Stop. Grammar Time.
Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words
‘I seem to have been out of school the year the rules were mentioned.’ Do you know who said that? No, it wasn’t you. It was Joan Didion. Everyone stresses about writing. The Good Copy school is a place to get together and think about it. From editorial to ad copy, syntax to style, we explore grammar basics and writing tactics in a clear, practical and fun way. Open to writers of all stripes.
The course is taught with reference to real-world examples that are both hilarious and insightful. My eyes are now wide open to inappropriate quote mark usage in my day-to-day life.
—Rachel Elliot-Jones, Assemble
Courses
Stop. Grammar Time.
Most of us drive cars without knowing how to fix them. To paraphrase a great nerd, knowing English grammar and knowing about English grammar are two different things as well. This course is for people who’d like to take a look under the bonnet.
Learn how to see a sentence’s spine, wield your commas with confidence, adjudicate apostrophe arguments and revive zombie nouns.
Another great nerd once said, ‘Grammar is not just a pain in the ass; it’s the pole you grab to get your thoughts up on their feet and walking.’ In our experience, a bit of structural know-how, punctuating prowess and style-manual savvy can take the stress out of everyday writing.
1. What is a clause? What is a phrase?
The ins and outs of English syntax
2. Sticks and dots
Punctuation and how it works
3. Style and decisions
Using style guides and building your own
4. Real-world editing
Curly questions and common errors
All this and more. We’ll keep you pepped up with piping-hot coffee and madcap grammar- and punctuation-themed clips and songs. We’ll even throw in a jet-black fashion tote bag and a commemorative woven patch. Stop. Grammar Time. is presented by top-gun editor and writer Penny Modra.
Calendar
Stop. Grammar Time.
MEL
Two-day intensive
20, 21 October
Sold Out
Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Friday 20 and Saturday 21 October 2017, 10am–4pm each day, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood. Enrolments close Wednesday 18 October.
All prices include GST.
Stop. Grammar Time.
MEL
One-day class
18 November
$350.00
Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Saturday 18 November 2017, 9am–5.30pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood. Enrolments close Thursday 16 November.
All prices include GST.
Stop. Grammar Time.
SYD
One-day class
25 November
$300.00
Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Saturday 25 November 2017, 9am–5.30pm, at the Walkley Foundation, 245 Chalmers Street, Redfern.
All prices include GST. MEAA members: enter your discount code at checkout to receive 15% off. Any questions? Email school@thegoodcopy.com.au.
Stop. Grammar Time.
MEL
One-day class
9 December
$350.00
Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Saturday 9 December 2017, 9am–5.30pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood. Enrolments close Thursday 7 December.
All prices include GST.
FAQ
Can you run a course at my work?
Yes! Click on over to our services page to find out how.
English is my second language. Is that a problem?
You will need to be fluent in English to get the most out of our classes.
Do I need to know grammar already?
No! Well, a bit. But not really! We recap the basic terms, learn new ones and layer them all as we go.
Okay, but I don’t even remember what conjunctions are. Is that a problem?
That’s not a problem, because we’ll look at what they are and what they can do.
I want to be an editor. Will your courses help me get there?
Stop. Grammar Time. will introduce you to the world of editing. We cover the basics of English syntax, discuss usage and style, and explore a few real-world editing tactics.
Where do you hold your classes?
We most often hold our Melbourne classes at our Good Copy HQ, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood—but we sometimes pop up elsewhere in the metropolitan area. Keep an eye on our calendar. We most often hold our Sydney classes at the Walkley Foundation, 245 Chalmers Street, Redfern.
What happens if I can’t make it to class?
We’ll miss you. But we’ll also happily transfer you into an upcoming class or offer you a full refund. Email Meredith at school@thegoodcopy.com.au as soon as you know you can’t make it, and she’ll help you out.
Can I enrol someone else?
Yes. You can enrol anyone you know—a friend, a colleague or three—into any of our upcoming classes. While we tinker with our website to make this easier for you, please email school@thegoodcopy.com.au with the students’ details and their preferred class, and we’ll enrol them the manual way. We can even create an invoice for you, if you’d prefer to pay on terms.
Write Right
Tactics for planning, briefing, editing and just plain writing better writing
Write Right
Kurt Vonnegut once said that literature shouldn’t ‘disappear up its own asshole’. Neither should a feature article, really—or a social media caption, or a web page, or an email. Which is a long-winded way of saying that all good writing is the same in important ways.
Thanks, Kurt. But how? Working through the process from first thoughts to final edits, Write Right explores the bad and thinks about the good. The course structure suggests a process for planning, drafting and editing that confronts both the obvious and the less-examined barriers to good writing.
1. Know why you’re saying something
Ideas, objectives and readers
2. Find something to say
Nuggets, images and originality
3. Be okay with saying it
Tone, cliché, formality and jargon
4. Say it
Structure, openers and the first draft
5. Say it with style
Style guides, consistency and common decisions
6. Grammar and punctuation
Tips for good editing and active writing
A four-hour course for editorial freelancers, marketing copywriters, emailers and people who like thinking about writing. Classes are held at The Good Copy’s HQ in Collingwood and taught by top-gun writer, editor and worrier Penny Modra.
Calendar
Write Right
MEL
Half-day class
4 November
$275.00
From editorial to ad copy: tactics and tips for planning, briefing, editing and just plain writing great writing. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Saturday 4 November, 9.30am–1.30pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
All prices include GST.
Write Right
MEL
Half-day class
1 December
$275.00
From editorial to ad copy: tactics and tips for planning, briefing, editing and just plain writing great writing. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Friday 1 December, 1.30–5.30pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
All prices include GST.
FAQ
Can you run a course at my work?
Yes! Click on over to our services page to find out how.
English is my second language. Is that a problem?
You will need to be fluent in English to get the most out of our classes.
I’m not trained as a writer. Does that matter?
Not at all. The course is for anyone who wants to examine their writing process. We focus on tone, clarity and consideration for the reader. The content is geared towards copywriting for brands and businesses but we address many other non-fiction contexts: features, reviews, essays, reports and emails. You definitely don’t need to know about grammar or style; we’ll assume no knowledge when we cover these topics in class.
Where do you hold your classes?
We most often hold our Melbourne classes at our Good Copy HQ, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood—but we sometimes pop up elsewhere in the metropolitan area. Keep an eye on our calendar. We most often hold our Sydney classes at the Walkley Foundation, 245 Chalmers Street, Redfern.
What happens if I can’t make it to class?
We’ll miss you. But we’ll also happily transfer you into an upcoming class or offer you a full refund. Email Meredith at school@thegoodcopy.com.au as soon as you know you can’t make it, and she’ll help you out.
Can I enrol someone else?
Yes. You can enrol anyone you know—a friend, a colleague or three—into any of our upcoming classes. While we tinker with our website to make this easier for you, please email school@thegoodcopy.com.au with the students’ details and their preferred class, and we’ll enrol them the manual way. We can even create an invoice for you, if you’d prefer to pay on terms.
Calendar
Stop. Grammar Time.
MEL
Two-day intensive
20, 21 October
Sold Out
Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Friday 20 and Saturday 21 October 2017, 10am–4pm each day, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood. Enrolments close Wednesday 18 October.
All prices include GST.
Write Right
MEL
Half-day class
4 November
$275.00
From editorial to ad copy: tactics and tips for planning, briefing, editing and just plain writing great writing. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Saturday 4 November, 9.30am–1.30pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
All prices include GST.
The Active Voice
MEL
Workshop
15 November
$30.00
We spend most of our lives being told to write in the active voice. What does that mean, though? Come to our workshop at NIDA and find out! Wine will be provided. Just a little active-voice joke for you there. NIDA will provide wine. Thanks, guys. This is the first cab off the rank in the NIDAnights series.
Runs Wednesday 15 November 2017, 6.30–8pm, at NIDA Melbourne, Suite 4, 152 Sturt Street, Southbank.
Runs Wednesday 15 November 2017, 6.30–8pm, at NIDA Melbourne, Suite 4, 152 Sturt Street, Southbank.
Stop. Grammar Time.
MEL
One-day class
18 November
$350.00
Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Saturday 18 November 2017, 9am–5.30pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood. Enrolments close Thursday 16 November.
All prices include GST.
Stop. Grammar Time.
SYD
One-day class
25 November
$300.00
Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Saturday 25 November 2017, 9am–5.30pm, at the Walkley Foundation, 245 Chalmers Street, Redfern.
All prices include GST. MEAA members: enter your discount code at checkout to receive 15% off. Any questions? Email school@thegoodcopy.com.au.
Write Right
MEL
Half-day class
1 December
$275.00
From editorial to ad copy: tactics and tips for planning, briefing, editing and just plain writing great writing. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Friday 1 December, 1.30–5.30pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood.
All prices include GST.
Stop. Grammar Time.
MEL
One-day class
9 December
$350.00
Nuts-and-bolts punctuation and grammar for everyone who uses words. Visit the course page to find out more.
Runs Saturday 9 December 2017, 9am–5.30pm, at The Good Copy, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood. Enrolments close Thursday 7 December.
All prices include GST.
FAQ
Can you run a course at my work?
Yes! Click on over to our services page to find out how.
Where do you hold your classes?
We most often hold our Melbourne classes at our Good Copy HQ, 19–21 Johnston Street, Collingwood—but we sometimes pop up elsewhere in the metropolitan area. Keep an eye on our calendar. We most often hold our Sydney classes at the Walkley Foundation, 245 Chalmers Street, Redfern.
English is my second language. Is that a problem?
You will need to be fluent in English to get the most out of our classes.
I want to be an editor. Will your courses help me get there?
Stop. Grammar Time. will introduce you to the world of editing. We cover the basics of English syntax, discuss usage and style, and explore a few real-world editing tactics.
Can I enrol someone else?
Yes. You can enrol anyone you know—a friend, a colleague or three—into any of our upcoming classes. While we tinker with our website to make this easier for you, please email school@thegoodcopy.com.au with the students’ details and their preferred class, and we’ll enrol them the manual way. We can even create an invoice for you, if you’d prefer to pay on terms.
Can I buy my friend an enrolment for their birthday, even though I don’t know which class suits them?
You can, you ol’ softie. Simply email Meredith at school@thegoodcopy.com.au and she’ll help you out. We can even snail-mail you a letterpress-printed voucher, if you’d like.
What happens if I can’t make it to class?
We’ll miss you. But we’ll also happily transfer you into an upcoming class or offer you a full refund. Email Meredith at school@thegoodcopy.com.au as soon as you know you can’t make it, and she’ll help you out.