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Student Success: Q&A with Debut Children’s Novelist Tanja Wijnen
Tanja Wijnen, author of The Pangolin Killers (Skældyrsjægerne), penned her book while taking a course with Helen Brain, an award-winning author and tutor for the
Trials, Tribulations and Typos: A Tale of Everyday Freelance Writing
Think being a freelance writer is all glamour? MORGAN LAXTON shares the truth about battles with furry coworkers and deadline adrenaline. So, you’ve decided to
Q&A with Scriptwriter Erica Booysen
Erica Booysen, scriptwriter for beloved South African children’s shows, delves into the essentials of writing great scripts and provides valuable insights for aspiring scriptwriters. Erica
The Battle with Self-Doubt and How to Overcome It
BY ITUMELENG MOLETSANE Fear of failure can stifle creativity in novice and seasoned writers alike. Here’s how to combat it. Maya Angelou once said, ‘There
Why Taking a Break Can Be a Win for Your Writing
Thoughts and ideas need time to reveal themselves to you. Taking a break at the right time gives you the opportunity to understand them well.
Oorwin Skrywersblok: Praktiese Wenke vir Kreatiewe Sukses
DEUR ANNEKE VAN NIEKERK Is jy vasgevang in die wurggreep van skrywersblok? Oorkom hierdie kreatiewe hindernis met praktiese wenke en herontdek die vreugde van skryf.
Onderhoud met Daniel Hugo – bekroonde digter en skrywer
Daniel Hugo dra verskeie baadjies: digter, skrywer, vertaler, redakteur, manuskripkeurder en taalpraktisyn. Hy deel sy lewe en passie met ons. Agtien digbundels, verskeie vertalings uit
Maak die Beste van Skryfwerk-Verwerping
DEUR KAREN TRUTER Die gevoel van “verwerping” word vinnig aangetrek wanneer ons nie gekry het wat ons graag wou gehad nie. Dit is ’n onaangename
Riaan Grobler’s Debut Novel Published
In the competitive arena of arts and entertainment, not many can boast a repertoire as diverse as Riaan Grobler’s. Already a successful radio announcer and
The Writers College Creative Writing Student of the Year (2023)
Each year, we run an internal competition for our creative writing students who want to showcase their writing. This year, we selected Lou Seath’s short
Mastering the Art of Smooth Transitions: A Guide to Effective Writing
Every writer knows that writing is not just about putting words together; it’s an art that requires precision and skill. One of these skills is
From Mediocre to Masterful: 5 Essential Writing Skills
You’ve heard it a thousand times: writing takes practice. But with so much advice out there, and so many skills to learn, what exactly should
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Creative Writing
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Trials, Tribulations and Typos: A Tale of Everyday Freelance Writing
Think being a freelance writer is all glamour? MORGAN LAXTON shares the truth about battles with furry coworkers and deadline adrenaline. So, you’ve decided to
Why Taking a Break Can Be a Win for Your Writing
Thoughts and ideas need time to reveal themselves to you. Taking a break at the right time gives you the opportunity to understand them well.
Maak die Beste van Skryfwerk-Verwerping
DEUR KAREN TRUTER Die gevoel van “verwerping” word vinnig aangetrek wanneer ons nie gekry het wat ons graag wou gehad nie. Dit is ’n onaangename
Mastering the Art of Smooth Transitions: A Guide to Effective Writing
Every writer knows that writing is not just about putting words together; it’s an art that requires precision and skill. One of these skills is
Unlocking the Secrets to a Lucrative Ghostwriting Career
If you’re a versatile writer with a strong work ethic, you might want to consider ghostwriting as a potential career option – as long as
How Do You Retain Your Reader’s Attention?
With so much online content to compete with, it can be hard to capture the attention of modern audiences. We’ve all seen their blank faces
Could your personality type determine your style as a travel writer?
Struggling to express yourself as a travel writer? Playing into the strengths and weaknesses of your personality type could improve your storytelling. By ODETTE SNYMAN
What are the opportunities for writers in South Africa?
South Africa is a country rich in culture, diversity and talent. It’s the perfect landscape for writing of all kinds. From freelance writing and journalism
Student Success Stories
Star Student’s Delightful Writing Debut
Glenn McGoldrick – Published Short Story Writer
Magazine Journalism Course Success: Ansie Van Der Walt
Ian Middleton’s Magazine Journalism Success Story
Catching Up With Copy-Editor, Lesley Wyldbore
A Few Graduate Successes
Glenn McGoldrick – Published Short Story Writer
Glenn McGoldrick completed the Short Story Writing For Magazines Course at UK Writers College in 2016. Since then he has enjoyed a spate of literary successes with
Travel Writer Rosanne Turner About Her Writing Life On A Thai Island
Rosanne Turner completed the Travel Writing Course at SA Writers College in 2008. Dozens of published travel articles later, she finds herself an expert on Koh Samui,
Ian Middleton’s Magazine Journalism Success Story
Ian Middleton completed the Magazine Journalism Course at the Writers College with distinction in 2018. While he waits to hear whether his article he wrote
Riaan Grobler’s Debut Novel Published
In the competitive arena of arts and entertainment, not many can boast a repertoire as diverse as Riaan Grobler’s. Already a successful radio announcer and
Magazine Journalism Course Success: Ansie Van Der Walt
Ansie van der Walt completed the Magazine Journalism Course at SA Writers College. Apart from working at her new job as assistant editor at an Australian publishing
And Now We Wait…. An Author’s First Experience Of Getting Published
– BY HILARY MURRAY For those not familiar with my journey, I recently had my debut novel published (recently, as in ten days ago!). The build-up to the
Student Success: Q&A with Debut Children’s Novelist Tanja Wijnen
Tanja Wijnen, author of The Pangolin Killers (Skældyrsjægerne), penned her book while taking a course with Helen Brain, an award-winning author and tutor for the
Writers College Success Story: Award-winning Novelist Martin Steyn
The dark side of human nature holds a certain allure for acclaimed crime fiction author, Martin Steyn. He completed the Skryf ’n Roman (Write a
How to Stay Motivated as a Writer
5 Tips for Dealing with Writer’s Doubt
Writers, both experienced and new, accept self-doubt as part of the game, but it doesn’t have to hinder your success. Here are five tips to
The Trials and Tribulations of Competing in a Writing Contest
If you want to enter a writing competition, the first things to crush are your belly butterflies. I plucked up the courage to write an
You Can Be Quiet and Your Writing Loud
Writing is an activity where you can be introverted in nature and extroverted in writing, explains TAMSIN MBATSHA. One-third of people are reserved, introspective, and
Latest Tips for Writing for Blogs and Webzines
Watch a Q & A with Award-winning Authors
Our team of Writers College writers/tutors answer your questions about the creative writing industry – and about getting published!
• How important would you say it is for a writer to have a blog and maintain a social media presence? • What process do writers go through to edit out their superfluous ‘darlings’/exciting ideas? • Should writers use a pseudonym? • How do you decide what to write about? • Where do you get ideas? • What are the advantages and disadvantages of submitting a manuscript locally compared to sending it to a variety of overseas publishers? • Is self-publishing worth it? • How open are publishers to unsolicited manuscripts in smaller countries?