Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: I want to write. What should I do?
A: Just write. Get a pen and paper, typewriter or computer and write. After that useful advice, if you feel unsure about how to start by yourself, join a writing group or go along to a writing workshop. For example, a regular group meets at the Fremantle Arts Centre, 1 Finnerty Street, Fremantle, every Friday, 10am-12 noon. Pay at the door and bring writing equipment. There are other writing groups all over the State. To find out where they are, see 'I want to join a writing group or go to a public reading. Where do I find these groups?' below.

Q2:I want to join a writing group or go to a public reading. Where do I find these groups?
A: Most of the writers' organisations in Perth host writing groups. Here are their contacts:

Fellowship of Australian Writers WA
Tom Collins House, corner Wood and Kirkwood streets, Swanbourne, WA 6010
Telephone: (08) 9384 4771
Facsimile: (08) 9384 4854
Email: fawwa@iinet.net.au
Web: www.fawwa.org.au

Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre
11 Old York Road, Greenmount, WA 6056
Telephone/Facsimile: (08) 9294 1872
Email: kspf@iinet.net.au
Web: www.kspf.iinet.net.au/

Peter Cowan Writers Centre
Joondalup Campus, Edith Cowan University
Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027
Telephone: (08) 9301 2282
Email: nwacowan@iinet.net.au
Web: www.pcwc.org.au

Australian Writers Guild
196 Oxford Street, Leederville, WA 6007
Telephone: (08) 9201 1172
Facsimile: (08) 9201 1173
Email: wa@awg.com.au
Web: http://www.awg.com.au/

Society of Women Writers WA
PO Box 434, Northbridge, WA 6865
Telephone: 04 1584 0031
Email: mavisevans42@bigpond.com

Fremantle Children's Literature Centre
Old Prison Hospital
Cnr Hampton Road and Knutsford Street, Fremantle, WA 6160.
Telephone: (08) 9430 6869
Email: freoclc@iinet.net.au

Children's Book Council WA
PO Box 473
West Perth WA 6872
Telephone: 9295 1328 (President)
Email: wa@cbc.org.au
Web: www.cbc.org.au/wa

WA Bush Poets and Yarn Spinners
Meets at Mt Pleasant Bowling Club, Bedford Rd, Mt Pleasant, 1st Friday of the month, 7pm for 7.30pm start
Telephone Rusty on: (08) 9364 4491

If you are looking for assistance with editing or proofreading a manuscript, then contact:
Society of Editors (WA)
PO Box 99
Subiaco WA 6904
Telephone: 9287 1494
email: secretary@editorswa.comwebsite: www.editorswa.com

If you're interested in romance writing, contact this group:
Romance Writers of Australia Inc.
PO Box 37
Somerton, Vic. 3062
Telephone: (03) 9305 4280
Email: secretary@romanceaustralia.com
Web: http://www.romanceaustralia.com

If you're interested in poetry, contact:
WA Poets Inc
PO Box 684
Inglewood 6932
Telephone/fax: 94711084
Email: wapi@iprimus.com.au
Web: http://www.thewordisout.net.au

Writers groups also meet throughout Perth and Western Australia. Some of them are listed below. Once we obtain permission from other groups, we will post contact details for you. In the meantime, if you want to find out if there are any informal writing groups in your area, you could try putting up an ad at your local library or supermarket and see if anyone contacts you. Or you could start your own. If you belong to a writing group and would like the contact details listed, please send us an email.

Bunbury: Tuesday Writers (Meets 9.30 - 11.30am)
Telephone: (08) 9721 8944
Email: milligan@westnet.com.au Web: www.milligan.org.au

Dunsborough: The Dunsborough Writers
41 Marshall Street, Quindalup, WA 6281
Telephone: (08) 9755 3129
Email: ritar@wn.com.au

Fremantle: Kids' Stuff Writer's Group (writing for children)
Meets 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:30pm, Fremantle Children's Literature Centre (Old Fremantle Prison), cnr Hampton Rd and Knutsford St, Fremantle.
Telephone: 9319 3130 Email: pjchubb@global.net.au

Fremantle: Writing at the Centre.
Poetry classes with Shane McCauley, Prose classes with Helen Hagemann, on alternate Fridays 10am – 12 noon, and Life Writing with Dr Bruce Russell from 1 – 3pm, fortnightly on Friday afternoons following poetry, Function Room, Fremantle Arts Centre.
For information contact: Helen Hagemann on 9343 0072 hagemann.helen@gmail.com or Dr Bruce Russell 9339 2131 brucer@iinet.net.au

Fremantle: OOTA - Out of the Asylum Writers' Group.
Meets every Friday at 12 noon after the Writing at the Centre class at Fremantle Arts Centre, 1 Finnerty Street, Fremantle. Writing Time is also available every Wednesday 9.30am - 12.30pm at various venues.
Contact: Josephine Clarke
Telephone: 9339 0847 Email: ootawriters@gmail.com
Website: http://ootawriters.blogspot.com

Geraldton: Writers of Geraldton
Meets 2nd Sunday of the month at 2pm, The Residency, Marine Terrace, Geraldton, WA 6530.
Telephone: Stan: 9965 2873
Email: stan8@wn.com.au

Gosnells: Pen-Arias Writing Group, meets fortnightly on Thursday mornings in Thornlie. Limited membership numbers.
Telephone: 9524 1971 or 0429 116395
Email: linpress@tpg.com.au

Kununurra: Kununurra Writers' Group
Telephone: (08) 9169 1227
Email: librarian@thelastfrontier.com.au

Mandurah: 'Scribblers': Mandurah-Murray Writers Group Inc
PO Box 580, Mandurah, WA 6210
Telephone: 9582 1966

Mandurah: Coastal Writers
Meet: Each Tuesday at 7pm
Contact: Dave or Rose
Phone: (08) 9535 5470
Email: dbbooks@westnet.com.au

Melville: Melville Writers meet each Tuesday afternoon at the Ann Reid Room, Garden City.
Telephone: Marianne Grande, 9498 3437
Email: moggrande@hotmail.com

Mukinbudin: NEWROC Writers meet the second Wednesday of every month at 2pm at various venues.
Contact Peta Watson on (08) 9047 0070
Email: tandpwatson@westnet.com.au

Perth: Stromatolights - Writers of Science Fiction and Fantasy in Western Australia
Contact Heidi Kneale on (08) 9528 5860
Email: hkneale@iinet.net.auWeb: http://members.iinet.net.au/~damian/heidikneale/stromat Mailing List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stromatolights

Pilbara: Pilbara Writers' Group
Telephone: Dee Pfaff
Email: dpfaff@bigpond.com

Pemberton: Warren Literary Society
Telephone: (08) 9776 7104
Email: claudettemountjoy@hotmail.com

Two Rocks: Blue Dolphin Writers' Group
Meet at the Blue Dolphin Restaurant every second Wednesday of the month.
Contact Trish Cox: knightal@iinet.net.au

Yanchep: Anita McInnes, Sun City Writers' Group
Email: amcinnes1@bigpond.com

Yearling: Yearling Writing Group, meets monthly on 2nd Thursday week from 9.30am onwards.
Telephone: Olivia Dawes, (08) 9888 7017

Q3:I've finished a manuscript and want to get it published. What should I do?
A: Send it to a publisher. Many publishers, however, won't accept manuscripts unless they come from a literary agent or manuscript assessor. Check publishers' web sites to find out if they will or won't accept your manuscript directly. It usually takes a publisher a minimum of three months to read your work and decide if they want to see more or offer you a contract. Most publishers are happy to receive a synopsis and a sample chapter. The synopsis should be one A4 sheet and include genre, target readership, plot, characters, word length and any other information you think is relevant. If you want your manuscript returned from the publisher, include a self-addressed envelope with correct return postage.

You can find a comprehensive list of Australian publishers at the Australian Publishers Association, which includes links to most publishers' web sites. For a detailed list of publishers and markets generally, get a copy of The Australian Writers Marketplace from the Queensland Writers Centre. It's an excellent and must-have book which provides information about what each publisher takes as well as how they like it presented. You can also read Fremantle Press's submission guidelines on their web site. For more information, see the question below,'How does publishing work?'

Q4:How does publishing work?
A: First, it's important to understand that a publisher is different from a printer. A publisher selects your manuscript, negotiates a contract with you so that you are paid for your work, arranges the design and typesetting, and contracts a printer to print the book. They then arrange to distribute the book to bookshops and promote it. A printing firm may undertake most of the tasks above except they will not pay your for your manuscript nor will they distribute the book. You pay them to design and print the book. Second, the usual way a publishing firm works is to choose manuscripts which have been sent to them by authors, literary agents or come recommended from a manuscript assessment service. A lot of large publishing firms will not accept unsolicited manuscripts but only those which come from literary agents or manuscript assessors. Once the publisher has selected your manuscript they will negotiate a contract with you. This usually includes a percentage of sales as your royalty, typically 10% of the retail price. You should always have an expert look at any contract before you sign. The Arts Law Centre and the Australian Society of Authors both provide contract advice services. The publishing firm will have the book designed and typeset and prepare everything for printing. You should be given proofs of the typeset work to make sure they're correct. Once the book is printed the publisher will promote the book and distribute it to bookshops and other appropriate outlets.

A1: If you want a publisher to publish it, contact the publisher of your choice to find out how they want it presented to them. If you don't know which publisher might be interested in your manuscript, you can check a list of publishers on line (http://www.nla.gov.au/libraries/resource/bookpub.html), or take a look at a copy of The Australian Writers Marketplace (you could try your local library).

Q5: How do I present a manuscript to a publisher?
A: Most publishers want you to send them a sample chapter, a one-page synopsis of the plot, characters and target readership, a table of contents (if it's nonfiction), and a cover letter. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope of suitable size if you want your manuscript returned. Before you send your manuscript to a publisher, get in touch with them (by phone or check their web site) and find out if they accept uninvited manuscripts (many large publishers do not). If they do, take notice of exactly how they want them submitted. You can look at Fremantle Press's submission guidelines on their web site. If they don't accept uninvited manuscripts, you can try and get your manuscript accepted by a literary agent (who presents it to publishers for you).

Q6:How do I find a literary agent?
A: You can download our List of Literary Agents . Or you can send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to writingWA and we'll post a copy back to you. Or you can refer to the Literary Agents Association website.

Q7:What is a manuscript assessor and how do I find one?
A: Some publishers will also accept manuscripts that have been assessed by a professional manuscript assessment service. Download our List of Manuscript Assessors Or you can send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to writingWA and we'll post a copy back to you.

Q8: What if no publisher will take my manuscript?
A: You can publish it yourself! There are various ways to go, which are outlined in our free publication Self Publishing. Download here or send a stamped, self-addressed A5 envelope to writingWA and we'll post a copy back to you. One publishing option not mentioned in Self Publishing is producing work on a CD. It can be much cheaper to burn your own CDs rather than paying for a print run of a book.

Q9:I want to publish my manuscript myself. How do I do it?
A: There are various ways to go, which are outlined in our free publication Self Publishing . Download it here or or send a stamped, self-addressed A5 envelope to writingWA and we'll post a copy back to you. One publishing option not mentioned in Self Publishing is producing work on a CD. It can be much cheaper to burn your own CDs rather than paying for a print run of a book.

Q10:I've got an idea for a book. Can someone help me write it?
A: Probably not, unless you're very lucky. Most experienced writers and editors will expect to be paid since writing a book is a big job that takes a long time. If you are able to pay someone, fees are usually in the range $30-$50 per hour. It can take many months to research and write a book. Most writers and editors won't accept a the promise of a share of any hoped-for royalties as payment. If you want to employ a writer to write your story, send us an email.

Q11:I want to know if the manuscript I've written is any good. How can I find out?
A: The first thing you should do is ask your family and friends to read it. But remember that no two opinions will be the same. Also, join a writing group and pass extracts around for feedback. Finally, you can pay a professional writer or editor to read it for you and provide their opinion. Such people, often called 'manuscript assessors' charge for their services. Download the list from here: List of Manuscript Assessors. Or we'll post it to you if you send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to us.

Q12:I want some money so that I can write or publish my manuscript. Who will give it to me?
A: The State Government, through the Department of Culture and the Arts , provides grants for writers (Telephone: (08) 9224 7310) for details. The Commonwealth Government, through the Australia Council for the Arts, also provides grants for writers (Telephone: 1800 226 912). Both organisations also provide assistance to publishers to help them publish original Australian works of poetry and fiction. Individuals cannot apply for publishing assistance.

Q13:I've written a children's book. Who can give me advice about what to do with it?
A: Contact the Fremantle Children's Literature Centre (Telephone: (08) 9430 6869; or freoclc@iinet.net.au).

Q14:I've written a book that is about mental illness (or suicide, or some other health-related field). I want to get it published. What should I do?
A: See I've finished a manuscript and want to get it published. What should I do? You could also approach government health-related agencies such as Family and Children's Services or the Health Department.

Q15:I want to write my life story. How do I go about it?
A: Our free publication, Writing Your Place in History, gives an outline of what you need to do. You can download it by clicking on the title or we'll post it to you if you send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to us.

Q16: How do I protect the copyright of my manuscript when I send it away to publishers?
A: Your manuscript is automatically protected under the Australian Copyright Act and the Berne Convention on copyright. Your best protection against theft is showing it to as many people you know as possible, who then become witnesses to the fact that you are the author (should you ever need to go to court). You can put the copyright symbol (©) on your manuscript, along with your name and the year, to indicate that the manuscript is your property and reproduction is not permitted without approval. Sending the manuscript to yourself by post is no protection. Check the Australian Copyright Council or the Arts Law Centre for more information.

Q17:I've published my book myself. How can I promote and distribute it?
A: You can trot around to bookshops in person and sell it that way. You will soon discover it is a time-consuming process. Most bookshops, if they even look at it, will only take one or two copies. Some will not buy them from you but will take them 'on consignment', which means that should it sell, then they'll pay you (if you remember to contact them and get them to check). Bookshops also expect a 40% discount from the retail price (if your book sells to the public for $10, you will sell it to the bookshop for $6). If you decide that all this is too much trouble, you can engage a distribution firm.

There are several in Australia, such as Gordon and Gotch; St George Books (50 Hasler Rd, Osborne Park, WA 6017, 08 9482 3111); Brumby Books; and Gary Allen P/L. A fuller list is available from the Australian Publishers Association.

Typically, distributors take another 10% from the retail price. Another way of distributing and promoting your books is via the Web. There are many on-line bookshops, for example Australian Online Bookshop at http://www.bookworm.com.au/bookworm/.

Q18:I want to run writing workshops. What should I do about insurance?
A: You should make sure you have public liability insurance, for a start. If you've been reading the papers you would've noticed that there has been a lot written about our increasingly litigious society. It is in your best interests to make sure you're insured. Many organisations, such as local governments and the State Literature Centre, won't hire your services unless you are insured. Insurance isn't cheap. However, we've set up a group insurance scheme to keep costs down. It's called the Writers and Other Artists Group Insurance Scheme. Contact Hammond Insurance Brokers at rbresland@hibins.com.au for more details.

Q19:How much should I charge for my services as a writer?
A:As much as you can get. There is no Award rate or fixed pricing mechanism for most writers' services (excepting journalists. For information on the various Awards, contact the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance: federal@alliance.org.au; www.alliance.org.au). However, the Australian Society of Authors set recommended rates for authors.

Q20:What do I put into a synopsis for my manuscript when I send it to a publisher?
A: The synopsis is meant not only to inform the publisher of what your manuscript is about, but also grab their attention and give them a feel of your writing style. Remember that if you can excite and interest the reader with your synopsis then there is a better chance they will open your manuscript with a kind feeling in their heart! Usually, the synopsis should be one A4 page and contain 'technical information' such as an outline of the plot, characters, genre, location, period, word length, possible market/s and anything else you can fit in that you believe is relevant.