What’s On

Make 2025 the year you write your novel.

Join Sarah Armstrong for three terms of workshops for writers who are working on a novel. The small group (maximum of 12 participants) will meet once a week in four-week blocks, at the Byron Writers Festival office, with access via Zoom available.
The course includes weekly video lectures from Sarah on writing craft with writing exercises, as well as handouts and links to useful resources. The weekly two-hour classes include opportunities for feedback and discussion. At the end of the course, each writer will receive individual written feedback from Sarah on 3000 words.
All writers welcome – those with a work in progress or those with an idea for a novel.

Workshop Details

When: 12 x Wednesdays from 6pm – 8pm:

• Term 1: 5, 12, 19, 26 March.
• Term 2: 14, 21, 28 May and 4 June.
• Term 3: 9, 16, 23, 30 July.

Where: Hybrid format: in-person at the Byron Writers Festival office with remote attendance option available
Cost: $1100 members/$1300 non-members – payment plans are available.

Group size: 12 participants max.

I couldn’t recommend this workshop highly enough. Sarah is one of the best teachers (of anything) I know. Her capacity to give very specific, targeted, positive and encouraging feedback makes it possible for all who attend her workshops to understand what strengths they have and how they can improve, without ever feeling despondent about their capacity to do this hard thing we call writing. She has an experienced writerly eye, combined with genuine care for her students. I mean, what more could you ask for? Kath.

Workshop Outline

Make 2025 the year you write your novel (or memoir). Join acclaimed writing teacher Sarah Armstrong for three terms of practical, encouraging workshops.

The small group (maximum of twelve participants) will meet once a week in four-week blocks, at the Byron Writers festival office, with access by Zoom available.

The course includes Sarah’s weekly video lectures on writing craft, including writing exercises, handouts and links to useful resources.

The weekly two-hour classes include opportunities for feedback and discussion.

At the end of the course, each writer will receive individual written feedback from Sarah on 3000 words.

All writers welcome – those with a work in progress or those with an idea for a novel.

First term will explore coming up with ideas, planning, how to build a first draft, and some fundamentals of fiction: character, plot, point of view, scene and summary. Sarah will also talk about how to tackle procrastination and writer’s block.

Second term will drill down into narrative tension, character development, how character drives plot, secondary characters and structure.

Third term is all about how to tackle rewriting and editing: beginnings and endings, structure and themes, and a discussion about where to go from here.

About Sarah Armstrong

Sarah Armstrong has written three adult novels, including Salt Rain which was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award. Big Magic was her first novel for readers aged 9+ and is a CBCA 2023 Notable book. Its sequel, Magic Awry, was published in 2023. Sarah is an experienced writing teacher, mentor and manuscript assessor.

Testimonial

Sarah is the most supportive, encouraging workshop mentor. Her considered and insightful feedback and inspiring prompts and exercises fostered in me a love of the free write and a way to finally get that first draft started and completed. With no pressure around daily word counts and deadlines, the first draft process became easier and unblocked. Sarah’s calm, constant presence made the whole process enjoyable and reading my own work aloud for the first time, less intimidating. The zoom participation option was an added bonus for fearful novices like myself! I had not written more than a page or two of ideas and scenes and struggled with books on structure and how to get started for years. With Sarah’s approach, I was able to embrace and commit to the craft of writing. I couldn’t have gotten started without her and may have to adopt her and my wise and funny workshop group to get the next draft finished! Lisa.