What a week, what a week. Last week was nonstop - there is so much going on right now, with festivals, competitions, workshops - and this week promises to be nothing less than brilliant.  Here at Vibewire.net, we aim to set you guys up with not only a showcase for your creative minds, but also with a baseless list of opportunities happening around the country. That's why our Fiction Editor compiles a Round Up as often as she can, with a national look at what's going on; it's why we do this weekly column, to incite excitement within the creative community and let you all know of what's out there. It is so important that you take advantage of every opportunity you can. Free workshops, seminars, competitions - they're everywhere and you need to get involved. If you want to further yourself and/or your career as a writer, everything you need is right here. As much as we'd love to spoon feed you, we'll leave it up to you to peruse the site. News is always in Commnunity (down the bottom of our section, or on the Vibewire.net homepage) and the Round Up is in the Writing section of this page. And of course, if you have any questions, or know of anything happening then there is only one email address you need to know - create@vibewire.net

So, hopping down off my soapbox, here is what you need to know this week ...

COMPETITION CONTINUES

You guys are certainly excited to finally have a competition to call your own, if the amount of email interest is anything to go by. Last week the word was EXPLODE and that generated some spur-of-the-moment responses that we loved. This week there is a NEW Word of the Week, which will be published in the Writing column. The month of May is well and truly underway, so all submissions are instantly eligible. Please put 'Creative Competition Entry' in the title when you submit your piece, we'll take care of the rest. Check out the prizes up for grabs in Eyes on the Prize.

ONE MORE WRITER NEEDED PLEASE

We're on the hunt for one more writer to cover a final session of The Sydney Writer's Festival. Please email create@vibewire.net with your expression of interest and two samples of work by the end of this week. The Managing Editor will be in touch with further details.

WORD OF THE WEEK

It's new, it's bizarre and it's your golden ticket to enter into the Vibewire Creative Writing Competition. This week, you will find the new WOW in the Writing column. Get busy.

EMERGING WRITERS FESTIVAL

Is happening in Melbourne this year. The Reading Room competition is publishing the Final 10 Honourable Mentions at www.artshub.com.au so check them out. And if you live in Melbourne, or fancy a weekend of coffee, shopping and all things wordy, then schedule in the Emerging Writers Festival. Where else would an Emerging Writer be? Check out further details at www.emergingwritersfestival.org

HELPFUL HINT

It's a short one this week, and it may seem fairly obvious. But you would be surprised how many writers fall into the trap of not knowing their narrator, or his/her responsibilities. The more you know your narrator, the stronger your story and your writing. 

'The narrator is the teller of the story. You invent the narrator just as you invent a character. You might want your narrator to be an Italian grandmother, or an Israeli taxi driver or an autistic child. Even if the narrator is much like yourself, you still need to make decisions about voice style, how much your narrator will know about each character, and how insightful you want that narrator to be.'

Copyright Jerome Stern, Making Shapely Fiction, 1991

As always, questions, comments, and love must be directed to create@vibewire.net - don't be shy.

Much love,

The Creative Team