Dear writers,
We trust this newsletter finds you well and enjoying your work-in-progress.
Do you have writing news you’d like to share? Please email us at fellowshipaustralianwriterswa@gmail.com. We’d love to celebrate your good news with you.
In the meantime, there is so much going on for writers in coming weeks.
Love to Read Local: In Conversation with Sara Foster
Please join us at Mattie Furphy House on Friday, June 2 from 6pm to hear two of WA’s most exciting authors in conversation: Sara Foster interviewed by Holly Craig as part of Love to Read Local week.
Sara Foster is an internationally published, bestselling writer of psychological suspense. She has written seven novels: The Hush, You Don’t Know Me, The Hidden Hours, All That is Lost Between Us, Shallow Breath, Beneath the Shadows and Come Back to Me. Her eighth work is a novella, The Deceit. Holly Craig is the author of thrillers The Shallows and The Rip.
Love to Read Local celebrates Western Australian authors. It is supported by Writing WA and the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.
Tickets $15, or $10 members and concession. Doors open 6pm for 6.30pm start. Secure your tickets now on eventbrite by clicking here.
Re-painting of Tom Collins House
The re-painting of FAAWA’s historic Tom Collins House is under way, thanks to the Heritage Council of Western Australia and the City of Nedlands.
The 1907 cottage is being re-painted inside and out by Sean McCloskey from Artisan Painting Specialists, working with heritage consultant John Tick.
We’re looking forward to when works are complete.
FAWWA Sundowner
Are you an established or an aspiring writer? Would you like to meet other writers in an informal social setting?
Please join us for a sundowner at Mattie Furphy House on May 21, 5pm to 7pm. FAWWA members, family, and friends welcome.
The sundowner is free to attend, but please register your interest by emailing fellowshipaustralianwriterswa@gmail.com. Please bring a plate and prepare a short piece for the open mic.
Write your life story
Join ghost writer and life story mentor Rhuwina Griffiths at Mattie Furphy House to learn how to turn your memories into a book that others will enjoy reading.
The five-week series of classes starts June 8. Cost: $250. To register, please email rhu@thisisyourlifestory.com
Get Creative with Andrew Levett
Learn how to be your best creative self with Andrew Levett, AKA The Story Mentor, in a series of 14 Saturday morning classes at Mattie Furphy House.
Andrew’s course, Manifesting Your Creative Self: A Course in Creative Recovery, helps writers manage the many obstacles creative people face.
Manifesting Your Creative Self starts June 10, 1pm to 4.30pm. Each class $35, $30 FAWWA members, or $350 for the 14 weeks. For details please click here
OOTA Spilt Ink Poetry and Short Fiction Competition 2023
The Out of the Asylum writers group invites you to enter your work into the 2023 Spilt Ink Writing Competition.
Poems of up to 50 lines and short fiction up to 2,000 words may be submitted by August 15, 2023.
Roland Leach will judge poetry and Brooke Dunnell will judge fiction, and winners will be announced at the OOTA annual general meeting in October. For more information please click here
Fine tune your poetry reading skills with WA Poets Inc
The Perth Poetry Festival in September will offer open mic opportunities, so start preparing with Mar Bucknell on May 27 from 11am to 1pm.
The session will cover stage presence, voice production and the grammar of performance, and is suitable for all levels of skill and experience.
It will be at the WAPI office, Room 33, Bon Marche Arcade, Barrack St, Perth. Bookings essential by clicking here.
For more information phone Mar Bucknell on 0421 778 270 or email marbucknell@gmail.com
Wednesdays in the city
The Society of Women Writers WA will offer Wednesday Writing Classes in the City at Citiplace Community Centre from 9.30am to 12 noon in June and July, taught by Helen Iles.
Four classes in June will explore memoir and writing from life (nonfiction) and four July classes will explore crime writing.
Cost for four workshops: $80 for society members and $100 non–members. Bookings essential by emailing swwwabookingofficer@gmail.com. For more information click here
Sydney Writers Festival: Live and Local 2023
Can’t make it to Sydney for this year’s Sydney Writers’ Festival? The State Library of Western Australia is live streaming the festival’s headline events on May 24, 25, 26 and 28, from 10am each day.
The program includes conversations, debates, and discussions between some of the world’s finest writers and thinkers and audiences can take part by sending questions straight to the Sydney stage.
Register for your free live-streaming day pass by clicking here.
Love to Read Local Week: Send in your selfie
Would you like to promote your favourite Western Australian author?
Take a selfie with a book by a WA author, to be part of the Writing WA social media campaign.
Send a high-resolution digital photo of yourself with a WA read to be posted on the Writing WA website during Love to Read Local week June 2 to 9.
Submit your photo by May 22 to www.writingwa.org/about/contact For more ideas on how to celebrate Love to Read Local week, please click here
WA wheatbelt through the eyes of writers
The Royal WA Historical Society invites FAWWA members and friends to their talk “A Wheatbelt History Through Writers’ Eyes”.
It will be on Wednesday, May 24 at 10am for a 10.30am start.
The talk will be by UWA Chair of Australian Literature Tony Hughes-d’Aeth, based on his book Like Nothing on this Earth: A Literary History of the Wheatbelt (UWA Publishing, 2017).
It will take place at the club’s headquarters at Stirling House, 49 Broadway, Nedlands. Cost $10. Please book by phoning 9386 3841 or email: admin@histwest.org.au
Write micro memoir with Night Parrot Press
On Thursday, June 8 at 5.30pm. Join Night Parrot Press editors Casey Mulder and Laura Keenan to learn how to write micro memoir, a unique form of creative non-fiction that blends the techniques of memoir and flash fiction in pieces of less than 500 words.
This event has been enabled by Writing WA’s Love to Read Local Week and the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.
The event will be held in the Great Southern Room, Level 4, WA State Library, 25 Francis St, Perth. For details please click here
Need time to write?
Applications are now open for 2024 Creative Time Residential Fellowships offered by the May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust.
Published authors or illustrators of at least one book for children or young people are invited to apply.
The fellowship includes accommodation, support, and travel to Adelaide. For more information please visit www.maygibbs.org.au or email contact@maygibbs.org.au
Applications must be in by 11.59pm Tuesday, May 31.
Revolt with Lip Magazine
Women and non-binary writers are invited to enter the 2023 Rachel Funari Prize for Fiction.
The theme is revolt, and pieces of up to 2,000 words may be submitted. The Melbourne magazine’s competition will be judged by Kate Mildenhall and Sara El Sayed.
First prize is $1000 to be announced in June. All entries must be original, previously unpublished, and unperformed.
The prize is held in honour of Lip’s late founding editor, Rachel Funari. For details please click here or email editor@lipmag.com
Be paid to perform, and support the homeless
DucK&dASh Poetry is offering seven paid opportunities to perform in its third annual Online Poetry Fundraiser. Submit your expression of interest by May 15.
The event raises money for a homelessness charity. Poets must be Western Australian by birth or residency, have adequate internet, and be available June 20 from 7pm to 10pm.
Please message facebook.com/duckanddashpoetry to find out more about the audition process.
Classes at Mattie Furphy House
Last but not least, FAWWA hosts ongoing classes and groups each week at Mattie Furphy House. For details please click here.
The Write Club with Holly Craig
Join author Holly Craig on alternate Thursday evenings 6pm to 7.30pn through to June 22, for a series of sessions on Writing Sex and Everything Awkward. $25 per session. For details please click here.
Tuesdays at Matties with Kamille Roach
Writers of all experience and skill level are invited to join author Kamille Roach for a relaxed writing session every fourth Tuesday at Mattie Furphy House.
We write in response to a prompt, and read your work aloud afterwards if you wish.
The sessions are designed to provide a positive and encouraging environment in which to practise your writing skills. Cost $25 per session. For details please click here.
Indian Ocean Write Nights
Do you need space and time to write? A little inspiration and the chance to write in a relaxed and supportive environment with others?
Come along at 6pm alternative Tuesdays for Indian Ocean Write Nights. Bring your laptop or other writing materials.
Cost $10 for FAWWA members, $15 non-members. Work on your current project or write to the prompts provided. For details phone Marshall on 0408 620 235.
Book Length Project Group
Are you working on a book length writing project? Come to the Book Length Project Group at 10am on the third Sunday of each month. Members $10, non-members $15.
For bookings and more information please click here.
Happy writing,
The Fellowship of Australian Writers WA Committee
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