Hello {name},

A warm thank you to everyone who joined us at our May 10th meeting—what a stimulating session we had! For those who couldn’t make it, there is a stitched-up summary below so you won’t miss a beat.

Your Words Matter - Jenny McLaughlin

Over the past few months, many of you have been immersed in your writing—be it historical, travel, fiction, or memoir. When ideas are flowing, writing is a joy. At the drafting stage, don’t worry about grammar or structure. Just get the words down. But eventually, it pays to step back and read what you’ve written—aloud if possible. This helps catch awkward phrasing that silent reading often misses.

In our next session, we’ll explore self-editing techniques to sharpen your writing. You’ll learn why active voice often works better than passive, and which filler words to avoid. We’ll also show how less can be more—wordiness can dilute your message and lose the reader.

Avoid clever words that break your narrative flow. Instead, aim for a clear voice, balancing short and long sentences. Edit each sentence carefully, then each paragraph for continuity. Your unique voice deserves to be heard—clearly.

Missed the Meeting? We've Got You Covered!

For those of you who couldn’t make it to our last South East Writers meeting — we missed you! But don’t worry, we’ve put together a handy recap so you can catch up on what was discussed and stay in step with our educational workshop topics.

From craft tips to creative insights, our sessions are designed to help you grow as a writer — and we’d love for everyone to stay in the loop.

👉 Click here to view the meeting summary

We look forward to seeing you at the next gathering. Until then, happy writing — and don’t forget to bring your questions and your curiosity.

Showcase your published works

As a South East Writers member, you have the opportunity to showcase your published books on our dedicated ‘Books’ page—complete with a direct link to your sales site to help drive exposure and sales.

To be featured, simply send a JPG of your book cover along with a short, punchy synopsis to ian@ianharvey.com.au.

In the meantime, check out the fantastic titles our members have already shared—your book could be next!

Tip #8 There is a timeless connection between reading and writing.

“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut.” -Stephen King

Feeling a bit weak in the writing department? Hit the gym by bench-pressing some Hemingway, Dickens, Gladwell, and Atwood. Their work will help you get into peak writing shape.

Reading good writing helps you exercise your writing muscles.

Stephen King says you can learn from bad writing as well: “Every book you pick up has its own lesson or lessons, and quite often the bad books have more to teach than the good ones.”

Be Part of Our Exclusive Short Story Anthology! 

This year, as we push our writing to new heights, we’re celebrating in the best way possible—by creating our very own short story anthology, featuring YOU!

While the selection process is still being finalized, one thing’s for sure: by the end of this year’s workshops, we’ll have a collection of powerful, high-quality stories ready to shine.

This is your chance to get published, showcase your work, and be part of something truly special. We can’t wait to see the incredible stories you bring to life—so keep writing, keep refining, and let’s make this anthology unforgettable!

When and Where?

We meet at 10:00 every second Saturday of the month at The Labrador Community Centre 57 Billington Street Labrador.  Our meeting lasts for about two and a half hours.

We would love to see you there.

Please call Leah on 0424 832 951 to make a booking