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Events

WordStorm, the Festival of Australasian Writing - Darwin

Alice Pung

Alice Pung. Image courtesy of Wordstorm.

12–16 May 2010

Wordstorm has a unique place in Australia's writers' festival scene, with its strong focus on Indigenous and South East Asian writers. It's a festival that talks to, and about, the region it inhabits. Wordstorm 2010 features Australian writers who delve into Australian-Asian relations, such as Alice Pung and Patrick Allington, Jill Jolliffe and Tony Maniaty. Other Australian literary icons including Tim Flannery, Arnold Zable, Nicolas Rothwell and Robert Adamson will take you on journeys into the heart of what matters. Indigenous writers will be packing a punch this year with the likes of Professor Marcia Langton, Archie ‘Day of the Dog’ Weller and the legendary Alexis Wright. Northern Territory Writers' Centre

Sydney Writers' Festival Blue Mountains Program - Katoomba, New South Wales

16–18 May 2010

The program will include fiction, biography, memoir, environmental history, travel and current affairs writing. Hosted by Varuna, the Writers' House and the Sydney Writers' Festival. Carrington Hotel, Katoomba.

2010 Sydney Writers' Festival - Sydney and regional areas, New South Wales

17–23 May 2010

Sydney Writers' Festival has a wide-ranging program curated from hundreds of requests and pitches every year from a range of people and organisations as well as invited guests with over 350 plus events taking place in Sydney and throughout New South Wales. The art of storytelling in fine fiction and poetry is celebrated across all forms. Political and environmental issues are debated, together with globalisation and current affairs. Chip Rolley has been appointed to the position of Artistic Director for the 2010 Sydney Writers' Festival. The full program will be published on 10 April 2010. Venues in Sydney: Pier 4/5 and Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay; City Recital Hall, Sydney Opera House and The Mint. Regional and suburban: Parramatta, Ashfield, Blacktown, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Penrith, the Blue Mountains, Newcastle and Wollongong.

Scriptwriting for film and TV with Greg Waters - Sydney

7–28 April, 5–26 May 2010

Storytelling for the screen has its own rules, conventions and craft skills. This practical course teaches elements of screenwriting craft while developing students’ work. Come with an idea, an outline or even a draft and put class teaching into effect while improving your story on the spot. NSW Writers' Centre, former Rozelle Hospital, Rozelle.

2010 Emerging Writers' Festival - Melbourne

21–30 May 2010

The Emerging Writers' Festival exists to promote the interests of emerging writers—to improve their opportunities for professional development and their engagement with the broader public. The festival mixes emerging literary professionals with more established writers to forge a better understanding between the past and future of Australian writing, and to bring a high level of intellectual endeavour to all the festival's activities.

Selling That Book Publishing Workshop - Greenmount, Western Australia

12 June 2010

Thinking of self-publishing, or helping your publisher sell more of your book? Publisher Dr David Reiter cuts through the myths about publishing to reveal strategies for ensuring your book has the best chance of selling out its first edition, and beyond. Find out how to identify your audiences and then match your writing to what they want. Katharine Susannah Prichard (KSP) Writers' Centre.

The Children's Book Council of Australia New South Wales Conference - Sydney

Jackie French

Jackie French. Image courtesy of The Children's Book Council of Australia New South Wales Conference.

18–19 June 2010

The Children's Book Council of Australia New South Wales Conference is entitled Imagine This! Imagine That! It will explore the following matters: Since the impact of technology means picture books are not just for children, what will be the impact of the internet? Will it change books? Has this changed books/book sales? Can authors, illustrators and publishers use this medium to enhance books? Is a good story still the most important component? How do authors and illustrators do it? The conference provides the opportunity to meet some of Australia's leading authors and illustrators in the field of children's literature and hear their thoughts; and to share ideas and practices within the children's book community. Menzies Hotel, Sydney.

The Torquay Froth and bubble Literary Festival - Torquay, Victoria

19 June 2010 – 20 June 2010

A weekend of hands-on literature in Torquay. Visitors can discover Torquay's literary scene where writers, poets, actors, language and history groups mix together in schools, cafes and halls. The Torquay Froth and bubble Literary Festival is presented by the Adam Lindsay Gordon Commemorative Committee Inc.

Mildura Writers' Festival - Mildura

15–18 July 2010

The 16th festival will include Stephen Sartarelli (France), Kate Jennings (New York), Robert Gray, Don Watson, Morag Fraser and Les Murray, among a varied group of writers participating.

Byron Bay Writers Festival - Byron Bay, New South Wales

6–8 August 2010

The Byron Bay Writers Festival had its beginnings in 1997. Since then, the Festival has grown from a single venue event to fill four huge marquees and venues around town and sells 45,000 individual tickets. The focus of the program is firmly on Australian writing, with recognition of our physical place in the world through the inclusion of Indonesian and Asian authors. Over a hundred writers and thinkers will take part in this celebration of Australian writing. Belongil Fields.

Meet the Author - Dianne Woolfer - Greenmount, Western Australia

26 September 2010

Dianne Woolfer's book Lighthouse Girl brings to life the hardships of those left at home during the war - waiting, wondering, hoping. Drawing on fascinating archival material, and interweaving fact with fiction, Wolfer deftly recreates this period in Australian history from the perspective of a young girl. Photographs in the Mud was inspired by a research trip along the Kokoda Track in 2002. Dianne Wolfer is the author of 12 books for teenagers and younger readers. Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers' Centre.

Queensland Writers Centre, Year of the Writer 2010 masterclass series - Brisbane and online

Various dates, February – November 2010

Year of the Writer is a suite of masterclass series designed to assist any writer who is undertaking the enormous and dedicated task of writing a novel. Year of the Novel: five progressive workshops show how to overcome obstacles and keep writing. Feedback is given as a manuscript develops, individual masterclass sessions focus on narrative structure, characterisation, developing voice and self-editing. An online group for the class allows contact between class members. Year of the Edit: five progressive masterclasses develop skills in structural editing, expression, grammar, style and group critique. Peers provide critique during the series and the tutor assists in outlining the strengths and potential in submitted work.

Featured projects

The Reader, a resource for emerging writers - national

March 2010

The Reader is a resource for emerging writers, a 'how-to' of advice and information, a collection of stories and experiences from both established and emerging writers, publishers, editors and other literary movers and shakers. The Reader is a new collection edited by Dion Kagan and published by the Emerging Writers' Festival. The Reader combines highlights of the 2009 festival with general writing information and new creative works across various writing forms.

Westerly Centre - Perth

February 2010

The Westerly Centre is a research centre at the University of Western Australia. Its aim is to stimulate and coordinate research and publication in Australian and Asian writing: poetry, fiction (short stories and novels), drama, script writing, life writing (autobiography, biography and other forms, including ficto-criticism), and literary and cultural criticism. It is the leading research centre on links between Australian and Asian literary cultures and also a publisher of emerging Western Australian poets.

IAD Press Indigenous language dictionaries

Ongoing

The Institute for Aboriginal Development (IAD) press presents a list of dictionaries and language resources covering several Indigenous languages. Indigenous languages included are Alyawarr, Anmatyerr, Arrernte, Gamilaraay Yuwaalaraay, Kaytetye, Ngaanyatjarra & Ngaatjatjarra, Pintupi Luritja, Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara, Warlpiri, and Warumungu.

Call for entries

2010 Queensland Premier's Literary Awards - Queensland

Entries by 10 May 2010

The Queensland Premier's Literary Awards celebrate writing excellence across 14 genres, including those for unpublished authors. It is a fantastic opportunity for both budding writers and established authors alike, to continue their craft of writing and gain national recognition. There is $225,000 in prize money to be won over 14 categories including Fiction Book Award ($25,000), the Emerging Queensland Author—Manuscript Award, and the Unpublished Indigenous Writer—Arts Queensland David Unaipon Award ($15,000).

The Richard Burton Award for New Plays - national

Entries by 2 July 2010

Sally Burton and her company, Onward Production, in association with Black Swan present the Richard Burton Award for New Plays. The award will be given annually to works that have not yet had a professional production. The award will have a prize pool of $30,000. The play must have been written in the 12 months leading up to the closing date of the award. Entrants must be 21 years of age by July 2nd 2010. The award is open to all Australian citizens or recognised Australian Residents. Winners will be announced at Black Swan's 2011 season launch in October 2010.

T.A.G. Hungerford Award 2010 - Western Australia

Entries by 30 July 2010

The 2010 T.A.G. Hungerford Award is calling for submissions of unpublished, original manuscripts only, of at least 50,000 words. The manuscripts must be in English and may be a novel, novella, collection of short fiction, or a work of creative non-fiction, by a resident West Australian author not previously published in book form. In 2010 the award will offer an increased prize pool, and be expanded to include manuscripts from the creative non-fiction genre as well as the fiction genre.

Announcements

2010 Territory Read: NT Book of the Year winner announced - Darwin

12 February 2010

The winner of the 2010 Territory Read NT Book of the Year is Marie Munkara's Every Secret Thing. Territory Read celebrates contemporary Northern Territory literature. Judges included Gail Jones (short-listed for the Man Booker Prize), Steve Grimwade (Director of the Melbourne Writers Festival), Yvette Holt (University of Queensland lecturer and poet), Mark Mcleod (acclaimed publisher of children’s literature) and Sandra Thibodeaux (poet, playwright and the Executive Officer of the NT Writers Centre). Other short-listed entries were: Cassie by Barry Jonsberg (Allen and Unwin); Listen Deeply, let these stories in by Kathleen Kemarre Wallace and Judy Lovell (IAD Press); My Private Pectus by Shane Thamm (Ford St Publishing); The Devil you Know by Leonie Norrington (Allen and Unwin); and The Red Highway by Nicolas Rothwell  (Black Inc Books). Northern Territory Writers' Centre.

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