Tension on every page is the key to narrative drive, whether you're writing fiction, memoir or any narrative work. In this practical Masterclass, you'll learn why narrative drive is essential to storytelling and discover how to create properly structured, tension-filled scenes that fuel story momentum. To develop our understanding, we'll analyse a number of scenes before considering how to structure our own. 

Commencing at 10am and concluding at 4pm, Ashley's workshop will be held at Ngununggula , the Southern Highlands Regional Art Gallery at 1 Gallery Lane, East Bowral.  Either bring along a packed lunch or purchase it along with coffee and snacks from Hearth by Moonacres Cafe located within the grounds of Ngununggula.  Participants are asked to bring writing materials (pen/pencil & paper - no electronic devices please).  At $190 per person, tickets may be purchased by clicking here or on the button opposite - 10 tickets only.

Bio:
 Ashley Kalagian Blunt's latest novel, Cold Truth will be released in 2025. Ashley is also the author of Dark Mode, an internationally published psychological  thriller. Her earlier books are How to Be Australian, a memoir, and My Name Is Revenge,  collected fiction and essays, which was a finalist in the 2018 Carmel Bird Digital Literary  Award. Her writing appears in the Sydney Morning Herald, Overland, Griffith Review, Sydney Review of Books, Australian Book Review, Kill Your Darlings and more. Ashley co-hosts James and Ashley Stay at Home, a podcast about writing, creativity and health, and teaches creative  writing. Originally from Canada, she has lived and worked in South Korea, Peru and Mexico.

Ashley Kalagian Blunt

During your one-hour meeting, Ashley will discuss developing your manuscript including character, story, dialogue, tone, narrative drive, or style.  While Ashley may provide a brief written summary of key points, you will need to take your own detailed notes during the discussion.  You will also have the opportunity to discuss issues, possible solutions and ask questions. Note: Edits on your manuscript submission will not be provided. 

Ashley will accept adult fiction manuscripts in any genre plus narrative non-fiction such as memoir, biography and travel.  (Self-help, cook-books, textbooks are not suitable.) 

Please submit the first 3000 words of your manuscript and a one-page synopsis (maximum 350 words). Ensure your manuscript is typed in 12pt Times New Roman and double-spaced. Text should be aligned left (with ragged right edge). Pages must be numbered.  Submissions must be received at writers@writersatthewoolshed.com.au no later than 21 July 2025.

(Note:  Availability for 4 assessments only)

Feedback will be provided at Hearth by Moonacres Cafe located within the grounds of Ngununggula, the Southern Highlands Regional Art Gallery.  You will be advised of the time of your feedback session shortly after your booking is received.  At $220, book your feedback by clicking here or on the button opposite.

Bio:
 Ashley Kalagian Blunt's latest novel, Cold Truth will be released in 2025. Ashley is also the author of Dark Mode, an internationally published psychological  thriller. Her earlier books are How to Be Australian, a memoir, and My Name Is Revenge,  collected fiction and essays, which was a finalist in the 2018 Carmel Bird Digital Literary  Award. Her writing appears in the Sydney Morning Herald, Overland, Griffith Review, Sydney Review of Books, Australian Book Review, Kill Your Darlings and more. Ashley co-hosts James  and Ashley Stay at Home, a podcast about writing, creativity and health, and teaches creative  writing. Originally from Canada, she has lived and worked in South Korea, Peru and Mexico.

Ashley Kalagian Blunt

Dr Inga Simpson:  One-On-One Manuscript FeedbackThe natural world is not some place I visit. It’s how I live and who I am.

In a private individual session, Dr Inga Simpson will provide you with one-on-one feedback on up to 5000 words of a work in progress. (This can be fiction or non-fiction, a chapter from a book-length work or a complete piece.) 

Your submission must be received at writers@writersatthewoolshed.com.au no later than 19 May 2025, typed in 12pt Times New Roman, double-spaced and aligned left (right side jagged), pages must be consecutively numbered.Writing prompts will be provided to aid solo writing time for those wishing to use the time to write when not receiving feedback.

Once your booking is made, you will be contacted to schedule your individual feedback session.  If participating in Inga's Masterclass on 19 June there may be the opportunity to schedule your feedback session either before or after the Masterclass.  This will be discussed at the time of booking.

Feedback sessions be held at Ngununggula , the Southern Highlands Regional Art Gallery at 1 Gallery Lane, East Bowral.  At $220 per manuscript assessment, tickets may be purchased by clicking here or on the button opposite.

Bio:DR INGA SIMPSON  is an Australian novelist and nature writer. Her books include The Thinning - longlisted for the 2025 Indie Book Awards and Willowman - longlisted for the 2023 Indie Book Awards.  The Last Woman in the World - shortlisted for the Margaret and Colin Roderick literary Award and the Indie Book Award for Fiction. Inga’s first novel, Mr Wigg, was shortlisted for the Indie Award for Debut Fiction. Nest was longlisted for the Miles Franklin, the Stella Prize, and shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal. And Where the Trees Were - longlisted for the Miles Franklin, an ABIA Award for Fiction, The Green Carnation Prize, and shortlisted for the Indie Award for Fiction. Understory: a life with trees Inga's first book-length work of nature writing, was shortlisted for the Adelaide Writers Week prize for nonfiction. The Book of Australian Trees, illustrated by Alicia Rogerson is Inga's first book for children. 
Read more:  https://www.ingasimpson.com.au

Inga Simpson

Dr Inga Simpson:  Nature Writing MasterclassThe natural world is not some place I visit. It’s how I live and who I am.

This one-day masterclass digs deeper into the art of creating characters who are inextricable from their landscapes and writing the whole history of a place. The day will be a mix of tuition, practical writing exercises and discussion. You’ll also explore techniques for writing from the subconscious and developing that messy first draft into a manuscript.

Please note that Inga will be providing one-on-one manuscript feedback on 20 June.  See separate section if interested in this limited opportunity. 

Inga's workshop will be held at Ngununggula , the Southern Highlands Regional Art Gallery at 1 Gallery Lane, East Bowral.  Either bring along a packed lunch or purchase it along with coffee and snacks from Hearth by Moonacres Cafe located within the grounds of Ngununggula.  Participants are asked to bring writing materials i.e. pen/paper (no electronic devices please).  At $190 per person, tickets may be purchased by clicking here or on the button opposite .
This Masterclass is capped at 10 participants. 

Bio:DR INGA SIMPSON  is an Australian novelist and nature writer. Her books include The Thinning - longlisted for the 2025 Indie Book Awards and Willowman - longlisted for the 2023 Indie Book Awards.  The Last Woman in the World - shortlisted for the Margaret and Colin Roderick literary Award and the Indie Book Award for Fiction. Inga’s first novel, Mr Wigg, was shortlisted for the Indie Award for Debut Fiction. Nest was longlisted for the Miles Franklin, the Stella Prize, and shortlisted for the ALS Gold Medal. And Where the Trees Were - longlisted for the Miles Franklin, an ABIA Award for Fiction, The Green Carnation Prize, and shortlisted for the Indie Award for Fiction. Understory: a life with trees Inga's first book-length work of nature writing, was shortlisted for the Adelaide Writers Week prize for nonfiction. The Book of Australian Trees, illustrated by Alicia Rogerson is Inga's first book for children. 
Read more:  https://www.ingasimpson.com.au

Inga Simpson

Writing Family Stories with Dr Betty O'NeillResearching your family history can uncover fascinating facts and threads of stories that fiction writers envy. But how do you take the information you’ve gathered and turn it into a story others will want to read? Your audience might be your family, friends, fellow genealogists or the broader public. Whoever it is, they want more than a list of dates and events and a family tree.

In this interactive introductory workshop, Dr Betty O’Neill will guide you through the elements of writing that make non-fiction engaging for readers and help you explore the forms that are suitable for your audience and the story you want to tell. You will have opportunities to work on current or planned writing projects and time to discuss your writing with Betty and other group members.

Participants will:Consider their audience and select the appropriate genres, media and forms for writing and publishing family history.Review their research using planning tools and checklists.Explore narrative structure and story mapping.Experiment with nine story-telling essentials.Plan their next steps to confidently start writing their family history.

Commencing at 10am and concluding at 4pm, Betty's workshop will be held at Ngununggula , the Southern Highlands Regional Art Gallery at 1 Gallery Lane, East Bowral.  Either bring along a packed lunch or purchase it along with coffee and snacks from Hearth by Moonacres Cafe located within the grounds of Ngununggula.  Participants are asked to bring writing materials (pen/pencil & paper - no electronic devices please).  At $190 per person, tickets may be purchased by clicking on the relevant button opposite.

Bio:Dr Betty O'Neill has a Doctorate of Creative Arts, Grad. Dip. Music Therapy, M. Bus., Grad. Dip. Employment Relations, B. Sc. (Hons), B.A.(History & Psychology).  She is a Sydney-based author, workshop and retreat facilitator, and university lecturer in Creative Intelligence and Innovation in the TD (Transdisciplinary) School at the University of Technology Sydney.  As a past Director of the Board of the Society of Australian Genealogy (SAG), Betty has a passion for memoir and family history and facilitates regular Introduction to Writing Family History workshops for both SAG and Writing NSW. 

Betty's debut memoir, The Other Side of Absence, was published by Ventura Press in 2020. Betty has also published a range of articles and book chapters and presented conference papers and workshops in Australia and overseas. Betty is currently researching and writing a memoir/family history on intergenerational homelessness.
Read more here: https://www.bettyoneill.com/

Dr Betty O'Neill

tickets 6 March 2025

Tickets 27 Feb 2025