Stage 2 / Year 3 & 4 | Byron Writers Festival

Join author Zanni Louise for a series of masterclasses where students will learn and experiment with a range of creative writing techniques and genres. Classes are designed to be fun and celebrate the joy of storytelling.

FREE. Registrations essential. This is a year-long program, commencing Term 2, and running until the end of Term 4, 2023.

Term 2 Dates: Thurs 4 May – Thurs 29 June (Fortnightly)
Time: 5 – 6.30pm
Where: Goonellabah Library, 27 Oliver Avenue, Goonellabah
Suitable For: 8 – 12 years

Author of over twenty kids’ books, including bestselling picture book series HumanKind, Zanni Louise writes and draws every day and hopes she will keep going until she’s too old to hold a pen!

anika

Join author, poet, podcaster and journalist Samantha Turnbull for a series of masterclasses where students will learn and experiment with a range of creative writing techniques and genres. Classes are designed to be fun and celebrate the joy of storytelling.

FREE. Registrations essential. This is a year-long program, commencing Term 2, and running until the end of Term 4, 2023.

Term 2 dates: Wed 3 May – Wed 28 June(Fortnightly)
Time: 5 – 6.30pm
Where: Ballina Library, 8 River Street, Ballina
Suitable For: 8 – 13 years

Samantha Turnbull is a children’s author and podcast producer with the ABC. Her books include Fierce Girls, Remember the Rainbows and The Anti-Princess Club series. She is also a qualified primary teacher and loves competing in poetry slams.

anika

Sam will teach students how to write and perform slam poetry. Please note, this workshop includes video, so an IWB or computer and projector with speakers is required.

Topics covered

Poetry
Performing/public speaking with flair
Self-expression

* Workshops Poetry for the Page and Poetry for the Stage can be combined

Sue Andersen

Sam will show students the steps she followed to write the beautiful poem that features in her picture book Remember the Rainbows. Students will then write their own poetic masterpiece, experimenting with techniques including repetition and rhyme.

Topics covered

Writing from real life
Emotive language
Poetic devices

Sue Andersen

Lucas’ creative writing session highlights the importance of using spontaneity and imagination to create short, fun-filled stories. This quirky format allows the students to experience the joy of writing without worrying about spelling mistakes and perfect grammar. The focus of the session is finding your voice, then expressing it through story.

“Lucas is a treasure personally and culturally. We are really lucky to have someone with his storytelling skills and gift for entertainment to inspire our students. His connection to his heritage and place was very powerful. The staff responses were glowing. I am like the kids; I only wish we could see him more often!” – Pottsville Beach PS, QLD

Topics covered

Finding your writing voice
Imagination and creativity
Writing with joy
Personal and cultural storytelling

Curriculum outcomes

Creative writing
History/culture
Multicultural themes
Performing arts

Sue Andersen

Drawing from her extensive experience in podcasting, Sam will show students how to tell stories for the ears. Students will use weird and wonderful props to create sound effects for broadcast. Students will then use those sounds to inspire and enhance stories crafted specifically to be heard.

Sue Andersen

Indigenous musician and author, Lucas Proudfoot presents a dynamic musical storytelling experience, showcasing dance, cultural diversity and Lucas’ creative process. This highly interactive session is a great way to start a StoryBoard session with Lucas. Students get to know Lucas not only as an author, but also as a live performer who shares positive aspects of music, story & culture.

Topics covered

Indigenous Australian culture and history
Music
Dance
Multicultural diversity
Storytelling
The creative process

Curriculum outcomes

History/culture
Multicultural themes
Performing arts

Sue Andersen

Sam will teach students how to come up with a cracking story idea, create unique characters, build an escalating plot, and pull it all together to write a bestseller.

Topics covered

Ideas and inspiration
Creating characters
Plotting and planning

Sue Andersen

Using text and verbal cues the students will create creatures/monsters based on myths and legends

Michelle will work with collage as a means for the students to create a creature based on a myth. Students will have a collage resource sheet of various animals and textures from which to construct their interpretation of the creature. They will then be assisted to create a drawing based on their collage and place it in a setting.

Students will be encouraged to make the creature their own in terms of interpretation and embellishment and also to start developing an imagined life for the creature and to illustrate that (ie its habitat, diet, likes and dislikes).

This workshop will encourage students to develop a character from a text and introduce them to using collage as both an illustration means in its own right and as a catalyst for other artworks.

The duration and complexity of this workshop can be adapted to the age group of the intended students.

Topics covered

Mythical Creature collage to the description
Drawing/painting a creature based on the collage
And/or using a combination of collage textures and draw features
Placing the creature in a setting
Character development

Sue Andersen

The outdoors and the outback were the inspiration for CBCA award winning book, Black Cockatoo (Magabala 2018). Hakea takes students through the steps of brainstorming, storyboarding and then finding a way into their short stories by using real life anecdotes from their lives.

Topics covered

Plan for success- Inspiration and narrative arc
Reader hooks- sizzling starts to find ways into the story
Writing engaging characters- dynamic dialogue
Show don’t tell

Curriculum outcomes

Writing and representing
Thinking imaginatively, creatively and interpretatively

Sue Andersen

Students will walk away from this workshop with a collection of tools to help them brainstorm ideas, overcome writer’s block and craft interesting stories perfect for Australian readers. They will have a list of story ideas that they can use for future writing in class.

Topics covered

Inspiration and brainstorm techniques
Narrative arc and planning
Sizzling starts
Cool characters

Curriculum outcomes

Writing and representing
Thinking imaginatively, creatively and interpretatively

Sue Andersen

This presentation and workshop explores the elements of creating a childrens’ picture book, using Benjamin’s popular book The Travel Bug as an example. In this workshop, children are assisted to develop their own idea in a group setting (group verse writing) and create a 2-page spread.

anika

Author, Erin Knutt and illustrator, Misa Alexander present a dynamic workshop where they use their picture book, Fergus & Delilah, to explore diversity and inclusion. Students will have the opportunity to explore the similarities and differences of the characters through life-sized props, discussion, illustrations and a bit of dance and music thrown in the middle.

Students will then work alongside Misa as they draw their own characters and reflect on how they can be inclusive of others. Finally, participants will make their own blockhead craft, complete with wires for hair, that they can take home or showcase at school!

Topics covered

Differences and Similarities
Character choices
Inclusion
Storyline
Power of Illustrations

Curriculum outcomes

Examine Literature
Recognise similarities and differences in individuals and groups, and explore how these are celebrated and respected.
Understand that people use different systems of communication to cater to different needs and purposes and many people may use sign systems to communicate with others.
Explore ideas, experiences, observations and imagination to create visual artworks and design.

anika

Míša’s Dynamic Still Life workshop explores a wide variety of artistic techniques and skills. Dynamic Still life is taking one object and exploring it in several ways. Misa will introduce students to different techniques on how to visually interpret one object. Students will begin with continuous line drawing and move to pastel scratching, pen and watercolour painting and finally a layering approach with acrylic paints.

Topics covered

Inspiration
Analysing still life
Application of varying techniques
Defining spatial awareness
Explore abstract thinking
Overcome failure
Learn new things

Curriculum outcomes

They demonstrate different techniques and processes in planning and making artworks.
Thinking imaginatively, creatively and interpretatively
Expressing themselves

anika

Míša is passionate about art and loves to inspire and encourage students of all ages. In this workshop students will first explore and discuss art portraiture in history and the evolution of style followed by learning a practical guide to proportions of the facial structure and how to create a face.

Students will then learn to think outside the box with a continuous line drawing of an object (ie. A pear) followed by another continuous line drawing of themself using the right side of the brain to look at the light & shadows as well as the details in their faces. They will then turn this base drawing into a masterpiece with colour, texture and collage.

Each art session is tailored to specific age groups.

Topics covered

Inspiration & history of art
Defining spatial awareness
Exploring abstract thinking
Overcoming failure
Learning new things

Curriculum outcomes

Use materials, techniques and processes to explore visual conventions when making artworks
Thinking imaginatively, creatively and interpretatively
Expressing themselves
History

anika

What are some of the remarkable patterns and processes which sustain life? In this workshop, students are invited to dig a little deeper and grow their ecological-literacy skills by delving further into the science behind Wonder Earth. Children will gain greater understanding of their earth home and how it works. Children will get the opportunity to explore in their own words what it means to belong to this vastly interconnected world.

Topics covered

Scientific understanding
Patterns and processes which sustain life
Interconnection
Reflection of our relationship to the world

Curriculum outcomes

Thinking imaginatively, creatively and interpretatively
Responding and composing
Reading and viewing
Working scientifically
Living world
Earth and space

anika

Have you ever had an experience in nature where you really paid attention and for a moment felt you were part of everything around you? In this workshop, children will deepen into their own personal experience and connection to the Earth. Through creative writing and using the themes as inspiration from Wonder Earth, students will reflect on both the heart-felt significance as well as the scientific importance of a personal ‘wonder earth moment’, and create a class Wonder Earth book!

Topics covered

Experiences in nature for story inspiration
Patterns and processes which sustain life
Creative writing with scientific themes
Reflection of our relationship to the world

Curriculum outcomes

Thinking imaginatively, creatively and interpretatively
Reflecting on learning
Responding and composing
Living world
Earth and space

anika

Would you like your students to stop and marvel at the amazing world around them and build their ecological-literacy? The Earth has so much to share if only we stop, listen and wonder. Come along on a beautiful journey of what it means to belong to our earth home through exploring a BIG version of the Wonder Earth book. Celebrate the colors and patterns of the natural world. Hear and tell an earth story. Blending creative writing with inspiration from nature, children reflect on their relationship to the world around them.

Topics covered

Ecological themes such as the sun, water, food and patterns of nature
Processes and relationships which sustain life
Creative writing with nature themes
Reflection of our relationship to the world

Curriculum Outcomes

Speaking and listening
Writing and representing
Thinking imaginatively, creatively and interpretatively
Working scientifically
Living world
Earth and space

anika

Writing-Safari-Holiday-Program-with-Tristan-Bancks-1200x900.jpg

Participants observe, experience and let the world around them rush onto the page. The forward-motion and physical exercise bring the writing experience alive, forging new and unexpected stories. Can be done in the school playground!

Topics covered

Writing outdoors for story inspiration
Present-moment awareness as a storytelling tool
Discovering character inspiration from the people and spaces around you

anika

Tristan-Workshop-1-Your-Life-and-Other-Stuff-You-Made-Up-web.jpg

How can you use all the odd, boring, funny stuff that happens to you and turn it into stories? Author Tristan Bancks uses bits from his own life to inspire his books from Tom Weekly to Ginger Meggs and Two Wolves to The Fall. Like the time his sister made him eat Vegemite off her big toe or the time he had his appendix removed just to get out of school detention. And the day he visited a crime scene during high school work experience. Learn how to mine your own life for cool, weird, funny stories that your friends will love.

Topics covered

Using memory for story inspiration
Mashing truth and fiction to create authentic, entertaining stories
Freewriting practice to discover untapped story ideas

anika

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