Supporting Emerging Hunter Writers

Newcastle Writers Festival

A new collaboration between Newcastle Writers Festival and the University of Newcastle offers local emerging writers the opportunity to learn from some of Australia’s leading authors. 

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The four-week course, Writing Place, begins mid-April and will be led by University of Newcastle creative writing academic and poet Dr Keri Glastonbury. The course also includes guest authors Amy Lovat, Kim Mahood, and Charlotte Wood, who will participate in a series of hour-long online discussions about their work with festival director Rosemarie Milsom. Recent books by the three authors effectively evoke various settings, including Newcastle, Sydney, and rural and remote locations in Australia.

This course is for readers who want to make the transition to becoming writers, who are happy to hear from the authors and read their recent books, and then complete the in-person writing workshops, which will be held at the University of Newcastle’s NUspace building. At the conclusion of the four-week course, participants can submit a 3000-word draft to Dr Glastonbury for written feedback focusing on the evocation of environment.

Newcastle Writers Festival director Rosemarie Milsom said the course was created in response to local demand and brings together “a brilliant University of Newcastle creative writing teacher with an impressive lineup of authors who have all featured in festival programs. Both Amy Lovat and Charlotte Wood are in our April festival program.”

“The course offers local emerging writers a taste of what a writing course can offer, and it may end up inspiring someone to make the leap into more intensive study,” Milsom said. “Part of our remit is to support the growth of the literary sector, and the festival is committed to providing a platform for new talent of which there is no shortage in the Hunter.”

MacLean’s Booksellers is offering course participants a 25% discount on books required for the course. Bookings are now open for the April course. Tickets are $350.

To make a booking and to read a more detailed course schedule, visit www.newcastlewritersfestival.org.au/writing-course.