SHARPER, BETTER SHORT STORIES

with Amanda O'Callaghan

ATTENDEES MUST ABIDE BY COVID-SAFE GUIDELINES

Prepare for this face-to-face workshop by reading State Library of Queensland's Conditions of Entry section below in accordance with Queensland Health guidelines.

Plunge in and hone your short fiction with award-winning writer, Amanda O'Callaghan.

Join Amanda O'Callaghan on this exciting full-day workshop aimed at creating powerful, successful short stories and flash fiction. It will be pacy, fun, and informative with Q&A sessions, group discussions, and writing exercises throughout the day. As an author who understands the difficulties of writing and getting published, Amanda will explore the unique challenges of writing short fiction. Meanwhile, you will develop a clearer understanding of how to approach new stories, and how to amend existing stories in order to improve them.

Unavailable to make it in person? You can also watch this workshop via online live stream! Live stream tickets are available here.

Learning Outcomes:

Through practical exercises and group discussions, you will learn about the following:

Why you’re not a genius, and what to do about it.
Plunging in: how to delete your first paragraph and find a better story.
Popcorn and axe wounds: how to deal with rejection.
Ditching the drumroll: talking about endings.
How to stop writing with your head.
Dribbles, drabbles, and other short things: how flash fiction will make you a better writer.

Format:

This is a hybrid workshop with a focus on craft; it will be live streamed simultaneously to an online audience. It is a level 2 course, suitable for intermediate writers and above.

More information on program formats and level definitions can be found here.

About Amanda:

Amanda O’Callaghan’s short fiction has been published and won awards in Australia, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Her work has been awarded and shortlisted in the Bridport Prize, Carmel Bird Award, E J Brady Award, Bristol Prize, Bath Flash Fiction Award, Fish Short Story Prize, Aeon Award, Flash 500 Award, and others. She is a recipient of a Queensland Writers Fellowship. She holds a PhD in English from the University of Queensland. Her short story collection, This Taste for Silence (UQP 2019), was shortlisted for the Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction. She has lectured and tutored extensively at the University of Queensland. She lives in Brisbane.

Conditions of Entry

State Library of Queensland are open in line with the Queensland Government’s Roadmap to easing restrictions. The health and safety of our staff and visitors is our top priority.

1. You will not be able to enter State Library if:

You currently have COVID-19.
You have been told to quarantine.
You are unwell or are displaying COVID-19 or cold/flu symptoms, no matter how mild.
You have been in contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
You have returned from overseas travel in the last 14 days.
You have returned from a declared COVID-19 hotspot in the last 14 days.

2. Use the hand sanitiser provided before you enter.

3. Your details will be requested via our booking systems, and this information may be forwarded to Queensland Health if necessary for COVID-19 contact tracing procedures.

4. You must leave the building following your booking to allow for spaces to be sanitised in between sessions.

5. Keep 1.5 metres away from others at all times.

6. Only EFTPOS transactions are available at this time (no cash accepted).

The conditions may be subject to change.

We respect your privacy. Personal information we collect is used only for our internal activities and functions (Libraries Act 1988 (Qld)) and will not be disclosed unless required by law. For more information, please read State Library's privacy statement.

For further information on accessing the State Library of Queensland, visit their website here.

FAQs

Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?

Unless otherwise stated, Queensland Writers Centre workshops and events are suitable for participants aged 16 years and over. If you are under 18 years of age, please check with us for suitability before purchasing a ticket.

Membership will be confirmed on arrival, in the event it isn't current, membership will need to be arranged.

What are my transport/parking options for getting to and from the event?

Information on getting to the State Library of Queensland can be found here.

What can I bring into the event?

You can bring either pen and paper or a laptop along with you to write with. If you do bring a laptop, please remember to bring a power adaptor if necessary.

Will this event be live streamed?

Queensland Writers Centre aims to provide material to its membership regardless of where they reside within Queensland by live streaming some events. Attendees may be broadcast periodically throughout the event as recording takes place. If you wish not to be filmed, let staff know prior to the event.

How can I contact the organiser with any questions?

You can contact us by phone on 07 3842 9922 or email us at admin@qldwriters.org.au

What's the refund policy?

If Queensland Writers Centre cancels an event, we will try to reschedule it for a later date. If we cannot reschedule the event, or if you are unable to attend on the amended date, your payment will be refunded in full.Except in special circumstances, if you cancel a booking for, or are unable to attend an event, workshop, seminar, or course, Queensland Writers Centre cannot provide a refund. You can contact us to discuss your situation on 07 3842 9922 or email us at admin@qldwriters.org.au

Terms and Conditions

All information is correct at the time of publication. We reserve the right to make changes to the advertised program information (including course content and tutors), but if this occurs, we will try to provide as much notice as possible.We expect that all participants will behave respectfully and professionally towards their tutor and fellow students. We reserve the right to remove anyone who behaves in an aggressive or disruptive manner. If a participant is asked to leave the class on this basis, we will not offer a refund.We cannot accept responsibility for any loss, damage or expense sustained by students as a result of an event or circumstance whether arising from natural cause, human agency or beyond our control otherwise.