INDEPENDENT NEWS

Fiction Writing Workshop: Taking The Power Back

Published: Fri 7 Sep 2018 10:22 AM
Fiction Writing Workshop: Taking The Power Back
Indie author Michael Botur is delivering a workshop on fiction writing at the Ellen Melville Centre in Auckland’s CBD on Saturday October 13, following the launch of his new short story collection TRUE?
Botur said the workshop is designed to appeal to writers who have basic experience writing fiction and basic experience sharing their writing with the world, but haven’t brought the two disciplines together.
“The theme of the workshop is Take The Power Back. It’s about encouraging people to work hard until they’re confident their writing is publicly presentable. Writers these days should check off each step in the production process then find the self-confidence to celebrate themselves, instead of waiting months for an editor’s approval.”
“The literary industry is depressing and takes power away from writers. This workshop is about putting that power back in writers’ hands.”
“There are many websites on which a writer can publish their work with photos and even video. That’s more empowering than waiting around for someone to publish the thing on paper where people might not encounter it. I’ll be giving loads of tips about how to get audiences interested in your work, having learned the hard way through trial and error.”
The 4.5 hour workshop looks at the workflow required to polish a story – drafting to perfect the voice, characters and prose.
“Getting words on the page is just the start,” Botur says. “I’ll be offering realistic advice about how to make the most of those hours in front of the computer screen. Too much time is wasted waiting for the approval of people who might not like your writing, so I’ll be showing some shortcuts which will help your artistic self-esteem.”
Whangarei-based Botur is author of several acclaimed short story collections and young adult novel, Moneyland, which gained 5000 reads on the world’s largest free online publishing platform for teenagers, Wattpad.
The workshop will include a brief introduction to Medium, Smashwords, Kindle Direct Publishing, Bookfunnel, Goodreads and other online publishing and promotion platforms.
Botur describes TRUE? as being a “totally 21st century indie book.” The cost of publishing the book was covered by a crowdfunding campaign on GiveALittle.co.nz. TRUE? Short Stories is being launched on October 10.

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