Writers' events
Events
Welcome to the Good Reading Events Calendar for writers! Here you'll find writing-related events near you. From festivals, exhibitions, writing competitions to talks and interesting courses, there's always something happening in the writing world.
| Short Story Lab by Email with Julie Chevalier | Australia Wide: Australia Wide |
N/A, 04-Feb-2010
to 20-May-2010
Want to write short stories but can’t make it to a course or workshop? Need individual feedback on your work without leaving the house? Join widely published writer and teacher Julie Chevalier for an online, interactive short story writing course. This is a lab where you can experiment. Every three weeks you will receive an exercise and excerpts from short stories (by writers such as Ernest Hemingway, Alice Munro, Pam Houston and Tina Lupton) and related materials by e-mail. Explore the materials, write a portion of your short story in response to the exercises, and e-mail three pages to the tutor. Then you receive the next materials, and the tutor’s constructive comments. At the conclusion the tutor will provide comments on your 3,000 word short story. Full price is $450. Click for bookings.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| Saturday Playwright's Course with Timothy Daly | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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1pm - 4pm, 06-Feb-2010
to 17-Apr-2010
In 2010, the NSW Writers’ Centre will be the venue for a year-long, 30-session intensive course and play workshop that takes you from start to finish, conducted by one of Australia’s most experienced teachers of writing, multi-award winning playwright Timothy Daly. The Saturday Playwrights’ Course is suitable both for beginners and more experienced writers wishing to use the weekly deadlines as a structure by which to finish a full-length play. How the Course Works: Each week you will receive extensive notes, along with creative writing exercises which Timothy Daly has devised over his many years of teaching. The first half of each session is devoted to the learning of new writing concepts, and the second half will involve reading, workshopping and analysis of your developing plays and creative exercises. The emphasis is on learning the techniques of theatre writing by seeing the results of your work acted out in front of you every week. This course will run in three 10-week phases spread over 2010. You can join for a phase or two only, or commit to the entire course. Phase one begins Saturday 6 February and runs until Saturday 17 April, 1pm - 4pm. Full price $850. Discount of 30% for NSW Writers' Centre members. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| Society of Women Writers NSW Lunch | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
12pm for 12..30pm, 10-Feb-2010
State Library of NSW
Come early and join us for a workshop between 10am and 12pm with Dr Patricia Gaut on 'The simplicity and the complexity of the Winning Story'.
Tel: Eunice 9959 5568 or Margo 9153 0621) |
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| Publishing in the 21st Century | VIC: Melbourne - CBD |
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8.15am to 5.10pm, 15-Feb-2010
The Digital Revolution: Publishing in the 21st Century.
Tel: 02 9281 9788 |
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| Publishing in the 21st Century | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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8.15 to 5.10pm, 17-Feb-2010
The Digital Revolution: Publishing in the 21st Century. What’s happening globally to the publishing industry in the new digital era? What opportunities are being created for Australian publishers and writers through advances in digital technology? What skills will publishers need to embrace the new digital world? Will e-books replace traditional print books? What are readers doing and what do they want?
Tel: 02 9281 9788 |
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| Writing About Food with John Newton | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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10am - 3pm, 21-Feb-2010
to 07-Mar-2010
Ever fancied becoming a restaurant reviewer? Respected food journalist and freelance writer John Newton returns by popular demand in 2010 with a broad appeal to those with or without food writing experience. In this UTS accredited course participants will explore and discuss a range of Australian and international texts – history, journalism, recipes and writing by chefs on all aspects of food in society (taste, social implications of food and food policy and agriculture in society), and a component of critical writing especially as it relates to restaurant criticism. John Newton has taught this popular course previously, and there have been a number of success stories among his students, some of whom have gone on to write for newspapers and journals. Examples of previous students' work can be found online at http://eatourwords.wordpress.com/ Course will run over three Sundays from 10am - 3pm. Full price $405. Discount of 30% for NSW Writers' Centre members. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 02 9555 9757 |
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| Creativity, memory and feeling-pathways to writing | NSW: Rest of NSW |
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Friday evening (26th Feb) until Feb 28th, 26-Feb-2010
to 28-Feb-2010
The Brahma Kumaris Retreat Centre, Wilton, NSW Creativity, memory and feeling – pathways to writing your life story, a residential weekend retreat with Beth Yahp Delicious vegetarian meals included * places limited to 20 participants This course is equally for the beginner or the more advanced chroniclers of their life stories, who may feel blocked from their creative flow. Through short presentations, discussion of readings, writing exercises and workshopping, this in-depth non-confrontational residential workshop looks at ways to invite creativity back into our lives, and to explore, gather and shape our ‘moments of being’ into a story for ourselves, or for others. As well as thematic ideas and prompts to trigger our writing, we’ll look at foundational writing craft: selection, description, character, point-of-view, and how to use these to bring our lives alive on the page. $480 per person (including twin-share accommodation and meals)
Tel: 02 8005 0978 |
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| Show Me the Story! with Deonie Fiford | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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10am - 4pm, 27-Feb-2010
Ever been told that your writing needs to show, not tell? In publishing, this is one of the main criticisms of rejected manuscripts. ‘Show don’t tell’ is one of the first and most essential rules of good writing of all styles and genres. Yet many otherwise excellent writers find it a struggle. Many of us have heard the criticism that you’re ‘telling’ the reader the story rather than ‘showing’ them. But what does this really mean and how do you ‘show’ your story to best effect? This workshop will help developing writers gain the skills and confidence to not only show their story, but make it shine. Deonie Fiford has over ten years’ experience as a senior editor, working for some of Australia’s leading publishing houses including Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster. Together with Deonie. we’ll examine the difference between ‘telling’ and ‘showing’ with real examples. We’ll look at the advantages and disadvantages of both, including the use of ‘telling’ to create narrative pace and the use of ‘showing’ to engage the reader. Participants will be able to see how showing can have a dramatic effect on the reader’s enjoyment of a work and increase the chances of publication. Full price $140. Discount of 30% available for NSW Writers' Centre members. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| Perth Writers Festival: An evening of readings | WA: Perth - CBD |
6.30 pm, 27-Feb-2010
University of Western Australia, Perth Be mesmerised by ‘the writer's voice’ in this wonderful evening of readings by a selection of our international stars: Marina Endicott, Patrick Gale, Elizabeth Kostova, Tom Rachman and Salley Vickers. Chair: Geraldine Mellet
Tel: 08 6488 2000 |
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| Adelaide Writers' Week | SA: Adelaide - CBD |
Various sessions times, 28-Feb-2010
to 05-Mar-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 stimulating readings, debates and exchanges. Old friends, writers known and respected, will be there alongside new writers with new writing. The popular mix of panel discussions, 'Meet the Author' sessions, lectures and readings will be included.
Tel: 08 8216 4444 |
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| See Richard Dawkins - The Greatest Show on Earth | QLD: Brisbane |
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6pm for 6.30pm, 04-Mar-2010
Richard Dawkins has written about evolution before, but none of his books discussed the evidence that evolution actually happened. The Greatest Show on Earth comes at a critical time: systematic opposition to the fact of evolution is now ourishing as never before, especially in America, where a recent survey conducted by Gallup revealed that 44% of the respondents believed that God created humans in their present form at some point within the last 10,000 years. Richard Dawkins’s recent phenomenal bestseller, The God Delusion, has become an iconic book for our time, topping bestseller lists throughout the world. He was rst catapulted to fame with The Selfish Gene. Dawkins is a Fellow of both the Royal Society and the Royal Society of Literature. He is the recipient of numerous honours and awards, including the Royal Society of Literature Award (1987), the Michael Faraday Award of the Royal Society (1990), the International Cosmos Prize for Achievement in Human Science (1997), the Kistler Prize (2001), the Shakespeare Prize (2005), the Lewis Thomas Prize for Writing about Science (2006), the Galaxy British Book of the Year Award (2007), and the Nierenberg Prize for Science and the Public Interest (2009). He retired from his position as the Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University in 2008 and remains a fellow of New College. BBB are proud to be hosting this event in association with Brisbane Writers Festival and QPAC.
Tel: 136 246 |
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| Meet Richard Dawkins | VIC: Melbourne - CBD |
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7pm, 05-Mar-2010
to 12-Mar-2010
Richard Dawkins is the world's pre-eminent science writer, an evolutionary biologist and an outspoken atheist. Join 'Darwin's pitbull' for this premier event, as he takes on the creationists and all those who question evolution through natural selection.
Tel: Visit website for more details |
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| Blood, Boggarts and Battlestars with Margo Lanagan | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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10am - 4pm, 06-Mar-2010
Come and dig around in the three genres that make up spec fic today: science fiction, fantasy and horror. You can go anywhere in science fiction; just ask Margaret Atwood. And fantasy will take you places you only ever dreamed of; Stephanie Meyer will tell you that. As for horror, there are no holds barred there; learn to turn readers’ stomachs along with the darkest of dark Palahniuk. First we’ll loosen up with some fast writing, unconfined by plot and form. Then we’ll put ourselves through a series of longer exercises, exploring some of the classic scenes, characters and plot devices in SF/F/H stories. <!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--> This workshop will be a learn-by-doing experience. There won’t be a lot of theory; instead I’ll send you off into space, or the dark forest, or into the murderer’s arms, to see what you encounter, to see what you find and bring back. Let’s push our brains out of their day-to-day shape. Let’s experiment with the sorts of questions, dark and bright, funny, tragic and mysterious, that can only be asked within these three genres. Run over one Saturday from 10am - 4pm. Full price $140. Discounts available for NSW Writers' Centre members. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| First Line - First Draft - Final Poem | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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10am - 4pm, 07-Mar-2010
A poetry workshop tailored for poets who are just beginning to write or just beginning to submit their work for publication. Through practical exercises and discussion the workshop will consider issues such as: what a poem is and what it can do; how to make and turn a line; how to say it with sound and say it with image; how to say it ‘straight’ and say it ‘slant’; how to move from draft to draft to ‘finished’ poem; how to check your finished poem for problems. Participants should bring 10 copies of one of their poems (max 32 lines) to discuss in a friendly, supportive environment. The workshop will conclude with information about poetry groups, organisations, journals and publishers. Run over one Sunday, 10am - 4pm. Full price $140. Discounts available for NSW Writers' Centre members. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| Plotting, Planning and Avoiding Soggy Bits | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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10am - 4pm, 07-Mar-2010
Plotting is the backbone of your story – no matter what your genre. This workshop will explore the different methods of plotting, the problems that can arise during this process, and help uncover the most effective technique for you. It will look at creating character, point of view and structure with writing exercises, group work, discussion and constructive critiques. Every participant will leave with a toolbox full of skills to help plan their story as well as meeting a network of fellow writers with whom they may want to continue sharing ideas. Run over one Sunday from 10am - 4pm. Full price is $140. Discounts available for NSW Writers' Centre members. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| History Writers Festival: Writing the Past | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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9.30am - 5pm, 13-Mar-2010
“Writing the Past” is the name of the 2010 History Festival and it’s a deceptively simple one. It is certainly a good definition of the broad genre of history writing, but we could hear this title in another way. Perhaps as “Righting the Past”. All writers can be said to be making the world right. Telling a story their way, making their world, introducing characters and a situation and then making it “turn out right”. Even a sad ending can be the right one, for that story, for that writer and her readers. Perhaps all writers are therefore, in their individual ways, creating the “right” story. This year's festival will include appearances from James Bradley, Cathie Craigie, Meenakshi Bharat, Gabrielle Carey, Catherine Jinks, Ann Curthoys, Delia Falconer, Tom Gilling, Robert Gray, Paula Hamilton and many more. Full price for tickets is $75. Discounts available for members of the NSW Writers' Centre. Click for full program and bookings.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| Somerset Writers' Festival | QLD: Gold Coast |
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9.00am to late, 17-Mar-2010
to 19-Mar-2010
Somerset College Over the years, the Somerset Writers' Festival has grown into one of Australia’s most enduring and innovative literary festivals. It forms part of the week-long 'Somerset Celebration of Literature', which also incorporates the Somerset National Novella Writing Competition, the Somerset International Conference for Librarians and Teachers. The 2010 Somerset Writers' Festival offers a fascinating blend of authors and illustrators. In addition to the author sessions, workshops, and seminars, special functions include the Festival Cocktail Party, Literary Lunch and Literary Dinner. Somerset College extends an invitation to all adults and children to attend the exciting Somerset Writers' Festival this March.
Tel: 07 5530 3777 |
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| Getting it Right: The News Story | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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10am - 4pm, 20-Mar-2010
Ever wondered how much work goes into the making of a newspaper? Why some ‘stories’ stay in the mind and some are consigned to the rubbish dump of memory from which nothing can be retrieved? This workshop will run on Saturday 20 March, 10am - 4pm. Full price is $140. Discount of 30% is available for members of the NSW Writers' Centre. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| The Opportunities of Romance Fiction | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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10am - 4pm, 21-Mar-2010
The international market for romance is huge, and it’s hungry for new voices and fresh, exciting stories. This is why romance writers who are published with large, international publishers can make a living from their writing. The romance market is also expanding in its range and variety, encompassing aspects of fantasy, paranormal, crime, suspense and other genres, and reaching a wider audience. Yet in Australia, the assumption persists that romance is a simple genre for simple readers and something that ‘real writers’ don’t write. This course will run on Sunday 21 March from 10am - 4pm. Full price is $140. Discount of 30% available for members of the NSW Writers' Centre. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| Start Writing for the Stage with Verity Laughton | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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10am - 4pm, 21-Mar-2010
to 28-Mar-2010
Want to write theatre? Need a kick-start to get your short play underway? Join internationally produced and award-winning playwright Verity Laughton to learn the essentials of theatre writing and write a thirty minute play. This course will run over two Sundays 21 and 28 March from 10am - 4pm. Full price is $270. Discount of 30% available for members of the NSW Writers' Centre. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| Life Stories with Patti Miller | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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10am - 4pm, 27-Mar-2010
to 28-Mar-2010
Have you got a story to tell? Are you working on a memoir? Enter the world of writing lived experience with renowned, best-selling writer, mentor and memoir specialist Patti Miller. This course will run over Saturday and Sunday 27 and 28 March, from 10am - 4pm. Full price is $270. Discount of 30% available for members of the NSW Writers' Centre. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| Mystery, Murder and Motive: Writing Crime Fiction | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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10am - 4pm, 28-Mar-2010
Fancy yourself a detective? Challenge your readers with insoluble crimes. Bamboozle them with red herrings. Drop clues, follow suspects, create a startling denouement, all with multi-published Australian crime writer and UTS lecturer Jean Bedford. This course will run on Sunday 28 March from 10am - 4pm. Full price is $140. Discount of 30% available for members of the NSW Writers' Centre. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| Scriptwriting for Film and TV with Greg Waters | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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6.30pm - 9.30pm, 07-Apr-2010
to 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. This course will run over eight Wednesday evenings from 7 April to 26 May, from 6.30pm - 9.30pm. Full price is $680. Discount of 30% available for members of the NSW Writers' Centre. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| Blogging for Beginners with William Kostakis | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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10am - 1pm, 10-Apr-2010
to 17-Apr-2010
Do you have the urge to tell strangers about your day? Do feel your opinion is worth reading? Do you want to share your writing with the online community? Then join award-winning author and professional blogger William Kostakis for a hands-on introduction to the world of blogging. This course will run over two Saturday mornings from 10 to 17 April, 10am - 1pm. Full price is $170. Discount of 30% available for members of the NSW Writers' Centre. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| Making Your Manuscript Publishable | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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1.30pm - 4.30pm, 10-Apr-2010
to 29-May-2010
So you’ve got a manuscript, or you’re on your way to having one. You’re thinking about trying for publication but you’re just not sure if it’s ready. Is your story well-structured and engaging? Are your characters all that they can be? Does your manuscript have what it takes to wow a publisher? This course will run over eight Saturday afternoons from 10 April to 29 May, 1.30pm - 4.30pm. Full price is $680. Discount of 30% available for members of the NSW Writers' Centre. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| Writing History with Chris Cheng | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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10am - 4pm, 18-Apr-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, from the beginner to the experienced writer, whether you’re interested in local history, family history, the history of people, places, or things. Chris will discuss what makes historical fiction and also show you how to get started in your research –what to do, where to look and what to look for. He will show you how to organise and shape your material, and develop a story from your research. He will teach you how to flesh out those telling historical details, and make your history come to life. No prior experience required although participants can bring material for discussion. This course will run on Saturday 18 April from 10am - 4pm. Full price is $140. Discount of 30% available for members of the NSW Writers' Centre. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| Fiction Writing Essentials with Rosie Scott | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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10am - 1pm, 24-Apr-2010
to 12-Jun-2010
You’ve got a drawer full of manuscripts – a novella, short stories, the first draft of a novel – or a notebook full of ideas, observations and themes, but you just can’t seem to finish anything. You’ve learnt and practiced some writing skills, but there are many techniques and styles you’d like to experiment with. You’ve got the flesh and bones of your work down, but how do you find the spirit, the resonating soul of your story? This course will run over eight Saturday mornings from 24 April to 12 June, 10am - 1pm. Full price is $680. Discounts of 30% available for members of the NSW Writers' Centre. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| Teen Writers Get Serious! with Melina Marchetta | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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10am - 4pm, 24-Apr-2010
Are you into writing? Do you make up stories in your head or on the page? Want to take it further? Then join the internationally published, prize-winning author of Looking for Alibrandi, Melina Marchetta, for a day of creative writing that will take your words further. This course will run on Saturday 24 April from 10am - 4pm. Full price is $140. Discount of 40% available for concession members of the NSW Writers' Centre. Click for bookings and membership.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| Poetry Lab by Email with Julie Chevalier | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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N/A, 29-Apr-2010
to 09-Sep-2010
Want to write poetry but can’t make it to a course or workshop? Need individual feedback on your work without leaving the house? Join widely published poet and teacher Julie Chevalier for an online, interactive poetry writing course. Full price is $450. Click for bookings.
Tel: 9555 9757 |
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| Sydney Writers' Festival | NSW: Sydney - CBD |
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Various session times, 17-May-2010
to 23-May-2010
Join us by the sparkling harbour of Sydney to hear both Australian and internatinals writers speak.
Tel: (02) 9252 7729 |
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| NZ Library Week | New Zealand: New Zealand Wide |
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Check with your library for event time, 16-Aug-2010
to 22-Aug-2010
This is the week to visit your local library. Lots of events will be held across the country.
Tel: 64 4 473 5834 |
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| Australian Book Week | Australia Wide: Australia Wide |
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Various events, 21-Aug-2010
to 27-Aug-2010
Book Week is the longest running children's festival in Australia, celebrating its 65th birthday in 2010. The Children's Book Awards are announced during this week.
Tel: Check the website for details |
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| The Watermark Literary Muster | NSW: Newcastle |
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Check website for final Festival dates and times, 01-Jun-2011
to 30-Jun-2011
The Watermark Literary Muster is a biennial gathering that brings together writers and readers who share a passion for the literature of nature and place. It is recognised internationally as a unique literary event on the Australian cultural calendar where writers share their work directly with readers, talk about the places that inspire them, exchange ideas on writing about nature and place, explore the role literature plays in environmental understanding and inspire others to write about the natural landscape. The event
Tel: 02 6559 9953 |
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