Writing NSW – what we do for writers

I’ve been a member of Writing NSW since before I was published. It’s a place and community I really value. When you’ve had an awful writing day, received an overwhelming editorial report or a scathing review, knowing others have been through the same thing and lived to write another day really helps. Whatever point you’re at in your writing career, you can be sure there are others there with you: those further along who will help you and those further back who will value your help. Writing NSW is important too because it is harder and harder to make a living as a writer in Australia. Book advances are down, the market is crowded and most publications haven't increased freelance rates in years. That Writing NSW employs writers at rates that show a respect for our time and expertise is a great relief. The regular income I receive as a tutor allows me to spend more time writing and less chasing work to pay the bills. - Emily Maguire, writer

I have been a member of Writing NSW since 2009 and it has been instrumental in supporting me to develop my career as a writer. Writing NSW is a particularly welcoming institution for writers who are starting out. I participated in a culturally diverse Who’s Writing Who? event at Writing NSW. The event – chaired by Sheila Pham and including panellists Michelle Cahill, Ramon Loyola, Sara Saleh and myself – discussed the ethical conundrums and personal frustrations of writing about, and for, multicultural Australia. The opportunity provided panellists with a rare platform and safe space to discuss our experiences as diverse writers. It presented the Filipino-Australian poet, Ramon Loyola, with his first opportunity to give a public reading of his poetry. The opportunity led to the filming of an ABC Bookish episode ‘Who Should Write What?’ at Writing NSW on the same evening, an article about the panel in Writers’ Bloc, and a mention in the Sydney Morning Herald. The event provided panellists with a rare platform and safe space to discuss our experiences as diverse writers. - Julie Koh, writer

I have been involved with Writing NSW for over 25 years and have worked on many events and programs during that time. The organisation has always been committed to Indigenous writing. Over the years, it has supported First Nations writers through mentorships, master classes, specific workshops and festivals and inclusion in overall programs and events. As the NSW Writers’ Centre, it also delivered a mentorship program for emerging Indigenous writers in 2015-17 with me as lead mentor. The emerging writers were mentored by established Aboriginal writers including Larissa Behrendt, Gayle Kennedy, Melissa Lucashenko, Ellen van Neerven, Bruce Pascoe and Nicole Watson. This program unearthed some very exciting writers. I acknowledge Writing NSW as leaders in creating platforms for Indigenous writers. - Cathy Craigie, writer & former director of FNAWN

It's not an overstatement to say that Writing NSW is one of the most important organisations of its kind in the country, providing access to education for emerging writers on how to write, but also the business aspects of writing that so few organisations offer. I have been consistently impressed by the innovative programs Writing NSW puts on for members and the general public, the most obvious example being the genre-based writers’ festivals. Support for Writing NSW is also direct support for a host of emerging Australian writers and the people who teach them. - Benjamin Law, writer

Since 2006, the goal of Sweatshop has been to empower culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Western Sydney through literacy and critical thinking programs, with a focus on creative writing. One of the reasons for Sweatshop’s growing success and positive outcomes has been the ongoing collaborations with, and support from, Writing NSW. Over the last five years, Writing NSW has made a commitment to providing our writers from Indigenous, migrant and refugee backgrounds with a platform to present work, publicly discuss important literary issues, and reach new audiences. Sweatshop writers have been regularly invited to participate on Writing NSW panels and presentations. In 2017, the collaboration between Sweatshop and Writing NSW was the most significant to date, as we came together to produce the first-ever literary festival for writers from non-English speaking and Indigenous backgrounds; the Boundless Festival. Our collaboration with Writing NSW has enabled many writers from minority backgrounds to step outside their own communities and produce and present work in a professional capacity. - Michael Mohammed Ahmad, writer and director of Sweatshop

Writing NSW is a wonderful resource for me as an author. I have been a member since I first began writing fiction and have now published three novels. Writing is a solitary occupation and many of us who write novels for a living struggle to find a community to commiserate with and share our success with. Writing NSW manages to provide more opportunities for writers to make extra income while also providing a community of other writers. It is inclusive of a diverse range of writers and the programming just seems to get better every year. - Eleanor Limprecht, writer

I may never have achieved my lifelong dream of being a published writer without Writing NSW. As a young unpublished author, I attended courses, publishing seminars, and literary festivals in its beautiful grounds, and was encouraged, inspired and taught my craft. I have now published more than 20 books in 14 countries, but I will never forget what an important influence Writing NSW had upon my career. The services it offers are vital for creating and fostering a lively literary community, not just for aspiring authors but also for published authors who must find some way to earn an income if they are to survive in an increasingly difficult economic environment. Writing NSW works tirelessly to bring readers and writers together, to celebrate the importance of books in all their many diverse forms, and to support writers at all stages of their careers. - Kate Forsyth, writer

Writing NSW is an important advocate for writing and writers as well as being a significant provider of professional development to emerging and established writers. One of the many ways Writing NSW has been important to my development as a professional writer is through helping me to establish myself as a writing teacher. Providing writers with the ability to make a professional income is integral to maintaining them in their creative practice. As a western suburbs writer and someone who is deeply engaged with the arts in this area, I would like to commend Writing NSW for their efforts in engaging with this community. I have always been impressed by their Talking Writing series, which has featured so many emerging writers from my community around topics such as Writing Lebanon, Who’s Writing Who? and Refugee Stories. In the 10 years I have been involved with the organisation I have seen it include many new initiatives to meet a wide range of growing needs such as online courses, festivals which allow for much needed deeper exploration of specific writing fields, and programs which provide support to diverse and emerging writers. - Felicity Castagna, writer

I have benefited immensely from the literary ecology built over many years by Writing NSW. As a first generation female immigrant from India with little access to literary networks, it has been particularly challenging to access support, participate in literary activities, and indeed, feel like one is welcome in the hallowed spaces of Australian literature. However, whenever I’ve attended events offered by Writing NSW, I have always been made to feel welcome. When I was a young and unpublished writer, I took heart from the range of programs offered at Writing NSW, where I slowly built confidence that one day I would realise my dream of being a published author. Now, as a working writer, I feel immensely privileged to have been invited to participate in the activities offered by Writing NSW, such as at a wonderfully supportive panel focused on Indian-Australian writers, and the incredibly empowering Boundless Festival for diverse writers. - Roanna Gonsalves, writer

Writing NSW is an invaluable resource for writers of all literary forms and at all stages of their careers. I have had the pleasure of working closely with its staff over the past couple of years, running weekend playwriting courses, and also as director of the 2016 Playwriting Festival. This involvement points to one of the organisation’s strengths, the employment of working writers as teachers and facilitators. It is rigorous in maintaining a high standard of teaching, and the benefits for everyone are clear: artists are able to supplement their income by sharing their craft and industry knowledge with students, who in turn are learning from the best. I am grateful to Writing NSW for the important role it plays in supporting writers. - Hilary Bell, playwright

Over the past few years I have done paid work for Writing NSW – mentorships, poetry workshops and manuscript assessments. As a practising writer, these opportunities have been most beneficial, buying me time to give to my own writing. Writing NSW, through its various programs, has been, for me, an essential form of support, not only financially, but in the provision of forums where like-minded people can interact and find mutual support, encouragement and friendship. - Judith Beveridge, poet

Our stories are everywhere. They are in the branches of trees and in the flow of the rivers. They lie deep underground and float high on the winds. They course through us as a heartbeat, giving us breath, giving us life. Our stories keep country happy and make it healthy and strong. So, we must write, we must be brave and tell our stories boldly, we must dream them up and shape them so that we may birth them into the earth. By doing this we ensure our homelands continue to sing. Our words are the sound of spirit, they come from deep within your soul. As a previous recipient of Writing NSW’s Indigenous mentorship, I received the most generous of gifts – a space for my words to be surrounded by kindness, culture, knowledge and support. It made my words strong, it made me even stronger and gave me the courage to walk in the footsteps of my ancestors, the first storytellers of this land. - Nardi Simpson, writer and singer-songwriter

Writing NSW is for me the most important centre for networking, education and promotion of writers. The affordable events and programs offer tremendous opportunities for writers at all levels to develop their craft, discover new possibilities for publication and promotion and learn about developing trends in the industry. The organisation cultivates a collegial and supportive milieu in which new ideas flourish and strong support networks are formed. For a full-time writer like me it is an essential part of my professional development and really the only place I can go for ideas about publishing, promotion and new ways of making my writing relevant and accessible. As well, Writing NSW represents one of the increasingly rare sources of income for a writer. Through opportunities for paid teaching and speaking at events I can supplement my writing income as well as build my readership and support base. Our literary culture is immeasurably enriched by Writing NSW, and it represents a true embrace of diversity in intellectual culture. - Walter Mason, writer

Writing NSW offers a unique service to a diverse collection of people in the arts. I’ve been a screenwriter for television and films for over 20 years. My credits include the multi-award- winning drama series Love My Way, the Emmy nominated Dance Academy, the hit Channel 9 drama set in 1969, Love Child, and my latest show, Lambs of God. For me, Writing NSW has been the only place I can escape to and do my work. As a member for many years, I’ve always found it to be a serene place filled with inspiration. Over the years, I’ve attended different writer’s groups, courses and inspiring festivals. I am grateful for all the support Writing NSW has given me. - Sarah Lambert, screenwriter & producer

I’ve been associated with Writing NSW for over 20 years. In that time, as one of Australia’s most internationally-produced playwrights, I’ve taught writing to literally thousands of people and given hundreds of script reports to writers for theatre, radio and other media. Much of the funding Writing NSW receives flows through to artists and writers, established or new. Many professional playwrights now working in Australia owe their start to programs developed by Writing NSW. Suzi Miller and Tom Holloway are just two whose major dramatic education was received there. - Timothy Daly, playwright

The Pacific community is vastly misrepresented in mainstream Australian media and arts. As a Tongan-Australian arts worker, writer and editor from Mount Druitt it has become my life’s work to uplift my own community through literature. Writing NSW is committed to creating meaningful space for writers and through our work together we were able to create Australia’s first entirely Pasifika curated and Pasifika led literary panel, Talking Writing: Pasifika. With the financial and administrative support of Writing NSW, I was able to bring together Indigenous South Pacific artists such as Amirta Hepi, Brian Fuata, Emele Ugavule and Didi de Graaf to discuss our art making within our intersectional and diasporic communities consisting of Bundjulung (Aboriginal), Ngaphi (Māori), Samoan, Tongan, Tokelauan and Fijian. I would like to thank Writing NSW for providing a platform for original dialogue from marginalised voices to come to centre. - Winnie Dunn, writer

My first experience with Writing NSW was in 2009 when I attended the Kids & YA Festival. This event introduced me to the wonderful community and the exciting opportunities for writers of children’s books. I met other aspiring writers, like myself, who invited me to join a Writing NSW picture book writers’ group. This was undoubtedly the best move for my writing career. With the support of this group, I had my first picture book contracted within a year. This was followed by a chapter book and then a YA novel with Penguin. Over the years, I have attended a number of Writing NSW courses, talks and festivals, which have all greatly contributed to my development as a writer. I am very grateful for the opportunities Writing NSW has given me, without which I would not be at the point in my writing career I am today. It is a haven for writers at any point in their career. - Kylie Fornasier, writer

Writing NSW has greatly fostered my development, helping to shape my identity as a writer and feeling part of a writing community. I was a facilitator and panelist for two very well- attended events: Refugee Stories and Who’s Writing Who. These were important panels because they provided a platform to a wide range of writers from under-represented backgrounds. It was satisfying to be able to hash out important issues in a public literary space. The willingness of Writing NSW to host these panels indicates its understanding of how necessary it is to foster an inclusive writing community given Australia’s multiculturalism. I feel gratified and honoured to be a part of it. - Sheila Pham, writer

It's no secret the Australian literary scene struggles with diversity. I've always found it hard to exist in Australian writing communities as a writer of Lebanese descent, to be openly proud of that fact and embrace it in my writing. After Writing NSW asked me to join a panel about writing on the theme of Lebanon, I met two incredible authors Leila Yusaf Chung and Michael Mohammed Ahmad who inspired me to keep writing. It finally feels I've found my place and my people as a writer, who understand the challenges we face and are working hard to bring opportunities and support to communities who really need it. I'd like to thank Writing NSW for being so pivotal in forging those connections, fostering community and looking outside the typical white dominated structures to find new voices with startlingly different things to say about being Australian today. - Sherree Joseph, writer

I can testify to the importance of Writing NSW to writers and writing organisations. Both in my personal capacity as a professional full-time writer and my official capacity as Chair of the New England Writers’ Centre in Armidale, I have frequently interacted with Writing NSW. I am delighted that Writing NSW helps to support regional writers and writing: for example, providing grants to regional writers to attend professional development. As an author, I have presented workshops, attended and spoken at several events at Writing NSW including the Kids and YA Festival and the Speculative Fiction Festival, both of which were excellent and attracted participants from all over the country. For writers as well as for fellow writing organisations such as NEWC, Writing NSW is of great importance in terms both of the quality of its professional development and creative practice events and also the reach and openness of its vision. - Sophie Masson, writer

I was privileged to be on the program of the inaugural Quantum Words Festival at Writing NSW. It was an exciting and enriching day, and it was testament to the breadth and appeal of the programming that many audience members travelled interstate to participate. Festivals such as Quantum Words provide an important point of intersection for audiences and between writers from very different working areas and genres. Quantum Words is perhaps one of the most exciting examples of this, embracing writing scientists, science writers, science-fiction writers, writers of literary fiction, science journalists, poets, playwrights, and host of writers operating in other practices. In the world as it stands today, there has never been greater urgency to break down any false divide between what we term “arts” and what we term “sciences”. Both rely on imagination and creativity; both rely on narrative. And in terms of the stories we can choose to tell about our world and how we are likely to have to live in it and with it in the coming decades, it is more and more urgent that people engage with the stories of science. A forum such as Quantum Words has the opportunity to provide a unique entry point for both readers and writers to straddle that notional inter-disciplinary fence, and make important contributions to one of the most important conversations we – as humans, and as narrative-based animals – need now, more than ever, to ignite. - Ashley Hay, writer

I’m an award-winning children’s author and former director of the Writing NSW Kids & YA Literature Festival. As director, I saw first-hand how important this festival is in supporting authors and illustrators for young people. It’s a mainstay on our calendar and over the years has helped foster many careers. Not only does the festival offer professional development and promotional opportunities for artists presenting on the day, it also offers educational development for the many, many aspiring and emerging artists who attend. These fledgling artists coming to soak up ideas and knowledge from more experienced writers. It’s an invaluable experience for them and one that is hard to obtain elsewhere. There are panels, pitching sessions, workshops and networking opportunities. This is one of the most important – and largest – literary festivals in Australia dedicated to the children’s publishing industry and the perfect conduit and location for those in the industry to meet, learn, listen, interact, showcase their work and develop new collaborations. It’s an event that everyone in the industry looks forward to every two years. – Aleesah Darlison, writer

Some writers employed in recent Writing NSW programs

Donna Abela James Bradley Aleesah Darlison Hani Abdile Ellen Broad Marele Day Mark Abernethy Melissa Bruce Tegan Bennett Daylight Robert Adamson Michelle Cahill Tricia Dearborn Debra Adelaide Mel Campbell Upulie Divisekara Miranda Aguilar Gabrielle Carey Benjamin Dodds Michael Mohammed Luke Carman Tom Doig Ahmad Isobelle Carmody Hannah Donnelly Safdar Ahmed Ber Carroll Terry Dowling Niki Aken Jo Case Jarrah Dundler Jada Alberts Felicity Castagna Winnie Dunn Manisha Amin Jo Chandler Steven Amsterdam Shankari Chandran Evelyn Araluen Helen Chebatte Wai Chim Tamar Chnorhokian Eileen Chong Leila Yusuf Chung Ali Cobby Eckermann Maxine Beneba Clarke Monikka Eliah Danielle Clode Jim Everett Catherine Cole Delia Falconer Jessie Cole Suzanne Falkiner Emma Ashmere Kate Cole-Adams Melaina Faranda Sarah Ayoub Matthew Condon Michael Farrell Maryam Azam Annaliese Constable Osman Faruqi Louise Badalaya Kylie Coolwell Toby Fitch Vanessa Bates Sam Cooney Kylie Fornasier Josiane Behmoiras Claire Corbett Kate Forsyth Larissa Behrendt Jan Cornall Davina Bell PS Cottier Hilary Bell Cathy Craigie Vanessa Berry Georgia Cranko Judith Beveridge Anwen Crawford Danielle Binks Alison Croggon Tony Birch Cath Crowley Carmel Bird Bee Cruse Hera Lindsay Bird Sophie Cunningham John Birmingham Kate Cuthbert Emily Bitto Timothy Daly Jesse Blackadder Mark Dapin

Jackie French Andrea James Michele Lee Brian Fuata Noelle Janaczewska Dub Leffler Anna Funder Carol Jenkins Luka Lesson Kevin Duo Jin Caleb Lewis Sheree Joseph Ruark Lewis Mireille Juchau Yasmine Lewis Leah Kaminsky Kate Lilley Sarah Kanake Rebecca Lim Dhananjaya Karunarathne Eleanor Limprecht Ava Karuso Zoe Norton Lodge Sulari Gentill Phillip Kavanagh Astrid Lorange Ian Gibbins Cate Kennedy Angelo Loukakis Jane Gleeson-White Gayle Kennedy Ramon Loyola Kerryn Goldsworthy Zohab Zee Khan Melissa Lucashenko Elena Gomez Krissy Kneen Nakkiah Lui Roanna Gonsalves Malcolm Knox Brooke Maggs Guido Gonzalez Lee Kofman Emily Maguire Didi de Graaf Julie Koh Nasrin Mahoutchi-Hosaini Tom Griffiths Rebecca Makkai Eva Gunaydin Ned Manning Eleni Hale Sara Mansour Jacqueline Harvey Bish Marzook Ashley Hay Walter Mason Sophie Masson

Will Kostakis Moreblessing Maturure Sarah Krasnostein Laura Jean McKay Kirsten Krauth Natasha Mitchell Bruce McCabe Michelle de Kretser David Henley Anna Krien Fionn McCabe Amrita Hepi Ambelin Kwaymullina Marian McGuinness Steven Herrick Stephanie Lai Martin McKenzie-Murray Laurie Hertzel Shivanjani Lal Miles Merrill Alana Hicks Sarah Lambert Angela Meyer Emma Hicks Margo Lanagan Kate Middleton Karen Hitchcock Martin Langford Mikelangelo Kate Holden LA Larkin Patti Miller Tom Holloway Jack Latimore Suzie Miller Simmone Howell Benjamin Law Peter Minter David Hunt Shirley Le Oliver Mol Lisa Jacobson Bem Le Hunte Oscar Monaghan

Daisy Montalvo Ron Pretty Cat Sparks Margaret Morgan Alice Pung Shawn Spina Jaclyn Moriarty Jane Rawson Allison Tait Robyn Mundy Nicola Redhouse Adeline Teoh Craig Munro Anjali Roberts Richard Tipping Tommy Murphy Katrina Roe Kirsten Tranter Belinda Murrell Aden Rolfe Mark Tredinnick Omar Musa Drew Rooke Tiffany Tsao Ellen van Neerven Luke Ryan Sam Twyford-Moore Norm Neill Omar Sakr Emele Ugavule Alice Nelson Michael Sala Jenny Valentish Thang Ngo Sara Saleh Emma Viskic Garth Nix Brenda Saunders Aanisa Vylet Bianca Nogrady James Saunders Jessica Walton TI O Kirli Saunders Marlee Jane Ward Mark O’Flynn Disapol Savetsila Kaaron Warren Kristina Olsson Rosie Waterland Helen O’Neill Nicole Watson Ryan O’Neill Anna Westbrook CS Pacat Jessica White Louise Park Sean Williams Bruce Pascoe Geordie Williamson

Zoya Patel Tristan Savage Tara June Winch Simon Petrie Irini Savvides Alli Sebastian Wolf Hoa Pham Kylie Scott Jennifer Wong Sheila Pham Stephen Sewell Charlotte Wood Stephen Pham Kerri Shying Danielle Wood Inga Simpson Fiona Wood Nardi Simpson Sue Woolfe Angela Slatter Clare Wright Annabel Smith Fiona Wright Pip Smith Tom Wright Gaele Sobott Susan Wyndham Alicia Sometimes Beth Yahp Lachlan Philpott Amanda Yeo Oliver Phommavanh Jakob Ziguras Marianne de Pierres Claire Zorn Peter Polites Markus Zusak Yvette Poshoglian Sian Prior

Writing NSW partners 2018-20

ACT Writers’ Centre Northern Territory Writers’ Centre Allen & Unwin Omnibus Australian Broadcasting Corporation Outback Writers’ Centre Australian Poetry Outstanding LGBTQI writing prize Australian Poetry Slam Overland Australian Publishers Association Pacific Arts Association Australian Society of Authors Pan Macmillan Avid Reader, Brisbane Pantera Press Bankstown Arts Centre Penguin Random House Bankstown Poetry Slam Playwriting Australia Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival Queensland Writers’ Centre Berkelouw Books Red Room Poetry Better Read Than Dead Red Rattler Theatre Belvoir Seizure Big Skies Project Simon & Schuster Books+Publishing Small Press Network Booranga Writers Centre Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators Brio Books South Coast Writers’ Centre Byron Writers’ Festival Southerly Cameron Creswell Agency Spineless Wonders Casula Powerhouse State Library of NSW Children’s Book Council Stella Prize Copyright Agency Sweatshop Critical Mass Sydney Morning Herald CSIRO Sydney Review of Books CuriousWorks Sydney Story Factory Emerging Writers’ Festival Sydney Writers’ Festival Express Media Tasmanian Writers’ Centre FBi Radio Text Publishing First Nations Australia Writers’ Network The Australian Foxtel The Lifted Brow Giramondo University of Melbourne Google Creative Lab University of NSW Hachette University of Queensland Press HarperCollins University of Sydney Hunter Writers’ Centre University of Technology Sydney Information and Cultural Exchange Urban Theatre Projects Inspiring Australia Varuna Kill Your Darlings Walkley Foundation Macquarie University Western Sydney University Meanjin WestWords Mudgee Readers’ Festival Whitlam Institute National Library of Australia Wollongong Writers’ Festival National Theatre of Parramatta Word of Mouth TV National Writers Centre Network Word Travels National Young Writers’ Festival Write Around the Murray Nature Publishing Writers SA New England Writers’ Centre Writers Victoria Newcastle Writers’ Festival Writes4Festivals podcast Newtown Review of Books Writing WA Nielsen Bookscan Zeitgeist Media