As a newbie writer 10 years ago, I felt as if I was standing at the bottom of a mountain of information that I had to scale and all I knew was that it was a long way up and I had a crick in my neck.

I knew nothing about contracts, writing opportunities, ELR/PLR payments, school visits, conducting workshops, promotion….I knew pretty much nothing about anything. The NSWWC Children’s and Young Adult Literature Festival goes a long way to scaling those heights. It is so important to meet new and more experienced writers, to learn from those who’ve come before and make contacts with others who are hovering around the very exciting beginnings.

It is from festivals like this that I learnt about the business of writing, gathered insider knowledge of publishing houses, met editors and publishers and watched as people not only listened but had the chance to pitch their ideas. I shared tips, frustrations, successes and, most importantly, realised how wonderfully passionate and welcoming the children’s writing community is.

You can read about the art and business of writing, but it is in the thick of a passionate group of writers and publishing professionals like the Festival offers, that the real education begins and that mountain begins to be scaled.

— Deborah Abela