First Friday Club, our monthly conversation with an industry professional, is a chance for our community to learn more about the writing and publishing industry. This November, we invite you to our online event with performing artist, cultural collaborator, educator and Artistic Director of Moogahlin Performing Arts, Lily Shearer, in conversation with Writing NSW Program […]

Want to write a novel in 2021? Are you keen to enrol in our popular Year of the Novel course, but not sure what you might get out of it, or how best to prepare over the summer? Join us for our Year of the Novel celebration on Tuesday 17 November from 6:30pm, via Zoom. […]

The Writing NSW Kids & YA Festival will now take place on Saturday 13 March, 2021! Directed by best-selling, internationally published children’s author Belinda Murrell, the Festival will showcase some of Australia’s best-known and dearly loved authors, illustrators, publishers, media personnel and industry professionals.

This month is PACKED with literary goodies: NAIDOC Week, Australia Reads, a bunch of festivals, and *fingers crossed* a few in-person events in COVID-safe settings. But don’t worry! There’s still plenty of streamed options for those of us not ready to brave the crowds just yet.

We chatted to award-winning author Emily Bitto about how focusing on sentences can carry the narrative forward, tips to avoid clichés and authors who taught her to pay attention to the sentence.

‘With her death we have all lost the books she will now never write … and I have lost the truest and best writing friend I could imagine. ‘ Author Sarah Armstrong remembers her friend and writer Jesse Blackadder.

‘Writing is a tough and lonely journey, but also immensely satisfying and fun. Seek out those who can travel alongside you and continue to make use of all the workshops and opportunities available. Together, we form our own communities.’

‘Re-writing is the most powerful tool any writer has. Be prepared to kill your darlings.’

‘[I wanted] to show the complexity of our relationship with pools as much more than places where we learn to swim and cool off in summer… the pool has inspired imaginations, built courage, fulfilled dreams, provided a refuge and, for some, has been a type of church.’