OOTA Creative Writing Class
Dr. Bruce Russell’s prose writing classes are held on the first Friday of each month, between 10am to 12pm, at Mattie Furphy House, Clare Copse, Swanbourne. Next session is 1st August.
Remaining 2025 Class Dates: 5 Sep, 3 Oct, 7 Nov
Cost per session: $25 for OOTA members, $30 for non-members payable in cash at each session.
The focus of the classes is to develop in each participant their WRITING PRACTICE. This refers to:
Daily focus on creative writing (even when you are travelling!).
This practice may target an ongoing project (short story, novel, essay) or simply consist of journal entries as a warm-up to the larger project.
Ideally, writing practice is driven by the urgent need to explore a theme or experience or person or idea the writer has encountered, whether recently or historically.
Writing practice also involves reading like a writer. In other words, dig down into what the creator was doing and how they did it.
As always, creative products – flash fiction, short stories, extracts from novels, literary essays – are dealt with in class. Classes are intended to inspire new writing or consolidate existing writing. Particular challenges (e.g. how to write about characters from other cultures without appropriating their world) are dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Finished pieces can be sent to the tutor, who will either encourage the writer to present the piece in class, or to do further work on it.
News about writing competitions and other market opportunities are shared in class.
Bruce Russell is a novelist and biographer. He has published seven novels, four of which are available online at www.brucerussell.com.au. His biographical work has all been done on commission and distributed privately. His first novel, Jacob’s Air, won the 1995 T.A.G. Hungerford Award and was published by Fremantle Press (then Fremantle Arts Centre Press). Bruce has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Queensland. He has appeared at writers’ festivals around Australia and has in-depth experience as a writing tutor both in academia and in the community.
Enquiries about the classes can be sent to brucer@iinet.net.au
POETRY CRITIQUING 2025 - Next session 2 september 2025
These sessions are held with Kevin Gillam on the first Tuesday of the month in between 10am and 12pm in the NEW Seed Room (just ask at Reception for directions) at the Fremantle Arts Centre. The group will hold up to 10 participants who are requested to bring 11 copies of their poem for critique. $10 per session. Please email Kevin if you wish to attend on kgillam63@gmail.com
Remaining 2025 Dates: October 7th, November 4th
Kevin Gillam is a West Australian writer with three books of poetry published, Other Gravities (2003) and Permitted to Fall (2007), both by Sunline Press, and 'Songs sul G' in Two Poets, by Fremantle Press in 2011. He was Director of Music at Christ Church Grammar School in Perth for many years.
LITERARY FRIDAYS 2025
Literary Fridays are on the third Friday of each month between 10am and 12pm at the Fremantle Arts Centre.
Remaining 2025 Dates: August 15th, September 19th, October 17th, November 21st
During the course of the year sessions will include writing and discussion for poets and prose writers, readings by members and invited guests. These sessions are for OOTA members only and a contribution of $10 towards the cost of the room hire will be payable in cash on the day. RSVP to ootawriters@gmail.com if you intend to attend.
The August Literary Friday will be facilitated by Carylyn Abbs 10am-12pm Friday 15th August at Fremantle Arts Centre
Carolyn Abbs is author of two poetry collections, Why She Gave Me the Painting (WAPP, 2025), and The Tiny Museums (UWAP, 2017), previously H/Commended in the Dorothy Hewett Award for an unpublished manuscript. She lives and writes by the ocean in South Fremantle.
In this poetry workshop, we shall explore / play / experiment with some of the characteristics of painting and photography in writing. There will be examples, discussion, and of course writing exercises. Please let Carrie know if you are coming for purposes of photocopying handouts: carolyn.abbs@bigpond.com prose poetry. Bring your pens and paper. There will be writing! We will be meeting in what we are calling the New Seed Room - ask at FAC Reception for directions