The Business of Writing with Maxine Beneba Clarke is an online writing course presented by Faber Writing Academy.
How do you turn your creative passion for writing into a sustainable, professional career? How do you protect your work, understand your legal rights, and successfully navigate the modern publishing industry in Australia?
Join established author and experienced industry insider, Maxine Beneba Clarke, for this practical course designed to make the business of writing that little bit easier to navigate.
In The Business of Writing, you will explore the essential industry skills every author needs – how to: negotiate book deals; identify areas of concern in a publishing contract; pitch for journalism work, commissions, and books; protect your work in a digital environment; and write effective grant applications. You will also learn how to build an online presence, market and publicise your work, and successfully prepare for media interviews, writers’ festivals, school visits, and library events.
Crucial professional knowledge will be unpacked and discussed, including how to make the most of networking opportunities, manage your taxes as an artistic sole trader, and optimise subsidiary incomes like Public Lending Rights (PLR) and Educational Lending Rights (ELR). In a warm and practical environment, you will be equipped with the tools, confidence, and commercial insight needed to build a thriving career across books, media, and public appearances.
By the end of the course you will:
- Have gained a thorough understanding of publishing contracts and book deal negotiations;
- Learned how to pitch confidently to publishers, festivals, schools, and media outlets;
- Mastered the fundamentals of marketing your work and building a professional online profile;
- Extended your knowledge of managing a writing career as a sustainable sole-trader business.
Your course includes:
- Interactive classes led by established author Maxine Beneba Clarke;
- Practical guides on contracts, grant writing templates, and pitching frameworks;
- Expert advice on artistic tax concessions, royalties, and lending rights;
- Tailored feedback on your promotional or project pitching materials;
- On completion of the course, alumni discounts on future Faber Writing Academy courses and books from the Allen & Unwin website.
