The aim is to help aspiring writers polish their completed manuscript and hone their writing craft. This workshop will be open to unpublished RWA members.

5DI Participants Announced

5DI 2010 is RWA's inaugural mentoring workshop to help aspiring writers polish their completed manuscript and hone their writing craft under the guiding eye of their mentor, an experienced author.

This is the first time RWA has run this kind of workshop and we didn't know how many entrants we would get, what the spread of genres would be or how many manuscripts would be judged as being worthy of a place in the workshop. We are pleased to be able to announce 24 people will be attending, spread across 3 pods in groups of 8.

Congratulations to the following people who have been successful in gaining a place in RWA's inaugural 5DI:

Category Romance Writers
Mentored by Lilian Darcy

Anita Mack

Lisa Roderick

Doreen Sullivan

Janet Radevski

Linda Hills

Chris Weston

Terri-Anne Green

Shann ean Moncrieff

Historical/Mainstream Writers
Mentored by Sophia James

Akanash Gaddi

Iona Jones

Annelise Balsamo

Maddison Fitzsimmons

Bridget Ransome

Mary-Anne Rome

Gabrielle Wade-Steiner

Catherine Evans

Paranormal/Suspense Writers
Mentored by Fiona Brand

Leisel Leighton

Jo McAlister

Annie Newton

Sue Burgess Thompson

Sharon Phillips

Tina Marie Clarke

Amanda Reynolds Smith

Enisa Hasic

What is involved?

The 5DI 2010 is an intensive, 5 day, live-in workshop, where you, an aspiring author, will work closely with a mentor, who also lives-in. Your mentor will be an experienced writer, who has been published in your genre. The mentor will read your ms prior to the workshop and provide a constructive report on your ms at the workshop's commencement. Over the course of the 5 days you will do rewrites based on your mentor's continuing feedback provided during daily one-on-one sessions. You will be one of a small group, consisting of (approx) 7 aspiring authors in the same (or very close) genre and your mentor.

When and where would it run?

Saturday 11th – Friday 17th July 2010 in Brisbane at Griffith University student accommodation (Nathan campus). Each room has a single bed and a desk, linen supplied. The bathrooms are shared. Meals will be served in the college dining hall so all you have to do is write. The kitchen can cater for people with restricted diets.

Here's a link to the site. Don't worry, bedding is provided for short term accommodation.

http://www.griffith.edu.au/accommodation/bedroom-options/catered

What would it cost if I was selected?

$1100 (GST inc) . This includes mentoring, accommodation and meals, with the exception of 2 evening dinners.

We're planning a get-to-know-you dinner on the first night and a good-bye dinner on the last night at nearby restaurants (special dietary meals can be catered for).

Writers will also have to cover their own transport to get to the workshop. We plan to set up an email loop so people can coordinate when they fly in, hire a maxi taxi and split the cost 8 ways.

What else do I need?

A laptop is an ESSENTIAL requirement for the workshop.

Who is eligible to enter?

All unpublished writers. Unpublished is anyone who hasn't had a fiction book of over 40,000 words published in the last 5 years.

Can I enter a book I haven't finished writing yet?

If you are accepted to attend the 5DI you MUST have a completed manuscript by the 14th of May 2010 – the date manuscripts are to be sent to your mentor.

When can I enter?

Entries open 1st January 2010 and close, 31st January 2010.

How do I enter and how much does it cost to enter?

$22 (GST incl) entry fee. Payment is considered acceptance of entry conditions. PLEASE NOTE – no feedback is given to unsuccessful entrants.

Download the entry form and make PayPal payment.

Australian Members	Overseas Members

 

Email the first 20 pages of your completed manuscript (RTF format) in standard ms layout (make sure your name does not appear on the ms, make sure you state which genre the book is). Guidelines are available here.

Email your entry form and 20 pages of ms as attachment to 5DI@romanceaustralia.com . Use this address if you have any questions not answered here, in the guidelines or on the FAQs page.

When will I hear if I have been selected?

Aspiring authors who have been selected will be contacted on Monday, March 8th.

I'd love to attend the 5DI 2010, but I can't afford the $1100 and air fares.

There are numerous Professional Development grants available to writers at a local, regional and state level. Here is a link to community grants, which includes art grants.

http://www.aph.gov.au/library/intguide/SP/spgrants.htm

I'd love to attend but I don't have a laptop.

Buy one or borrow one for the week. A laptop is an ESSENTIAL requirement for the workshop.

I have children. I can't leave them for a week.

Unfortunately the accommodation and workshop cannot cater for children. Some Professional Development grants include child minding costs (CAL for instance) .

I have a few questions.

See the FAQs page.

Meet the 5DI team, Rowena Lindquist, Anita Mack and Lisa Barry.

Here are Lisa and Anita checking out the facilities at the venue.