Kickstart your writing in 2025!
What is it?
A weekend writing retreat and bootcamp to get you started (or restarted) on your writing journey. The event will be held “live” and in person in Geelong, Victoria.
By the end of the weekend, you will have a deeper understanding of the publishing process and clarity about your personal writing project. You’ll leave with a plan for completing your manuscript and getting it published.
Who is this for?
- Aspiring writers – you have an idea for a book you want to write
- Novice and emerging writers – you’ve written a fair bit, but have not yet been published
- Recovering writers – your writing has stalled and you’re ready to be inspired
- Experienced writers – your work has been published and now you’re ready to tackle a new project or genre.
What kinds of writing?
Who's running this bootcamp and retreat?
The retreat is a collaboration between artist and educator Anne McMahon and Dr Renée Otmar.
For further information, contact:
Anne McMahon: Tel. 0424 560 621 (for queries about the venue and catering)
Renée Otmar: Tel. 0409 792 799 (for queries about the program and online bookings)
When will it be held?
How much will it cost?
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Wine-tasting, Friday 4:45pm (at own cost)
Dinner, Saturday 6:00pm (at own cost)
Early bird: $660/$600 Concession*
From 1 December: $750/$675 Concession*
Fees include tuition, personal feedback, materials and catering (lunches, morning/afternoon teas, High Tea on Sunday).
Prices exclude GST of 10%.
* A limited number of concession places are available for persons able to provide proof of eligibility (Health Care Card, Pension Card, TAFE/University Student ID).
Where will it be held?
Frogmouth Cottage at the Old Paper Mill
100 Lower Paper Mills Road, Fyansford VIC 3218
ABOUT FROGMOUTH COTTAGE
Frogmouth Cottage is a working studio and gallery space nestled in the rustic setting of the historic Fyansford Paper Mill precinct, which is situated by the Barwon River.
This weather-worn but charming cottage is watched over by a pair of Tawny Frogmouths who raise their young in the nearby she-oak. The cottage is the creative brainchild of two experienced artist-educators, Victoria Baxter and Anne McMahon.
Frogmouth Cottage provides a space for artistic, creative and community activities. We support the creative and literary arts and host classes, workshops, exhibitions and events, providing a calm and relaxing place to connect, create and celebrate in a creative community.
How do I book?
Please note that due to space limitations, numbers are strictly limited.
You are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.
A note about discounts
A general discount of $90 (12%) is available to anyone who books before midnight on 30 November 2024.
Concession-card holders and students receive an additional $60 discount (total discount of $150, or 20%) if booked by 30 November 2024. From 1 December, the concession discount is $75 (10%).
To be eligible for concession you must hold a valid, in-date concession card or student card, such as: Health Care Card, Pension Card, TAFE or University Student Card. On the registration form, provide the type and number of your concession. You will be asked to show your concession card at the registration desk on the first day of the retreat.
Please note that the number of places available at concession rates is strictly limited.
Cancellation policy
Full refund (minus $75.00 admin fee) for cancellations received in writing by midnight 3 January 2025. No refund for cancellations received after 3 January. Full refund if the organisers cancel the event.
Who will be teaching you?
Tuition and writing support will be presented by Dr Renée Otmar
About Renée: I help writers to create and improve their manuscripts. It is my great pleasure to help authors develop their uniquely personal writing practice.
My professional writing and editing journey began in 1989, but I knew from the age of 9 that I wanted to be a writer. Over the past 35 years I have worked in-house with multinational publishing giants in academic and trade publishing, and as a freelance/ consulting writer and editor for a wide variety of clients in publishing, business, government, non-government and community contexts, as well as for individual (independent) authors. I have also developed a parallel career in public health research and research ethics.
These days I do a little bit of everything: writing, editing, training and coaching. In addition to my annual guest lectures to masters students of writing and editing at RMIT University, I give regular presentations hosted by state writers centres and the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd). Independently, I run workshops in which I teach editing craft and professional skills to new and experienced professional editors, and I coach writers through the journey of developing their manuscripts, their personal writing style and their writing career. I also provide training and support for writers and editors in developing a trauma-sensitive approach in their practice (in August 2024 I self-published two guides on this topic – more see links below).
My own writing has been published in academic journals and books, magazines, websites, blogs and elsewhere, in print and online. In 2007 my true crime/family memoir, In Cold Blood: The murder of baby Jordan, was published in South Africa by New Africa Books. In 2023, the second edition of my book, Editing for Sensitivity, Diversity and Inclusion: A guide for professional editors, was published by Cambridge University Press.
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Cultivating a trauma-sensitive approach in your writing/editing practice: The OTMAR method
Open access articles (free to read)
Publishing Research Quarterly – “Trauma in Publishing”
AI and Ethics – “Ethics and the use of generative AI in professional editing”
Click here to read about my qualifications and recent work experience; awards and affiliations; or to see my portfolio.
