Thanks to all our wonderful sponsors we have a great program lined up for 2018!
March
New England Illustration Prize: Going national this year, opens March 5.
We invite illustrators resident in any part of Australia, and at any stage of their careers, to create a colour illustration, suitable for a children’s picture book, on the theme of ‘A fun day out’.
Entries open: March 5. Entries close: June 4. Results announced: Week beginning July 9.
How much: $10 per entry. Only one entry per illustrator. Great prizes!
Prize sponsors: Pinerolo Children’s Book Cottage, Little Pink Dog Books, Christmas Press
April
Picture This
One day picture book workshop with Michelle Worthington (author) Trish Donald (illustrator) Peter and Kathy Creamer (publishers)
When: Sunday April 8
How much: NEWC members: $85; members of partner organisation (Skywriters, NERAM, CBC): $90.00. Non members: $95. Youth (13-18): $75.
May
As usual, we are collaborating with the local sub- branch of the Children’s Book Council to bring you our featured guest. This year, it will be the wonderful award-winning author-illustrator Judith Rossell. More about her books and her illustrations at www.judithrossell.com. Judith will be visiting schools around Armidale and district, and will give a Live Link video presentation for children in rural and remote schools. And she’ll also
be presenting a fantastic 2-and-a-half-hour evening workshop for adults and young adults on writing for kids. For information on the schools program, contact newcpartners@gmail.com
Evening workshop
When: Tuesday May 8
Time: 6 pm — 8.30 pm, with a light supper included.
Where: Granny Fi’s Toy Cupboard, 120 Dangar St Armidale.
How much: NEWC members: $55; members of partner orgs (Skywriters, CBC, NERAM etc.): $60; Youth (12-18): $50; non-members: $70.
When: May 9, goes till September/October. The Hub School: Newling Public School, Armidale.
A memoir without a heart doesn’t work. If you ‘hold back’ when writing memoir, your story will lack emotional truth which will lead to problems with focus and structure. In this workshop Helena shares valuable lessons, tips and tricks for writing about the beauty, pain and emotional truths of one’s life with courage and con dence.
When: Sunday May 27, 2018
Where: The Hub, upstairs in Tamworth Town Library. Time: 11 am - 2.30 pm (1/2-hour lunch break)
How much: NEWC members $75, non-members $85.
June Full day romantic suspense workshop with Bronwyn Parry
When: June 23
Where: The Wicklow Hotel The 2018 Thunderbolt competition will open for entries Australia wide on June 1 2018, with entries closing September 30, and results announced in mid-November. As in previous years, there will be a number of categories as follows: Fiction, Non- Fiction, Poetry, Youth Award, Emerging Author and the esteemed New England Award. More information and sponsors to be announced.
July and August
Pitch Independent
Pitch Independent is our biggest pitch program yet! It has a unique focus on giving regional writers and illustrators, including regional indigenous creators, access to the increasingly important publication opportunities offered to creators by independent book publishers and literary magazines. The program will include a preparation day, a specialist pitch session for poets, and a general pitch day for writers and illustrators in all genres. Pitch Independent will also feature a public symposium on the significant contribution of independent book publishers and literary magazines to Australian literary culture. We have 14 publishers and editors confirmed as attending, from some of Australia’s most prestigious and interesting independent book publishers and literary magazines. Sponsored by the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education, and the Vice-Chancellor's Office at the University of New England.
August
Children's Poetry Day
A one-day program of poetry for schools with presenter John Charles Ryan. Held during Children’s Book Week.
When: August 17-24.
September
Wands and Wormholes, science fiction and fantasy weekend
A fantastic weekend of two full day workshops on writing gripping and believable speculative fiction (fantasy and science fiction) with Angela Slatter and Ian Irvine.
When: Saturday September 15 and Sunday September 16
Where: The Hub, upstairs in Tamworth Town Library Time: 10.30 am - 3.30 pm (with lunch break)
How much: One day session: NEWC Members $110, Non-members $135. Both Sessions: NEWC Members $185, Non-members $235
October
Writing for Film and TV
A one-day workshop on writing for lm and TV When: October, TBC
Presenter: Ben Davies
Year long
Everyone is invited to attend the NEWC Monthly Writing HUB on the last Saturday of the month. The morning begins with an introduction to the monthly topic and then we watch a presentation by several international speakers from the University of Iowa who are renowned for their International Writing Program and its MOOCs (Massive Online Open Courses).
When: Last Saturday of every month Where: Armidale Library
Time: 10.30 am—12.30 pm
New England Illustration Prize: Going national this year, opens March 5.
We invite illustrators resident in any part of Australia, and at any stage of their careers, to create a colour illustration, suitable for a children’s picture book, on the theme of ‘A fun day out’.
Entries open: March 5. Entries close: June 4. Results announced: Week beginning July 9.
How much: $10 per entry. Only one entry per illustrator. Great prizes!
Prize sponsors: Pinerolo Children’s Book Cottage, Little Pink Dog Books, Christmas Press
April
Picture This
One day picture book workshop with Michelle Worthington (author) Trish Donald (illustrator) Peter and Kathy Creamer (publishers)
When: Sunday April 8
How much: NEWC members: $85; members of partner organisation (Skywriters, NERAM, CBC): $90.00. Non members: $95. Youth (13-18): $75.
May
- Live and Local, Sydney Writers' Festival program weekend of 4-6 May
The New England Writers’ Centre has partnered with the Sydney Writers’ Festival to bring this event live to Armidale and Guyra. Guest speakers from the Sydney Writers Festival will be streamed live at the Armidale and Guyra Library. If you are unable to make the Writers Festival, then drop by the library and check out this free event.
When: Weekend of 4-6 May
Where: Armidale Town Library & Guyra Library - Booked In
As usual, we are collaborating with the local sub- branch of the Children’s Book Council to bring you our featured guest. This year, it will be the wonderful award-winning author-illustrator Judith Rossell. More about her books and her illustrations at www.judithrossell.com. Judith will be visiting schools around Armidale and district, and will give a Live Link video presentation for children in rural and remote schools. And she’ll also
be presenting a fantastic 2-and-a-half-hour evening workshop for adults and young adults on writing for kids. For information on the schools program, contact newcpartners@gmail.com
Evening workshop
When: Tuesday May 8
Time: 6 pm — 8.30 pm, with a light supper included.
Where: Granny Fi’s Toy Cupboard, 120 Dangar St Armidale.
How much: NEWC members: $55; members of partner orgs (Skywriters, CBC, NERAM etc.): $60; Youth (12-18): $50; non-members: $70.
- Live Link
When: May 9, goes till September/October. The Hub School: Newling Public School, Armidale.
- Truth of Non-Fiction: half day workshop, Sunday May 27, to be held in Tamworth, presenter Helena Pastor.
A memoir without a heart doesn’t work. If you ‘hold back’ when writing memoir, your story will lack emotional truth which will lead to problems with focus and structure. In this workshop Helena shares valuable lessons, tips and tricks for writing about the beauty, pain and emotional truths of one’s life with courage and con dence.
When: Sunday May 27, 2018
Where: The Hub, upstairs in Tamworth Town Library. Time: 11 am - 2.30 pm (1/2-hour lunch break)
How much: NEWC members $75, non-members $85.
June Full day romantic suspense workshop with Bronwyn Parry
When: June 23
Where: The Wicklow Hotel The 2018 Thunderbolt competition will open for entries Australia wide on June 1 2018, with entries closing September 30, and results announced in mid-November. As in previous years, there will be a number of categories as follows: Fiction, Non- Fiction, Poetry, Youth Award, Emerging Author and the esteemed New England Award. More information and sponsors to be announced.
July and August
Pitch Independent
Pitch Independent is our biggest pitch program yet! It has a unique focus on giving regional writers and illustrators, including regional indigenous creators, access to the increasingly important publication opportunities offered to creators by independent book publishers and literary magazines. The program will include a preparation day, a specialist pitch session for poets, and a general pitch day for writers and illustrators in all genres. Pitch Independent will also feature a public symposium on the significant contribution of independent book publishers and literary magazines to Australian literary culture. We have 14 publishers and editors confirmed as attending, from some of Australia’s most prestigious and interesting independent book publishers and literary magazines. Sponsored by the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education, and the Vice-Chancellor's Office at the University of New England.
August
Children's Poetry Day
A one-day program of poetry for schools with presenter John Charles Ryan. Held during Children’s Book Week.
When: August 17-24.
September
Wands and Wormholes, science fiction and fantasy weekend
A fantastic weekend of two full day workshops on writing gripping and believable speculative fiction (fantasy and science fiction) with Angela Slatter and Ian Irvine.
When: Saturday September 15 and Sunday September 16
Where: The Hub, upstairs in Tamworth Town Library Time: 10.30 am - 3.30 pm (with lunch break)
How much: One day session: NEWC Members $110, Non-members $135. Both Sessions: NEWC Members $185, Non-members $235
October
Writing for Film and TV
A one-day workshop on writing for lm and TV When: October, TBC
Presenter: Ben Davies
Year long
- Thunderbolt anniversary anthology: worked on during the year, to be published in 2019.
- Writing Hub
Everyone is invited to attend the NEWC Monthly Writing HUB on the last Saturday of the month. The morning begins with an introduction to the monthly topic and then we watch a presentation by several international speakers from the University of Iowa who are renowned for their International Writing Program and its MOOCs (Massive Online Open Courses).
When: Last Saturday of every month Where: Armidale Library
Time: 10.30 am—12.30 pm