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Writers’ website flies off the page
A website designed to give University of the Sunshine Coast students an edge in the publishing game has already attracted the likes of bestselling authors Kate Forsyth (fantasy) and Jack Dann (speculative fiction).
Within months of operating, Scriber Space (www.scriber-space.com) has been upgraded to an interactive site with social networking facilities such as Twitter, Facebook, chat and internal email.
Founding member Naomi Stekelenburg, who’s studying a Masters of Communication, said the new facilities would help creative writing students build professional profiles as well as learn from other writers around the world.
“We’ve got internationally successful authors as well as publishing companies following us now,” said Naomi, who also tutors.
“As our membership grows, Scriber Space can spread its tentacles to people who may give the students jobs or publish and sell their work.”
She said many creative writers were introspective so encouragement from online mentors about uploaded material could be invaluable.
“By the end of the year we hope to publish a podcast of student work using the audio facility, rather than a hard copy anthology.”
Fellow founding member Lynne Lumsden Green, who’s doing an arts degree, said the website was developing a sense of community among writers.
“We want to promote the quality of writing on the site so when the big names pop in they can see the standard of USC student work,” said Lynne (pictured centre with Naomi, left, and fellow writer Ben Conquest).
The ambitious mum from Buderim, who has a science degree in zoology, said she had published short stories “but I’m living in hope of publishing a creative non-fiction or fantasy novel”.
USC lecturer Greg Nash said the site was deliberately run by students for students, rather than led by academics.
“This has blown into something a lot bigger than we first thought,” he said.
“We’re achieving everything we set out to. Scriber Space students have been interviewing authors for the Reality Bites non-fiction festival on the Coast.
“Our intention was to create a community on the Sunshine Coast but the students are making a name for themselves.”
– Julie Gatehouse