PETER POLITES, editor of Ornaments from Two Countries: GLBTIQ stories of difference from Western Sydney & regional NSW, hosts a participatory forum for LGBTIQ writers, community members and STR8 allies. In this forum issues will be identified such as the literary imagination, autobiography, embarrassment in writing, and literacy as advocacy. Then through participatory processes the forum will develop ideas and strategies for further action. This event is now BOOKED OUT. Peter Polites will also be appearing at The Writers' Conference. Tickets are available here.

The cornerstone event of the Emerging Writers’ Festival, the two-day Writers’ Conference is programmed to inform and inspire writers of all genres and styles. From novels to poetry, memoir, biography, short stories, criticism, screenwriting, play writing and everything in between. Speakers range from the emerging to the established, and offer exciting and varied perspectives on their style or genre. Join the conversation as our writers share the ins and outs of their writing lives, deconstructing and discussing the art of being a writer. This is a great opportunity to introduce yourself to your fellow writers to make new connections and share knowledge and resources. The Ambassadors Our Festival Ambassadors are experienced writers who have just one goal in mind: to assist your writing career. In addition to presenting on panels and running small group Q&A sessions on their style of writing, the Ambassadors will be around for the Writers’ Conference, where you can sit down with them for a chat about your work (or theirs!). Our 2013 Ambassadors are: KHAIRANI ‘OKKA’ BAROKKA (poetry), MELINDA HARVEY (literary criticism), WALTER MASON (travel), JENNIFER MILLS (fiction) and JOHN SAFRAN (screenwriting). The Ambassadors program is supported by the Emerging Writers’ Festival Education Partner, Monash University Faculty of Arts. The Control Room Step into The Control Room where you are in control of the conversation. We put the writer in a room and let you ask the questions. There is no host, no compere and no mediator. It’s all audience driven and a fantastic opportunity to get direct access to a writer. They bring the experience, you bring the questions. Saturday 11am – JOHN SAFRAN on radio, podcasting, writing comedy and TV Saturday 12.30pm – JENNIFER MILLS on writing novels and short stories Saturday 1.45pm – MICHAEL MOHAMMED AHMAD on promoting literacy and your community Saturday 3pm – JAMES ROY on writing for young adults and speaking at schools Sunday 10am – WALTER MASON on self-help literature, travel writing and social media Sunday 11am – KHAIRANI 'OKKA' BAROKKA on performance and poetry Sunday 12.30pm – MELINDA HARVEY on literary criticism and memoir Sunday 3pm – ANDRÉ DAO on editing your work Writers' Conference Special Events Seven Enviable Lines Date: Saturday 25 May, 10am – 11am Venue: Swanston Hall, Melbourne Town Hall Price: FREE with Writers’ Conference Pass Our Festival Ambassadors share the writing advice they wish they had known when they were starting out – in the form of seven incisive tips – that will provide guidance when you next sit down to write. With KHAIRANI ‘OKKA’ BAROKKA, MELINDA HARVEY, WALTER MASON, JENNIFER MILLS, JOHN SAFRAN. Hosted by SAM TWYFORD-MOORE. Sweatshop Stories Date: Saturday 25 May, 4pm – 5.30pm Venue: Swanston Hall, Melbourne Town Hall Price: FREE with Writers’ Conference Pass “Welcome to the sweatshops of Western Sydney, where every Aussie gets a fair go. Pockets are full and guns are empty. There are no racists here. No misogynists and no homophobes. Where the Wogs rule and the Anglos have assimilated.” In an extraordinary afternoon of readings, these eight writers share the truth about Sydney’s west. Presented by Sweatshop Western Sydney Literacy Movement in association with the University of Western Sydney Writing & Society Research Centre exclusively for the Emerging Writers’ Festival. With MICHAEL MOHAMMED AHMAD, ARDA BARUT, LUKE CARMAN, FELICITY CASTAGNA, TAMAR CHNORHOKIAN, ANDY KO, PETER POLITES and FIONA WRIGHT. Words Travel: Australia and Indonesia Date: Sunday 26 May, 1.45pm – 3pm Venue: Swanston Hall, Melbourne Town Hall Price: FREE with Writers’ Conference Pass The Emerging Writers’ Festival and the Bali Emerging Writers’ Festival are unique, the only two festivals of their kind in the world, and this year, through the generous support of the Australia-Indonesia Institute, the two festivals are presenting a co-program. To mark this exciting new collaboration, we want to explore the ways that Australia and Indonesia can support each other’s literary culture. Our panellists will look at how Australia and Indonesia have inspired their work and what the future might hold for creative collaborations in the wider Asia. With KHAIRANI ‘OKKA’ BAROKKA, LILY YULANTI FARID, LAURA JEAN MCKAY, FELICITY CASTAGNA. Hosted by NIC LOW. The Emerging Writers’ Festival/ Bali Emerging Writers’ International Exchange is supported by the Commonwealth through the Australia-Indonesia Institute of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Panels Park yourself in the spectacular Yarra Room and hear the emerging and emerged tackle contemporary writing issues. Critical Conditions, Saturday 11am Critics of criticism say the form has lost its power to persuade audiences, others say we are entering a new era with the rise of digital criticism. How can creative writers interact with their critical counterparts in useful ways? And can writers themselves ever be truly self critical? With REBECCA HARKINS-CROSS, ELLA O’KEEFE, NICK TAPPER, MELINDA HARVEY. Hosted by BEN MYLIUS. Where in the World Do You Write? Saturday 12.30pm Does travelling overseas create more interest in your work and inspire your creativity? Is there such a thing as the perfect place to compose? Residencies and travelling scholarships are increasingly popular options for writers, these writers will tell you where they’ve been and how they got there. With ANDREW BIFIELD, BALLI KAUR JASWAL, MELANIE JOOSTEN, RYAN PAINE. Hosted by LEFA SINGLETON NORTON. Supported by the Abbotsford Convent Foundation Cutting It Short, Saturday 1.45pm The last decade has seen the rise of the novella and the resurgence of the short story. Are our attention spans better suited to shorter forms or is there something creative in limiting yourself? Are there economic factors behind keeping things tight and trim? With MILES VERTIGAN, RYAN O’NEILL, CHI VU, JENNIFER MILLS. Hosted by JOHANNES JAKOB Supported by the Australian Review of Fiction. Writing the Personal, Saturday 3pm Blogs... Memoir... Biography... how does one write about oneself while making it interesting to others? What kinds of skills or techniques are required? These writers will give you the benefit of their wisdom about sharing the personal. With ANNA POLETTI, WALTER MASON, LUKE RYAN and FIONA WRIGHT. Hosted by LILY MAE MARTIN What We Talk About When We Talk About Voice, Sunday 10am Reading aloud is an increasing expectation of writers. Public speaking – through book launches, radio interviews and appearances at writers’ festival and conferences – is as much a part of a writers living now as writing itself. And what do we mean when we encourage writers to “find their voice”? With LUKE CARMAN, GEORGIA MOODIE, JESSICA ALICE, ROBERT MELDRUM. Hosted by JENNY NIVEN Finding Genre, Sunday 11am How do writers find their genre? Is the passion there from the start or is it something that develops over time? Why are some better represented than others at festivals such as this? These writers - including a poet-critic-young adult fantasy writer, a playwright and performer turned novelist, a legal thriller writer - come together to discuss these questions and more. With JANE HARRISON, ALEX HAMMOND, WAYNE MACAULEY and ALISON CROGGON. Hosted by MEL CAMPBELL Why Writing Matters, Sunday 12.30pm Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But sometimes it needs to be said aloud – writing is an incredibly powerful medium. These writers look at the ethics of writing responsibly, giving voice to the unheard, and why writing still matters in the world. With ELLENA SAVAGE, JACINDA WOODHEAD, PETER POLITES, GINGER BRIGGS hosted by ALI ALIZADEH Australian Stories, Sunday 3pm Melbourne is rightly celebrated for its UNESCO City of Literature status but does it do enough to share its rich literary rewards with the rest of the country? We’ve invited five writers from across the country – Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, and New South Wales – to report on the exciting work going on in their regions. With BEN WALTER, VANESSA JONES, LENI SHILTON, CHRISTOPHER CURRIE. Hosted by FIONA DUNNE Letters to the Editor, Sunday 4pm Over the weekend EWF staff will be going around to find four audience members keen to get up on stage and share what they’ve loved, what they’ve learnt and what they’re going to go home and write. Hosted by Festival Director SAM TWYFORD-MOORE. Conversations Join the intimate atmosphere in the Melbourne Room and add your voice to the discussions about these writing forms. Contemporary Poetics, Saturday 11am Australian poetry is constantly evolving and communities are closer than ever. What are the trends in poetry today and how can you get involved with poetry groups? With COREY WAKELING and ASTRID LORANGE Translation, Saturday 12.30pm There is an increasing interest in translation as a creative practise and where are the professional opportunities within Australia? With ARDA BARUT and SAMUEL RUTTER Young Adults, Saturday 1.45pm Young adult audiences are incredibly intelligent readers. These two young adult writers share their experiences working with the next generation of readers and writers. With PENNI RUSSON and LILI WILKINSON Theatre Writing, Saturday 3pm Playwriting is an exciting often collaborative form of writing. What are the advantages and disadvantages of writing for theatre? And what’s it like to work with actors as a dramaturge? With SAM STRONG and VAN BADHAM Awards and Grants, Sunday 10am Awards are big boosts for writers – both critically and commercially – but there’s no guarantee of a win at any point. Funding and grants can seem just as random. But is there a smart way to approaching entering both. Or is it just a matter of putting your hat in? With JAMES ROY and ADOLFO ARANJUEZ. Writing Comedy, Sunday 11am Making someone laugh can be the greatest reward as a writer – but how do you pull it off? Do you need special performance training or can you DIY skills-learning? And what are the ins and outs of putting on a show? COURTENEY HOCKING and JOHN SAFRAN What Booksellers Want, Sunday 12.30pm Booksellers are the ultimate advocates for writing – the direct sellers. What are they looking for in new work? And what is their process with buying new titles? With CHRISTOPHER CURRIE, MARTIN SHAW and ANTONIA HAYES Supported by Readings Aboriginal Audiences, Sunday 1.45pm Indigenous writers are crafting stories unique and important to Australia – and their audiences can be found far and wide. How do we support and promote such important creative work? With LENI SHILTON and JANE HARRISON Western Suburbs, Sunday 3pm The Western suburbs of Melbourne – Footscray in particular – have long been a cultural hub, but with new writing organisations moving in, what does this mean for writers? With LACHLANN CARTER (100 Story Building), JOHN WELDON (Victoria University) and JADE LILLIE (Footscray Community Arts Centre).

The cornerstone event of the Emerging Writers’ Festival, the two-day Writers’ Conference is programmed to inform and inspire writers of all genres and styles. From novels to poetry, memoir, biography, short stories, criticism, screenwriting, play writing and everything in between. Speakers range from the emerging to the established, and offer exciting and varied perspectives on their style or genre. Join the conversation as our writers share the ins and outs of their writing lives, deconstructing and discussing the art of being a writer. This is a great opportunity to introduce yourself to your fellow writers to make new connections and share knowledge and resources. The Ambassadors Our Festival Ambassadors are experienced writers who have just one goal in mind: to assist your writing career. In addition to presenting on panels and running small group Q&A sessions on their style of writing, the Ambassadors will be around for the Writers’ Conference, where you can sit down with them for a chat about your work (or theirs!). Our 2013 Ambassadors are: KHAIRANI ‘OKKA’ BAROKKA (poetry), MELINDA HARVEY (literary criticism), WALTER MASON (travel), JENNIFER MILLS (fiction) and JOHN SAFRAN (screenwriting). The Ambassadors program is supported by the Emerging Writers’ Festival Education Partner, Monash University Faculty of Arts. The Control Room Step into The Control Room where you are in control of the conversation. We put the writer in a room and let you ask the questions. There is no host, no compere and no mediator. It’s all audience driven and a fantastic opportunity to get direct access to a writer. They bring the experience, you bring the questions. Saturday 11am – JOHN SAFRAN on radio, podcasting, writing comedy and TV Saturday 12.30pm – JENNIFER MILLS on writing novels and short stories Saturday 1.45pm – MICHAEL MOHAMMED AHMAD on promoting literacy and your community Saturday 3pm – JAMES ROY on writing for young adults and speaking at schools Writers' Conference Special Events Seven Enviable Lines Date: Saturday 25 May, 10am – 11am Venue: Swanston Hall, Melbourne Town Hall Price: FREE with Writers’ Conference Pass Our Festival Ambassadors share the writing advice they wish they had known when they were starting out – in the form of seven incisive tips – that will provide guidance when you next sit down to write. With KHAIRANI ‘OKKA’ BAROKKA, MELINDA HARVEY, WALTER MASON, JENNIFER MILLS, JOHN SAFRAN. Hosted by SAM TWYFORD-MOORE. Sweatshop Stories Date: Saturday 25 May, 4pm – 5.30pm Venue: Swanston Hall, Melbourne Town Hall Price: FREE with Writers’ Conference Pass “Welcome to the sweatshops of Western Sydney, where every Aussie gets a fair go. Pockets are full and guns are empty. There are no racists here. No misogynists and no homophobes. Where the Wogs rule and the Anglos have assimilated.” In an extraordinary afternoon of readings, these eight writers share the truth about Sydney’s west. Presented by Sweatshop Western Sydney Literacy Movement in association with the University of Western Sydney Writing & Society Research Centre exclusively for the Emerging Writers’ Festival. With MICHAEL MOHAMMED AHMAD, ARDA BARUT, LUKE CARMAN, FELICITY CASTAGNA, TAMAR CHNORHOKIAN, ANDY KO, PETER POLITES and FIONA WRIGHT. Panels Park yourself in the spectacular Yarra Room and hear the emerging and emerged tackle contemporary writing issues. Critical Conditions, Saturday 11am Critics of criticism say the form has lost its power to persuade audiences, others say we are entering a new era with the rise of digital criticism. How can creative writers interact with their critical counterparts in useful ways? And can writers themselves ever be truly self critical? With REBECCA HARKINS-CROSS, ELLA O’KEEFE, NICK TAPPER, MELINDA HARVEY. Hosted by BEN MYLIUS. Where in the World Do You Write? Saturday 12.30pm Does travelling overseas create more interest in your work and inspire your creativity? Is there such a thing as the perfect place to compose? Residencies and travelling scholarships are increasingly popular options for writers, these writers will tell you where they’ve been and how they got there. With ANDREW BIFIELD, BALLI KAUR JASWAL, MELANIE JOOSTEN, RYAN PAINE. Hosted by LEFA SINGLETON NORTON. Supported by the Abbotsford Convent Foundation Cutting It Short, Saturday 1.45pm The last decade has seen the rise of the novella and the resurgence of the short story. Are our attention spans better suited to shorter forms or is there something creative in limiting yourself? Are there economic factors behind keeping things tight and trim? With MILES VERTIGAN, RYAN O’NEILL, CHI VU, JENNIFER MILLS. Hosted by JOHANNES JAKOB Supported by the Australian Review of Fiction. Writing the Personal, Saturday 3pm Blogs ... Memoir ... Biography ... how does one write about oneself while making it interesting to others? What kinds of skills or techniques are required? These writers will give you the benefit of their wisdom about sharing the personal. With ANNA POLETTI, WALTER MASON, LUKE RYAN and FIONA WRIGHT. Hosted by LILY MAE MARTIN Conversations Join the intimate atmosphere in the Melbourne Room and add your voice to the discussions about these writing forms. Contemporary Poetics, Saturday 11am Australian poetry is constantly evolving and communities are closer than ever. What are the trends in poetry today and how can you get involved with poetry groups? With COREY WAKELING and ASTRID LORANGE Translation, Saturday 12.30pm There is an increasing interest in translation as a creative practise and where are the professional opportunities within Australia? With ARDA BARUT and SAMUEL RUTTER Young Adults, Saturday 1.45pm Young adult audiences are incredibly intelligent readers. These two young adult writers share their experiences working with the next generation of readers and writers. With PENNI RUSSON and LILI WILKINSON Theatre Writing, Saturday 3pm Playwriting is an exciting often collaborative form of writing. What are the advantages and disadvantages of writing for theatre? And what’s it like to work with actors as a dramaturge? With SAM STRONG and VAN BADHAM Tickets available below are for the Saturday only. You can get access to the full weekend of events with a Writers’ Conference Pass  

The cornerstone event of the Emerging Writers’ Festival, the two-day Writers’ Conference is programmed to inform and inspire writers of all genres and styles. From novels to poetry, memoir, biography, short stories, criticism, screenwriting, play writing and everything in between. Speakers range from the emerging to the established, and offer exciting and varied perspectives on their style or genre. Join the conversation as our writers share the ins and outs of their writing lives, deconstructing and discussing the art of being a writer. This is a great opportunity to introduce yourself to your fellow writers to make new connections and share knowledge and resources. The Ambassadors Our Festival Ambassadors are experienced writers who have just one goal in mind: to assist your writing career. In addition to presenting on panels and running small group Q&A sessions on their style of writing, the Ambassadors will be around for the Writers’ Conference, where you can sit down with them for a chat about your work (or theirs!). Our 2013 Ambassadors are: KHAIRANI ‘OKKA’ BAROKKA (poetry), MELINDA HARVEY (literary criticism), WALTER MASON (travel), JENNIFER MILLS (fiction) and JOHN SAFRAN (screenwriting). The Ambassadors program is supported by the Emerging Writers’ Festival Education Partner, Monash University Faculty of Arts. The Control Room Step into The Control Room where you are in control of the conversation. We put the writer in a room and let you ask the questions. There is no host, no compere and no mediator. It’s all audience driven and a fantastic opportunity to get direct access to a writer. They bring the experience, you bring the questions. Sunday 10am – WALTER MASON on self-help literature, travel writing and social media Sunday 11am – KHAIRANI 'OKKA' BAROKKA on digital publishing Sunday 12.30pm – MELINDA HARVEY on literary criticism and memoir Sunday 3pm – ANDRÉ DAO on editing your work Writers' Conference Special Events Writers Connect: Australia and Indonesia Date: Sunday 26 May, 1.45pm – 3pm Venue: Swanston Hall, Melbourne Town Hall Price: FREE with Writers’ Conference Pass The Emerging Writers’ Festival and the Bali Emerging Writers’ Festival are unique, the only two festivals of their kind in the world, and this year, through the generous support of the Australia-Indonesia Institute, the two festivals are presenting a co-program. To mark this exciting new collaboration, we want to explore the ways that Australia and Indonesia can support each other’s literary culture. Our panellists will look at how Australia and Indonesia have inspired their work and what the future might hold for creative collaborations in the wider Asia. With KHAIRANI ‘OKKA’ BAROKKA, LILY YULANTI FARID, LAURA JEAN MCKAY. Hosted by FELICITY CASTAGNA. The Emerging Writers’ Festival/ Bali Emerging Writers’ International Exchange is supported by the Commonwealth through the Australia-Indonesia Institute of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Panels Park yourself in the spectacular Yarra Room and hear the emerging and emerged tackle contemporary writing issues. What We Talk About When We Talk About Voice, Sunday 10am Reading aloud is an increasing expectation of writers. Public speaking – through book launches, radio interviews and appearances at writers’ festival and conferences – is as much a part of a writers living now as writing itself. And what do we mean when we encourage writers to “find their voice”? With LUKE CARMAN, GEORGIA MOODIE, JESSICA ALICE, ROBERT MELDRUM. Hosted by JENNY NIVEN Finding Genre, Sunday 11am How do writers find their genre? Is the passion there from the start or is it something that develops over time? Why are some better represented than others at festivals such as this? These writers poet-critic-young adult fantasy writer, a playwright and performer turned novelist, a legal thriller writer and more come together to discuss these questions and more. With JANE HARRISON, ALEX HAMMOND, WAYNE MACUALEY and ALISON CROGGON. Hosted by MEL CAMPBELL Why Writing Matters, Sunday 12.30pm Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But sometimes it needs to be said aloud – writing is an incredibly powerful medium. These writers look at the ethics of writing responsibly, giving voice to the unheard, and why writing still matters in the world. With ELLENA SAVAGE, JACINDA WOODHEAD, PETER POLITES, GINGER BRIGGS hosted by ALI ALIZADEH Australian Stories, Sunday 3pm Melbourne is rightly celebrated for its UNESCO City of Literature status but does it do enough to share its rich literary rewards with the rest of the country? We’ve invited five writers from across the country – Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, and New South Wales – to report on the exciting work going on in their regions. With BEN WALTER, VANESSA JONES, LENI SHILTON, CHRISTOPHER CURRIE. Hosted by FIONA DUNNE Letters to the Editor, Sunday 4pm Over the weekend EWF staff will be going around to find four audience members keen to get up on stage and share what they’ve loved, what they’ve learnt and what they’re going to go home and write. Hosted by Festival Director SAM TWYFORD-MOORE. Conversations Join the intimate atmosphere in the Melbourne Room and add your voice to the discussions about these writing forms. Awards and Grants, Sunday 10am Awards are big boosts for writers – both critically and commercially – but there’s no guarantee of a win at any point. Funding and grants can seem just as random. But is there a smart way to approaching entering both. Or is it just a matter of putting your hat in? With JAMES ROY and ADOLFO ARANJUEZ. Writing Comedy, Sunday 11am Making someone laugh can be the greatest reward as a writer – but how do you pull it off? Do you need special performance training or can you DIY skills-learning? And what are the ins and outs of putting on a show? COURTENEY HOCKING and JOHN SAFRAN What Booksellers Want, Sunday 12.30pm Booksellers are the ultimate advocates for writing – the direct sellers. What are they looking for in new work? And what is their process with buying new titles? With CHRISTOPHER CURRIE, ANTONIA HAYES and MARTIN SHAW Supported by Readings Aboriginal Audiences, Sunday 1.45pm Indigenous writers are crafting stories unique and important to Australia – and their audiences can be found far and wide. How do we support and promote such important creative work? With LENI SHILTON and JANE HARRISON Western Suburbs, Sunday 3pm The Western suburbs of Melbourne – Footscray in particular – have long been a cultural hub, but with new writing organisations moving in, what does this mean for writers? With LACHLANN CARTER (100 Story Building), JADE LILLIE (Footscray Community Arts Centre) and JOHN WELDON (Victoria University). Tickets available below are for the Sunday only. You can get access to the full weekend of events with a Writers’ Conference Pass

Visit here for details about getting to and from the Abbotsford Convent, including public transport options. For the second weekend of the Emerging Writers’ Festival, the festival is moving out to the beautiful setting of the Abbotsford Convent, to partner on a program focused on writing and wellbeing. This is The Writers’ Retreat! In an interview late last year the poet Peter Minter claimed that writing is not a lifestyle, it’s a life – and we want our writers to live long and healthy ones. The programming at the Abbotsford Convent is an attempt to provide information about how to go about this. Take time to stroll the grounds, bring a rug and a jacket and welcome winter with words with this very special program. This is a weekend of writers at work, writers at rest, writers at play. Day One Writers' Retreat Panels Date: Saturday 1 June, 11am – 5pm Venue: Convent Community Room FAMILY, PARENTHOOD AND WRITING, 11 am – 12pm Words have long held the power to seduce, subvert and persuade so what don’t you want your family to read? Some of your own writing may touch on sensitive topics, too. Maybe you are writing a personal memoir with certain passages you don’t want your parents to read? How do writers balance their family life with creative work? With KAREN ANDREWS, BRENDAN RYAN, MONICA DUX and VANESSA RUSSELL. NOM NOM NOMENCLATURE: WRITING ABOUT FOOD, 12 pm – 1pm Writing and food engage the senses in complimentary ways. Memories are so much stronger when linked to the sensations of flavour and scent. The art of cooking explains subtle variations in flavour and techniques, but what are the techniques for describing food on the page? Does the story behind the food enhance the enjoyment of a delicious dish? With ROMY ASH, EMIKO DAVIES and KEIRA DICKINSON NEW NATURE WRITING, 2 pm – 3pm Nature is all around us, but with the way we live in the world rapidly changing, is the way we write about nature changing too? These writers are engaged with the topic look at what we might mean by the term ‘eco-poetics’ and how we can represent, in words, the world we live in. With REBECCA GIGGS, TOM DOIG, DAMON YOUNG and TANYA MASSY SMALL PUBLISHERS ARE AN AUTHOR’S BEST FRIEND, 3pm – 4pm Going with a small publisher to produce and promote your work can be an intimate affair– what are the benefits? Small publishers can often show a lot more care when it comes to their writers wellbeing and livelihoods. We explore close relationships between writers and their small publishers in this unique panel. With ANNA SOLDING, KIM LOCK, LYNNE LEONHARDT, CAROLINE WOOD. Hosted by VERGE ANTHOLOGY. THE BALANCING ACT: WORK, ART, LIFE, 4pm – 5pm The day job is still a must for many writers and artists. Is art a hobby then, a passion project, a ‘labour of love’ or should it still be considered work? And where, then, does life fit in? Or is life part of the art? It’s a balancing act, and these writers will tell you how they manage. With ELMO KEEP, JOEL DEANE, LAURA JEAN MCKAY, LUKE RYAN. Hosted by STEPH BROTCHIE.

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Day Two

SYMPOSIUM: WRITING AND HEALTH Date: Sunday 2 June, 11am – 12.30pm Venue: Rosina Auditorium Writing can have both positive and negative effects on our health. In this unique panel, these writers speak openly about how writing affects their physical, mental and emotional health and how they’ve written about their own health and managed it day to day. With JEFF WATERS, JILL STARK, KATE RICHARDS, KHAIRANI ‘OKKA’ BAROKKA. Hosted by SAM TWYFORD-MOORE SYMPOSIUM: KEEPING ACTIVE IN THE ARTS Date: Sunday 2 June, from 2.30pm – 4pm Venue: Rosina Auditorium How do writers and artists keep active? What are some strategies for keeping fit when your primary work is stationary? A healthy head starts with a healthy body. Staying fit seems like a long term goal, but being active actually has short-term benefits as well. We will talk about ways to reap the benefits of being active and how to keep fitness a part of your lifestyle. With REBECCA STARFORD, SOPHIE LANGLEY, TOM DOIG, CATHERINE MCCREDIE and TIM FISHER. There are other many other performances and workshops on this weekend during our Abbotsford Convent program. Click back here to discover them all.

The Emerging Writers’ is turning ten! And to celebrate we invite you to join us for a special evening at Federation Square launching the 10th Emerging Writers’ Festival. To mark this momentous occasion we have invited one of the bright stars of contemporary Australian poetry and cultural criticism, Astrid Lorange, to deliver a special keynote looking at the future direction of Australian writing over the next ten years. The Gala will be a night of surprises, and includes the announcement of the winner of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript, with a look at the journey of last year’s winner Graeme Simsion – the publishing rights for his winning manuscript, The Rosie Project, have been sold in more than 30 countries and landed him on the bestseller list. Join us for a drink afterwards to kick off the celebrations of the 10th birthday of the Emerging Writers’ Festival! Supported by the City of Melbourne, Federation Square and The Wheeler Centre

Held at The Moat, the Poetry Café is an afternoon to hear poets perform their work and officially launch the Cafe Poet residencies for the year. Supported by Australian Poetry

Join us to celebrate the launch of the Emerging Writers’ Festival book, The Emerging Writer, the insiders’ guide to growing your writing. Contributors include John Birmingham, Alice Pung, Shaun Tan, Charlotte Wood, among many others, covering handy hints on a diverse range of genres – novels, memoir, playwriting – and topics – writing for digital publications, competitions and pure pleasure. The Emerging Writer prides itself on featuring contributions from writers of a wide range of backgrounds. ROSS ONLEY-ZERKEL, Co-ordinator of Deaf Arts Network, will launch the book, sharing his experiences as a Deaf writer, as AUSLAN interpreters translate his amazing storytelling and views on writing. This event will include the announcement of the 2013 winners of the Monash University Undergraduate Prize for Creative Writing. Featuring ROSS ONLEY-ZERKEL, ANDRÉ DAO, STEPHANIE LINDER, PHOEBE TAY and the contributors of The Emerging Writer. Supported by The Thomas, Samuel & George Ewing Trust. With thanks to Monash University, Writeability, Deaf Arts Network, Arts Access Victoria and Writers Victoria. Book here!

Come and celebrate the close of the tenth Emerging Writers’ Festival! It’s pens down (but only if you want – we’ll still have some space for writing). We’ll be creating a great party vibe in one of Melbourne’s best-kept secrets – the Sacred Heart Industrial School in the Abbotsford Convent. In addition, you’ll be helping us celebrate the launch of our first ever iPhone app – The Unfinished Phrase – an exciting new storytelling device. Part ‘Exquisite corpse’ experiment, part Twitter aggregator, The Unfinished Phrase will let you continue the Emerging Writers’ Festival collaborative experience long after the festival. Get ready to party and add your stories into the mix! The writing doesn't stop just because the festival is over!

Did you know Emerging Writers’ Festival started as a zine fair? The popular Page Parlour features a vast variety of Indie books, literary journals, posters, handcrafted story books, zines and much more. This year, Page Parlour is going roaming. It will pop up at our Festival Hub and Writers’ Conference. Come and peruse through the titles, pick one up, read along and buy a copy or two! It’s the perfect chance to pick up a copy of The Emerging Writer, our annual anthology of all things writing. We're happy to announce Page Parlour will be popping up in the Thousand Pound Bend Gallery Space from 8pm on Thursday 30 May. See you there!

Keen to continue the conversation after festival events? Need a bite to eat, a coffee, or a drink to round off a big day of talking writing. Thousand Pound Bend, on Little Lonsdale, will be opening their doors and becoming the 2013 Festival Hub for Emerging Writers’ Festival guests, turning their cool café and bar into a special spot for you to keep the literary and cultural conversation going late into the night.

Just off the plane or train and ready for the festival? Coming in from NSW, WA, QLD, SA, TAS, NT or ACT? Forget about check-in and join us at our Festival Hub, Thousand Pound Bend, ahead of the Writers’ Conference. It’s a chance to meet and network with other interstate guests and plan out your must-see events. Come along to meet Festival Director SAM TWYFORD-MOORE to hear what’s planned.

Our Festival Ambassadors share the writing advice they wish they had known when they were starting out – in the form of seven incisive tips – that will provide guidance when you next sit down to write. With KHAIRANI ‘OKKA’ BAROKKA, MELINDA HARVEY, WALTER MASON, JENNIFER MILLS, JOHN SAFRAN. Hosted by SAM TWYFORD-MOORE. Entry is free with a with Writers' Conference Pass or individual tickets are available below.

The Emerging Writers’ Festival and the Bali Emerging Writers Festival are unique, the only two festivals of their kind in the world, and this year the two festivals are presenting a co-program for the first time ever. To mark this exciting new collaboration, we have invited a special panel of writers to look at how Australia and Indonesia have inspired their work and what the future might hold for creative collaborations between the two countries and in wider Australasia. This is your chance to hear about residencies and scholarships that might be on offer to you, plus the top literary destinations, must attend festivals, travel tips and more! With KHAIRANI ‘OKKA’ BAROKKA, FELICITY CASTAGNA, LILY YULANTI FARID, LAURA JEAN MCKAY. Hosted by NIC LOW. The Emerging Writers’ Festival/Bali Emerging Writers International Exchange is supported by the Commonwealth through the Australia Indonesia Institute of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Entry is free with a with Writers' Conference Pass or individual tickets are available below.

Interested in gaining an insight into the professional side of writing? Want to network with the writing industry? This is the series with the insider information. Future Media: With a number of high profile redundancies in the media landscape over the last few year, and with the shape of traditional media rapidly changing, we ask what does the future landscape of Australia’s media look like? Featuring MATTHEW KNOTT, ERIK JENSEN and KATIE WILLIAMS. Hosted by TAHLIA AZARIA.

Emerging Q&A is back and bigger than ever. Based on the popular ABC TV Show, the Emerging Writers’ Festival version focuses more on cultural topics of the day, than the usual serve of politics – though we’ll go there too! Bring your questions down to Federation Square or post them live on Twitter. Keep up with the conversation using the #eqanda hashtag! Hosted by BENJAMIN LAW. Featuring KHAIRANI ‘OKKA’ BAROKKA, LISA DEMPSTER, ELMO KEEP, SIMON TEDESCHI and PAUL VERHOEVEN. Supported by Victoria University

The Lifted Brow is a bimonthly literary/arts/culture magazine from Australia and the world, featuring fiction, essays, columns, art, comics, poetry. Join the Brow crew as they present five of the best writers around, writers who will share with you the music that has impacted them most, and explain in a storytellery way just why.

Interested in gaining an insight into the professional side of writing? Want to network with the writing industry? This is the series with the insider information. Editors Rule! Editors are essential to the writing process, so much so that they often don’t get the credit they deserve. These editors will outline their history and share the benefits of their collective – and sometimes hard-won – editing wisdom. Featuring ANGELA BENNETTS, SAM COONEY, STEPH HARMON and JENNY VALENTISH. Hosted by CATHERINE MCINNIS.

Join the Emerging Writers’ Festival for a live book club. Hosted by writer and reviewer RONNIE SCOTT, and a panel of expert readers, who will be tasked with leading a lively discussion around two wildly different books. It simply wouldn't be the Emerging Writers’ Festival without a compelling account of being a writer – so first up is Stephen King’s On Writing, to be followed by a potential future Australian classic, Melissa Lucashenko’s gripping new novel Mullumbimby. Read ahead to join the discussion, or simply come along to hear what the panel make of our selections! Featuring TONY BIRCH, ANNA HEYWARD, RONNIE SCOTT and ESTELLE TANG. Supported by The Thomas, Samuel & George Ewing Trust Book here!

Kill Your Darlings is a quarterly magazine, which publishes fresh, clever writing that combines intellect with intrigue. Independent, smart and ridiculously good-looking – just like you. They’re pop culture experts, and here they’ll be exploring all things TV – recappers to ‘shippers’, spoilers to distribution streams.

Interested in gaining an insight into the professional side of writing? Want to network with the writing industry? This is the series with the insider information. Books and Arts Coverage: How important is it that you get arts coverage when you are producing new work? And what makes work look attractive or interesting to those who cover the arts professionally? Do you need a publicist or just a good intro? These arts media insiders give you a look at the arts world. Featuring ALAN WEEDON, GHITA LOEBENSTEIN and THUY ON. Hosted by WILL HEYWARD.

Ampersand Magazine is a curiosity journal that explores creativity, societal change and the human condition through multiple disciplines. Join them for the launch of their sixth issue, 'One Little Room'. With talks by Bill Henson, Helen Razer, Kate Holden, Angie Hart, John Elder, and Laura Jean McKay. Hosted by Nick Coyle.

Interested in gaining an insight into the professional side of writing? Want to network with the writing industry? This is the series with the insider information. The Reality Check: What are the realities of being a writer today? Debates rage about when it’s okay for writers to get paid or when to go without. These writers and professional insiders look at advances, contracts and what to really expect from the writing life. Featuring EILEY ORMSBY, JUSTIN HEAZLEWOOD, and ZOE DATTNER. Hosted by DAVID HENLEY.

Seizure is a launchpad for new writing where young authors and editors experiment with form and style. They publish a bi-annual magazine, and feature ‘Flashers’ – very very short fiction – regularly on their website. Tonight they’ll celebrate the short form, with selected Flashers and the announcement of the winner of their Viva La Novella competition.

The Pitch is a perennial festival favourite. The Pitch will focus on the story of being published – who do you first deal with, who guides you through editing, who promotes your work at the end – taking you on a tour of turning a manuscript into a successful book. Featuring an expert panel of professionals within the publishing industry, from acquisitions and editors to book designers and marketers, this rare opportunity to hear the tricks, tips and teachings you need to know to sell your story. With time for Q&A, this is the session with everything you want to know about publishing. Featuring ALICE GRUNDY (Giramondo), MEREDITH CURNOW (Random House), TONY PALMER (Penguin), and ALAINA GOUGOULIS (Text Publishing). Hosted by ELOISE KEATING. Supported by Bookseller+Publisher

Literature comes alive, as longtime writing rivals – those who write for a (so-called) adult audience, and those who write for the YA market – finally face off. Emerging Writers’ Festival favourites will be pitched against the superstars of contemporary Young Adult fiction. Spectacle is guaranteed. A winner will be determined and victory will be Sweet (Valley High)! With LIBBA BRAY, TOM DOIG, GARTH NIX, MYKE BARTLETT and more. Supported by the Centre for Youth Literature and Reading Matters. Book here!

“Welcome to the sweatshops of Western Sydney, where every Aussie gets a fair go. Pockets are full and guns are empty. There are no racists here. No misogynists and no homophobes. Where the Wogs rule and the Anglos have assimilated.” In an extraordinary afternoon of readings, these eight writers share the truth about Sydney’s west. Presented by Sweatshop Western Sydney Literacy Movement in association with the University of Western Sydney Writing & Society Research Centre exclusively for the Emerging Writers Festival. With MICHAEL MOHAMMED AHMAD, ARDA BARUT, LUKE CARMAN, FELICITY CASTAGNA, TAMAR CHNORHOKIAN, ANDY KO, PETER POLITES and FIONA WRIGHT. Entry is free with a with Writers' Conference Pass or individual tickets are available below.

One Night Stanza is the one slam poetry night of the year you don’t want to miss! Featuring two-time U.S. National Poetry Slam Champion and National Book Award nominee, Anis Mojgani, and hosted by U.S. National Slam Champion and Nuyorican Poets Cafe Grand Slam Champion, Ken Arkind, One Night Stanza will be a date to remember. With Carrie Rudzinski (U.S.), Khairani ‘Okka’ Barokka (INDO) , Randall Stephens and Steve Smart, Michelle Dabrowski,  Lisa Greenaway (DJ LAPKAT), Grace Vanilau and musical accompaniment, Ajak Kwai, Abdul Hammoud, Maria Randal plus surprise special guests. The Emerging Writers' Festival is proud to support this event. Global Poetics, Centre for Poetics and Justice and Footscray Community Arts Centre invites you to One Night Stanza; presented in association with Sydney Writers’ Festival and Word Travels. Supported by Zilla & Brook.

Emerging Q&A is back and bigger than ever. Based on the popular ABC TV Show, the Emerging Writers’ Festival version focuses more on cultural topics of the day, than the usual serve of politics – though we’ll go there too! Bring your questions down to Federation Square or post them live on Twitter. Keep up with the conversation using the #eqanda hashtag! Hosted by BENJAMIN LAW. Featuring KHAIRANI ‘OKKA’ BAROKKA, LISA DEMPSTER, ELMO KEEP, SIMON TEDESCHI and PAUL VERHOEVEN. Supported by Victoria University

Writers are rock stars, right? Of course we’d agree! Well, sometimes, rock stars are writers too. Bob Dylan’s a singer songwriter to some, a pure poet to many others. In a night to remember, the Emerging Writers’ Festival will explore the differences and similarities between writing and music, how they are practiced and how they inform each other. Is there an inherent musicality to writing and what would great songwriting be without its literary qualities? Turn The Words Up Loud is a dynamic panel discussion with live performance. Join us as the Emerging Writers’ Festival goes electric, goes live and goes loud! Featuring poet and songwriter LUKE BEESLEY, the legendary DAVE GRANEY, former Frente! singer-songwriter and memoirist ANGIE HART, and novelist and musician ALICE MELIKE ÜLGEZER. Hosted by ALICIA SOMETIMES. Supported by RRR. Tickets may be purchased here.

Ready to go wild? Join us for an intimate night of storytelling with a non-human edge. Writers and illustrators explore their side, telling ferocious stories. We’ve matched these talented storytellers with a sound artist to provide a soundtrack of calls from the wild. Whales, birds, tigers, donkeys, dogs and more feature in this unique program. Featuring OSLO DAVIS, REBECCA GIGGS, LK HOLT, LAURA JEAN MCKAY, MARC MARTIN, JOSEPHINE ROWE and KHAIRANI ‘OKKA’ BAROKKA. With a wild soundtrack by MICHAEL PRIOR. Children under 12 are free!

Slow Canoe Readings are a wonderful new reading event in Melbourne. Bring your rug for a special indoor picnic with a series of lunchtime stories hosted by the storytelling collective Slow Canoe Readings. The stories will be themed around food to grow your appetite. Hear some of the best new work by Australian emerging writers. With singer-songwriter, AL PARKINSON, cartoonist MIKE BAYLISS, fiction writer ISABELL LI, non-fiction writer ELLENA SAVAGE and the winner of a special competition run by SLOW CANOE READINGS! Supported by Centre for Creative Arts, La Trobe University.

Bloggers, writers and those in the creative digital industries will all benefit from this newly-structured masterclass. With time split between instruction and practical exercises, our sessions will cover the major tick points that people want to learn about (we’re always listening to feedback!) Plus, there will be the ever-inspiring keynote at the end. Sessions will cover: Strategic Planning, Capitalising on Social Media, Content Creation, Audio and Video, ebook ‘Crash Course’, and a special Digital Keynote. Featuring: MATT BLACKWOOD, JO CASE, ASHLEY DAVIES, JOMAD PODCAST, THANG NGO, ROSE POWELL and MARK WELKER. Supported by Tablo Publishing

Have an idea that’s too big for a short story but not big enough for a novel? Well, the novella could be the perfect form for you. This hands-on workshop is packed with practical advice and includes some writing exercises to help jump-start your novella masterpiece.

Most people are familiar with the idea of maps as representations of geographical information, but mapmaking can tell our personal stories, assist us to understand the world around us and our place within it. In collaboration with writers, LISA D’ONOFRIO and SIMMONE HOWELL, young people have produced maps of inspired imagination exploring writing and cartography. Join the young artists as they undertake urban wanderings and distribute their maps as alternative city guides.

MANDY ORD (Sensitive Creatures) will give a presentation and workshop that focuses on her journey as a published cartoonist as well as insights into the development of comics unique footing as a pictorial language. She will demonstrate and teach the specific tools and methods used to explore the language of comics. Her workshop will be fun and hands on.

Emerging Writers’ Festival goes to the movies at ACMI, to explore how words translate into images. How does a screenwriter take their work from page to screen? Our panel of screenwriters will discuss the experience of adapting their work for a vastly different medium, where thoughts are turned into action and ideas cost more than ink and paper. 24 Frames per Sentence will explore collaboration, compromise and creativity - how writers work and thrive in the screenwriting industry. With AMANDA BROTCHIE, SIAN DAVIES and ANNABELLE MURPHY. Hosted by VERONICA GLEESON. This event is made possible by the VCA & MCM Professional Pathways Scholarship program, supported by the State Government through Arts Victoria. Bookings here.

Writers are increasingly expected to perform in public – whether giving readings at launches, or appearing on panels at writers’ festivals (just like this one). In this special Intensive Masterclass, actor, teacher and voice coach ROBERT MELDRUM will lead you through some exercises to improve the live presentation of your work. This is a must attend masterclass for those writers looking to break into the festival circuit. Supported by Australian Poetry.

In this workshop, you will be introduced to the basic principles of creative nonfiction: how does it differ from fiction and journalism? What are the advantages and the limitations? The workshop will include exercises on creating a compelling structure, and practical tips on generating concepts, developing pieces, and pitching to publications.

Writers just write, right? NO! The business of being a writer means much more than that: filing, taxation, profile creation, time management. It all matters. This popular masterclass is about providing writers with the tools and tips with which they can go on to forge their successful careers. Sessions will cover: Teaching Writing, Bringing in the Money, Organisation and Strategic Planning, Building Relationships, Marketing and Self Promotion, the Life of a Writer. Featuring: MARIE ALAFACI, BEN CUBBY, MEREDITH CURNOW, AMY GRAY, BHAKTHI PUVANENTHIRAN, ROBYN DOVEIAN and AMY ESPESETH. Hosted by BETHANIE BLANCHARD. Supported by NMIT.

People say ‘know the rules before you break them’, but what if the rules feel like old fashioned nonsense, a creative straitjacket and more painful than they are worth? When the pall of writer’s block descends, to whom or to what do you turn, and what do you really know about your own imagination anyway? Anything is possible. Hosted by MTC Literary Director CHRIS MEAD with guest playwrights. If you are interested in taking part email [email protected] with your name, contact details, a brief paragraph on why you would like to attend, as well as mentioning the Emerging Writers’ Festival. Presented in association with NEON, MTC’s Festival of Independent Theatre.

This poetry workshop will introduce new poets to some of the most exciting and innovative poetic works being produced by contemporary poets today, both within Australia and internationally. Participants will be involved in discussions and undertake basic poetry-writing exercises.

Literature comes alive, as longtime writing rivals – those who write for a (so-called) adult audience, and those who write for the YA market – finally face off. Emerging Writers’ Festival favourites will be pitched against the superstars of contemporary Young Adult fiction. Spectacle is guaranteed. A winner will be determined and victory will be Sweet (Valley High)! With LIBBA BRAY, TOM DOIG, GARTH NIX, MYKE BARTLETT and more. Supported by the Centre for Youth Literature and Reading Matters. Book here!

Sometimes you just need a space to write in. Take yourself away from the study and get into a space specially designed for writing, where the only distractions are productive ones. You just need your brain and your writing implements and you can talk to fellow writers and get advice from the writers on hand. And in the same space, join poet EMILY STEWART as she does the unthinkable, and gives away all of her books, with a personalised letter to go with each.

Do you like to work slowly at writing, line by line? In an age of instant tweets and immediate writing, drop into The Slow Writing Centre to work on a single page of writing over the day – to get it perfect, sharp and concise. Writer SOPHIE OVERETT will be on hand to provide support. Supported by the QLD Writers’ Centre

To kick off our fantastic new Writers’ Retreat program, join SOPHIE LANGLEY in a session of yoga where she will take you through the basic moves, while also guiding you through her writing practice and how correct posture and breathing can help you be healthy and productive.

Are you under 25? Want to get started as a writer but not quite sure how to go about it? This one-off intensive at Signal is perfect for young writers just starting out. Join Signal and Express Media to hear BETHANIE BLANCHARD, MEL CAMPBELL, AMY GRAY and SAMUEL COONEY share how to take your first steps towards a career in publishing. The intensive is free but places are strictly limited so book ASAP. Also be on the look out for The Signal Express, a daily publication produced during the festival by a talented team of high school arts writers. Supported by Express Media and Signal BOOKED OUT

Writing requires a lot of concentration and a considerable amount of thought. How do writers quieten their minds and can meditation help? Join novelist and meditation teacher JESS HUON as she takes you through some mindfulness exercises.

Dance and writing might seem worlds apart, but introducing one into your life might have its benefits for the other (e.g., could finding their rhythm through dance help writers find their writing rhythm?). CATHERINE MCCREDIE shares her passion for movement.

Gin means singing, praising, making a poem Koo means walking. Participants will wander, collecting observations and making notes on feelings and thoughts on the way. Time will be given at the conclusion of the walk to share notes, craft a haiku or two, then communally create a Renga (group linked poem.) Think of this late Autumnal meander as a preparation for Winter. With LISA D’ONOFRIO.

Writing in the 21st century is frequently less and less a solitary act, and more an act of creation between writer and audience. From the humble choose-your-own-adventure to more experimental forms of interactive fiction and performance, new forms of work encourage active participation from a reader and audience. In this hands-on workshop, DAVID FINNIGAN explores some basic principles for creating participatory work.