We love words.

Writing, editing your writing and teaching writing to kids and adults are our talents and passions.

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Kids Workshops

Adult Workshops

Kids Online Courses

Teacher Professional Development

Manuscript Assessment and Editing

Copywriting

We love words. Everything about them.

The way they sound, the small differences in their meanings, the story of how meaning is constantly evolving. We love to put them into sentences and refine those sentences until they feel just right. We love putting sentences together to form paragraphs and organising those paragraphs into stories and poems.

We love writing for the way it helps us make sense of our world and introduces us to new ideas, how it allows us to pretend to be other people and express our fantasies.

At the Creative Word Shop we like to share this love through Workshops for Kids that help build their confidence in their writing while providing the scaffolding to develop their skills and imagination. Our Adult Workshops are designed to teach people writing craft and help those already engaged in writing projects to bring them to completion. Our teachers are all published writers so we know how difficult yet rewarding this can be.

Works we have edited have been short-listed for the Miles Franklin Prize and Prime Ministers’ Awards. Our manuscript assessment services have been used by numerous writers.

We also provide ghost-writing and copywriting services. If you don’t love words as much as we do, we can help write your story or build valuable conversations with your clients.

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Testimonials

I just wanted to say thank you for today – Thomas absolutely loved his workshop and wanted to go again. (Thomas’s Mum)

I attended the adult introductory workshop and signed up for more and did another four weeks with Ed. The course is fun and inspiring and Ed is a fantastic teacher who takes time to listen, interpret and empower all who attend the class.

He creates a relaxed learning environment which simultaneously makes you want to do your homework, not an easy feat! I met some great people and have started writing a book with Ed’s guidance and encouragement. He is a teacher who wants to see people grow and has an extensive knowledge of literature and writing styles. My highlights were learning about voice and beginnings.

I’ll definitely be continuing with the Creative Wordshop as I navigate my writing journey.

Thank you Ed!

Jessica Baker

Hi Ed & Jess, I just wanted to say a big Thank You for todays workshop. A. didn’t stop smiling all afternoon, she absolutely loved it. She was just so proud of her story and loved the process of coming up with the characters. Thank you for making her feel at ease (she was a little nervous) and creating such a wonderful day. She’s looking forward to sharing her story for News at school next week.

Sam has loved your classes. Thanks for helping him love writing. (Sam’s Mum)

Mia loved the workshop in term 1 and she wants to do it again. Thank you for your amazing work!

Thanks for the Selective High Test session yesterday. B enjoyed it + was very appreciative that you didn’t tell him his writing was bad but rather that it was good but could be better if…. He came out buzzed + willing to write which is great.

I have attended four memoir writing courses over the last couple of years with David Kelly. David was simply amazing! His gentle guidance and encouragement allowed me to develop my writing skills more than I could have hoped. I can’t recommend David and the Creative Word Shop enough.
Anna Birch, author of Blossom in the Dust.

Dear Ed, Ruby loved today’s class so much we have enrolled in another class for next week as well.

The Romance Writing Course by Michelle Douglas at the Creative Wordshop was thoroughly enjoyable and super instructive. I’ve always wondered about writing for the romance genre and Michelle has provided me with the tools to get started and to feel confident doing so. Her flexible teaching style and generous guidance had us all feeling comfortable about sharing our first attempts and the group I was in were all friendly and supportive. I would absolutely recommend this course to anyone who is curious about the romance genre. I’m hoping there’s an advanced course coming sometime in the near future!!
Liane Morris (Words and Ideas)

Internationally acclaimed romance writer Michelle Douglas brings the same careful preparation to her Romance Writing Workshop as she does to her well crafted and engaging novels. I felt privileged to learn some of the secrets that come only with years of honing craft and process, conveyed in a personable and interesting way. Michelle was more the friendly mentor than a remote instructor, and the activities she organised were achievable and purposeful. We were writing before we knew it, and creating characters and plots, learning the conventions of the industry, and gaining tips to bring our dreams of writing romance to fruition. Each session built on the others, and we were encouraged to develop and commit to the characters that had seemed to be random choices early on, and to realise that even the smallest creative decision can lead to something big. I highly recommend Michelle Douglas’s workshops to anyone who seriously wants to enter the world of romance writing.
Jill Albrecht

Thank you for all your feedback! I really appreciate it.

Shannae

Thank you very much for your constructive feedback. Can’t wait for another one!

Kai

Ed told me what I wanted to know but also what I needed to hear. I wanted to know whether the draft I’d completed was worth pursuing, and I needed to hear what didn’t work. It’s hard to get an overall perspective on your own writing, especially in a long form, and so I was really pleased by Ed’s generous, engaged and constructive feedback. He provided me with some examples of successful novels in the genre I’m working in, a breakdown of the characters and plot in my draft, and a number of options for improving the overall storyline. I now feel that I have a potential way forward with the draft and, perhaps more importantly, a good sense of what to take with me on that journey, and what I might just as well leave behind. I can thoroughly recommend Ed’s services as a manuscript assessor.

David Prater

My son thoroughly enjoyed and learned some great tips at the Preparation for Selective High School Test course, thank you Ed!

Jacqueline Boyd

Had the most amazing 8 weeks learning from the magnificent Ed! With a wealth of knowledge and experience in the industry, we were taught all the basic fundamental tools and techniques in order to think, as well as construct pieces of writing as true creatives would. Would highly recommend Ed and the Creative Word Shop to anyone contemplating taking a writing course. Ticked off the bucket list, and I’ll definitely be signing up to another! Maddison Gibson

I just want to pass on how much I enjoyed the memoir writing class and particularly the assistance I have got from David. He has really helped me open up and recall lots about my childhood that is important but I had forgotten. I am so excited to be able to put pen to paper more confidently than ever before. I look forward to being in David’s class again soon so I can keep improving. He has a lovely manner and gently gets to the bottom of what is important to write about.

Sue C

Students from Saint Brigid’s Catholic College, Lake Munmorah had the opportunity of participating in a workshop with Ed Wright and the Creative Wordshop, aimed at developing student understanding of speculative fiction and the craft of writing. Despite the workshop including over 70 students, Ed kept the group engaged and motivated through his humour, warmth, insights and passion for storytelling. We would love to have Ed Wright back next year!
Luke Evans and Josh Killen

Loved our recent classes! Great discussion and thought provoking lessons. Thanks Ed!
Shannon

My son attended a brilliant workshop over the Easter holidays and he loved it!
He is really looking forward to going to one on Thursday.
He found Ed to be great fun and really enthusiastic. He also enjoyed meeting the other children at the workshop. Thank you Kate D.

I needed to finish my memoir and stop the writing procrastination. In the first term at Creative Word Shop I learned so much, I enrolled again. Ed expanded my skills with accurate feedback, guiding my writing voice and helping me stay on track. The workshops were fun, educational and professional and my book would not have been published, had it not been for Ed’s encouragement and wonderful teaching. Bronwyn MacRitchie, author of Pixie Dust.

Writing is such a solitary task, to share work with open minds at these workshops is a wonderful motivator, educator and inspiration. Without a doubt the manuscript takes a stronger shape as a result of these classes.

Jamie Lewis

Creative Director, Filmmaker and Writer

Ed Wright was the editor for my novel Waiting and he also read and advised, editorially, on my next novel in-progress, The Returns. Ed is a brilliant combination of sympathetic reader, insightful editorial eye and hard task-master. He is subtle but strong, he knows where to suggest, and where to insist, and the difference is crucial. [He gave me the criticism I needed to reduce my manuscript by 20,000 words – without alarming me, without losing anything essential – and thereby achieve the best possible structure and value of the novel. Ed saw how some characters were over-indulged and other under-done. This can unbalance any novel, but especially a novel like Waiting, where the narrator focalises so closely with allthe characters.] A fine and very well read editor like Ed knows the problems common to many novels but also how each manuscript is unique.

The writer often becomes over-invested in the manuscript when all seems finally to be right. An editor must see through this illusion of the writer’s; a good editor knows the writer’s words are not sacrosanct. The editor must first see then show where the writing can be better, where it is loose, cliched, digressive, even well-written … but extraneous. The editor must do this without interrupting the writer’s essential vision. Ed Wright is this kind of editor. He knows what he is doing. He does it with flair and endless good humour.

The above is the expected range of a fine editor. But Ed has shown extra talent and favour – he has added ideas for my writing which allowed me to both reduce the word-length and better integrate the characters with the narrative. He has suggested excellent plot shifts and narrative variations. He gave me new possibilities. This is special advice. It is generous advice. Editors do not always behave so selflessly. I absolutely recommend him!

Philip Salom (both these books Ed worked on were short-listed for the Miles Franklin Prize)

These have been such a great thing to do through the holidays so thanks so much for putting them on. I know she’s really enjoyed them and it’s been great for her to have something to look forward to. Annabelle’s Mum

Thank you Ed. Thanks for another great year of Creative writing – he really enjoys it, so thank you. (Jack’s Mum)

My kids attended the online writing workshops during Easter holidays. It was a nice small class and the format worked really well. Ed has a very engaging approach. I would recommend it. My kids don’t like to write normally, and they had fun and were quite proud of their finished product. Jane Fryer

I liked the child contribution based learning, how engaged the kids were in the whole class and the easy introduction of learning to the class. Who’s Your (Super) Hero

Sarah (Layla's Mum)

Ed was recommended to me by a writing tutor when I was at the crucial stage of a second draft, with no idea what step to take next. Ed delivered a thoughtful and detailed review of the manuscript, calling out key characterisation issues that I knew were there but was too close to the subject to see and address. Ed really understood the nature of the story I was trying to tell and was able to articulate it in a way I was struggling to. He reviewed plot, structure, the relationships between the characters and also offered advice on publishability. I felt that he took the time to really understand and consider the story’s strengths and weaknesses. I would absolutely recommend Ed for writers stuck at a draft, or even part way through a draft, to help clarify the way forward and give you thoughtful and constructive feedback. Thanks Ed! Jessica Mansour-Nahra

Jessica Mansour-Nahra

Kate loved the workshop on Tuesday. I will keep an eye out for other workshops next school hols. (Expeditions and Explorers)

Kate

Improvements, I’ll say – Teah got full marks for her exam short story, That course has been fantastic for her. Thanks so much (HSC Essay Writing Workshop).

Barbara (Teah's Mum)

“that was the funnest thing I’ve done all holidays!” Through the Magic Door with Jess Black

Darcy

I had fun at the writing workshop and it helped me get a better mark on my persuasive writing test.

Kate

I chose Ed’s class because I wanted the discipline of 8 weeks of writing focus and to hook up with the local writing community. I got so much more than that. Ed is a genuinely generous teacher, a little quirky and incredibly knowledgeable. I loved our discussions, the challenge of the writing exercises and the guest workshops with successful published writers. I simply can’t wait until next term. I will definitely be back!!

Liane Morris

I thoroughly enjoyed the beginners writing course run by Ed Wright. In a supportive and relaxed atmosphere, I quickly learnt some basic building blocks of writing that years of reading about writing and personal dabbling hadn’t taught me. I am now more confident in working at my own writing.

Christine Bruderlin

Ed has been writing newsletters and updates for me for more than four years. He has the knack for turning phone conversations into clear, client-focused copy that showcases my expertise and generates sales inquiries. His strategic insights into communication and marketing have also helped me frame important conversations with clients and other stakeholders in my business.
Scott Pfeiffer, Owner Pfeiffer Property.

His deep knowledge of story and the craft of writing allows him to communicate with the writer on a very practical level. I found his advice to be invaluable, helping me develop my manuscript in a way that honoured the potential of the story without ever misrepresenting my intentions as a writer. More particularly, he always had a solution for any given problem as well as knowing how tobest use that most important of tools, the delete button. But of all the many things which recommend him, perhaps the most important is that he brings a reader’s love to his work. His enthusiasm for the written word is inspiring.

Ian Shadwell

Author of Slush Pile

As a qualified editor as well as published author and writing lecturer Dr Ed Wright is well equipped to not only edit the written word but also to give helpful advice. I found him easy to relate to from the very first meeting. He is encouraging, insightful and empathetic. Although he gave constructive criticism I always came away from our time together believing he was positive about the potential of my book. I have followed all his suggestions and believe that my writing is better because of them.

Ruth Myors

Author of When the Lights Go Out

It’s rare to find an editor with the eyes for the big picture
and
the glasses for the finish edit – Ed Wright is one such provider. He’ll improve your work by 10-20%.

Monte Dwyer

Author of The Egg Collector

The Advanced Novel Workshop really helped me to get valuable feedback on an early draft of my novel. I found workshopping in this environment allowed me to reflect on other participant’s input and how their suggestions may improve my work. Wendy’s practical advice was invaluable and will benefit my manuscript.

Ant Wood

author of Flamingo Charli

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We love words.

Writing, editing your writing and teaching writing to kids and adults are our talents and passions.