AUTHORS from the Mid North Coast come together every month to conduct writers workshops in Macksville.

Authors travel to this central point from Coffs Harbour, Nambucca Heads, South West Rocks, Kempsey, Port Macquarie and Newcastle.

“It is a time where fellow authors can get together and discuss their craft,” international author Fiona McArthur told News Of The Area.

“It has been especially hard lately due to so many lockdowns and Covid restrictions,” Fiona added.

“We have really missed our workshops.”

It has been four months since the last workshop was held in Macksville, due to Covid lockdowns and restrictions.

When this group of Australian authors get together it is an afternoon of structured networking.

With a different author presenting each month, the networking workshops tackle the many different areas of professional writing.

These areas include marketing, self-publishing, traditional publishing, audio books, editing, platforms for selling books, plot writing, character development, time management skills, as well as programs to help writers plot and organise stories and series.

“It has been difficult to write through Covid,” Karly Lane said.

“With homeschooling and other restrictions in the area it has made it difficult to stick to my usual writing timetable.”

“I have found it a time to stop and reflect as a writer,” Tracy Brenton said of her Covid experience.

“I have been able to miss so many of the restrictions due to travelling north,” Marg said.

“So I haven’t really noticed a change in my writing.”

“I have used the time to explore different avenues to enhance my writing by using different writing tools,” Ann Rolfe added.

And lastly Elizabeth Newman shared, “I have been writing more poetry since the last lot of covid lockdowns.”

Keep your eyes peeled for new releases to come from this savvy group of Australian authors.

It will take a little more than a few lockdowns and Covid restrictions to hold their creative flow back.

 

By Tamara MCWILLIAM