And the winner of the Sydney Writers' Centre course is...

Well, here we are. Ten days, 69 entries and a whole lot of excitement later, it's time to announce the winner of the brilliant five-week online writing course at the Sydney Writers Centre. Be still my beating heart.

I had so much fun reading through all your entries, whittling them down to a short list of... 12. Not the world's shortest short list, but a girl does her best. There were so many fab pitches. From the humorous to the heartbreaking, the witty to the writerly, the poetic to the purely mischievous. The best of them ticked all the boxes on my originality/angle/voice wishlist, as well as showing the benefits of some research.

So, without further ado, I hand over to Valerie Khoo, director of the Sydney Writers' Centre who, along with her team, has chosen the worthy winner.

"It was great to see so many wonderful entries in this blogging competition," she says. "We've been thrilled at the quality and sincerity of comments. We wish we could have awarded more prizes - but there can be only one winner. Congratulations Dovic - we look forward to seeing her at the Centre or in our online course soon!"

Congratulations indeed Ms Dovic - enjoy your Magazine Writing Stage 1 course, and thanks again to everyone who entered.

Weekend Rewind

What a week it's been - Australia Day and a blogoversary all rolled into one. Not only that, but the last week of the school holidays is all but done and February is on the horizon... Not that I'm excited about school going back. No way. Not me. Okay, just a little...

Now, however, the dust is settling and it's time to turn our attention to pressing matters. Like the Weekend Rewind, the linky that gives you the chance to dust off an old post for some new comment love. And don't we love it!

In keeping with recent weeks, I'm going with a prompt and, given that we've had January and February, we are up to March. The only song I can think of with 'march' in the title is 'The Ants Go Marching (one by one, hurrah, hurrah), so now that I've shared that particular ear worm with you, I'll just get on with it.

All you have to do to join the mixed tape that is Weekend Rewind is to link up a vintage post (preferably from March last year (or 2009, or 2008) if you have one, but any other old post of your choice if you don't) and then go comment on some of the other treasures being offered up. Please try to do at least two to share the comment love around.

This week, in honour of my Writing Course Giveaway, I'm submitting a writing post for your delectation. All about how writing is just like doing the laundry. No, really.

Can't wait to see what you've got for me this week!

As always, I'm linking up to Maxabella's Saturday Grateful and, on Sunday, will be hopping over to Blog Gems at The King and Eye, to air some more of my ever-expanding archives.

Win a writing course at the Fibro!

Well, here we are. January 27. The Fibro's blogoversary. Twelve months of fun, frivolity and making new friends. Not to mention some fearsomely hard graft.

To celebrate this milestone, I'm extremely (and I do mean extremely) excited to be having my first ever (and perhaps only) giveaway. And what a giveaway.

You may remember my interview a few months ago with Valerie Khoo from the Sydney Writers Centre (and my former deskmate from CLEO)? (If not, pop over here and refresh your memory - she offers three fabulous tips for would-be freelance writers). She had such a good time in the Fibro, that the Sydney Writers Centre has donated an amazing prize to celebrate the Fibro's blogoversary.

Deep breath.

One lucky winner will receive a 5-week Online Course at the Sydney Writers' Centre. Let me just repeat that. One lucky winner will receive a 5-week Online Course at the Sydney Writers' Centre. He or she will be able to choose from EITHER Magazine Writing Stage One OR Creative Writing Stage One. Each course is valued at $395. The winner may also, if he or she chooses, come back to the Fibro to guest post about their experience once they've done the course.

Features or Fiction? You get to choose. And because they're online, you can do your course from anywhere. The Sydney Writers' Centre takes great care to choose presenters who are well-respected and active in their fields (for example, new features writing presenter is veteran editor/publisher Marina Go).

The excitement!

This is a brilliant opportunity for anyone hoping to join the ranks of freelance writers, or get that headstart on the novel they've always wanted to write. Or even just to hone your writing skills to take your blog to the next level.

All you have to do to enter is to follow the Fibro if we're not already friends, and then leave a comment on this post telling me WHICH course you'd like to do and WHY it should be you who wins. Think of it as a pitch (visit this guest post at The Red Dress Club for some tips on pitching) - keep it short and very sweet, and be sure to visit the links above to get a full idea of each course so that you can give it your best shot. 

The winner will be chosen by Valerie Khoo and the team at the Sydney Writers' Centre from a shortlist chosen by me. I'm looking for angle, originality and voice. Competition closes Friday 4 February, with the winner announced in the Fibro's Monday 7th February post. Be sure to check back to see if it's you!

This contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered!

The fine print:
*competition closes at 11.59pm, Friday 4 February
*winner announced on Monday 7 February (and contacted by email if you've left me one)
*course must be booked in by June 30, 2011.
*only one entry per person.
*sorry, family members cannot apply. :-)

PS: Feel free to grab the button and spread the word!