courses

Lately I’ve been…

/ Kelly Gardiner / Leave a comment

Things are getting pretty exciting on the publishing front. We (my co-author Sharmini Kumar and I) submitted the final manuscript of Miss Caroline Bingley: Private Detective a couple of months ago and we expect copy edits back from HarperCollins any day now.

Even more thrillingly, we’ve seen cover designs for the US and Australia/NZ/UK editions and they are gorgeous. We could show you, but we’d have to shoot you, so you’ll have to stay tuned.

It’s not out until April but things are heating up behind the scenes.

While that’s happening, I’ve been working on a new historical crime novel, currently titled Afterwards, which is set at an archaeological dig on Hadrian’s Wall just after the Second World War. I’ve got a first draft and am revising that now.

Teaching time

Last year, I gave up teaching full-time, after around a decade at La Trobe University. I do miss it, especially my colleagues and students, but it was the right time. I want to focus more on writing and various other projects.

But somehow I couldn’t quite seem to stop. I love teaching writing, working with writers, talking and thinking about writing.

So I’ve figured out a way to have the best of both worlds: teaching what I want to teach, the way I want to teach it, a few times a year. A couple of months ago I set up New Pages Writing Retreats & Masterclasses, and I’m looking forward to teaching in different ways over the coming year. I’ve been reviewing my favourite writing books, exploring new methods of teaching and articulating thoughts about writing, and preparing in every way I can.

First up, there’s a one-day masterclass on How to Build a Heroine, for any fiction writers with a heroine in mind, but especially for genre and YA writers. That’s on 21 September, in person, in Melbourne.

In November, I’m focused on one of my favourite genres, with another one-day, face-to-face masterclass, Do Crime: Writing Unforgettable Crime Fiction. That’s on 16 November, also in Melbourne.

Then early next year, I’m hosting my first weekend writing retreat at the gorgeous Continental House in Hepburn Springs. It’ll be a fiction intensive, with masterclasses and writing exercises, and lots of lovely food. That’s in March 2025 and bookings came in almost as soon as I opened them!

Really looking forward to all of these, and more.

And because I’m me, I’ve also set up a private online writing community for people who come to the classes, where we can stay connected, share tips and opportunities, and I can offer a few extra goodies.

So all in all, even though I haven’t been teaching full-time, I’ve been pretty busy.

Image of Kelly with list of classes - same as text in blog post

Coming up: Women in history and Creating characters

/ Kelly Gardiner / Leave a comment

Look, there was a moment there when we thought 2021 might start feeling a bit more normal.

But no.

We’ve been back in lockdown here the past few weeks, although things are easing now. And we’re watching with horror as the pandemic flares up in places all over the world, including some countries that have been able to keep it under control. But it simply will not behave. Pandemics are a bit like that.

So while it did seem as if writing workshops and author events here might start up again, it’s all still a little precarious. Writers festivals are exploring hybrid models of presenting events – some online, some in person, some a bit of both – but others have decided to postpone or cancel. It’s tough on everyone involved – and most are run or supported by volunteers. Thank you to all the organisations and bookshops and event organisers who have done so much to support writers and readers over this time.

But now for the good news. Here’s what I have coming up soon:

WordFest 2021: The Hidden History of Women

I’m hosting a keynote panel in Monash Library Service’s WordFest, featuring authors Michelle Scott-Tucker, Mirranda Burton and Dr Victoria Grieve-Williams. The panel will look at different perspectives on the history of Australia, from early colonisation through to the present day.

Online via Zoom Zoom information

Tuesday 29 June 2021 at 7pm – 8pm. Free. Bookings using TryBooking.

Writing workshop: Crafting Compelling & Complex Characters

I’m delighted to be back teaching face-to-face (we hope) at Writers Victoria this year. My next workshop will be on creating characters (in any genre). Here’s the blurb:

No matter what genre we write or read, our focus is on the people on the page, and what they do and feel. So how do we create characters who feel like people in our heads – and in the minds of our readers? In this workshop, we’ll aim to give you some essential techniques and the tools to create characters your readers will remember.

It’s on 8 August 2021 – 10AM to 4 PM – at Writers Victoria in Melbourne. Details and bookings here.

The Writer’s Toolkit

/ Kelly Gardiner / Leave a comment

I’ve posted quite a lot about different tools that writers can use to make the most of the web and their own time.

And now there’s a course: The Writer’s Toolkit, at Writers Victoria from 5 June.

In it we’ll cover:

  • Productivity tools to help you manage time
  • Finding and managing information and resources
  • Note taking and research
  • Drafting and plotting tools
  • Networking and promotions online.

The course runs for four weeks, one night a week. More details and bookings here, but be quick! Booking deadline looms.