This hands-on nature writing workshop, taught by award-winning author, Dr Inga Simpson, explores a range of techniques for writing more ecologically. Not just conveying an environmental message, but breaking down the barriers between the human and more-than-human worlds and the limitations of an anthropocentric viewpoint. Through discussion of key examples and a range of practical exercises, we’ll explore ways of engaging readers’ emotions and discover the creative potential of research. We’ll also examine the notion of authenticity and the intersection of inner and outer landscapes to immerse the reader (and writer) in the natural world. Participants will be provided with a short reading beforehand for discussion on the day. Suitable for writers of fiction and non-fiction at all levels.

Date: Thursday 25 August
Time: 10am — 4pm
Where: Habitat, Meeting Room 1, 1 Porter Street, Byron Bay
Cost: $145 General / $110 Members & Students

About the Facilitator

Inga Simpson is the author of The Last Woman in the World (Hachette, Nov 2021), Mr Wigg, Nest, Where the Trees Were, Understory: my life with trees and, for children, The Book of Australian Trees, illustrated by Alicia Rogerson. Inga’s novels have been short and longlisted for numerous awards, including the Miles Franklin and Stella Prize, while Understory was shortlisted for the Adelaide Writers Week award for nonfiction. Inga was also the winner of the Eric Rolls nature writing prize for her essay “Triangulation.” ​

Inga has PhDs in creative writing and English literature, with her most recent thesis exploring the history of Australian nature writing. Her short stories and essays have been published in Wonderground, Chicago Quarterly Review, Review of Australian Fiction, Griffith Review, Clues, Writing Queensland, and The Dictionary of Literary Biography.

​Her first career was as a professional writer and researcher, including for federal Parliament and the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

Inga grew up in central west NSW, and has lived in Canberra, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast hinterland. She has now settled on the far south coast of NSW.

Her next novel, Willowman, will be published in early November 2022.

WORKSHOP SOLD OUT – contact [email protected] to join waitlist.

Every story starts with a moment of inspiration — and a great opening sentence.

W. Somerset Maugham — also a pretty nifty short story writer — once quipped that “there are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, nobody seems to know what they are.”

But what if there were rules for writing the kind of short story you love reading, and others might too? What if these rules were distilled from the writings and teachings of some of the world’s best writers? And what if they’d been tested to see if they could result in publishable work?

In this entertaining, engaging and enlightening workshop, writer, broadcaster and academic Sunil Badami will reveal his Golden Rules for Writing a Short Story, which he gleaned from some of the world’s best writers and tested by writing six short stories in six weeks — all of which were published in some of Australia’s most prestigious literary journals and anthologies.

You’ll not only learn these practical and applicable rules to write better short stories, but read some great examples of brilliant short story writing and get some insider tips on how to get your work published.

Date: Wednesday 24 August
Time: 10am — 4pm
Where: Habitat, Meeting Room 1, 1 Porter Street, Byron Bay
Cost: $145/110 Members & Students

About the Facilitator

Sunil Badami is a writer and broadcaster. He’s written for publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, Good Weekend, The Australian, The Monthly, The New Daily, Australian Gourmet Traveller, Art and Australia, Southerly, Island, Westerly and Meanjin. His work has been published in Australia and overseas, including in Best Australian Stories and Best Australian Essays. He presented the national ABC Local Radio show Sunday Takeaway as well as writing, producing and presenting a number of documentaries for Radio National, and continues to appear regularly on ABC radio and TV. He teaches at the University of Technology, Sydney and is currently editing his once-lost first novel for publication. Find out more at www.sunilbadami.com