Overview
Wannabe wordsmiths, listen up. If you're tired of scribbling away stories to no avail, this festival could be just the thing to nurture your unrealised potential. Across 11 days, the Emerging Writers' Festival brings over 2000 members of Australia's literary community to Melbourne to celebrate and the explore the magic of the written word. Posing the question 'how do you be a writer in the world?', this event promises to deliver practical, no-nonsense nuggets of wisdom to those both entering and established in the literary field.
Across the program there's plenty to keep to busy. Kicking things off is the Opening Night Storytelling Slam, which sees four writers share their best and worst pieces of advice to eager ears (along with the announcement of the winners of the Monash Undergraduate Prize for Creative Writing plus the Victorian Premier's Literary Award for an Unpublished Manuscript).
Graphic Translations offers a fascinating snapshot into Japanese zine culture using the work of artist Okan Do Zine, while the festival's YouTube Party sees ACMI's big screen come alight with what's described as 'the natural evolution of any drunken dinner party', hosted by Emily Naismith.
Head along to the National Writer's Conference for two days of industry-focused talks, masterclasses and information sessions hosted by some of Australia's brightest talents, based out of the State Library of Victoria. Find out how to write a captivating profile or host the perfect podcast at the Writer's Night School, or hear how get cold hard cash for your creative endeavours at the Industry Insiders: Money, Money, Money event.
Wrapping up with the Closing Night Party, hosted by Plaything Magazine, the EWF is a must-see for anyone wanting a closer glimpse into the world of writing.
