Feature writing – Page 2 – Australian Writers' Centre

Alumni news

AWC graduate Megan Blandford: From human resources to successful writer

After becoming a first time mum, Megan Blandford, then 34, surprised herself. She didn’t feel compelled to return to her human resources role in the corporate world.

Her company wanted her to return to work full time. “I remember sitting in front of my computer one day and thinking: ‘what do I do?'” she says. “I always wanted to try writing since I was a little girl and I got caught up in this sort of sensible path of the mainstream thing people do. So I sat there and thought, right it’s now or never.”

24 October 2015

Feature writing

What the life of a travel writer is really like (and how do you get it?)

Sipping cocktails, flying first class and jet-setting to the most exotic destinations in the world. Does that sound appealing? Well, if you’re a travel writer, this could be your reality. However, prolific travel and features writer Sue White says that it’s not all about five-star luxury and 1000-thread count sheets

23 October 2015

Feature writing

Successful travel writer Sue White’s top 3 travel writing tips

New to the world of travel writing? While it’s true that experienced travel writers get flown around the globe on someone else’s buck, you need to first gain a foothold in this competitive field. Sue White is a prolific features and travel writer. When she is not globe-trotting, she is

15 October 2015

Feature writing

The five biggest mistakes aspiring travel writers make

Relax! Everyone makes mistakes, especially when entering a new field. But wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t need to make those mistakes quite so publicly? By following the advice of our travel writing presenter, Sue White, you just may be able to avoid the most common mistakes of many

9 October 2015

Alumni news

Changing careers and landing a coveted role in publishing

Courses taken at AWC:
Creative Writing Stage 1
Freelance Writing Stage 1
Grammar and Punctuation Essentials
History, Mystery and Magic

Deadlines. Celebrities. Breaking stories. And a growing audience of women who are clamouring for more digital content. That’s the world of Avi Vince, Managing Editor of iVillage Australia, which is part of the Mamamia Women’s Network. Both iVillage and its sister site Mamamia have carved a firm niche in the Australian publishing landscape, driven by magazine-turned-digital-publishing supremo, Mia Freedman.

3 October 2015

Feature writing

The Vault: Magazine editor Kirsten Galliott

When InStyle editor Kirsten Galliott caught up with Allison Tait in 2014, she had plenty of advice for freelance writers submitting to editors. As well as that, they also discussed the state of the industry, her typical day and her experiences interviewing celebrities! Kirsten has more than 20 years’ publishing experience across

26 September 2015

Content and copywriting

Are you hopeless at working from home? Try these 5 solutions.

This post is by Sue White, successful freelance writer and Australian Writers’ Centre presenter. This last fortnight at least half a dozen friends – mostly of the journo and/or blogger variety – have complained to me about their absolute lack of ability to work effectively from home. One friend started

17 July 2015

Feature writing

Writing feature articles: A question of good questions

I was talking to an editor friend of mine today who was gnashing her teeth over a story that had been submitted to her. It was a Q&A piece and it just wasn’t working. “The answers are just not quite right,” she said to me. “No,” I said to her.

27 February 2015

Content and copywriting

Have you considered these freelance writing revenue streams?

Valerie Khoo and Allison Tait ran a masterclass at this year’s Storyology conference, run by The Walkley Foundation. Called “Turn Your Passion into Productivity and Profit”, they spoke to a packed room about finding new opportunities in the world of freelancing writing. “Many freelancers complain that editorial pages are shrinking,

5 January 2015

Content and copywriting

The rise and rise of branded journalism

While the media landscape is peppered with announcements about print magazine closures, many writers are mourning the loss of opportunities in this space. At the same time, however, we’re also observing a rise in branded journalism opportunities with an increasing number of corporations adding “publishing” to their core activities. So what

3 December 2014

Feature writing

Lunch with… Mark Dapin

Mark Dapin has worn many hats – as a features writer (i.e. the “Lunch with…” series in The Sydney Morning Herald), a magazine editor, a non-fiction writer, and writer of novels. He also just wears a hat a lot of the time. Earlier in the year on our top-rating podcast,

16 November 2014

Feature writing

10 reasons why editors don’t reply to your pitch.

As an editor and journalist, I’ve experienced life on both sides of the fence. When you’re a magazine editor, you are the one who holds all the power about which stories gets published. It’s your job to get the right combination of stories and stay within budget. However, when you’re

24 October 2014

Thuy Yau: Finding new confidence through freelance writing

Back in 2011, Thuy Yau was a 22-year-old stay at home mum who had settled down early and put her studies on hold. But by discovering blogging, she began a path that would lead to a successful freelance writing future. Her blogging gave her an outlet to write about her

16 October 2014

Feature writing

Ask Valerie: Help! My case studies have fallen through and now I can’t deliver the story I promised to the editor

Help! I pitched a story to an editor and they accepted my idea. But now all my case studies have fallen through. What should I do?

The answer to this lies in what you do BEFORE the pitch. Avoid over-promising and under-delivering by lining up all your ducks in a row well in advance. Yes, that means ensuring your case studies agree to the fact they may…

8 August 2014

At My Desk: Journalist and author Jessica Irvine

Jessica Irvine is a popular Australian economics columnist and author. She is currently the National Economics Editor of News Limited’s metro newspapers, and has previously written for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The West Australian and The Brisbane Times. Her first book, Zombies, Bananas and Why There Are No Economists in Heaven was a witty and accessible look at how to use the principles of economics to tackle everyday problems.

Her latest book, The Bottom Line Diet, might seem a little out of left field for an economics journalist. Jessica describes it as a “passion project”, something she felt she “had to write”, to help people dispel the myths about weight loss and get down to the “bottom line” – that it all comes down to numbers.

3 April 2014

Victoria Birch: From corporate world to freelance writer

Victoria Birch always wanted to be a writer. She just didn’t know it was a viable option. Until now. The Sydney-based mother has always been interested in music. While living in the UK, Victoria would write music reviews, develop music websites and immerse herself in this artistic world. This passion

17 February 2014

AWC alumni

Sue White: The ultimate success story

Sue White, is now one of Australia’s busiest feature and travel writers. She has an enviable portfolio that includes the country’s most respected publications including The Good Weekend, The Sydney Morning Herald, Vogue Australia, Travel + Leisure (Australia), Sun Herald Travel and Women’s Health, to name just a few. Sue

17 February 2014

Aoife McGee: Getting paid to do what she loves

Aoife, 44, is now a freelance writer living in Sydney. She completed the Australian Writers’ Centre online course Magazines and Newspaper Writing Stage 1. Aoife has written for Body+Soul (The Sunday Telegraph), Echo Paper and TNT magazine. She is also a regular contributor to Australia and New Zealand Magazine in the United

17 February 2014

Susannah Hardy: Combining acting with freelance writing

Susannah Hardy is an actor who always knew she could write, but wondered how she could improve her skills, and if it was possible to make a living from her writing. She had always had a love for writing, often creating material for her performances. But she admits, “I wrote from instinct, and I realised I needed tuition”.

Unsure of how to get that tuition, she says her mother noticed an ad in the local newspaper in 2006 advertising the Australian Writers’ Centre Newspapers and Magazine Writing Stage 1 course. She decided then and there that the course would be the perfect way to polish her nascent skills, and so she enrolled immediately.

17 February 2014

Cassy Small: Writing is her first love

Cassy Small, 32, is a Sunshine Coast health and wellbeing writer. She completed the Australian Writers’ Centre Magazine and Newspaper Writing Stage 1 course online in January 2012. The confidence to get started Like many teenagers, Cassy Small spent hours journaling and writing short stories but the memory was packed away once

17 February 2014

Category: Feature writing

AWC graduate Megan Blandford: From human resources to successful writer

What the life of a travel writer is really like (and how do you get it?)

Successful travel writer Sue White’s top 3 travel writing tips

The five biggest mistakes aspiring travel writers make

Changing careers and landing a coveted role in publishing

The Vault: Magazine editor Kirsten Galliott

Are you hopeless at working from home? Try these 5 solutions.

Writing feature articles: A question of good questions

Have you considered these freelance writing revenue streams?

The rise and rise of branded journalism

Lunch with… Mark Dapin

10 reasons why editors don’t reply to your pitch.

Thuy Yau: Finding new confidence through freelance writing

Ask Valerie: Help! My case studies have fallen through and now I can’t deliver the story I promised to the editor

At My Desk: Journalist and author Jessica Irvine

Victoria Birch: From corporate world to freelance writer

Sue White: The ultimate success story

Aoife McGee: Getting paid to do what she loves

Susannah Hardy: Combining acting with freelance writing

Cassy Small: Writing is her first love

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