Language and literature - News and events

Events | Featured projects | Call for entries | Announcements

Events

Conversation with Melissa Cantwell - Perth

4 March 2010

An opportunity for playwrights and other theatre practitioners to hear from the Artistic Director of Perth Theatre Company (PTC). A wide ranging discussion and Q & A, exploring Melissa’s interests and influences, approaches to creating stories for theatre and her plans for PTC. The company will be moving to the new State Theatre Centre in Northbridge later in 2010. Australian Writers Guild, 196 Oxford St Leederville.

Adelaide Writers' Week - Adelaide

28 February – 5 March 2010

In 2010 Adelaide Writers' Week will build on traditions that have evolved over four decades, bringing together writers and readers in a series of readings, debates and exchanges. Known and respected established writers will be there alongside new writers with new writing. A mix of panel discussions, 'Meet the Author' sessions, lectures and readings will be included.

Writing History with Chris Cheng

18 April 2010

Historians are storytellers. They take a pile of raw data, old newspapers, shipping lists, or ephemera like theatre programs and ticket stubs, and they turn it into a tale. This workshop will investigate Australian history (although we will look at other international avenues as well) and is suitable for anybody who is interested in researching and writing historical fiction. NSW Writers' Centre, former Rozelle Hospital, Rozelle.

Goolwa Poetry Festival 2010 - Goolwa, South Australia

23–26 April 2010

The Australian Poetry Centre, in partnership with the Poets Union, is holding its signature poetry festival in Goolwa, which will include a startling line-up of poets renowned nationally and internationally. There will be surprise appearances by other guests and entertainers, hip hop artists, comics, a publisher’s market and a poetry slam, a teacher’s professional development day, workshops for children and adults, masterclasses, poetry linked with film, radio and stage and more.

Williamstown Literary Festival - Williamstown, Victoria

30 April – 2 May 2010

The Williamstown Literary Festival focuses on books, writing and drama and is produced by local volunteers. It is backed by Hobsons Bay Council and supported by Victoria University. It started as small local festival, and has grown and become known for its comic and sports panels. There is a strong focus on local participation. The annual Peoples' Choice awards showcase aspiring local writers and poets. The annual Ada Cambridge Short Story Prize gives local writers another opportunity. Various locations.

WordStorm, the Festival of Australasian Writing - Darwin

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.

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 Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas - Melbourne

December 2009

The Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas is the centrepiece of Melbourne's UNESCO City of Literature initiative. Opening in February 2010 in a newly renovated wing of the State Library of Victoria, the centre intends to be the hub for writers and Melbourne's key literary organisations. The centre will be responsible for programming a range of events across the year, with the first nine public events scheduled for February 2010 (starting with A Gala Night of Storytelling). Major events will be filmed and archived on the centre's content-rich website for online debate and discussion.

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

South Australian writers Varuna development consultations - Adelaide

Proposals by 15 February, event 24-26 February 2010

Peter Bishop of Varuna is in Adelaide from 24-26 February, offering major creative project direction and development consultations. Consultations are 40 minutes, cost $50 and by appointment. Places are limited. Successful applicants will be notified and offered appointment times. South Australian Writers Centre.

Queensland Poetry Festival - national

Expressions of interest by 3 March 2010

The 2010 Queensland Poetry Festival (QPF) invites proposals from poets and other performers and artists interested in being part of the 14th annual festival. QPF would like to hear from both individuals and groups for performances at the festival and for other projects in association with the festival. While all projects should have a relationship to poetic language, applications are encouraged from artists wishing to explore the relationship between poetry and other art forms.

Announcements

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

20 January 2010

Territory Read celebrates contemporary Northern Territory literature. Judges included Gail Jones (shortlisted 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). Six books from 17 entries were short-listed: Cassie by Barry Jonsberg (Allen and Unwin); Every Secret Thing by Marie Munkara (UQP); 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.

2009 Prime Minister's Literary Award winners

2 November 2009

The Boat by Nam Le, House of Exile: The Life and Times of Heinrich Mann and Nelly Kroeger-Mann by Evelyn Juers and Drawing the Global Colour Line by Marilyn Lake and Henry Reynolds have won the 2009 Prime Minister's Literary Awards.

Key online resources

Poets and poetry

• Australian Poetry Resources Internet Library (APRIL)
• Australian Poetry Centre

Writers centres

• Varuna, the Writers' House (national)
• NSW Writers' Centre
• Fellowship of Australian Writers (VIC)
• Tasmanian Writers' Centre
• South Australian Writers Centre
• Fellowship of Australian Writers (WA)
• Writing WA
• Northern Territory Writers' Centre
• Queensland Writers Centre
• Gold Coast Writers' Association
• Northern Rivers Writers' Centre

Indigenous languages writing

• Federation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages (FATSIL)
• Aboriginal Languages of Australia
• Magabala Indigenous language books

Women writers societies

• Society Of Women Writers (Australia) (1980 - 2000)
• Society of Women Writers, New South Wales (1925-)
• Society of Women Writers, Victoria
• Society Of Women Writers of Tasmania
• Society of Women Writers South Australia
• Society of Women Writers, WA
• Society of Women Writers, Queensland Inc

Writers' festivals

• Emerging Writers' Festival (May)
• Sydney Writers' Festival (May/June)
• Noosa Long Weekend 2007 (June)
• Mildura Writers Festival (July)
• Byron Bay Writers Festival (July)
• The Age Melbourne Writers Festival (August/September)
• Brisbane Writers Festival (September)

Collection resources and online publications

• Jacket Magazine
• Red Room Company - poetry promotion and distribution
• The Complete Review
• Thylazine : The Australian Journal of Arts, Ethics & Literature
• Writers Now Online

Institutions and government organisations

• Australian Libraries Gateway
• National Library of Australia
• The Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas (Melbourne's UNESCO City of Literature)

Peak bodies and associations

• Australian Society of Authors
• Copyright Agency Limited
• Australian Children's Book Council (CBC)
• Australian Writers Guild (The AWG is the professional association for all performance writers, that is, writers for film, television, radio, theatre, video and multi media)
• Playwriting Australia

People

• Sleepers - advocates for writers
• The Angry Penguins
• Henry Lawson

Featured websites/projects

• Word Map
• Lightning Bug
• Project Gutenberg