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How to Write Winning Short Stories for Competitions
You can win big cash prizes and build your writing portfolio by entering writing competitions. Here are 8 steps for creating a compelling short story
A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming a Writer – Part One
Are you dreaming of becoming a writer? In this two-part series, KATE TAYLOR discusses why knowing your reasons for writing is the best place to
The Art of Ghostwriting
Ghostwriting has gained immense popularity in recent years due to its potential as a rewarding career. But what exactly is ghostwriting? The role of a ghostwriter A ghostwriter is a professional who writes content for someone else. From celebrity memoirs to marketing material, clients without the necessary writing ability hire ghostwriters to put their stories […]
Mastering ChatGPT: Prompt-Writing Tips for Journalists
Rather than being afraid of ChatGPT and other AI, savvy journalists are taking advantage. The revolutionary AI chatbot can produce the broad strokes of an idea in seconds, saving hours of writing time. Sure, it can’t fact-check, conduct interviews, provide nuanced context, or anecdotal stories that evoke the reader’s emotions, but that’s where an expert […]
Writing Course Graduate Sarah Kelleher Q & A
Writing Tips and Expert Advice On Trend Popular Stories Explore more Study Creative Writing Choose from 13 specialised creative writing courses tutored one-to-one online by award-winning writers. Click Here Sign Up On Creative Writing Discover Creative Writing Techniques On Writing Articles Write Articles for Digital and Print Student Successes Web Writing Skills Staying Motivated as […]
An Interview with Author Madeleine Redding
Madeleine Redding completed two writing courses at New Zealand Writers College. Her memoir Hold My Hand, Rosie. Don’t Let Go, co-written with her daughter, is about to launch in Auckland this March. Madeleine shares her writing and publishing process with us. Can you tell us what motivated you to write this joint memoir about your […]
How to Write Creatively: 14 Top Tips
Writing is a creative endeavour. However, many aspirant writers find they’re not producing the type of content they want because they feel stuck in a
How To Write a Compelling Plot: A Guide
Have you ever been so engrossed in a novel that time seemed to run away? That’s the power of a compelling plot. But as a
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Could Copy-Editing Be Your Career? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
When AI burst onto the scene, many people assumed the days of the copy-editor were numbered. Why pay a human to check commas and catch
How Do You Get Your Web Content to Show Up in AI Searches?
Over 70% of searches are now AI-driven. Adapting your content strategy is becoming increasingly important for staying visible and relevant. Not long ago, every digital
Re-wilding language with Robert Macfarlane
How Robert Macfarlane is opening our eyes to the natural world and advocating for its protection, one word at a time. By JANA BEER. I
Practical Strategies for Fearful Writers
BY JANE DANIELL If you, too, struggle with self-doubt when writing, the following tips may help you overcome some of the more common insecurities, while providing comfort in the knowledge that you’re not alone. Read on and reignite your passion to write. Right up to his death, W.B. Yeats, the celebrated 20th-century poet, doubted his […]
The Modern Writer’s Toolkit: 6 Essential Tools to Supercharge Your Writing
Focusing on writing can feel impossible in today’s world full of deadlines and distractions. EMMA CLARKE shares six free digital tools to help freelance writers
How to Succeed in Content Writing
If you’ve ever wondered what makes the digital world tick, the answer is simple: content. It’s the words, images, videos and messages that keep audiences engaged and businesses thriving. Content writing is one of the fastest-growing fields, and the demand for talented writers has never been higher. With the ever-expanding world of digital marketing, e-commerce, […]
Destigmatising AI: Why ChatGPT Isn’t Here to Replace You
For eight years, Amanda Penton of QuickFuse Studios has handled marketing for prominent clients such as Only Organic, Takapoto Estate, Morris & James Pottery, and
A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming a Writer – Part Two
Earning an income from freelance writing can be daunting. In part two of her series, KATE TAYLOR breaks the process into easy-to-follow steps. Writing is
The Healing Power of Writing
When life unravels, committing to a daily practice of writing can be tremendously healing and helpful. SUE FENTON explores the benefits of writing. Writers seem
Is My Freelance Writing Awful?
Does your passion for writing outweigh your skill? KATE TAYLOR explores what to do if you suspect your friends aren’t telling you the truth about your writing. Christmas 2023. My one job? Make the pavlova. I was feeling confident. Beat eggs, sugar, throw it in the oven. Not that hard. I’ve got this … right? […]
A Copywriting Deep Dive: The Role of Words in Modern Marketing
Many brands and marketers know what they want to say. Few know how to say it. That’s where copywriters come in. BY AMY TJASINK ‘Just Do It.’ ‘Think Different.’ ‘Because You’re Worth It.’ For consumers worldwide, these short lines instantly evoke iconic brand images. Though just three or four words long, they likely took weeks […]
An Interview with Emma Russell, Award-Winning Investigative Journalist
WORDS BY JESS COOMBES Award-winning journalist Emma Russell has built a praiseworthy writing career in only six years. In 2017, she wrote for her home town paper, the Whanganui Chronicle. The following year, she became the health reporter at the New Zealand Herald. During her five years at the Herald, Emma uncovered two major investigations […]
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Staying Motivated as a Writer
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Why Do a Travel Writing Course?
When every man and his dog thinks he’s a great travel writer, WENDY MONTROSE explains why she did a course before embarking on the road to travel journalism. ‘I’m doing a travel writing course,’ I told my daughter. With retirement looming and plans for getting out and about in our camper, I saw travel writing […]
Q & A With Travel Writer and Award-Winning Author: Joe Bennett
An ex-pat Brit who travelled to NZ 35 years ago and settled in Lyttelton, Joe Bennett is an award-winning travel author, writer, and columnist. His work has been described by fellow travel author Bill Bryson as ‘brilliant’ and ‘deadly accurate
Travel Writing: 5 Travel Writers Who Show It’s Never Too Late to Start
It’s never too late to start a career in travel writing. Here, Chris Shorrock focuses on five travel writers who show that with hard work and perseverance, you can succeed. Travel writing is what dreams are made of. Whether it’s an African overland odyssey, reviewing upmarket hotels in Ko Samui, or weighing up the best […]
Talking Travel Writing With Award-Winning Journalist Ewan Mcdonald
Travel writer Mark Mitchell interviews leading New Zealand journalist Ewan McDonald, exploring his travel writing inspiration, highlights and writing tips and advice. Ewan McDonald had a great gig at the Waikato Times in Hamilton. He was a sub-editor, writing headlines
Watch a Q & A with Award-winning Tutors at Our College
Our team of Writers College writers/tutors answer your questions about the creative writing industry – and about getting published!