Writing the Perfect Column for Radio and Print

Saturday 26 June 2010 - Sunday 27 June 2010

Presented by: with Elly Varrenti
Rating: Introductory and Intermediate
Type: Workshop
Additional dates: Saturday & Sunday 26-27 June, 10am-4pm

What makes a good column? How can the writer take from the ordinary and mundane and render it engaging and resonant? When is a first-person column just a private rant and what makes it more than that? How can the columnist take a big issue and make it small enough to be identifiable and relatable? Is a column’s “signature tune” as important as its content? When is a column comfort food and what makes it fine dining? Is a funny column a shallow column or is humour a good way to tell the dirty truth? In this weekend workshop, explore these questions and more. In a hands-on, entertaining and jam-packed workshop, read and learn from your favourite and most loathed columnists from here and overseas, and create, along with your class colleagues, the perfect column.

Elly Varrenti is an author, actress, teacher and broadcaster. Her most recent book – This is NOT my Beautiful Life - is published by Penguin and she is a regular columnist for ABC Radio National’s Life Matters program. Elly is Coordinator and teacher at Box Hill Tafe’s Professional Writing & Editing Course and she is a regular on the festival and public speaking circuit in Melbourne and Sydney. She is also the theatre reviewer for the Melbourne Times.

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As places are limited and to allow for confirmation of VWC events, prior bookings are required for all events. We strongly advise all bookings be made at least one week prior to event start. Bookings are not confirmed until payment is made. Refunds will only be given where a cancellation is made three working days prior to an event. The VWC reserves the right to cancel any event up to two days prior. Due to the nature of a 12-month program, event line-up may be subject to change.