Festival | Byron Writers Festival

The Verdict is Out…

The Byron Writers Festival’s Student Competition winners have been announced!

This year we received over 130 submissions and were taken back by the creativity, originality and talent of the young writers in our region. Judging was difficult with many competitive submissions. Those who submitted deserve to be very proud of themselves.

Great stories come in many shapes and forms. In different ways they persuade the reader to enter the stories’ world, they allow the reader to relate to their characters, they move and surprise the reader, and they leave the reader thinking deeply or feeling differently by the end. The winning stories showed complexity and sophistication in many of these ways.

Stay tuned. First place stories will be published in the Byron Writers Festival’s quarterly magazine, Northerly, and runner up stories will be published at the Byron Writers Festival’s blog.

Congratulations to our winners…

Susie Warrick Young Writers Award Category 1 (yrs 10 – 12)

First place: Nipotino by Luisa Santucci

Runner up: I Do Not Know Which to Prefer by Saoirse Chu

Susie Warrick Young Writers Award Category 2 (yrs 7 – 9)

First place: The Hunter by Floyd Whitaker

Runner up: The Alley by Elise Nikkinen

The Jesse Blackadder Prize (yrs 5 – 6)

First place: Allegro Presto by Edith Barber

Runner up: The Thief by Caleb Scherrer

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Susie Warrick Young Writers Award

In memory of Susie Warrick, this award celebrates the art of the short story and supports emerging young writers in furthering their career with a $500 cash prize for first place per category.

The Brief: Write an original short story up to 1000 words on any theme.

Prize Category 1: Year 10 to 12 students
Prize Category 2: Year 7 to 9 students

The Jesse Blackadder Prize

In memory of Jesse Blackadder, this prize celebrates creativity and imagination in Stage 3 writers with a $300 cash prize for first place.

The Brief: Write an original short story from 500 to 1000 words on any theme.

Prize Category: Year 5 to 6 students

Eligibility & Key Dates

Entrants of both competitions must live within the Byron Writers Festival footprint, from Taree in the south, Kyogle in the west and Tweed Heads in the north.

Key Dates

Submissions open: Wednesday 26 May, 2021
Applications Close: Wednesday 30 June, 2021 – 11.59pm
Winners notified: Wednesday 28 July, 2021. Please note all other entrants will be notified of the outcome at this time.

Prizes include:

Susie Warrick Young Writers Award: a $500 cash prize per category.
The Jesse Blackadder Prize: a $300 cash prize.
A Festival Day Pass for Sunday 8 August, 2021
Publication of each winning story in the Byron Writers Festival’s quarterly magazine, Northerly.
A runner up from each category will have their stories published online at the Byron Writers Festival’s blog.

Submission Guidelines

Write and polish an original short story.
Include the title in the header of your story.
Submit your story as a Word Document – Arial 12-point font preferred.
Submissions are judged anonymously. Your name should not be included anywhere on your story – it should only be entered on the submission form.
Entries are limited to one submission per person. A list of all Terms & Conditions can be found here.
Click on the online Application link to submit your story by Wednesday 30 June, 2021

About the Awards

Susie Warrick was a much loved staff member at the Northern Rivers Writers Centre (now Byron Writers Festival). The Susie Warrick Young Writers Award was established to honour her memory, celebrate the art of the short story, and to support emerging young writers in furthering their career.

The Jesse Blackadder Prize was created in 2020 in memory of Jesse Blackadder, much loved Board member, author and founder of Byron Writers Festival’s StoryBoard program.

Prizes are generously sponsored by the Warrick Family, Hilarie Dunn and the Byron Writers Festival Jesse Blackadder Memorial Fund.

Read the 2019 winning stories here.

For some valuable tips on entering Writing Competitions click here: https://www.melindatognini.com.au/writing-competitions-what-you-need-to-know-before-entering/

If you have any enquires, please email [email protected]

anika

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Featuring Matt Okine, Helena Fox, Nevo Zisin, Davina Bell, Craig Silvey, Isobelle Carmody, Randa Abdel-Fattah, Will Kostakis, Evelyn Araluen

About the day

Byron Writers Festival invites your school to participate in our annual Secondary Schools Program – a full day of live conversations and panel discussions with some of the foremost writers and thinkers from the 2021 Festival.

When: Thursday 5 August, 10am – 2pm
Where: The Festival site (Elements of Byron, Byron Bay)
Cost: $17 per student

Program

View the day’s program below and scroll down for author bios and their books.

Southern Cross University Marquee

10.30am: Finding Humour in Hard Times
Matt Okine in conversation with Marc Fennell

11.10am: Beyond Pronouns
Nevo Zisin in conversation with Mia Thom

12.10pm: Paths to Understanding
Craig Silvey in conversation with Zacharey Jane

12.50pm: Coming of Age during the War on Terror
Randa Abdel-Fattah in conversation with Sunil Badami

1.30pm: Poetry and Identity
Evelyn Araluen in conversation with Tony Birch

Greenstone Partners Marquee

10.30am: This is How it Feels
Helena Fox in conversation with Siboney Duff

11.10am: Connecting Ideas and Imagination
Davina Bell in conversation with Sarah Armstrong

12.10pm: Magical Thinking
Isobelle Carmody in conversation with Tristan Bancks

12.50pm: Stuff Happens – Will K.’s unexpected journey to writing
Will Kostakis in conversation with Grace Lucas-Pennington

How to Book

Click the ‘Book Now’ button to reserve the number of tickets required for your school.
After booking, you will have the opportunity to revise ticket numbers until 16 July. We urge you to determine your school’s numbers as soon as possible, as PLACES ALWAYS FILL UP FAST.
You may pay the booking fee immediately, or you may opt to receive an invoice.
After 16 July, we will send you an invoice if applicable. (Payment can be made via EFT, credit card or cheque to secure your students’ positions). Payment will also be accepted by credit card upon Festival entry. Our strong preference is that schools make payment in entirety BEFORE the event.

Key Information

Program is designed especially for students in years 7 – 12
Gates open at 9am, sessions run from 10.30am – 2pm
The Festival does not provide supervision
Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the Festival site.
Complimentary waterfilling station is available onsite, please ask students to bring along their own bottle

Staying COVID Safe at Primary Schools Days 2021

Byron Writers Festival Schools Days will be operating under the NSW Public Health Order in place at the time of the event.
Teachers will be responsible for keeping a list of all participating students and will be required to share this information with NSW Health should the need arise.
Students experiencing flu-like symptoms should not attend.
Venues may be operating at restricted capacity with social distancing measures in place.
For the health & safety of all, signage & sanitising stations are set up throughout the venues.
We ask that you adhere to all COVID guidelines while attending the event.
View our COVID-Safe Conditions of Entry and full Ticketing Terms & Conditions here.

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Digital Program

A digital program will also be available for schools unable to attend the live events. More information to come. Presented in partnership with Southern Cross University and the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund.

Do you have a way with words or a story to tell? Study creative writing, digital media or design your degree, combining more of your interests with our range of shared majors from a wide range of disciplines. It’s time to think outside the box with Southern Cross University. scu.edu.au/study

Contact Us

For questions, please email [email protected] or call (02) 6685 5115.

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Randa Abdel-Fattah

Randa Abdel-Fattah is an academic, former lawyer, mother of four children and award-winning author. Her most recent book is Coming of Age in the War on Terror.

Evelyn Araluen

Evelyn Araluen is a Goorie-Koori poet, researcher and co-editor of Overland Literary Journal. Her debut poetry collection is Dropbear.

Sarah Armstrong

Sarah Armstrong has written three novels for adults and her first novel for readers aged 8 – 12 will be published by Hardie Grant next year.

Sunil Badami

Sunil Badami is a writer and broadcaster, who has contributed to most major Australian publications and appears regularly on ABC Radio and TV.

Tristan Bancks

Tristan Bancks is a children’s and teens author. His books include Two Wolves, The Fall, Detention, Tom Weekly and Nit Boy. His latest book is Ginger Meggs.

Davina Bell

Davina Bell is a children’s author. Her books include All the Ways To Be Smart, and her debut Young Adult novel, The End of the World Is Bigger Than Love.

Tony Birch

Tony Birch is an activist, historian, essayist and acclaimed author of the novels The White Girl, Ghost River and Blood. His most recent release is the poetry collection Whisper Songs.

Isobelle Carmody

Isobelle Carmody is one of Australia’s most highly regarded authors of fantasy. Her most recent novel is the final book in the Kingdom of the Lost series, The Velvet City.

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Siboney Duff

Siboney Duff has worked as a freelance writer, editor, and manuscript assessor for over fifteen years. A qualified English teacher, she specialises in HSC Extension English student preparation.

Marc Fennell

Marc Fennell is a Walkley Award-winning journalist, interviewer, author and documentary maker.

Helena Fox

Helena Fox’s debut novel, How It Feels To Float, is an exploration of grief and mental illness that has been published in Australia and internationally.

Zacharey Jane

Zacharey Jane is a writer, teacher and painter. Her two publications with UQP are The Lifeboat, released internationally, and the children’s picture book, Tobias Blow.

Will Kostakis

Will Kostakis is a writer of defamatory celebrity journalism, wrestler tweets and award-winning YA novels. He recently applied his trademark style to fantasy novels Monuments and Rebel Gods.

Matt Okine

Matt Okine is an actor, writer and one of Australia’s favourite award-winning comedians. His novel Being Black ‘N Chicken & Chips was released in 2019.

Craig Silvey

Craig Silvey is from Fremantle, Western Australia. He is the award-winning author of Jasper Jones and Honeybee.

Mia Thom

Mia Thom is a Bundjalung climate activist, a co-organiser of the school strike for climate movement within the Byron Shire movement.

Nevo Zisin

Nevo Zisin (they/them) is a queer, non-binary, Jewish writer, performer, activist and public speaker. Author of award-winning Finding Nevo, and The Pronoun Lowdown.

anika

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Featuring Randa Abdel-Fattah, Eddie Jaku, Will Kostakis and Nevo Zisin

Byron Writers Festival’s 2021 Secondary Schools Digital Program provides an insight into storytelling, debate, and big ideas, eloquently delivered by some of Australia’s foremost writers and thinkers.

Supported by The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund and Southern Cross University.

FREE on-demand program now available!

Sessions are now available on-demand from home or in your classroom, from 23 August – 17 September.

To watch, simply click WATCH NOW on your chosen sessions(s), listed below, to access the session via YouTube. YouTube links can be copied and pasted into Google Classroom for home learning activities. For technical troubleshooting, please refer our Tech Support PDF.

Check session details below for stage suitability and to download teacher resources, developed in partnership with Southern Cross University. Resources are available as a PDF and include author information, curriculum links, discussions guides and activities.

A message for teachers from Professor Amy Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles: Executive Dean, Faculty of Education, Southern Cross University

How to Participate

All on-demand sessions are now accessible via the WATCH NOW links below.
YouTube links can be copied into Google Classroom for home learning lessons.
Teaching resources for each session are now accessible via the TEACHER RESOURCES links below.
If you plan on accessing on-demand videos and are yet to register your class or school, you can do so here.

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Coming of Age during the War on Terror with Randa Abdel-Fattah

Randa Abdel Fattah’s book Coming of Age in the War on Terror brings together first hand accounts from young people, Muslim and non-Muslim, who have been deeply affected by the ramifications of 9/11. It also charts the spread of divisive political discussion in Australia over the last 20 years.

Stage: 5 – 6

WATCH NOW

TEACHER RESOURCES (PDF)

The Happiest Man on Earth with Eddie Jaku

What does it mean to choose happiness every day? Eddie Jaku is a 101 year-old Holocaust survivor, yet despite this formative experience his message is one of happiness, friendship and love. Most of all he speaks to the power and importance of remembering.

Stages: 4 – 6

WATCH NOW

TEACHER RESOURCES (PDF)

Monuments with Will Kostakis

In Will Kostakis’s bestselling fantasy duology, Monuments, three teenagers search for the ancient gods buried under different Sydney high schools, accidentally kill them, absorb their powers, and attempt to change the world. Will’s novels explore modern dilemmas in an ancient world. In this very personal talk, Will talks about a pivotal and difficult life event and how it inspired him to be a writer.

Note: This video contains content about a young person’s death

Stages: 5 – 6

WATCH NOW

TEACHER RESOURCES (PDF)

Beyond Pronouns with Nevo Zisin

Traversing their own pronoun journey author Nevo Zisin’s The Pronoun Lowdown sheds light on the complicated history of gender around the world, in language and across time. Finally we have a book that demystifies and celebrates trans and gender diverse excellence.

Stages: 4 – 6

WATCH NOW

TEACHER RESOURCES (PDF)

Supported by the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund, in partnership with Southern Cross University.

Byron Writers Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.

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Click the image to view and download.

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Featuring Davina Bell, Gavin Aung Than, Amie Kaufman, Oliver Phommavanh

Byron Writers Festival’s 2021 Primary Schools Digital Program connects Northern Rivers students with Australia’s best-loved children’s authors and illustrators.

Supported by The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund and Southern Cross University.

FREE on-demand program now available!

Sessions are now available on-demand from home or in your classroom, from 23 August – 17 September.

A message for teachers from Professor Amy Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles: Executive Dean, Faculty of Education, Southern Cross University

How to Participate

All on-demand sessions are now accessible via the WATCH NOW links below.
YouTube links can be copied into Google Classroom for home learning lessons.
Teaching resources for each session are now accessible via the TEACHER RESOURCES links below.
If you plan on accessing on-demand videos and are yet to register your class or school, you can do so here.

The Super Sidekicks with Gavin Aung Than

Gavin Aung Than’s first series for children, Super Sidekicks, grew out of Gavin’s long-time obsession with superheroes. This fun-filled action adventure series is about four superhero sidekicks who are fed up with taking orders from their adult partners and decide to form their own team.

Stages: 2 – 3

WATCH NOW

TEACHER RESOURCES (PDF)

All the Ways to be Smart with Davina Bell

Davina Bell’s All the Ways to be Smart demonstrates a unique ability to reveal to children their strengths and singularity by recognising that there are many ways to excel in life. In these challenging times this book is a valuable tool in bolstering a child’s confidence.

Stages: 1 – 2

WATCH NOW

TEACHER RESOURCES (PDF)

The World Between Blinks with Amie Kaufman

Amie Kaufman’s The World Between Blinks centres on a land where everything that is lost can be found. It is filled with treasures, but perhaps not those that first spring to mind. Drawing on history and mythology Amie Kaufman has created a world to delight and enlighten the young reader.

Stages: 2 – 3

WATCH NOW

TEACHER RESOURCES (PDF)

Brain Freeze with Oliver Phommavanh

Oliver Phommavanh’s most recent book Brain Freeze is a crazy collection of funny short stories from the wacky mind of bestselling Thai-riffic! author, featuring characters who are all finding a way to step up and be brave.

Stages: 2 – 3

WATCH NOW

TEACHER RESOURCES (PDF)

Supported by the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund, in partnership with Southern Cross University.

Byron Writers Festival is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW

Download PDF Poster

Click the image to view and download.

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anika

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Byron Writers Festival invites your school to participate in our annual Primary Schools Days Program. Inspiring, fun-filled and creative sessions featuring Isobelle Carmody, Ursula Dubosarsky, Will Kostakis, Dub Leffler and Kirli Saunders.

Schedule

Live sessions are 2 hours long and will take place in Lismore, Murwillumbah, Byron Bay and Grafton.

Monday 9 August

Lismore City Hall (Norpa) 10am – 12pm

Dub Leffler & Kirli Saunders
Isobelle Carmody

Murwillumbah Civic Centre 10am – 12pm

Ursula Dubosarsky
Will Kostakis

Tuesday 10 August

The Cavanbah Centre, Byron Bay (AM session) 9.30 – 11.30am

Dub Leffler & Kirli Saunders
Isobelle Carmody

The Cavanbah Centre, Byron Bay (PM session) 12pm – 2pm

Ursula Dubosarsky
Will Kostakis

Wednesday 11 August

The Saraton Theatre, Grafton 10.30am – 12.30pm

Dub Leffler & Kirli Saunders
Will Kostakis

Cost

$10 per student / session

How to Book

Click the ‘Book Now’ button to reserve the number of tickets required for your school. The deadline for bookings has been extended to Friday 9 July.
After booking, you will have the opportunity to revise ticket numbers until 4 June. We urge you to determine your school’s numbers as soon as possible, as PLACES ALWAYS FILL UP FAST.
You may pay the booking fee immediately, or you may opt to receive an invoice.
After 4 June, we will send you a booking confirmation including your invoice if applicable, book order forms and a checklist to help you prepare for the day. (Payment can be made via EFT, credit card or by cheque to secure your students’ positions).

Staying COVID Safe at Primary Schools Days 2021

Byron Writers Festival Schools Days will be operating under the NSW Public Health Order in place at the time of the event.
Teachers will be responsible for keeping a list of all participating students and will be required to share this information with NSW Health should the need arise.
Students experiencing flu-like symptoms should not attend.
Venues may be operating at restricted capacity with social distancing measures in place.
For the health & safety of all, signage & sanitising stations are set up throughout the venues.
We ask that you adhere to all COVID guidelines while attending the event.
View our COVID-Safe Conditions of Entry and full Ticketing Terms & Conditions here.

Contact Us

For questions, please email [email protected] or call (02) 6685 5115.

Digital Program

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Isobelle Carmody

Isobelle Carmody is a writer of science fiction, fantasy, children’s and juvenile literature. Her most recent novel is the final book in the Kingdom of the Lost series, The Velvet City.

Ursula Dubosarsky

Ursula Dubosarsky is the author of over 60 books for children and young adults, including her most recent novel, Pierre’s Not There. She is the current Australian Children’s Laureate.

Will Kostakis

Will Kostakis is a writer of defamatory celebrity journalism, wrestler tweets and award-winning YA novels. He recently applied his trademark style to fantasy novels Monuments and Rebel Gods.

Dub Leffler

Bigambul man Dub Leffler is one of Australia’s most sought after illustrators of children’s literature. He has written two books for children and illustrated over 25 titles. Dub’s most recent work is Bindi written by the Kirli Saunders.

Kirli Saunders

2020 NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year and Gunai Woman Kirli Saunders is an award-winning children’s author, poet, teacher and artist. Her works include picture book The Incredible Freedom Machines, verse novel Bindi and the poetry collection Kindred.

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anika

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Continuing the Byron Writers Festival tradition of connection through stories, Writers on the Road will take to the road at the end of July 2021, to spread the words with readers in the northern NSW towns of Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Macksville, Bellingen and Harwood.

Authors and raconteurs Roanna Gonsalves, Nevo Zisin, Krissy Kneen and Isobelle Carmody will tour their latest books and the very latest ideas to schools, libraries and cultural centres from Coffs to Port Macquarie and back, returning to Byron for the 2021 Byron Writers Festival.

All events are free and open to the public. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, bookings are essential.

Date and Venue details

Coffs Harbour, Sunday 31 July

Venue: Cavanbah Centre & Meeting Rooms
Address: 191 Harbour Dr, Coffs Harbour
Times: 2pm Workshop followed by a 6pm Writers Panel Event and Q&A

For workshop bookings, click here
For event bookings, click here

Port Macquarie, Sunday 1 August

Venue: Port Macquarie Library
Address: Grant St, Port Macquarie
Time: 2.30pm

For bookings, click here.

Macksville, Monday 2 August

Venue: Macksville Library
Address:41 Princess St, Macksville
Time: 5.30pm

Bookings essential. To book, email the library on [email protected]

Bellingen, Tuesday 3 August

Venue: Bellingen Library
Address: Hyde Street, Bellingen
Time: 5.30pm

Capacity restrictions apply. Bookings essential. To book, email the library on [email protected]

Harwood, Wednesday 4 August

Venue: Harwood Hotel
Address: 2 Morpeth Street, Harwood
Phone: (02) 6646 4223
Time: 6.30pm

Capacity restrictions apply. Bookings essential. To book, contact the hotel via their website: harwoodhotel.com.au . You may also wish to book for dinner during or after the event.

Contact

Zacharey Jane
E. [email protected]
P: 0432 922 381

Isobelle Carmody

Isobelle Carmody is one of Australia’s most highly regarded authors of fantasy. Her most recent novel is the final book in the Kingdom of the Lost series, The Velvet City.

Roanna Gonsalvez

Roanna Gonsalves is the award-winning author of The Permanent Resident and a four-part ABC Radio National series On the tip of a billion tongues.

Krissy Kneen

Krissy Kneen is an award-winning author of memoir and fiction, including Affection, An Uncertain Grace and her newest memoir The Three Burials of Lotty Kneen.

Nevo Zisin

Nevo Zisin (they/them) is a queer, non-binary, Jewish writer, performer, activist and public speaker. Author of award-winning Finding Nevo, and The Pronoun Lowdown.

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nrwadmin

Regrettably and with a heavy heart we have made the very difficult decision to cancel Byron Writers Festival 2021, which was scheduled to run from 6-8 August.

We have been following Covid developments in Greater Sydney and nationally very closely over the last few days. As positive cases continue to emerge and borders are closed to NSW, it has become clear that the current restrictions will push too close to the Festival to make it feasible to proceed in early August. Especially given a large portion of participating writers are located in either Greater Sydney or interstate and are subject to travel restrictions. In addition, of course, is growing community hesitancy to travel in such volatile circumstances.

Our primary and abiding concern is, as ever, the health of everyone involved in the Festival – presenters, attendees, volunteers, staff and of course the safety of the wider Northern Rivers community.

We are devastated and we’re sure everyone associated with the Festival will also feel the disappointment and loss that comes with a second year of cancellation. We will continue to watch developments and consider all viable options for future programming but for now, we believe that cancellation is the only responsible course of action.

We offer our sincere thanks for your support and please, stay safe.

Information for ticket holders

If you have bought a ticket to Byron Writers Festival 2021 you will automatically receive a refund within the next 14 days. We’ll process the price of your tickets to the card you booked with—so there’s no need to contact us.

We’ll get in touch if there are any issues processing your refund. If you bought a ticket in person at the Festival Office, we will contact you via phone in the coming days to arrange your refund.

If you have purchased tickets to Satellite Events or Festival Workshops, please bear with us as we work through refund arrangements with event partners and venues.

Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.

Donate to Byron Writers Festival

As a not-for-profit organisation run with a small team of staff and volunteers, donations of any size go a long way in enriching the creative culture of our community and contributing to the success of future Festivals. Donations over $2 are tax deductible. Thank you!

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WRITERS

Truth. Facts. Honesty. OMG! It’s not boring is it? Finding the ‘right’ way to tell our stories can be the hardest part of writing them – and the ‘truth’ of our lives so challenging and elusive. This hands-on workshop will give you the tools to make your story both engaging and authentic.

Monday 2 August, 10am — 4pm
Byron Community College, Room 3
$120/100 Members & Students

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There’s nothing worse than getting cornered at a party with a stranger telling you all about themselves – too much backstory! The same is true on the page. Backstory can bog down a manuscript, but it is also essential. This workshop helps writers manage the backstory balancing act.

Monday 2 August, 10am — 4pm
Byron Community Centre, Veranda Room
$120/100 Members & Students

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Ideal for anyone who is curious about the world around them… whether that’s a curiosity for sea breezes, an interest in tree root systems, or a fascination for glacial ice, Sophie will help participants write landscapes to life.

Tuesday 3 August, 10am — 4pm
Byron Community College, Room 3
$120/100 Members & Students

CANCELLED

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Writer / director Benjamin Gilmour, whose script for his feature film Jirga won the 2019 NSW Premier’s Prize for Scriptwriting, hosts a workshop on the art of screenwriting. Participants will explore the growing of ideas, the importance of story, character development and structure. This workshop will provide skills required to work towards the first draft of a screenplay.

Tuesday 3 August, 10am — 4pm
Byron Community Centre, Veranda Room
$120/100 Members & Students

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In an engaging, enlightening and entertaining day-long workshop, writer, broadcaster and academic Sunil Badami will reveal his Golden Rules for Writing a Great Short Story, which he tested by writing four short stories in four weeks — all of which were published in some of Australia’s most prestigious literary journals.

Wednesday 4 August, 10am — 4pm
Byron Community College, Room 3
$120/100 Members & Students

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Award-winning novelist and memoirist Kathryn Heyman (Fury) helps you take a kernel of truth and turn it into a work of art: a novel, memoir or captivating work of narrative non-fiction. Using a mixture of example, discussion and carefully selected exercises Kathryn Heyman will help you discover the core of your story and how to make it sing.

Wednesday 4 August, 1pm — 4pm
Byron Community Centre, Veranda Room
$60/50 Members & Students

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Whether you’re an aspiring or established writer, and whatever your genre of choice, you can now ‘go publish yourself’ on equal footing with the mainstream industry players. Join Debbie Lee from Ingram to learn about print-on-demand and global distribution, and how these services are turning the publishing world on its head.

Supported by IngramSpark

Wednesday 4 August, 10am — 12.30pm
Byron Community Centre, Cavanbah Room
$35/25 Members & Students

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For many writers the most comfortable place is behind the keyboard. Mandy Nolan and George Catsi are story detectives – taking your narrative from the page to the stage. Learn how to nail the public space, how to shine on panels, story pitches, in interviews, at launches and keynotes! An immersive hands-on class that will transform your presentations!

Wed 4 Aug 9am – 5pm and Thurs 5 Aug 9am – 2.30pm
Rockinghorse Studios, Coorabell
$650/590 Early bird inc. hot lunch both days

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In this three-hour guided writing group, novelist, memoirist and playwright, Christopher Raja, will lead participants through a number of the key elements of a story. Participants are asked to bring along a piece of writing, project or story idea to develop in a supportive and positive setting.

Thursday 5 August, 9.30am — 12.30pm
Byron Community College, Room 1
$60/50 Members & Students

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In this lively workshop, learn how to make your work relevant and captivating – how to arrive at your own voice, and weave in the voices of others – what to leave in and what to take out, and what mistakes non-fiction writers make.

Thursday 5 August, 10am — 4pm
Byron Community Centre, Cavanbah Room
$120/100 Members & Students

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From Captain Ahab to Mrs Dalloway, all the way to that kid everyone hates in The Slap – it’s the difficult characters that stay with us. In this session writers will be encouraged to study, dissect and bring difficult characters to life through a series of practical exercises.

Thursday 5 August, 10am — 4pm
Byron Community Centre, Veranda Room
$120/100 Members & Students

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This workshop will guide participants through planning, researching and writing family stories. Participants will develop foundational skills in: understanding the ethics of writing the stories of others; deciding what stories need to be told, and why; and crafting family members as characters.

Thursday 5 August, 1pm — 4pm
Byron Community College, Room 1
$60/50 Members & Students

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anika

VIEW FESTIVAL PROGRAM

WRITERS

Join us as we bring Byron Writers Festival 2021 authors Isobelle Carmody, Roanna Gonsalves, Krissy Kneen and Nevo Zisin to the Mid North Coast. Presenting workshops and panel discussions in Coffs Harbour, Macksville, Port Macquarie, Bellingen and Harwood.

Friday 31 July – Wednesday 4 August
Various venues
Free, bookings essential

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Dr Kathryn Heyman is an award-winning writer. She was awarded the prestigious CAL Author Fellowship for Fury, a memoir of recovery and transformation. She talks with Sarah Armstrong about the book, and about the possibility of reinvention after trauma.

Thurs 5 Aug, 2pm — 3.30pm
Moller Pavilion, Bangalow
$25 + BF inc. afternoon tea by Bangalow CWA

EVENT PARTNER Friends of Libraries, Byron Shire

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Evelyn Araluen is a Goorie-Koori poet, researcher and co-editor of Overland Literary Journal. Her debut poetry collection Dropbear is an innovative mix of poetry and prose from a vibrant new Indigenous voice on the Australian literary scene. In conversation with Lynda Hawryluk, Senior Lecturer at Southern Cross University.

Thursday 5 August, 3pm – 4pm
Southern Cross University, Lismore Campus
Free, bookings essential

EVENT PARTNER Southern Cross University

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A showcase of fresh new voices from Poets Out Loud. Preselected teams and individuals aged 12-18 represent their schools in this thrilling spoken-word competition. Featuring 2020 Australian Poetry Slam champion Ren Alessandra.

Thursday 5 August, 6pm — 8pm
The Regent Cinema, Murwillumbah
$5/Under 18’s free, bookings essential

EVENT PARTNER The Regent Cinema

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Artists living with intellectual disability face a variety of barriers. Hear Studio A artist Greg Sindel and Artistic Director Gabrielle Mordy speak about how artists at Studio A are using the power of comics and storytelling to overcome obstacles and become successful and renowned visual artists.

Friday 6 August, 2pm – 3pm
Lismore Regional Gallery
Free, bookings essential

EVENT PARTNER Lismore Regional Gallery
SUPPORTED BY Southern Cross University

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Dynasty8 Choir presents an hour-long sonic meditation featuring beautiful ancient and modern classical choral music accompanied by eight shimmering gongs played by David Bennett, from Planet Gongs. Bring a mat, pillow and a rug, find a spot on the floor and allow yourself to surrender to this magical experience. Chairs also provided.

Friday 6 August / Saturday 7 August, 6pm – 7pm
Kingscliff Community Hall / Brunswick Heads Memorial Hall
$30/$25 concession + BF

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Danielle Celermajer’s Summertime is written in the shadow of the bushfires. In the midst of the death and grief of animals, humans and ecologies, Celermajer asks us to look around, to become present to all beings who are living and dying through the loss of our shared home.

Friday 6 August, 7pm — 8pm
Crystalbrook Byron (formerly The Byron at Byron)
$30 + BF

EVENT PARTNER Crystalbrook Byron

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Comedians do more than tell jokes – they write books, TV shows and garner huge social media followings. How do they stay zeitgeist fit? How does each medium dilute or amplify the comedic voice? Australian comedy superstars talk with our own local legend Mandy Nolan about using comedy as a tool for world domination!

Friday 6 August, 7.30pm — 9pm
Byron Theatre
$30 + BF

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Open to 10-18 year-olds for a single two-minute spoken poem. Entry is free. For details contact David Hallett 0487 384 993.

Saturday 7 August, 1.30pm — 2.30pm
Byron Theatre
Free, registrations open 1pm on the day

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Join the audience or sign up to perform. Featuring 2020 Australian Poetry Slam champion Ren Alessandra, with MC Miles Merrill.

Saturday 7 August, 3pm — 5pm (Registrations at 2.30pm)
Byron Theatre
Free, bookings essential

EVENT PARTNER Word Travels

More details australianpoetryslam.com

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Olivia Grace is back in Byron Bay, and just as well-disguised as ever! Raise a glass to wisecracking teen detective Olivia Grace’s second mission. A rip-roaring excursion into madcap sunshine noir, with a flavour of Veronica Mars meets Elmore Leonard. Launched by Kayte Nunn, bestselling author of The Last Reunion.

Saturday 7 August, 6pm
The Book Room at Byron
Free, no bookings

Lucy Peach is a singer-songwriter, theatre-maker and author hailing from Fremantle, WA. Her passion for preaching the power of the period is embodied in her latest work, Blood Magic – a song cycle written as an ode to the menstrual cycle.

Saturday 7 August, 6.30pm — 7.30pm
Byron Theatre
$30 + BF

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Matthew Evans’ latest book Soil is a hymn to the remarkable and underappreciated bit of Earth that gifts us life. A swashbuckling tale of soil that arms us all with the knowledge and respect to care about its health. Matthew discusses farming and the importance of soil in regenerating landscapes.

Saturday 7 August, 7pm — 8pm
The Regent Cinema, Murwillumbah
$30

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Fiona Murphy hid her Deafness for most of her life. In her new memoir, The Shape of Sound, Fiona explores issues of stigma and shame, deafness, disability and personal transformation. With a special screening of Fearless Films, a series of short films produced by Feros Care and Screenworks about people living boldly with disability.

Saturday 7 August, 7pm — 8.15pm
Banksia Pavilion, Elements of Byron
Free, bookings essential

EVENT PARTNER Feros Care

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This event will be Auslan interpreted.

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In this intimate Tell Me Why concert, Archie’s profound spiritual presence imparts a moving on-stage memoir of his life. He sings of both the heartbreak and joy of his people and calls for justice, for understanding, for empathy, for healing and for a better future for our children and country.

Saturday 7 August, 7pm — 9pm inc. interval
NORPA (Lismore City Hall)
$66.50 + BF

EVENT PARTNER NORPA
SUPPORTED BY Southern Cross University

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Join renowned guitarist, songwriter and author Jeff Lang for an evening of words and music, as he plays songs from across his career and reads some short passages from his book. Some Memories Never Die is a memoir of three decades on the road in which Jeff recalls the gigs, the twists, the turns and the people he met along the way.

Saturday 7 August, 8.30pm — 10pm
Byron Theatre
$30 + BF

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Fiona Foley is a visual artist and academic. Her publication, Biting the Clouds, is a ground-breaking work of Indigenous scholarship. Fiona discusses her art and writing, both of which examine, subvert and dismantle historical stereotypes.

Sunday 8 August, 11am — 12pm
Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre
Free, bookings essential

EVENT PARTNER Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre

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The 29^th anniversary of Writers at the Rails featuring Ren Alessandra, Damien Becker, Sarah Temporal and host David Hallett.

Sunday 8 August, 2.30pm — 4.30pm
The Rails Hotel, Byron Bay
Free, no bookings

anika

Festival Dates

6 – 8 August 2021

Where

Elements of Byron Resort, Byron Bay

What to expect

Now in its 25th year, Byron Writers Festival is one of Australia’s most popular regional literary events, featuring conversations with 100+ writers and thinkers over a three-day celebration of ideas, storytelling, and creativity.

Against a backdrop of Byron Bay’s incredible coastline and surrounded by nature, the Festival is loved for its relaxed and friendly vibe, open-air beachside location and powerful conversations spanning a mix of genres including music, art, environment, philosophy, health, politics, human rights and of course memoir and fiction.

Located just 5min from Byron Bay town centre, 30min from Byron/Ballina airport and 45 min from Gold Coast airport.

Who is it for

For writers, readers and people that believe in the power of storytelling, ideas and healthy debate as a force for good.

Tickets

$90 – $135 for a full day pass giving you access to over 35 sessions across 6 stages each day

Images

Web-ready images can be viewed and downloaded from our Website Gallery. Please credit and tag Byron Writers Festival for ALL online applications. High res images available on request.

Media enquiries

Clare McGregor Publicity
[email protected]
M: 0418 192 524

Festival 2021 Media Accreditation

Thank you for your interest in the Byron Writers Festival. Media accreditation is strictly reserved for members of the media – print, photo, radio, TV, film, news agencies and online media – who represent a legitimate media organisation and must be committed to publishing post-event coverage.

Key Dates

Media Accreditation applications are NOW OPEN (link below)
Closing date for applications 30 June
Notification of accreditation 5 July

Click the link to apply for 2021 Media Accreditation (Media Pass)

Marketing enquiries

Anika Ebner
Marketing and Communications Manager
[email protected]
P: (02) 6685 5115

Social Media

Follow and share posts via facebook, instagram and twitter. A Festival Blog will accompany the launch of the Full Program.
Our festival hashtag is #byronwf2021

E-newsletter Sign-Up

anika

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