writing workshops brisbane

The Brisbane Writers Workshop

Our Story The Brisbane Writers Workshop offers small-group creative and business writing courses and editing for all levels and ambitions. A collective of qualified and published professionals , we stand behind our publications list and commitment to share our knowledge. We are awarded writers and editors of numerous acclaimed titles published for the global market. We celebrate unique voices and offer qualified support. We offer online and in-person courses.

Introductory Creative Writing Courses

Intermediate to advanced creative writing courses, mentorships, assessments, & editing.

Get coached by an expert.

Direction ~ Support

Corporate Communication & Training

From minutes to social media.

Power ~ Precision

Intro Courses:

• Creative Writing
• Short Stories
• Family Stories & Memoir
• Fiction Blitz
• Writing for Children & YA
• Travel Writing
• Seasons & Symbols

Advancing Studies:

• Creative Writing II
• The Character Arc
• Narrative & Plot
• Speculative Fiction
• Editing & Proofreading
• Polish & Publish

Mentoring & Editing:

• All Genres, Fiction & Nonfiction
• Short Stories & Novels
• Articles, Blogs & Essays
• Personal Development
• Memoirs & Family History
• Academics & Young People
• Synopsis & Query Letters

All Business:

• Organisational Journalism
• Concept to Copy
• Editing to Proofreading
• Minutes to Reporting
• Client & Stakeholder Focus
• Resumes & Cover Letters
• Onsite Training by Request

Find us on Facebook  or email [email protected]  

• Business and management
• Electrotechnology
• Allied health
• Horticulture
• Community services

😊 Personalise my view

• a school leaver
• a career enhancer
• a TAFE student
• an international student
• an employer
• a guidance counsellor
• a high school student

interested in studying

• Business and IT
• Creative industries
• Education and community
• Environment and animal services
• Health and science
• Infrastructure and transport
• Service industries

currently studying

Interested in.

• Greater Brisbane
• Sunshine Coast
• Darling Downs & South West
• Wide Bay Burnett
• North Queensland
• Far North Queensland
• Acacia Ridge
• Alexandra Hills
• Bracken Ridge
• Springfield
• Coolangatta
• Coomera Marine
• Sunshine Coast Health Institute
• Charleville
• Lockyer Valley - Gatton
• Maryborough
• Charters Towers
• Palm Island
• Townsville (Pimlico)
• The Whitsundays
• Townsville (Trade Training Centre Bohle)
• Thursday Island
• Northern Peninsula Area
• Great Barrier International Marine College

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Creative Writing

Non-accredited short course.

Kick start your writing career!

Course overview

• Ways to study
• Payment options

Important information

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Inside every person there is at least one great book waiting to be liberated – maybe the next best-selling thriller, a factual book about some subject you’re passionate about or a biography of someone you admire. The surest way to liberate these ideas and turn them into reality is to take the advice of a successful writer who is trained to share their skills with you, like internationally acclaimed author and qualified trainer Richard Davis.

This two-day program will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to get started on your writing career.

Day One covers the creative processes – how to unlock your imagination, how to develop plots and characters, how to carry out research, how to write simple expressive language, and how to edit and polish your writing.

Day Two offers practical advice on how to get your writing published – how to present manuscripts, how to work with agents, editors, publishers etc. and how to build on and celebrate your success.

Testimonials:

“The course and Richard were above and beyond all expectations” - Kathy

“Enjoyed the comradery between participants” - Karen

“Really useful course, especially how the publishing process works” - Joanna

This short course is non-accredited therefore is not registered with the National Training Register.

Course outcome:

Statement of Participation

You'll learn face to face with a teacher in a classroom or simulated workplace environment. You may access learning materials through our online learning management system Connect. Learn more

Studying on campus is a great way to enjoy the benefits of face-to-face education in a way that is far removed from a typical school. No matter which campus you choose, you know that you will be learning in an adult environment where you will be respected and nurtured. Attend a campus to learn face-to-face with a teacher in one of our learning spaces; such as a classroom, workshop, laboratory or simulated environments, or interact with teachers using real-time video or web conference tools. Learn more

Courses delivered on campus may have a combination of online and classroom based learning. Students are expected to undertake additional personal study to complete the course requirements.

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Payment Options

How can i pay for this course.

No matter what your circumstances, TAFE Queensland has a payment option to suit you. If you are unsure of what’s right for you, get in touch. We’re here to help. 

Payment plan

If you have difficulty paying for the full cost of a course upfront, you may be eligible for a payment plan.

Upfront payment

This may be the full fee for the course, or the student contribution amount if you are eligible for a subsidy or concession.

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements for this course.

Resources required

• Students are required to bring paper and pencils to class.
• Please show your Confirmation of Enrolment on exiting the car park each week for discounted parking.

Course commencement is subject to minimum enrolment numbers.

University pathways

If you want to go on to further study at university, TAFE Queensland has a pathway option to get you there. In many cases, completing one of our diplomas may give you a full year of credit towards a degree with one of our partner universities.

Learn more about University Pathways

How to apply

Direct application.

If you're ready to get started, simply hit the Apply Now button on your preferred course information page and get your application underway online. 

Course disclaimer

All information was accurate at time of publication, however TAFE policies, tuition fees and course content is subject to change without notice. Course commencement is dependent on sufficient enrolment numbers. Timetable information is subject to change prior to commencement and/or during the duration of your course.

Related courses

Creative writing - advanced.

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Writing Courses in Brisbane

Bring out your inner Hemingway with our smattering of writing courses that cover everything from creative writing to professional writing for businesses. Not able to commit to a long-term course? How about one of our pop-up writing workshops that will give you impactful learning in short time bursts? We’re ready if you are.

Whether you’re keen to learn the basics or expand your professional horizons, we have a wide range of writing classes taught by Brisbane ’s best writers!

35 Classes found for Writing Courses In Brisbane

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Virtual Writers Group for Young Writers

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Simple Financial Record Keeping for Creatives

Publish a Book

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Writing a Novel

For emerging novelists ready to dive in and make the commitment to complete a full manuscript, this rigorous three-stage course will guide you through the process of planning and beginning your novel, developing essential skills in writing and composition, as well as establishing a dedicated writing practice.

7 March  –  19 September 2023

Avid Reader 193 Boundary St West End QLD 4101

$6,500/$5.525 alumni

Presented by Australia’s leading independent publishing house Allen & Unwin, in partnership with the prestigious UK Publishers Faber & Faber, Writing a Novel is a highly practical, craft-focused program designed to help you find the focus you need to stay the distance and finish your manuscript draft.

In the first three-month stage of this course (March – May) , you will be given a proven combination of targeted writing exercises, group discussions and carefully selected readings. These introductory lessons will give you an important foundation for writing your novel. You will be taken through essential concepts such as narrative structure, character development, narration, voice, plotting, scene setting and more.

In the second half of the program (July – September) you will continue to develop the craft and technical skills required to turn a rough draft into a work of art. You will finish the course with a deep understanding of the novelist’s craft and how it applies to your own novel. These are lessons you can carry with you throughout your writing life.

After these two stages are complete, Writing a Novel students will be asked to submit work to our highly sought-after Faber Writing Anthology , a professionally edited and printed showcase of student work, sent to leading literary agents and publishers across both Australia and the United Kingdom.

This third stage will take place after your course work is finished, giving you the time and space to work towards completing a submittable draft of your manuscript in time for the anthology to be sent out to agents and publishers. This final stage will include a meeting with Faber’s Editor in Residence, a copy-editing process, and a meeting with the Faber UK team.

Guest speakers include Trent Dalton ( Boy Swallows Universe ), Mirandi Riwoe ( Stone Sky Gold Mountain ), Laura Elvery ( Ordinary Matter ), and Emily Bitto ( Wild Abandon ).

During this course, you will be provided with:

• Regular classes covering everything from the first conception of an idea through to getting words on a page, narrative structure and style.
• A personalised individual consultation on your project from your Course Director.
• The ability to connect with fellow committed novelists, joining a selective class curated by your Course Director.
• The opportunity to make valuable industry connections with key insiders from the Australian publishing industry.
• The chance to be showcased in the much-anticipated Faber Writing Anthology, sent to publishers and literary agents across Australia and the United Kingdom.

Emily O’Grady

Emily O’Grady is a writer from Brisbane. Her debut novel, The Yellow House won the 2018 Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award and was shortlisted for the 2019 Ned Kelly Award for Best First Fiction. Her work has been published in Meanjin, Kill Your Darlings, The Big Issue fiction edition, and New Australian Fiction 2021. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Queensland University of Technology, where…

This course consists of twenty-two two-hour evening classes, six full-day sessions and two additional evening sessions dedicated to the Faber Writing Anthology. 

Session 1: Tuesday 7 March Introductions

Session 2: Tuesday 14 March Types of prose, showing and telling

Session 3: Saturday 18 March Sentences and tense

Session 4: Tuesday 21 March Characters major and minor

Session 5: Tuesday 28 March Point of View

Session 6: Saturday 1 April Guest Speaker

Session 7: Tuesday 4 April Exercises and thoughts on structure

COURSE BREAK

Session 8: Tuesday 2 May Dialogue

Session 9: Saturday 6 May Voice

Session 10: Tuesday 9 May Rhythm and pace

Session 11: Tuesday 16 May Guest speaker and more on character

Session 12: Tuesday 23 May Narrative drive

Session 13: Tuesday 30 May Guest Speaker

Session 14: Tuesday 6 June Place & Setting

Session 15: Tuesday 13 June The creative mind

Session 16: Tuesday 18 July Outlining

Session 17: Tuesday 25 July Object and detail: Language, description, metaphor. How to use ornament, from the pared back to the baroque.

Session 18: Tuesday 1 August Plot and structure: What happens next? How to build a compelling narrative.

Session 19: Saturday 5 August Beginnings: Your first pages are an invitation that can’t be ignored

Session 20: Tuesday 8 August Genre and anti-genre : What is ‘genre’? And which one are you working in? The good, the bad and the ugly of different literary forms.

Session 21: Tuesday 15 August Themes and symbolism: The thing you’ve come to say, and how to say it.

Session 22: Saturday 19 August Re-drafting bootcamp: Writing, writing, writing. And feedback.

Session 23: Tuesday 22 August Research and believability: How to incorporate research into authentic narrative.

Session 24: Tuesday 29 August Synopsis and pitch

Session 25: Saturday 2 September Acting coach

Session 26: Tuesday 5 September Publisher

Session 27: Tuesday 12 September Agent

Session 28: Tuesday 19 September Celebratory dinner class

Faber Writing Anthology sessions:

•         Session 29: Meet the Editor in Residence
•         Session 30: Meet the Faber UK Team

All evening sessions will take place on Tuesdays, 6.00 – 8.00pm. Full-day sessions will take place on Saturdays from 10.00am –4.00pm and are fully catered. All classes take place at Avid Reader bookstore. Anthology sessions take place on Zoom.

The exact course content could be adjusted according to the experience and concerns of the group and availability of guest writers. The detail of the course is at the discretion of the Course Director and Faber Writing Academy at Allen & Unwin.

‘The workshops were fantastic – particularly for gaining feedback from Emily.’  2022

‘I found Emily’s insight most helpful.’  2022

‘It’s a great way to show your work when you have no idea if it’s even worth reading, Kris has created a wonderfully supportive and caring environment that helps those with L plates gain some confidence.’  2021

How to Apply

Creative Dragons

Writing workshops.

Cherie Curtis (front) with enthusiastic youngsters.

Welcome to Creative Dragons, the nesting cave for all fledgling and accomplished writers – those special young creatures determined to learn, grow and explore through the magic of reading, writing and creative thinking.

Creative Dragons was founded in 2012 by award-winning author/journalist Cherie Curtis, who also writes under the pen name Cheryse Durrant. Cherie is passionate about helping the young and the young-at-heart read and write better.

Cherie has 20 years’ experience in presenting workshops and training young people in English, journalism & communications, public speaking and creative writing. Her tailored programs are aimed at improving literacy levels, enhancing problem solving skills and helping every child and teenager discover their unique writing voice.

Find Creative Dragons at Findschoolworkshops.com www.findschoolworkshops.com is a directory of school shows, workshops incursions and assemblies . Browse their large range of Australian workshop, incursion and assembly providers for Primary and Secondary Schools.

4 thoughts on “ Home Lair ”

I have an 11yo son (Cooper) who is interested in creative writing. Do you still run workshops in Brisbane? If not are there any groups or tutors you could recommend in the Brisbane area? Thanks & regards Adrian

Dear Adrian, I hope you don’t mind but I’m posting the email I sent you in 2018 because I’ve recently had so many Brisbane parents enquire about writing classes. I do not offer tuition or children’s writing classes in Brisbane, but I highly recommend the Queensland Writers Centre and the State Library of Queensland which both, from time to time, offer workshop series and classes for children, especially on the school holidays. They also have some fabulous online workshops happening right now! Signing up to the QWC and SLQ mailing lists will keep you up to date on their latest events. You can also email the QWC to register your interest in a particular suburb, so that they may re-consider starting their weekly creative writing classes for kids. Plus, touch base with your local library. Both the Moreton Bay and Redland Region Libraries offer free and subsidised workshops for children and adults. I hope that both you and Cooper are doing well and keeping optimistic and creative. With kindest regards, Cherie

Hi I am looking for a tutor for my son who will be in year 9 next year. Definitely maths and English but also just general help with assignments and what a good assignment looks like.

Dear Cayce, I can certainly tutor your son in English and general assignment assistance in 2022. However, I no longer tutor mathematics. Teaching English gives me so much joy, whereas the mathematics curriculum is becoming more and more difficult to teach, and I already have a full English student load. My apologies for this decision, but this is about being true to myself and fully embracing my love of Language & Literature. Best wishes for a fabulous Christmas and I hope to meet your son in 2022. Kindest regards, Cherie

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Brisbane Children's Writers Festival 2024

Event description, do you have a budding young writer at home   .

Mark your calendar for 12 October 2024  when Queensland Writers Centre presents Brisbane Children’s Writers Festival ( #BCWF2024 ). It’s a one-day festival of writing, illustrating, zines, poetry, interactive storytelling, screenwriting, competitions and more for writers aged 10-16. Our 2024 theme is Play -  Paper, Scissor, Rock .

Young creatives will come together for a day of hands-on activities, peer support and feedback from industry professionals. 

8:30am - Check-in

9:00am - festival welcome.

Including Acknowledgement of Country. 

9:30am-3:15pm - Workshops

Join in exciting workshops with other writers your age! Everyone will get the chance to immerse in each of our featured workshops, rotating across the day of the Festival. 

  3:15pm - 3:45pm - Awards

Celebrate your writing work: includes presentation of Festival awards for our on-the-day competitions and more.  

3:45pm - 4:00pm - Pickup

#BCWF2024  is free for Queensland Writers Centre youth members.  Get your membership today  to secure your place at this year’s festival.  

For more information about our Youth Writing programs and initiatives, visit queenslandwriters.org.au/youthwriting .

Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix donates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity

Refund policy

Refunds are available up to 7 days prior to the event

For budding authors

Teenage Creative Writers’ Program is ideal for teenagers who love to write and want to discover the key skills for creating compelling stories.

Teens will: Develop outstanding skills in character-building, description, structure and storytelling Understand how to use a stimulus to develop an engrossing story Receive feedback and guidance from an award-winning author on three pieces of writing Learn creative techniques they can easily apply at school Have fun exploring their imagination!

“My online tutor was wonderful. When she reviewed my writing and gave me her feedback, it was really positive and was the first feedback I’ve received from someone who is a professional in this field. When I showed the feedback to my mum, she had tears of pride for me. If you enrol in the Australian Writers’ Centre, I one hundred percent guarantee that you will not be disappointed.” – Joshua, Teenage Creative Writers’ Program graduate

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Whether your teen is a total novice or has already been writing for a while, the Teenage Creative Writers’ Program for budding authors is the ideal starting point on their road to creative development and skills building. They will learn how to kick-start the creative writing process, tap into their imagination and build a framework on which they can add memorable characters, plot, dialogue and more.

Paired with an award-winning author mentor, they will work one-on-one in a safe and secure environment, developing their skills and their understanding of the writing process.

Unleash their potential with the right guidance

Teenagers are founts of creativity and potential: all they need is help to harness that and channel it into amazing stories. Perhaps they are a budding author, seeking professional guidance in developing the skills which will propel them into their career. Or maybe they just want to have fun, and explore their creativity which is crucial to so many areas in both school and life.

Writing is an engrossing, exciting, and fulfilling activity. It builds on itself, so the satisfaction of creating pushes the writer to create more and more. But without guidance, new writers (adults included) can flounder, not satisfied with their work but not knowing why, or how to make it better. That’s why the Teenage Creative Writers’ Program is an emerging author’s secret weapon .

Jo Riccioni, author of young adult novel The Branded, is passionate about mentoring teenagers.

A unique opportunity to learn from an award-winning author

In the Teenage Creative Writers’ Program, teenagers work one-on-one with their mentor, an award-winning author. It’s the perfect program for passionate young writers eager to learn fiction techniques from an industry professional and receive personalised feedback on their writing along the way.

Whether they’re in Year 7 and just starting out, or in Year 12 and taking their writing more seriously, their mentor will help them develop their writing skills from their present level.

All high school students have to write stories – but the people teaching them are usually not professional writers. (Whereas art and music are typically taught by specialists…) The Teenage Creative Writers’ Program fills that gap.

This course is designed both for teens who just want to have fun and explore their creativity, and for those who want to improve their narrative writing for assignments and exams.

“The Teenage Creative Writers' Program taught me everything I was curious about in creative writing, including common tricks authors use to make their stories interesting and satisfying to read. The course has made me so much more confident in any creative writing I do and now I feel fully equipped to reach my goal of writing a young adult fiction book.”

Eden, Teenage Creative Writers' Program graduate

Skills that will last a lifetime

We take a craft-based approach, to help new writers think about their writing in a new way, using a deeper understanding of how writing really works from a practitioner’s point of view. And, of course, we’ll be giving lots of opportunities to practise those skills.

During the 10-week program, teens will be able develop their writing skills through optional exercises and assignments. The optional exercises can be done at any time – but taken together, in the right order, they will build the skills and the content which will help create a great story.

The Teenage Creative Writers’ Program includes processes professional writers use, and the kind of stimulus-based writing prompts used in exams. Students will be guided in how best to assess and respond to stimuli quickly in order to create imaginative and well-crafted stories.

Or, they can ignore these exercises and just let their imagination roam free!

Either way, they will gain both knowledge and practice in writing, and be guided by an award-winning author to find their true potential.

Participants will end up with a full gamut of writing tools and techniques at their fingertips. The audio programs, handouts and exercises will be downloadable, so can be revisited at any time during their writing career.

[Note: this course is not suitable for those writing poetry. But if there is a poet who needs mentoring, contact us and we may be able to help.]

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do students interact online? Teenagers participating in the 10-week program will complete the weekly modules at their own pace and interact solely with their mentor, who has had a Working With Children check and has had significant experience teaching teens to write.

All of the teenager’s details are kept securely, and their work will not be shared with others. For teen protection reasons, this course does not have any opportunity for participants to interact with each other. Note that AWC staff who have Working With Children checks will have access to the course and may be on hand to answer any technical questions about how the platform works.

How does the online course work? The online tutor-led course has ten modules, and we release one module each Monday of the course. Each module consists of audio lessons and handouts. There are no set class times – you can complete each module whenever it suits you.

In Modules 1, 5 and 10, the student is invited to complete a short assignment which is due by midnight Sunday (Sydney/Melbourne time) of that week. Your online mentor gives personalised feedback on each assignment submitted.

How much time should teens set aside to complete the program? We suggest that 2-3 hours be set aside each week to complete the module, read the handouts and complete the assignment or exercises. Most writing activities can be completed in 30-60 minutes, except for the final short story. There are some exercises which have specifically been designed to match the 45 minutes high school students are often given to write a narrative in an exam.

Of course, teens may take more or less time on some exercises/assignments depending on their level of enthusiasm or the complexity of their story – one thing we know about budding authors is that once they start, it can be difficult to stop!

Do you need to log in at a set time each week? Not at all. We all lead busy lives, so modules can be completed at any pace during the week. However each of the three assignments will have a due date and need to be submitted by the deadline. When these are submitted by the due date, the participant will receive their feedback from the mentor.

Will there be homework? There will be three small assignments to complete during the 10-week course and the mentor provides the student with feedback for each one. We won’t hound the student about their assignments, and if your teen really does not want to submit their writing, that’s fine – it’s entirely up to them. However, they won’t receive the full benefit of the course if they miss receiving this valuable feedback from their mentor. The course also offers a series of optional exercises to help them build their writing skills. These exercises can be completed anytime and don’t include mentor feedback.

My child is 11/12 but loves to write. Can they do the course? The Teenage Creative Writers’ Program has been specifically developed for teenage writers in high school. But we do have a great course designed for younger writers aged 9-14: Creative Writing Quest for Kids with children’s author Allison Tait.

My teen is 13/14 but they’re not a confident writer. Is this course suitable? We have been very careful in constructing the course to make sure it’s suitable for a whole range of teenagers. Remember teens will be interacting only with their mentor, so there is no chance of feeling out of place with an advanced class. Our mentors have taught children of all ages, so a ‘young’ 13-year-old will be treated gently and appropriately. But, if you’re concerned, you may be interested in our other children’s writing course, Creative Writing Quest for Kids which is focused on storytelling for 9-14 year old writers.

My teen is 18/19. Are they too old for the course? The course is aimed specifically at helping high school students, although the content of the course would be useful to any aged writer. If an 18/19 year-old wants to learn the fundamentals of fiction writing, we recommend they do our Creative Writing Stage 1 course which is the equivalent course for adults.

If your teen is still at school, and wants help with writing for their final exams, we would recommend this Teenage Creative Writers’ Program, as it has a number of exercises designed to help exam-style writing.

Can students write fan fiction? Fan fiction is a wonderful way to develop the skills you need to write. Character, dialogue, setting, pace and structure, as well as editing. Many very successful authors (including our own Pamela Freeman) started out writing fan fic. Teens won’t be able to publish a fan story professionally, but it’s well worth them writing it. Apart from anything else, writing should be fun, and there’s nothing more fun than writing fan fic!

Are there further courses my teen can do? We have a number of creative writing courses for students aged 17 years and over, designed to further hone their fiction writing skills. Some of these include the Fiction Essentials self-paced course which are targeted to different areas of storytelling, such as characters , dialogue , point of view and grammar and punctuation .

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Phone: (02) 9929 0088 Email:  [email protected]

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