Emerging Writers' Festival 2022

Overview

If you're a devourer of books and words, you can look forward to feasting on a hefty lineup of talks, workshops, panels and more, when the Emerging Writers' Festival returns for 2022. After all-digital instalments in 2020 and last year, the fest will be back to hosting a jam-packed program of IRL events, though handily, a stack of them will also be accessible online.

Running from Wednesday, June 15–Saturday, June 25, this year's edition has events for all varieties of lit-lover and writing enthusiast, featuring over 150 artists. EWF favourite Amazing Babes will see a cast of familiar faces sharing stories about the women, real and imagined, who've helped shape their lives; while the return of the National Writers' Conference will deliver a day of panels, workshops and pitching sessions headlined by the likes of Yassmin Abdel-Magied, and award-winning author and editor Jennifer Down (Bodies of Light).

On Friday, June 17 and 24, you can head to State Library Victoria to be serenaded by stunning soundscapes and spoken word for Bodies of Sound, while on June 23, the Scienceworks Planetarium hosts a special full-dome screening of Starlight followed by the sharing of responsive works by two emerging writers.

You can also up your own writing skills with an array of masterclasses and workshops covering everything from zines to narrative audio, catch inspiring exhibitions and readings, and celebrate all things mateship at performance-meets-speed-friending event Best Bookish Friends.