News & Editorial

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Writers’ Groups

September 2, 2020

Members

FOR WRITERS

Northern Rivers Writers’ Groups

Alstonville Plateau Writers Group

Meets second Friday of each month, 10am – 12pm. All genres welcome, contact Kerry 66285662 or email [email protected]

 Ballina/Byron U3A Creative Writing

Meets every second Wednesday at 12.30pm to 2pm, Ballina RSL Contact Mandy Waring on 0427 327 381 or [email protected]

Byron Bay Memoir and Fiction Writing Group

Meets monthly at Sunrise Beach, Byron Bay. Contact Dianna on 0420282938/6685 5387 or [email protected]

Coffs Harbour Writers Group

Meets 1st Friday of the month at 10.30am to 12.30pm. contact Rosalie Skinner on 0437 221 619 or email [email protected]  www.coffsharbourwriters.com

Cru3a River Poets

Meets every Thursday at 10:30am, venue varies, mainly in Yamba. Contact Pauline on 66458715 or email [email protected]

 Dangerously Poetic Writing Circle

Meets second Wednesday or each month, 2pm-4pm at Brunswick Valley Community Centre. Contact Laura on 66801976 or visit www.dangerouslypoetic.com

Dorrigo Writers Group

Meets every second Wednesday from 10am – 2pm. Contact Iris on (02) 6657 5274 or email [email protected] or contact Carol Deane on (02) 6657 4005

Gold Coast Writers Association

Meets third Saturday of each month, 11:45am for 12:00 pm start, at Fradgley Hall, Burleigh Heads Library.

Contact 0403021176 or email [email protected]

Website: www.goldcoastwriters.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoldCoastWritersAssociation/

Kyogle Writers

Meets last Saturday of the month, 10am – 12pm at in the Supper Room, Kyogle Memorial Institute, Stratheden Street, Kyogle. Contact Margit at [email protected]

Nambucca Valley Writers Group

Meets fourth Saturday of each month, 1:30pm, Nambucca. Contact 65689648 or [email protected]

Taree Scribblers

Meets 2nd Wednesday of the month, 10am-12.30pm, Taree Library. Contact Bob Winston on (02) 6553 2829 or email [email protected]

Tweed Poets and Writers

Meets weekly at the Coolangatta Senior Citizens Centre on Tuesdays from 1.30 to 3.30pm, NSW time. Poets, novelists, playwrights, short story writers are all welcome. Phone Lorraine (07) 5524 8035

If you would like to list your writers’ group on this page, or if you need to update the details of an existing group, please email [email protected]

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Competitions and Opportunities for Writers

August 27, 2020

Members

FOR WRITERS

Competitions and Opportunities

Wondering where to send that finished manuscript or short story? Need a deadline to write towards? We’ve collated an up-to-date list of writing competitions, opportunities and awards for writers. Entries are in order of closing date.

Write North Writers’ Group Residency

Closing date:14 May 2021

The residency is valued at almost $40,000, including in-kind and the cash value of the residency, plus $10,000 direct financial support.  It will support a writers’ group of up to four members in a creative residency across seven days in Byron Bay. 

More details: https://www.create.nsw.gov.au/news-and-publications/news/create-nsw-and-byron-writers-festival-seek-writers-for-write-north-writers-group-residency/

The Stuart Hadow Prize 

Closing date: 1 June 2021

Run by the Fellowship of Australian Writers Western Australia (FAWWA), this annual short story contest has a first prize of $1000 and a week of unpaid residency at Mattie Furphy House in Swanbourne. Second prize receives $300 and third prize $100. It is open themed with a maximum of 3,000 words per previously unpublished story. FAWWA may publish winning entries in its publications.

More details: https://www.fawwa.org/writing-competitions 

The ARA Historical Novel Prize

Date closing: 14 June 2021

The ARA Historical Novel Prize is the richest genre-based literary award in Australasia. Historical fiction will be defined as a novel in which the majority of the narrative must have taken place at least 50 years before publication. A range of sub-genres are eligible, including historical mystery, historical romance, alternate history, historical fantasy, multi-time, time-slip, and parallel narrative novels. The ARA Historical Novel Prize is open to all authors who are citizens or residents of Australia or New Zealand, with prize monies totalling $100,000.

More details: https://hnsa.org.au/the-2021-ara-historical-novel-prize/

The Moth International Short Story Prize

Closing date: 30 June 2021

The Moth Short Story Prize is an international prize, open to anyone over 16 from anywhere in the world, as long as their story is original and previously unpublished. The winners are chosen by a single judge each year, who reads the stories anonymously. The 2021 judge is Ali Smith.  The word limit is 5,000 and entry fee is €15 per story.  There is an open theme, with first place taking out €3,000. 

More details: themothmagazine.com

Byron Writers Festival Residential Mentorship 

Closing date: 30 June 2021

The mentorship provides five days in a glorious Byron Shire location with accommodation and some meals provided, one-on-one mentoring with Marele Day and the company of three other committed writers.  It’s an experience that many have described as life-changing, a time to forge lasting friendships and discover what lies at the heart of your work. Open to members of Byron Writers Festival.

More details: http://byronwritersfestival.com/members/residential-mentorship/

Susie Warrick Young Writers Award 

Closing date: 30 June 2021

This short-story competition is open to students (from stages 3, 4 and 5) living in the Northern Rivers and has three age categories. Enter an original short story of up to 1000 words for a chance to win up to $500 and publishing opportunities with Byron Writers Festival.

More details: http://byronwritersfestival.com/swywa/

ACU Prize for Poetry 

Closing date: 5  July 2021

The Australian Catholic University Prize for Poetry supports the emergence of new and dynamic Australian poets and poetry. The total prize money is $18,000, with the first prize $10,000.  The 2021 theme is ‘Resilience’ and will be judged by M.T.C Cronin. Poems should not exceed 80 lines and there is an entry fee of $25 per poem. 

More details: artsandculture.acu.edu.au/initiatives-and-prizes/acu-prize-for-poetry

Varuna Residential Fellowships

Closing date: 29 July 2021

Varuna Residential Fellowships offer two to three weeks of full board and accommodation at Varuna, uninterrupted time to write in a private studio, and one-on-one input from a Varuna consultant. Submissions are welcome from writers working in all creative forms, including fiction, drama, poetry, children’s books, and narrative non-fiction.

More details: https://www.varuna.com.au/fellowships/varuna

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Resources for Writers

February 13, 2020

Members

Information

Resources for Writers

Byron Writers Festival offers a range of information to support writers. On this page, you can find information about pitching, publishing, literary agents and contracts. Writers can also find an up-to-date list of writing competitions and opportunities on our website.

  • Pitching
  • Traditional Publishing
  • Self-publishing
  • Literary Agents
  • Contracts
  • Journals
Pitching

This section provides a list of key elements to be included in a pitch or query letter to a publisher, literary agent or award, key elements of a synopsis, and what to include in an author biography.

Pitch or query letter:

Key elements:

  • Title and length of the work
  • The hook or tagline: One sentence that gives an overview of your book and piques the publisher’s interest.
  • The mini-synopsis: outlining the main characters, their motivations and narrative arc, including the resolution.
  • The writer biography: Keep it simple, stick to facts. This can be a simple one sentence statement of who you are. You may want to include a sentence explaining your connection to the subject matter. Why are you the right person to tell this story?
  • Comparison titles and expected readership.
  • Point of difference.
  • Writing and web presence.

For more information see the following articles:

Curtis Brown Literary Agents: www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/how-to-write-the-perfect-pitch-letter-to-an-agent/

Going Down Swinging: www.goingdownswinging/pitch-perfect-or-how-to-make-your-manuscript-shine-among-the-slush/

Publisher Sophie Hamley on how to write a query letter: https://www.asauthors.org/documents/item/38

Synopsis

Key elements:

  • The name of the manuscript
  • Tag line that encapsulates the piece – a headline
  • Word length
  • Genre
  • Plot outline. It is possible to describe the narrative arc, including the ending, while maintaining a sense of intrigue.
  • Characters – main and pivotal – and their important interactions. (This may be covered in plot outline)
  • Any stylistic elements that are relevant, e.g. point of view, timelines, structure

For more information see the following websites:

http://www.laurelcohn.com.au/

https://writingnsw.org.au/support/resources-for-writers/resource-sheets/writing-a-synopsis/

Author biography

Key elements:

  • Name and contact details including your webpage URL if applicable
  • Prizes and awards
  • Previous publications – titles and publishers
  • Employment & qualifications
  • Writing courses undertaken
  • Relevant volunteer work
  • Work and life experiences that have helped with your writing or are specific to the piece you are submitting
  • Memberships
  • Social media presence
  • You may choose to include some information about your current project (even if it is unpublished)
Traditional Publishing

Australian trade publishers are always on the look-out for great works to publish. They acquire works through literary agents, unpublished manuscript awards, and sometimes, via unsolicited submissions. Many Australian publishers accept unsolicited submissions on one regular day of the week or month, as below:

Before submitting your finished manuscript for consideration, it is important to know your prospective publisher. Explore their catalogue of recent publications and make sure your work fits. Check and follow the publisher’s submission guidelines. Check the Pitching section to learn how to write a query letter to accompany your manuscript.

A traditional publisher takes control of the editing, proofing, design, printing, distribution, marketing, publicity and sub-licencing of your book.

Self-publishing

If you decide to go down the self-publishing route, you’ll need to take control of many of the elements of publishing mentioned above, including marketing, distribution and promotion of the book. There are many self-publishing services that authors can employ to manage the production of the book. The Australian Writer’s Marketplace contains a comprehensive list of self-publishing services that include editing, proofreading, distribution, design and illustration and printing.

As a self-published author, you will need to register your book for an ISBN; you’ll need to select a printer if you are producing a print version, and consider modes of distribution and promotion. Some companies, like Ingram Spark, offer self-publishing packages that include print and e-books, as well as an ISBN number.

Further reading:

https://writingnsw.org.au/support/resources-for-writers/resource-sheets/self-publishing/

https://www.asauthors.org/findananswer/publishing

https://www.ingramspark.com/

Literary Agents

The primary role of an agent is to sell your work for publication, and negotiate the terms of your contract with that publisher. An agent charges approx. 15% commission on book sales. An agent’s role includes:

  • Approaching publishers on your behalf to sell your manuscript for publication
  • Negotiating fair and favourable terms of a contract
  • Handling all correspondence regarding contractual matters with the publisher
  • Negotiating terms for the reproduction of the work in other territories or in other forms, such as in film
  • Managing royalties

Further reading:

Literary Agents explained: https://writingnsw.org.au/support/resources-for-writers/resource-sheets/literary-agents/

What do literary agents do: https://austlitagentsassoc.com/

Contracts

Receiving an offer of a publishing contract can be a very exciting time. Many first-time authors will want to sign as soon as possible, but it’s worth taking some time to understand the edicts of your contract.

Royalty rates: In Australian trade publishing the industry standard royalty is 10% of the Recommended Retail Price. The Australian Society of Authors recommends authors attempt to negotiate a rising royalty rate, e.g. a rise in royalties to 12.5% after a certain number of copies has sold. Well-established authors may be able to negotiate higher rates.

Overseas rights: The territories clause refers to the market in which the publisher is licensed to sell your book. If the publisher requests world rights, they should be able to demonstrate an avenue for the sale of their titles overseas. If unsure, the Australian Society of Authors recommends granting world rights for a certain amount of time only, such as two years, after which rights revert to the author for any territory where the publisher hasn’t secured publication of the work.

Sublicenses: Sublicenses refer to the right to sell the work for reproduction in other forms, and includes film, merchandising and translation rights. These sales are calculated as a percentage split between publisher and author. Literary agent Alex Adsett recommends that the author retain film rights, unless the publisher has a firm film strategy. If the publisher does acquire film rights, Adsett recommends the author receive 80% of any film sale. She also recommends that translation rights should be split 75% to the author and 25% to the publisher, while most other subsidiary rights can be split 50/50, but never less than 50%.

If you are unsure about the terms of your contract, you may want to seek professional advice from a consultant or contract assessor. Alex Adsett is a publishing consultant and literary agent who offers commercial contract advice to authors: http://alexadsett.com.au/ Contract assessments are also offered through the Australian Society of Authors at a subsidised rate.

Further reading:

Contracts via Australian Society of Authors: https://www.asauthors.org/findananswer/contracts/

‘Just a Standard Contract’ with Alex Adsett: https://writersvictoria.org.au/resources/publishing-tips-and-tools/just-standard-contract

Journals

Wondering where you can submit your short works for publication? The following literary journals accept essays, criticism, short stories and poetry:

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Alumni

October 18, 2017

For Members

Residential Mentorship

Alumni successes

Since 2001, the Byron Writers Festival Residential Mentorship has been inspiring writers on the path to publication. The program has produced seventeen published authors in seventeen years. Here’s what they have to say about the program.
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2001 Mentorship

Sarah Armstrong

‘The most valuable thing about the mentorship was the sense it gave me of being part of a community of writers, so important after years of working away alone, writing into the void.’

Published novels include Salt Rain (2004), His Other House (2015), and Promise (2016).

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2001 Mentorship

Jesse Blackadder

‘Working under Marele’s guidance on After the Party – which went on to become my first published novel – was a springboard for my career, and for building a lovely network with local authors. It led to the formation of a writing group that ran for more than a decade.’

Published novels include After the Part (2005), The Raven’s Heart (2011), Chasing the Light (2013), Stay: The Last Dog in Antarctica (2013) and Sixty Seconds (2017).

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2004 Mentorship

Jane Jago

‘Selection for the mentorship validated my ambition and allowed me to see myself as a ‘real writer’ for the first time. Feedback, from established crime author Marele Day, set me on the path towards improving my manuscript for traditional publication, and planted an indestructible seed of determination never to give up on that goal.’

Published The Wrong Hand in 2016.

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2004 Mentorship

Lisa Walker

‘Participating in the mentorship with Marele Day boosted my confidence and increased my skill in fine tuning prose and structure in order to complete a novel.’

Published novels include Liar Bird (2012), Sex, Lies and Bonsai (2013) and Arkie’s Pilgrimage to the Next Big Thing (2015). Her next novel Paris Syndrome is due for publication in 2018.

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2006 Mentorship

Daniel Ducrou

‘The Byron Writers Festival Residential Mentorship played a key role in my professional development, giving me direction, inspiration and encouragement.’

Published The Byron Journals in 2010.

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2007 Mentorship

Virginia Peters

‘The mentorship programme was a turning point for me as I was on the brink of giving up writing. Marele’s advice and mysterious methods made for a magical few days, as did the camaraderie of the group. I’d do it all over again in a flash.’

Published Have You Seen Simone? in 2014.

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2007 Mentorship

Oren Siedler

‘The Residential mentorship with Marele proved to be a crucial step towards publication. The guidance offered by both Marele herself, along with my fellow mentees, helped shape and refine the manuscript to a point I felt confident to present it to publishers.’

Published Bruce & Me in 2009.

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2008 Mentorship

Jessie Cole

‘The residency was the first opportunity I had to meet other writers. It was life-changing to be part of a small group of people who shared the same passion I did. Working with Marele, who is so steady and sure, gave me such a good start in the industry. The whole experience was enormously important, especially in building my confidence as a writer.’

Published novels include Darkness on the Edge of Town (2012), and Deeper Water (2014).

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2010 Mentorship

Emma Ashmere

‘The mentorship turned the corner for my manuscript – providing time, focus, encouragement, practical advice – and hope.’

Published The Floating Garden in 2015.

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2010 Mentorship

Russell Eldridge

‘The mentorship gave me the confidence and the feedback to take a raw manuscript to a new level. The skill of mentor Marele Day and the environment of trust and support among the participants was a rare gift.’

Published Harry Mac in 2015.

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2013 Mentorship

Miranda Riwoe

‘What an amazing opportunity and experience to have my work critiqued and guided by Marele Day. I was lucky enough to share this time with three very talented, diverse writers. The residency impacted my growth as a writer over the years, both in practice and professionally.’

Published She be Damned (under the name M J Tjia) and The Fish Girl in 2017.

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2009 Mentorship

Jo Sandhu

‘It’s been a long journey and the help I received from Marele during the mentorship was invaluable. She showed me how to focus and polish each individual scene, and suggested structural changes that increased the tension and suspense. The lessons I learned in that five days not only resulted in a much stronger story, but have made me a better story teller today.’

Published Tarin of the Mammoths Trilogy: Exile (2017), Clan of Wolves (2017), Cave Bear Mountain (2018).

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2015 Mentorship

Jarrah Dundler

‘Before the residential mentorship program I had a rough forty pages of a novel manuscript I dreamed one day would be published. Marele’s astute feedback, heartfelt encouragement, and connections with the writing industry the program offered, all helped me to realise this dream.’

Published Hey Brother (2018).

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Members

May 11, 2016

Members

Annual

Membership

Become a member or renew your membership online. Memberships are annual and expire at the end of February each year.
Join or Renew Now
HELP DESK

Member Number

Your 2020 member number is located on the PDF ticket emailed to you when you joined or renewed. Can’t find your ticket? Click the button below to retrieve your booking.
Retrieve my Member Number
Member Services Guide

A community of readers, writers and storytellers

Byron Writers Festival is a member-based organisation that acts as a resource for our local members and the broader writing and creative communities.
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Why we exist

Byron Writers Festival is passionate about the importance of stories, ideas and debate in shaping culture. Alongside the member services detailed below, becoming a member of Byron Writers Festival offers a chance to be part of our growing community of writers, readers and storytellers and to support the creative arts in regional Australia.

Services, Opportunities and Resources for Writers

Mentorships

Our mentorship programs are available for members seeking assistance and feedback from an experienced professional in the development of their written work.

Residential Mentorship

An annual program that offers four members the opportunity to spend five days in residence with an established writer to develop your work. Applicants need to reside in the Northern Rivers and have a well-developed manuscript. The residency usually takes place in the Byron Shire in spring.
MORE DETAILS

Paid Mentorships

We offer two paid mentorship schemes that match members with a professional mentor; ‘Firsthand Feedback’ and ‘Block Mentorships’.
MORE DETAILS

Mentoring Scholarships

Every year, Byron Writers Festival offers members the opportunity to secure one of six scholarships for our two mentoring services, First Hand Feedback and Block Mentorships. Applications open in September.

Workshops and Seminars

Byron Writers Festival offers a year-round program of workshops, seminars and author visits. Workshops are designed for writers of various levels and experience, and provide opportunities for skills development. Seminars are large group presentations or panel discussions designed to give an insight into writing and publishing industry practices or topics of interest.
MORE DETAILS

Writing Hour

A free weekly ‘Silent Writing’ meet-up for local writers to gain some quiet, focused time in the company of like-minded wordsmiths. Please note: Writing Hour is currently on hold due to Covid-19. The Festival is working on reinstating this initiative. Please register your interest by emailing [email protected]

Writers’ Groups Directory

While Byron Writers Festival does not have its own writers’ group, it keeps a directory of groups throughout the region. If you are interested in joining a writers’ group, please check our online directory, otherwise give us a call and we can advise on a group near you.

Competitions

We actively seek out opportunities for pathways to publication for our members, as well as run regular competitions. Our quarterly listing of opportunities and competitions is listed in our publication northerly, and can be found on our website.
MORE DETAILS

Services, Opportunities and Resources for All Members

Discounted Tickets

Members of Byron Writers Festival receive discounted tickets to the annual Festival, year-round events and workshops.

Priority booking periods for Festival tickets

Be the first to see our full Festival Program and enjoy priority booking periods on Festival tickets.

Member magazine, northerly

Our quarterly member magazine is posted or emailed to you (you choose) and features 36 pages of stories, literature news and reviews, industry tips, upcoming workshops and events, and details about writing competitions, awards and scholarships.

READ THE LATEST ISSUE ONLINE

Members’ Library

The Festival has an extensive library of more than 1000 books by predominantly Australian authors at our Byron Bay office. Members can borrow up to four books at a time (excluding reference materials) for a four-week period.

Member e-Newsletters

Be the first to get Festival updates and offers.

Facebook Members’ Lounge

Access to our closed Facebook group for Byron Writers Festival members to connect, share and inspire. Members can use the group to post their own notices about anything books or arts related that might be of interest such as local book launches, events, opportunities or meet-ups. Request to join here.

Many of our members also get involved as Festival volunteers, participate at other events, or assist in the office on a regular basis. Read more about volunteering here.

Can’t find your Member number?

Your member number is the located on the PDF ticket emailed to you when you joined or renewed. Can’t find your ticket? Click the button below to retrieve your booking.

Retrieve my Member Number

Become a member

If you love books, believe in the power storytelling or are looking to further your writing career, we’d love you to join us.  Details on Memberships and how to become a member can be found here.

Membership renewals

Byron Writers Festival membership has an annual renewal date of 28 February. Renewals and new memberships received after September each year receive a 50% discount . Membership renewals are processed online via TryBooking.

JOIN OR RENEW NOW
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Become a Member

May 11, 2016

Become a Member

Annual

Membership

Become a member or renew your membership online.
Please note that ALL memberships expire on 28 February.
Join or Renew Now
Byron Writers Festival

Membership

Byron Writers Festival is a non-profit member organisation presenting workshops and events year-round, including the annual Festival. Show your support for the creative arts in regional Australia with an annual membership.

Become a Member of Byron Writers Festival

Are you…

  • Passionate about protecting the future of the Australian arts industry?
  • Keen to support the creative arts and storytelling in regional Australia?
  • Seeking to be part of a growing creative community?
  • Looking to develop your writing; or just have a love of books, reading and ideas?
  • Interested in receiving discounted tickets, free events and access to year-round opportunities?

Become a member of Byron Writers Festival today and join a thriving community of writers, readers, storytellers and change-makers with year-round benefits and opportunities.

Member services and benefits include:

  • Discounts on Festival full price tickets
  • Discounts on year-round events & workshops
  • First access to the Festival Program and priority booking periods on selected Festival tickets
  • Free events for members
  • Our quarterly member magazine northerly. The magazine covers stories, literature news and reviews, industry tips, upcoming workshops and events, and details about writing competitions, awards and scholarships
  • Eligibility to apply for the annual Residential Mentorship and our free Mentoring Scholarships
  • Access to paid professional development and mentorship services
  • Access to our private lending library

For more details on each service and benefit, head to our Member Services Guide.

All Byron Writers Festival memberships expire on 28 February the following year. Membership is discounted between August – February.

All memberships are processed online. If you are experiencing difficulties please call (02) 6685 5115.

Membership Types

We have four Membership types: Single, Double, Passionate and Organisation. Want to go ECO? Every environmental choice matters. Save paper and postage and receive our quarterly magazine northerly in digital format! 

  • Single Membership (1 person)
  • Passionate Membership (1 person)
  • Double Membership (2 people)
  • Organisation Membership (up to 5 people)
Single Membership (1 person)

A single membership is for individual writers, readers or anyone interested in literature and the arts. Concession rates are available for students and valid concession cardholders. A single membership receives one copy of the member magazine each edition and reduced admission prices per event or workshop.

Cost

ECO: $55 Adults / $45 Concession (Pensioner or student)

PRINT: $65 Adults / $55 Concession (Pensioner or student)

Passionate Membership (1 person)

Do you care deeply about Australian stories, writing, creativity and the arts? Make it official by taking out a passionate membership and proudly celebrating your support of the creative arts in regional Australia. A passionate membership receives one copy of the member magazine each edition and reduced admission prices per event or workshop.

Cost

ECO: $120

PRINT: $130

Double Membership (2 people)

A double membership offers extra value and is available for two adults (partner, companion or friend). Names of each adult member must be specified at time of joining. A double membership receives one copy of the member magazine each edition and reduced admission prices for both members per event or workshop.

Cost

ECO: $85

PRINT: $95

Organisation Membership (up to 5 people)

An organisation membership is for businesses, arts organisations, and writers groups. An organisation membership receives five copies of the member magazine each edition and reduced admission prices for five members per event or workshop.

Cost

ECO: $140 per organisation

PRINT: $180 per organisation

Join or renew now
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Writing Hour

May 3, 2016

For Members

Service

Writing Hour

Immerse yourself in your work during our weekly silent writing hour.

Writing Hour is a free weekly ‘Silent Writing’ meet-up for local writers to gain some quiet, focused time in the company of like-minded wordsmiths.

Writing Hour is on hold from May – August during Festival production.

When: Tuesdays at 10am – 11am, September – April.
Where: Byron Writers Festival Office, 2/58 Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay

Please note: Parking in Byron Industrial Estate is limited. We encourage you to allow extra time to find a parking space and ride share where possible.

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Residential Mentorship

May 3, 2016

For Members

DATES

Sept 2021

Applications Closed
Opportunity

Residential Mentorship

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Image credit and property rented through A Perfect Stay

About the program

The mentorship provides five days in a glorious Byron shire location with accommodation and some meals provided, one-on-one mentoring with Marele Day and the company of three other committed writers.  It’s an experience that many have described as life-changing, a time to forge lasting friendships and discover what lies at the heart of your work.

This is an outstanding opportunity to participate in a writing experience that has already proved to be a launch pad for regional writers. Established in 2001, the roll call of past participants who are now published authors continues to grow every year. You can see them all and read testimonials about the residential mentorship experience on our Alumni Successes page.

Key Dates

  • Residency dates: 13 – 17 September 2021
  • Applications open: Wednesday 2 June 2021
  • Applications close: Wednesday 30 June 2021, 11.59pm
  • Recipients announced: Monday 16 August 2021

Cost

Application fee is $40

Successful applicants will be asked to make a contribution of $280 each towards their residency.

Eligibility

Eligible writers must:

  • Be 18 years of age or over
  • Reside in the catchment area (from Tweed Heads to Taree and west to Kyogle)
  • Be a current member of Byron Writers Festival. Click here to become a member.
  • Manuscripts should be fiction or narrative non-fiction.

Submission guidelines

In a single Word Document or PDF, please collate the following:

  • A 200-word statement on why you want to be part of the mentorship, outlining how the mentorship will assist you at this stage of progress. Include any particular issues you wish to address at this stage.
  • A 250-word synopsis or description of this project and your intentions for the work in progress.
  • The first 40 continuous pages of your manuscript (work must be typed, 12 point, Times New Roman font, double-spaced and paginated. Please also include the title of your work on each page of your manuscript). DO NOT include your name on your manuscript.

Application Process

Before beginning the application form, please have your submission document ready (see submission guidelines above), your current membership number, and your credit card. If you are not yet a member of Byron Writers festival, please click here to become a member.

  • Click Apply Now
  • Complete the form
  • Upload your submission
  • Pay the application fee

Read the Terms & Conditions of the program in full here.

Applications Closed

Mentorship selection

Three professional writers will judge the entries. The four mentorship recipients will be selected from a shortlist and selection will be according to: suitability of the work for the mentorship scheme; potential of the work; and appropriateness for the development of the writer in the residency context. The judges’ decision is final. Unsuccessful applicants will not be given individual feedback on their submission.

About the mentor

Marele Day has been the mentor for the program for the past nineteen years and will be taking this role again in 2021. Marele is the author of four crime novels – The Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender; The Case of the Chinese Boxes; The Last Tango of Dolores Delgado and The Disappearances of Madalena Grimaldi as well as a collection of crime-comedy stories, Mavis Levack, PI.  Other novels include the best-selling Lambs of God, which was published to international acclaim and since made into a TV series; Mrs Cook: The Real and Imagined Life of the Captain’s Wife; and most recently The Sea Bed.  She is a highly experienced speaker, teacher and mentor, and has won several awards, including the Ned Kelly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.

Residential Mentorship property rented through A Perfect Stay

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Mentorships

May 3, 2016

For Members

Program

Mentorships

Professional mentorships are offered to our members.

Year-round mentorship program

Byron Writers Festival year-round mentorships are paid services available to members throughout the year who are seeking a professional mentor to assist with the development of their work.

We have compiled a list of locally-based writers of various genres and categories, (both fiction and non-fiction), as well as professional editors, who are willing to act as mentor to a developing or emerging writer.

Mentorships provide emerging writers with a chance to develop their writing and they also provide employment opportunities for writing professionals living in and beyond the area. The mentorship program is therefore designed as a fee-for-service scheme and is available only to members.

The Residential Mentorship Program is another exciting mentorship option for members who are serious about the business of writing.

Once per year, we invite our members to apply for free-of-charge mentoring through the Mentoring Scholarships Program. This opportunity is for early stage writers working on a manuscript, who are seeking an initial appraisal of their work from an industry professional. Applications open in September each year. For more details click here.

Current mentoring services

There are two programs available through the paid mentorship scheme, Firsthand Feedback sessions and Block Mentorships. Details for each program, including eligibility and costs are given below.

  • Firsthand Feedback
  • Block Mentorships

A valuable and affordable first step for writers who would like an initial appraisal of their manuscript and up-front advice regarding its development.

Is it for me?

Suitable for writers who are at the crossroads and who are seeking:

  • face-to-face discussion and advice
  • inspiration and direction
  • to know whether they are on track with their writing goal
  • to know whether their idea has publishing possibilities, and/or
  • to know where to go from here and what to do next.

Cost

The cost of the 2-hour Firsthand Feedback is $175 and the session will be conducted by someone from our stable of professional mentors. Based on a small sample of your work (5000 words), the session will include the mentor’s reading and preparation time and AT LEAST one hour of face-to-face, telephone or skype consultation.

A Firsthand Feedback mentorship may be a timely reality check that fulfils your present writing needs. Or it may be an opportunity to gauge whether you are ready to apply for the Residential Mentorship.

An opportunity for emerging writers to work closely and in-depth with a professional mentor, to develop their work and improve their publishing opportunities. Block mentorships, as distinct from manuscript assessment or editing services, provide a two-way relationship where writers are able to be nurtured and to ask questions, seek feedback, gain industry-related advice and work closely with their mentor via email, phone or personal meetings.

Is it for me?

A Block mentorship would be most beneficial to writers who:

  • have a well developed manuscript and would like feedback from a professional who is working in their area of interest
  • have a long term commitment to writing and the development of their craft and are ready to take advice and make changes to their work
  • have already developed their work through writers’ groups, or by attending workshops or classes on writing
  • have specific areas of their work that they want to address such as character development, structure, plot, writing for publication etc.
  • have done their research into the genre in which they are writing and are having difficulty bringing their work to the word lengths or standards required for that genre, or
  • have published already and are working on a project in a new genre.

Cost

Block mentorships are available in blocks of 5, 10 or 15 hours. This includes reading time, email correspondence and face-to-face time. Mentorship charges and approximate reading guidelines are as follows:

5 hours     $395.00    (10 000 word excerpt + synopsis)
10 hours     $740.00   (25 000 word excerpt + synopsis)
15 hours     $1035.00   (40 000 word excerpt + synopsis)

These amounts include GST and full fees must be paid in advance to the Byron Writers Festival prior to the mentorship commencing.

How to apply

Step 1: Explore the list of Byron Writers Festival mentors.

Step 2: Complete the Registration Form

Step 3: We will contact the mentors to determine their availability and get back to you with some possible options.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

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