National Young Writers' Festival 2013

The National Young Writers' Festival (NYWF) is celebrating its sweet 16th birthday in Newcastle this weekend. It features 100 artists and 75 free events.

The NYWF is the country’s largest gathering of young and innovative writers working in both new and traditional forms including zines, comics, blogging, screenwriting, poetry, spoken word, hip hop music, journalism, autobiography, comedy, songwriting and prose. The festival presents ‘writing’ in its broadest sense through panels, discussions, workshops, launches, performances, readings, installations, and more. The event gives young writers a place to present their work and share ideas, to learn about the industry in which they write and to meet with like-minded people in a friendly festival atmosphere. 

Because the NYWF is officially coming-of-age, it has themed a few things to suit. The annual Saturday night party is the Paranormal Formal – a débutante combining dry ice and ectoplasm. The comedy showcase First Time for Everything will no doubt share a few awkward first kisses, and it’s followed by a for-real Sleepover – pack your adult onesie! The event has swapped the regular Spelling Bee for the infinitely more extreme Stop! Grammar Time!, and put together a panel entirely comprised of underage overachievers. Each of the Late Night Readings is themed around a key part of the adolescent canon, soaps, with Closer Each Day, Home & Away; Hi, Heartbreak; and Everybody Needs Good Neighbours.

There’s plenty of serious stuff too with a series themed around the powers of memory; an existential trilogy questioning why we write, go to festivals, or seek awards; a debate squaring off journalistic facts and personal opinions; an evening of readings on illness; a presentation of quality journal design; and a suite of workshops helping you write, pitch, create and feel better.

What will be of particular interest to comikers is the annual NYWF / TiNA (ie. This is Not Art) Zine Fair which has a new home in the NYWF HQ – the Blue Writer Disco at the Kensington. Come along for specialty coffee, cracking tunes played on vinyl, and zines, zines and more zines. The Zine Fair will be held Sunday 6 October from 11am to 3.30pm.

Here is the info you need for the entire event:

Dates: Friday 3 to Sunday 6 October 2013
Times: Various – check the event schedule
Venue: Various locations around Newcastle
Cost: Free

CLICK HERE to download the program.

CLICK HERE to check out the website for more information.

Storyology

The Walkley Foundation, which is an initiative of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) in Australia, is running a four day conference called Storyology in August. 

Storyology is a summit of media and creativity for journalists, screenwriters, authors. satirists, entrepreneurs, multimedia specialists, documentary makers, photographers, producers and bloggers. It's about sharing the secrets of making stories sing and inspiring and creating the unexpected. Storyology is for those who write the words to create compelling narrative; whose imagery and sound conveys a world beyond language; whose technological brilliance allows well-told stories to cross the globe and traverse borders. This year's theme "Ideas write now!" is all about rethinking the story paradigm and exploring the rapidly expanding platforms on which great stories are being told. 

And why are we telling you this? Well... amongst the outstanding lineup of speakers is BMP friend and comics compatriot W Chew "Chewie" Chan who will be doing a session on graphic novels on Day 2 of the program. This means that the comics medium is getting traction in the greater Australian media and cultural scene. Great stuff!




The entire program looks AMAZING! Day 1 focuses on the "Asian Century". Days 2 and 3 is the main program, and Day 4 gives a "Freelance Focus". There are also masterclasses and social events.

Dates: Tuesday 6 to Friday 9 August 2013
Times: Various from day to day with multiple sessions on some days. 
Venue: NSW Teachers' Federation Conference Centre, 37 Reservoir St, Surry Hills NSW 2010.
Cost: There are separate rates for Alliance and non-Alliance members, and there are half day, full day and full program plus workshop rates so please refer to the Ticket information page on the website.
For more information: http://www.storyology.org.au/

Semi-Permanent Announces World Class Lineup for Sydney

Top creatives will arrive in Sydney in May to speak at one of the world’s largest art and design events, Semi-Permanent. As the festival turns ten, organisers Andrew Johnstone and Murray Bell extended an invite to 15 of the world’s most respected creatives to take part in celebrations. Topping the bill this year are a handful of professionals that will come to discuss their work, their lives and their philosophies on creating innovating and inspirational art and design. The 2012 lineup features world class photographers, publications, artists and designers. Go to www.semipermanent.com for more information about ticket info and speakers.