Newcastle Writers Festival
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL 5 APRIL 2024. BOOKINGS WILL REOPEN IN FEBRUARY.
Newcastle Writers Festival’s Schools Program returns to a live presentation for the first time in four years. The program includes popular presentations by writers and illustrators who talk about their craft and take questions from students. The workshops offer a more intensive and individual learning experience for Stage 2/3 students.
WORKSHOP: Jacqui Wright - Cliffhanger Endings
Monday 28 August 2023
You’ve heard of happily-ever-after endings but what about cliff-hangers? They keep audiences engaged until the very last word. Learn how to write an ending that keeps your reader thinking long after they’ve put your story down.
Years 3 to 6
Newcastle Museum Theatrette
WORKSHOP: Jess Black - World Building
Monday 28 August 2023
How do authors create worlds so real it feels like readers can jump into them? World building is an integral part of storytelling. This workshop will inspire students to deeply consider their worlds and the way that they impact character behaviour.
For Years 5 to 6
NEWCASTLE CITY LIBARY MEETING ROOM 1
WORKSHOP: Kirrili Lonergan - Picture Perfect
Monday 28 August 2023
A picture becomes a story when an emotion is felt, maybe even a curiosity or noticing some small detail that deepens the story. In this workshop, students will learn the tips and tricks of illustrating a picture book and will get 'hands on' creating their own illustration spreads.
Years 3 to 6.
NEWCASTLE ROOM CITY HALL
Jared Thomas presents Sense of Adventure
Monday 28 August 2023
Author Jared Thomas discusses how his Nukunu culture and sense of adventure inspired the writing of Uncle XBox and other popular titles for young readers.
Years 4 to 6
CIVIC PLAYHOUSE
Carla Fitzgerald presents If Kids Ruled the World
Monday 28 August 2023
What would you do if you were the boss of the country? Make weekends longer? Or ban plastic bottles? What if kids drove cars? What if our pets could talk? What if you travelled to Mars? In this interactive session, Carla will demonstrate how ‘what if’ questions can ignite your imagination and fuel your narrative writing.
For Years 3 to 6
Cummings Room Newcastle City Hall
Guy Edmonds and Matt Zeremes present Love Losing
Monday 28 August 2023
Guy and Matt are Emmy-winning writers, directors and actors, but they haven’t always won stuff! Their career path is a 15-year road of ups, downs, potholes and loads of trips off the beaten track. Through resilience and persistence they’ve been able to forge their way forward. Hear from them about how they did it and learn about resilience, creativity and leadership.
For Years 3 to 6
Concert Hall Newcastle City Hall
Jeremy Lachlan presents The Long and Winding Road
Monday 28 August 2023
Join best-selling author Jeremy Lachlan for an in-depth discussion about his creative life. He will talk about the long and winding road to becoming an author, the inception of his epic action-adventure series, The Jane Doe Chronicles, his creative process, inspiration, and how personal triumphs and tragedies have shaped the plots of his award-winning novels.
Years 4 to 6
Hunter Room Newcastle City Hall
Sara Acton presents Ideas Everywhere
Monday 28 August 2023
Read, draw and imagine with children’s author and illustrator Sara Acton. Explore where ideas come from and how to draw inspiration from the world around you. Create characters and draw your own unique illustration.
For Years K to 2
(Students are to bring drawing utensils)
Mulubinba Room Newcastle City Hall
Dub Leffler presents Draw Along With Me
Monday 28 August 2023
Create colourful characters inspired by Australia's wonderful flora and fauna with award-winning illustrator Dub Leffler. Students will be guided through a series of engaging exercises so that even the most reluctant artist can create a character with confidence.
For Years K to 4 (Students are to bring clipboards and drawing utensils)
Concert Hall Newcastle City Hall
Jared Thomas presents Sense of Adventure
Monday 28 August 2023
Author Jared Thomas discusses how his Nukunu culture and sense of adventure inspired the writing of Uncle XBox and other popular titles for young readers.
Years 4 to 6
Hunter Room Newcastle City Hall
Sofie Laguna presents Characters: Why do we need them?
Monday 28 August 2023
How does an actor become a writer?
What are the similarities between acting and writing? Where do you find characters? How can they help us to tell a story? Why are they important? An award-winning writer, Sofie draws on her experience as an actor to inspire children to write stories.
For Years 3 to 6
Civic Playhouse
WORKSHOP: Emma Biddle - Driving Dialogue
Monday 28 August 2023
Dialogue is important for propelling the narrative forward. Through drama, vocabulary and experimentation, students will learn practical steps on how to write dialogue effectively to create compelling characters and drive their plot forward.
For Years 5 to 6
Newcastle Museum Theatrette
WORKSHOP: Jess Black - Into the Deep
Monday 28 August 2023
Take a deep dive into creating believable and compelling characters for students' creative writing. Through a series of activities this workshop gives students the tools to create and develop characters that readers will remember.
For Years 3 to 4
Newcastle City Library - Meeting Room 1
WORKSHOP: Karen Eastwood - Credible Characters
Monday 28 August 2023
Whether your protagonist is a three headed alien, a prize winning poodle or an athletic legend, your reader won’t care unless that character seems real. Focusing on point of view and transformations, this session will explore the key ingredients to write authentic characters.
For Years 5 to 6
Newcastle Room City Hall
