Bernard Cohen's The Writing Workshop runs after-school, school holiday, online and in-school creative writing workshops and activities for children and young people.

The Writing Workshop helps young writers build confidence, take pride in work, develop creativity, improve literacy, increase general braininess and have a lot of fun.

After-school courses now run in Annandale, Cammeray, Eastwood and Summer Hill.
School holiday courses take place every school holidays at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay. July holiday courses now booking.
Our online courses welcome participants from anywhere in the world.
We offer in-school courses throughout the Sydney metropolitan area and far beyond and high-quality, hands-on in-service courses for primary and secondary school teachers.

Enquiries: please phone 0468 543 933 or use this form.

News: Authors in Priority Schools programs: The Writing Workshop offers in-school programs tailored to priority and disadvantaged schools. Our programs boost literacy and enjoyment of writing. Read about the pilot program, set up by the Australian Society of Authors, Federal Department of Education, Science and Technology and NSW Department of Education and Training.

Term 3, 2010 After-School Workshops — now booking

Bookings are now open for Term 3, 2010 after-school creative writing workshops — we offer workshops in Cammeray; Eastwood; Summer Hill and Annandale for school years 1 to 6, booking forms below. Evening workshops for school years 7 to 9 by application only.

Enquiries: please phone 0468 543 933 or use this form.

In Term 1, all groups wrote about ancient times. Here is 8-year-old Livinia's description of life as a slave in Ancient Egypt. In term 2, school years 3-9 created new lands and fascinating narrators. Here is 13-year-old Ella's official analysis of her land from the point-of-view of a professional CD stacker.

Parental feedback: My son (Yr 2) started the after-school classes at Cammeray last week and I just wanted to let you know that he absolutely loves it. I was a little bit nervous as he is usually very hard on himself about his handwriting - but he comes back from the class so happy and proud of his work and I must say he is writing some really fantastic stories! Please pass on my thanks and appreciation to Emily - she is obviously a really gifted teacher.

Mondays at Eastwood Public School. Commences 26th July, 2010, places available in all groups. Years 1 and 2 from 3.15 to 4.10 pm; years 3-4 from 4.15-5.10 pm; years 5-6 from 5.15 to 6.10 pm. Please contact us for further details or click here to download a booking form.

Monday evening course for school years 8-9. By application only, when places available. Please phone 0468 543 933 or contact us to book or for more information.

Tuesdays at Summer Hill Public School, Moonbie Street, Summer Hill. Commences 20th July, 2010. Years 1-2 from 3.05 to 4pm; years 3-4 from 4.05 to 5 pm; years 5-6 from 5.05-6pm. Please contact us for further details or download a booking form.

Tuesdays at Cammeray Public School. Commences 20th July, 2010. Years 1-2 from 3.30 to 4.25pm; years 3-4 from 4.30 to 5.25 pm; years 5-6 from 5.30-6.25pm. Please contact us for further details or download a booking form for Term 3 2010.

Tuesday evening course for school years 7-8, Annandale 7.00pm-8.30pm. Limited places available — by application. Please phone 0468 543 933 or contact us for more information.

Thursdays at Annandale North Primary School, Johnston St, Annandale. Commences 22nd July, 2010. Years 1-2 from 3.05 to 4 pm; years 3-4 from 4.05-5 pm; years 5-6 from 5.05 to 6 pm. Click here to book. Or please contact us for further details.

News: Congratulations to Lily Edelstein, 2009 winner of Burwood Girls High's inaugural Young Writer's Award. Lily, in year 8, has attended The Writing Workshop since 2006.

News: Congratulations to Rosie, aged 9, winner of the 7-9 year-old division of the 2009 Leichhardt Library children's writing competition.

Parent email:

"Jade (aged 13) has really, really been enjoying your class. Thanks for putting on such a stimulating course that progresses through the term toward Jade and the other children feeling they are achieving great things with what they love to do (and do best). Although the journey is always what keeps the cogs in motion, it's the end product often that 'glows' as the big reward for the time and effort spent. Jade has definitely felt a sense of pride and achievement in what you have guided her toward and taught her." JS, April 2009

Enquiries: please phone 0468 543 933 or use this form.

News: Congratulations to Darcy, aged 8, March 2009 Kids' Editor of Burke's Backyard magazine.

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July 2010 School Holiday Workshops - now booking

School holiday workshops take place in the Education Centre, Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay. Free parking is available at the venue (Carpark P10f).

News: Congratulations to poet Silvia, aged 12, for an excellent third in the Gold Coast Writers' Association Children's Writing Competition (from many entries) and to Ella, 14, whose Vietnam War short story won the Junior Writing category at her school.

July Holiday Workshop Timetable

• Monday 12th - Wednesday 14th July 10am - 12 noon "Kids in the Park " Workshop for 6-9 year olds. BOOKED OUT.
• Monday 12th - Wednesday 14th July 12.30pm - 2.30pm "Kids in the Park " Workshop for 8-12 year olds (please note change of age range).
• Thursday 15th July 10am - 3.30pm One-day “skilled young writers” workshop for 10-15 year olds. BOOKED OUT.
• Friday 16th July 10am - 3.30pm One-Day intensive "Fabulous Beasts" Creative Writing Workshop for 8-13 year olds. BOOKED OUT.
• Saturday 17th July 10am - 1pm Selective High Schools and Scholarship Test Preparation Workshop for Year 5 school students. Places available. Click here for booking form.
• NEW Saturday 17th July 1.30pm - 4.30pm Half-day "Poetry of the Spheres" workshop for 9-14 year-olds. Places available. Click here for booking form.
• Sunday 18th July 10am - 3.30pm "Write Your Own Book" Workshop for 8-13 year olds. BOOKED OUT.

Enquiries: please phone 0468 543 933 or use this form.

July Holidays Course Details

The Writing Workshop @ Kids in the Park holiday workshops for ages 6-9. BOOKED OUT . As part of the Kids in the Park program, our fun and popular regular creative writing workshops will take place Monday 12th - Wednesday 14th July 2010 at the Education Centre, Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park. Create imaginary places, amazing characters and edge-of-your-seat events, and write superbly serious or fantastically funny stories and poems - all in your own brilliant literary style. $150 inc GST. BOOKED OUT.

The Writing Workshop @ Kids in the Park holiday workshops for ages 8-12 (places available). As part of the Kids in the Park program, our fun and popular regular creative writing workshops will take place Monday 12th - Wednesday 14th July 2010 at the Education Centre, Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park. Invent your own country, travel in time, invent wild new machines (and use them). Create world-changing events, and write superbly serious or fantastically funny stories and poems - all in your own brilliant literary style. $150 inc GST.

One-day "Skilled Young Writers" workshop for 10-15 year-olds, Thursday 15th July 2010. For ambitious writers. This workshop will help you expand your range of writing skills and try out new ideas and techniques in a supportive and fun setting. Stretching your metaphors, testing new poetic forms, and slowly, so very, very slowly adding to the excruciating suspense. This full day (bring your own picnic lunch) will build your skills and hep you find new sources of inspiration. Held at the Education Centre, Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park. $125 inc GST. BOOKED OUT.

One-day intensive "Fabulous Beasts " workshop for 8-13 year-olds, Friday 16th July 2010. BOOKED OUT.

Selective High Schools Placement and ACER Scholarships intensive writing workshop. Saturday July 17th 10 am - 1 pm. This three-hour workshop is directed towards current year 5 students intending to sit the NSW Selective High Schools Placement Test to be held early in 2011 or ACER scholarship tests. The workshop will take place Saturday 17th July 2010 at the Education Centre, Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park. The workshop will cover skills for the test's creative writing component, including scenario development, planning and test practice. Includes materials. $85 inc GST. Places available. Click here for booking form.

*NEW* Half-day "Poetry of the Spheres" workshop. Saturday July 17th 1.30pm-4.30pm. In response to many requests for a poetry workshop, this is it! Poetry about round things from peas to planets. Discover new poetic forms and new ways to create and present poetry. Held at the Education Centre, Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park. $75 inc GST. Places available. Click here for booking form.

One-day "Write Your Own Book" workshop for 8-13 year-olds, Sunday 18th July. How to set, plan, build and finish your own extended story. Creating atmospheric settings, memorable characters and gripping plots. This full day (bring your own picnic lunch) will give you all the skills and inspiration you need to write your own book. Held at the Education Centre, Bicentennial Park, Sydney Olympic Park.To book for these creative writing workshops. $125 inc GST. BOOKED OUT.

Parent comment: "Thank you for all the positive energy you put into the writing course. You really have a talent for engaging young writers. My son had a great time and it's great to see him write outside of the realms of his comfort zone. He has come home writing and already I can see some development in the area of characterisation and plot formation. He has asked to do another course which is fantastic. It was wonderful seeing so many children with a passion for writing in the same room." (email from parent of 11-year-old, April 2010)

Participant comment: "The best day I have had this year." Oliver, aged 8, on one-day workshop, April 2009.

Parent comment: "Happy child, happy Mummy!" (Survey response from parent of 6-year-old, October 2009).

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News: Welcome to Vogel Award winner and television scriptwriter Jennifer Kremmer. Jennie will run in-school courses on the central coast and Newcastle area, starting at Raymond Terrace Public School in term 3. She has 20 years' experience teaching creative writing at university level.

News: Congratulations to Catherine Therese, whose book (for adults) The Weight of Silence: A Memoir (Hachette Australia) was shortlisted for the State Library of NSW's National Biography Award. Catherine is also a stand-out stand-in for The Writing Workshop.

Online Workshops

Enquiries: please use this form.

Too far to travel to current venues? Try Online Creative Writing Workshops. The Writing Workshop's internet creative writing workshops take place in a password-protected blog. The workshops involve regular writing exercises and mentor feedback. Minimum age is 10. Requires internet access from home and possibly some parental supervision/encouragement. Please click here for more information, or email Bernard via this form. Click here for an enrolment form (new window, pdf).

Haiku by Frankie, aged 12 Perfect conditions, The road sprayed with light, winds calm, Birds twitter in the trees. Snowflakes on my tongue, The road cold, filled with deep snow, Animals hide, sleeping. Leaves stare at the sky, The road, dead leaves underfoot, Jump and make them fly. Flowers bloom, bright colours, The road, sweet aromas fly, Rejoice, new year comes. (from TheWritingWorkshop Online, July 2009)

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School programs (Incursions)

Enquiries: please phone 0468 543 933 or use this form.

TWW offers schools high-quality workshops and courses ranging from a single session to term-length residencies. Our senior high school workshops address creative writing elements of the NSW HSC English curriculum, with particular focus on recent markers' comments. We also offer high-quality in-service and planning days for teachers.

School organisers please click here for more information on school programs, or contact us by clicking here.

Previous school days and workshop series include Newtown North Public School (in-service for all staff + year 5 workshop), Queenwood School for Girls (HSC "Belonging" unit of study workshops), Forest Lodge Public School (in-service for all staff), Bourke Street Public School (In-service for all staff + Term 2, 2009), St Joseph's Primary School (Taree), Athelstane Public School (in-service for all staff + Term 2, 2009), Malek Fahd Islamic School (HSC workshop: "Belonging"), Matraville Sports High, Penrith Anglican College Enrichment Day (PACED), the Whitlam Institute (UWS) "What Matters!" school workshops, Gardeners Road Public School, St Joseph's Primary School (Denman), Glebe Public School (Years 2-6 - click for information and writing), Marrickville Intensive English Centre, La Perouse Public School, Marrickville Public School, St Peters Public School, Summer Hill Public School. Castle Cove Public School, St Fiacre's School, Croydon Park PS kindergarten groups, Annandale North PS (K-3), Marrickville West Public School, Pittwater High, MET Meadowbank (HSC workshop: "Belonging") and Tempe High (Year 8).

We welcome bookings from other organisations, and love working in libraries. Recent library workshops for teenagers include Blacktown, Leichhardt and Pittwater Public Libraries.

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In-Service Courses for Primary and Secondary School Teachers

The Writing Workshop now offers planning days and in-service courses for teachers of all school levels from K to 12.

The Writing Workshop in-service courses focus on planning term-length creative writing programs. These are practical days requiring teachers to access and apply their own creative skills. No PowerPoint!

Enquiries: please phone 0468 543 933 or use this form.

Feedback from recent In-Service Courses

January 2010, Staff Planning Day for Newtown North and Forest Lodge Public Schools (all teaching staff from both schools). Participant comments:

• A fantastic approach to teaching something quite difficult – narrative. Thank you for your enthusiasm – very refreshing. I really enjoyed the writing tasks myself.
• I liked the workshop because of the concepts behind it: encouraging children to develop solid ideas before attempting writing. The examples and exercises were good and are easily transferred to the classroom.
• Good to put ourselves “in the children’s shoes”
• You gave me another approach on how to teach creative writing. I can’t wait to try it out with my class this year. I’m always looking for a fresh approach and to try new things – and you have given me that today.
• I liked the ideas presented in a new format. I will use it with my planning and programming and for my own development of writing creatively. It was challenging and engaging.
• Great ideas about character development and love the newspaper article (exercise). Relaxed and informative – a great way to get creative juices flowing.
• I found the course useful – most useful was the experience of being expected to be creative to order, which is a daunting task! I like the template and will find it useful in planning the term’s work.
• Excellent ideas for story writing. I particularly liked the character analysis and writing about the event from the points of view of the characters – one of the hardest parts of writing for children. The idea of the land was inspiring as well.
• Really enjoyed the hands-on approach – helps you to put yourself in their shoes! It was great to model how to build character especially, as I find this is what kids find the hardest to do.
• New ideas for the classroom. Great presentation – Great breaking down of the narrative to smaller parts.
• Useful ideas re providing a stimulus/starting point for students.
• Great building blocks to develop narratives.
• I liked the detailed breakdown of narrative elements as a way of developing writing.
• Liked the emphasis on creativity without bogging students down with difficulties.
  I found the practical ideas for activities really interesting and useful. It was good to be put on the spot to remember what it is we ask kids to do all the time. I like the idea of making writing a long-term project, broken up by a variety of different interesting tasks. Thank you!
• Writing guide (for term) very useful. Writing tasks were valuable – I was nervous at first.
• Great ideas to take back to school.
• Thank you for a great workshop. Loved working on developing characters and will take with me some new and excellent ideas for creative writing.

April 2009, Athelstane Public School Planning Day for all school teaching staff, K-6 plus IM. Participant comments:

"Great ideas to make children's creative ideas flow.""I found the workshop very valuable. It was great to learn in more depth how to really plan a story, how to develop character and keep a narrative going and facilitate this in students' writing. The practical activities were excellent... This sort of teaching is much more practical and helpful than other courses that simply teach a macrostructure or checklist to include in a narrative. Thanks." "Very engaging - hands on... Lots of useful ideas and tips for writing with children."

"A very informative day. Presented in a clear, simple and practical manner."

November 2008 Gifted and Talented Creative Writing Planning Day at Penrith Anglican College and invited nearby schools. Participant comments:

"I found the ideas to be very helpful. I am keen to try them in the class ASAP. Bernard is passionate about writing and made me feel that I would succeed as a teacher. Bernard is an excellent facilitator.""I've taken some new ideas to share with my colleagues. Presentation was relaxed and informative. It was great that you didn't use PowerPoint and you talked to us."

"Well presented, interesting writing strategies I can see myself incorporating into my classroom writing program next year. You have inspired me to write!"

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News: In 2008, The Writing Workshop further contributed to "Priority Schools". Bernard Cohen was once again visiting author at four "priority schools" under the NSW Education Department's Priority Schools Program. The schools were Alexandria Park Community School, Matraville Sports High School, Gardeners Road Public School and Athelstane Public School. Priority Schools are defined by high levels of community welfare dependence and need. In 2007, Bernard presented term-length workshop series at Marrickville Intensive English Centre, Marrickville PS, Glebe PS and St Peters PS.

News: Bernard was keynote speaker at the Primary Principals Association (Port Jackson & Bondi areas) Annual Conference in mid-June. The conference theme was "Magic Happens".

News: Writers Talk, a resource developed by the NSW Department of Education's Centre for Learning Innovation for the Sydney Writers Festival, features an interview with Bernard Cohen — and Bernard's masterclass with year 8 at Tempe High School, in which students transformed the school library into a museum. Other interview subjects include Deborah Abela, Ursula Dubosarsky and Emily Rodda.

More parent emails:

"I thought I might just drop you this note to really say thank you, and to let you know what a great job we think you do. "It is rare in our kids' overly full and ordered lives to get real opportunity to be lateral and creative in their writing. It suits our daughter down to the ground, and makes her feel special and validated. At the beginning of the term kids always wants to do lots of out-of-school activities, however this is the only one which independently motivates her every week."Kids have such great imaginations. Sometimes I think school unlearns some of this. We are fortunate to have an outlet to boost it back up again." — KC

"After attending your writing workshop last October, my daughter Olivia (now year 2) can't wait to come back to the workshop to work on one of her favourite areas - writing."

"Nick and Jorgie were buzzing after their first class on Thursday and are looking forward to next week. Jim and I were really impressed with their first writing task. Nick said he received loads of constructive criticism which is great, thank you."
More feedback from children and parents.

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News: Congratulations to Willem Proos, runner-up in the 2008 Sun-Herald's "The Ultimate Story" competition. Kay (Willem's Mum) writes: "Willem had a great time at your course and learnt a lot." The competition attracted over 1000 entries.

Congratulations to Holly (year 5) and Nicholas (kindergarten) from TWW who won junior and senior sections respectively of the Annandale North Short Story competition. Claudia and Laine also won prizes, and Ella was highly commended. Congratulations to Alex from Drummoyne PS who won a school award for his story writing. Read Holly's truly remarkable story here.

What the papers say about TWW: "The kids flood into the classroom, bubbling with excitement and comments about previous workshops and stories they've written, and Cohen gets straight down to business…" Read the Sydney Morning Herald article on TWW (SMH, 16/9/2006, opens new browser window - pdf/Acrobat format).

What the children write: click here. Or to download an A4 pdf (Acrobat format) of four collective poems, click here (opens in new browser window).

What do participants think of Bernard's workshops? This is what they've said.

Click here for The Writing Workshop's approach to learning creative writing: why we do what we do.

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Bernard Cohen

Bernard Cohen is a novelist and picture book writer and director of The Writing Workshop. Bernard's writing has been published around the world and his awards include the 1997 Vogel Prize, 2001 Arts Council of England Writer's Award and a unique three inclusions in the Sydney Morning Herald's Best Young Novelists.

Bernard's latest publications for grown-ups: "War against the Ungulates" (short story) first published in Heat 17 and included in Best Australian Stories 2008 ; "Hunter is Writing" (feature) in Australian Author 39/3; "Storm" (poem) published in FourW Nineteen.

Bernard has almost 20 years experience conducting writing workshops for young people, and founded The Writing Workshop in 2006. Please click here to read comments on Bernard's creative writing workshops from participants, parents and teachers. For more information, please contact The Writing Workshop.