confidence to work with others, and
  • more willingness to talk to people, particularly adults.

Professor Robyn Ewing, who is overseeing the research project stated, “Strong creative thinking and learning skills are critical to students’ social and emotional wellbeing, academic achievement and lifelong learning.”

The team’s evaluation is underpinned by the five dimensions that research suggests are essential in fostering the development of creativity: inquisitiveness, imagination, collaboration, discipline and persistence.

To read more about The University of Sydney’s study and how creative writing workshops can boost confidence and creativity, read the full article here.

StoryCraft’s Mornington Peninsula creative writing workshops reflect the same values underpinned by Sydney Story Factory. We’re passionate about sharing our skills and knowledge with writers of every age and ability to foster creative thinking, improve writing skills, and increase confidence – all in a fun and engaging environment.

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