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EOI – Presenters for Writers Sessions

At Port Writers, we value developing our craft and upgrading our writing. We’re finalising our 2022 Monthly Program and seek expressions of interest from Authors, Writers, Poets, Screenwriters, Publishers, Editors, Academics who can do presentations or workshops. Opportunities are available for 40-60 minute presentations or 2-2.5 hour workshops, ideally interactive sessions with practical application for 20-30 participants. We’re a small and dedicated writers group with limited funds and endless enthusiasm. Voluntary presenters are valued and we may be able to discuss a fee for a specific workshop. Submit your EOI here – https://forms.gle/bj7vd1cZtKxpNBhX8

Learning to Write Creatively

Being able to write creatively is essential if you want to be read or published. Most writers start out thinking they can write. Some can. Many realise after initial attempts that there’s an endless litany of lessons to be learned. Plot, Structure. Theme. Characters. Setting. Tropes. Editing. And they are just the big topics. When wanting to develop your writing skills, there are two avenues to follow, or are there? hunt for a tertiary education eg Masters in Creative Writing hit the search engines and see what turns up Many published authors are disparaging of getting formal qualifications as a… Read More »Learning to Write Creatively

How to Show Not Tell

Come and join Port Writers on Saturday 22 May at 1 pm for a fantastic writing workshop on ‘show vs tell’ with local Mid Coast author, Jacqui Winn. Show vs Tell is one of the fundamentals that denotes quality writing. Everyone nods when it’s talked about but writers frequently fall into the trap of telling the reader rather than leading the reader to an understanding. It’s a technique that is much easier said than done. If you’ve ever felt those words tumble out effortlessly as you describe a scene – you need this workshop. Learn to invoke the readers’ imagination… Read More »How to Show Not Tell

Entering a Writing Competition

Why would you enter a writing competition in the first place? One reason to enter a writing competition is to force yourself to write. Theres nothing like an impending deadline to focus the mind. If you’re like a lot of writers or aspiring writers then you are inclined to put things off – you’ll write when … the washing is done, the shopping is done, the footie’s finished … you get the drift. A whole lot of ancillary activities push themselves into prominence when the thought of sitting down at a blank page surfaces. Another benefit of entering a writing… Read More »Entering a Writing Competition

Port Writers’ Literary Competition

On Saturday 24th April, Port Writers Inc proudly launched the 2021 Open Literary Competition. This is the fourth Open Writing Competition for Port Writers and the field keeps getting bigger and consequently more challenging to decide a winner. There are first and second prizes for fiction, non-fiction and poetry along with Commendations in each category. This year, the judges will also award The Hastings Prize for a local author with the best entry regardless of category. Local writers are especially encouraged to enter. The field and the theme are entirely open so put your creativity in drive and start writing!… Read More »Port Writers’ Literary Competition

Advice From A Successful Author – Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl was a World War II fighter pilot and an accidental author who sold 250 million copies of children’s books. Imagine that. “Ideas come from tiny germs and you rattle it around and hope for the best and build up a story.” Roald Dahl They say if you want to be successful at something, find someone to model. Luckily there are clues left behind by Dahl on what it takes to be a better writer. Here is a digest of those thoughts. Create a creative space. Dahl built himself a little shed in his yard and filled its walls… Read More »Advice From A Successful Author – Roald Dahl

Port 500 – March 2021 Winner

And March’s Purple Star went to Mel Wass, again 🙂 Well done, Mel! We’re really challenging ourselves for April, borrowing from one of the harder Australian Writers’ Centre Furious Fiction competitions The Port500 trophy is the much-contested spoils of winning our monthly short-short competition. Each month we set criteria for a 500 word story. Entry is open to members of Port Writers Inc. Our April Port 500 challenge is to write a 500 word story that must• begin at sunrise.• use the words ‘signature’, patient’ and ‘bicycle’ (or their plurals)• include a character who must make a choice. If this sort of… Read More »Port 500 – March 2021 Winner

Port Writers Celebrates 6 Years

A small group of writers combined to form Port Writers back in 2015. Six years later the group still meets monthly and hosts a regular 500-word competition and an annual open writing competition. Amongst the business of running a group, the writers write and gather to share stories, ideas, trials and thoughts. To mark turning 6, a challenge was set to reveal a character, book or author that started with the letter ‘S’. Written clues were shared enhanced by costuming effects. Authors Mary Stewart, Patsy Adam Smith and Catherine Helen Spence and an array of characters – The Saint, Tom… Read More »Port Writers Celebrates 6 Years

Port500 February Winner

And the winner of the purple star for February’s Port500 challenge is longtime member, Frank Urban. Congrats, Frank! Frank had us all belly laughing 🤣🤣 with his story of a couple of blokes attending a Bachelor’s and Spinster’s Ball. It was a rollicking tale that barrelled along and we suspect there was a touch of memoir hidden in the story 🙂 A well-deserved win, Frank👏👏 , and thanks to Mel Wass for graciously handing over the treasured trophy.

Doors Close: Doors Open

It’s a very sad day today. This was to herald the start of our Grassroots Writers Weekend to be held in Port Macquarie this year. Covid-19 erupted and instead of welcoming writers from far and wide, we had to hunker down in our virtual spaces and write. But even in the most difficult of times, opportunities can spring forth (even it’s Autumn). Port Writers proudly announce the 2020 Open Writing Competition.