About the Emerging Writers' Festival 2012
2012 Highlights
Stories That Matter is the key performance event of the festival, with a Call to Arms keynote address by author Fiona McGregor. This event includes the presentation of the inaugural $5000 Monash University Undergraduate Prize for Creative Writing. Please welcome our exciting international guest, award-winning journalist and broadcaster Anita Sethi, who will be present throughout the festival to connect with Australia’s emerging writers. How will we be reading and writing in the future? Step into Future Bookshop at NGV Studio to find out!
Professional development for writers continues to be the core of what we do at the festival. Our Town Hall Writers’ Conference is the leading event for emerging writers in Australia, designed to create in-depth discussion about the art, craft and business of being a writer. Additionally we have expanded our masterclass program, giving you the opportunity to learn from industry professionals and gain the skills you need to be a successful writer. Our Industry Insider events aim to demystify the often-confusing literary industry, and The Pitch returns bigger and better than ever.
Get ready for some late nights and festival frivolity! Fright Night celebrates a good thrilling tale. Is that a cold draught of something more mysterious? You’ll be wondering… Our Revenge of the Nerds Slide Night writers are waiting to regale you with tales tall and true about their nerdy obsessions and geeky hobbies. And of course the festival concludes with our knees-up Spelling Bee, where bragging rights are on the line for lovers of the written word.
Need a place to sit and chill between events, or want to swap stories and opinions with fellow festival attendees? Our Festival Hub at Rue Bebelons is the place to be! Drop in one night for the Late Night Book Club, or let the excellent coffee and cocktails fuel your late night festival fun. More of a day bunny? Check out our Poetry Cafe and Lunchbox/Soapbox events!
From the Director
The Emerging Writers’ Festival has always been a festival for writers. Inspiring, informing and connecting writers of all kinds and at all stages of their career – that’s what we do.
The Emerging Writers’ Festival has always been a festival for writers. Inspiring, informing and connecting writers of all kinds and at all stages of their career – that’s what we do.In our 2012 festival you will find events programmed with writers in mind. Our two-day Town Hall Writers’ conference continues to grow, with over 80 exciting writers ready to discuss the art and craft of being a writer. We have also introduced a new panel series aimed at demystifying the sometimes confusing publishing world, our Industry Insider discussion sessions. Page Parlour indie press fair will be complemented by Future Bookshop, an interactive exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. Plus there will be plenty of time for fun and frolics at our Revenge of the Nerds Slide Night, closing night Spelling Bee and atmospheric Fright Night storytelling event.
This year our program features more ways than ever to come along and engage with the festival and network with other writers. Our Festival Hub Rue Bebelons will once again be the place to be – look out for the Late Night Book Clubs! – or you can write up a storm in our Rabbit Hole writing frenzy, join our first-ever Festival Open Mic, or jump online and explore our EWFdigital events. Yup, when we say we’re the festival for writers, we really mean it.
Of course, the Festival is just one part in our broader mission to create opportunities for emerging writers. This year we are incredibly excited to present the Monash University Undergraduate Prize for Creative Writing, a prestigious new literary award with a Penguin publishing opportunity attached, and are tickled pink to be offering a writers’ residency program as part of the Future Bookshop. We are also proud to be launching our festival publication, The Emerging Writer: An Insider’s Guide to Your Writing Journey. This book is packed full of wisdom, tips and insider information about how to pursue your writing passion.
No matter what kind of writer you are, the Emerging Writers’ Festival has your back. So come along, take part in the discussion, and celebrate your writing life.
Lisa Dempster Festival Director
From the Arts Minister
The Victorian Government is proud to support the 9th Emerging Writers’ Festival. While still ‘emerging’ in age, this festival has well and truly established its place in our City of Literature.
The Victorian Government is proud to support the 9th Emerging Writers’ Festival. While still ‘emerging’ in age, this festival has well and truly established its place in our City of Literature.More than just a festival, it is an important advocate, incubator and promoter of new writers, editors and publishers across all genres and media, providing professional development, networking and vital showcase opportunities.
But it’s not all business. There’s plenty of literary pleasure for readers to indulge in – from book clubs to markets, performances and forums. New to the festival this year is the Future Bookshop initiative, an exciting free art installation presented in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria.
Like the Festival, our Government is committed to providing opportunities for new and emerging talent. I am proud that during the festival the $15,000 Prize for Unpublished Manuscript, part of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, will be presented. Previous winners include Carrie Tiffany, Andrew Hutchinson and Nick Gadd – all of whom have gone on to be published.
Congratulations to the Festival team on another outstanding program. Whether you’re a reader or a writer, enjoy the 2012 Emerging Writers’ Festival.
Ted Baillieu MLA Premier and Minister for the Arts
