The KSP Writers Centre aims to provide a schedule of linked activities for all writers. The Dept of Culture and the Arts provides essential funds for Writers/Editors-in-Residence and Specialist Tutors for the Young Writers Group, and to assist with running the KSP Science Fiction and Short Fiction Competitions. We also thank the Mundaring Community Bank (Bendigo Bank) for funding the Karen W Treanor Poetry Awards. The KSP Foundation is indebted to Mundaring Shire for continuing support and thanks all volunteers for their help. The KSP Writer-in-Residence program attracts Emerging and Established writers and editors from WA and interstate. Writers reside in the house, attend some regular KSP group sessions and are available for consultation by appointment.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
For bookings, workshop details and enquiries, please email
kspf@iinet.net.au
or phone the Coordinator on 08 9294 1872. Bookings are essential for all events. All events are
open to KSPF members and the public unless otherwise specified. Cancellation Policy
Regular Writing Groups for beginners to advanced writers Members $5, Non-members $8 per session
The Non-Fiction Group has Freelance Journalism as a focus this year. Guest speakers will present topics such as Travel Writing, Research for nonfiction books, Arts and Fashion (Scott-Patrick Mitchell), Literary Magazines (Sydney J Finch, Editor of dotdotdash). Dr Douglas Sutherland-Bruce, will be our main speaker touching on:
Jo-Ann Whalley is a Western Australian writer whose work has appeared in Australian and international journals and anthologies. Her work has been adapted and broadcast on ABC Radio National and she has just completed her second novel The Anatomy of Mermaids as part of her PhD studies at Murdoch University. Jo-Ann’s first play Break debuted in 2002 and her second play, Ghost Net, with an impossibly large cast including a full Greek chorus, debuted in 2004. Jo-Ann lives near Fremantle with her partner and children and a superfluity of pets
Geoff Page is an acclaimed Australian poet who has published 18 collections of poetry, 4 verse novels and a biography. He has won many prestigious awards and his work translated into several other languages. Geoff will read selections of his poetry and talk about his literary life. Afternoon tea provided.
Cost $5.00 members $8.00 non-members. Booking essential by Feb 11.
Got the book or the book idea sorted, but wondering how to pitch it to a publisher, agent or funding body? This workshop focuses on synopsis writing. In this workshop we will examine your topic, research, style, with a specific audience/readership in mind. Most of all we will be working to demonstrate your working hypothesis. What are your persuasions about the world, and what are you going to reveal in your film, or your book, via your central character’s situation? What is your main statement, or theme? Most of all a synopsis is a selling document, a hook, and selling the sizzle not the sausage is precisely the skill which is required. Bring your beginnings ready to hone and shine. That is what it’s all about.
Our first workshop in 2011 will be conducted by Perth Screenwriter, Dr Sarah Rossetti, who has film and TV credits in a wide variety of genres. She has won four AWGIES (Australian Writers’ Guild national awards) a Lotteries Commission Award for Film Excellence, and a WA Premier’s Award. Sarah enjoys working as a Script Editor; occasionally tutoring scriptwriting at three WA Universities and has just completed her PHD in Media Studies at Murdoch University.
Costs: $25 for KSP-members and $40 for non-members. Booking and payment in advance essential.
2011 Perth Writers Festival invited guest writer, Suzanne Falkiner, will be discussing her new book The Imago. The biography is a revealing portrait of E L Grant Watson, who travelled to Western Australia in 1910 to record Indigenous marriage customs and was profoundly affected by the experience. Back home in Europe, Grant Watson began writing fiction and his respect for the Aboriginal communities and his observations of the Australian landscape would recur as a metaphor for spiritual isolation in his work. Suzanne Falkiner grew up in central NSW and has travelled extensively. She now divides her time between writing, reviewing books and freelance editing.
Members $5 Non-Members $8 For bookings call 9294 1872 or kspf@iinet.net.au
The Festival is a community celebration as well as recognition and celebration of 25 years as a writing centre and hub of community literary activity. The Festival will encompass readings and performances through poetry, prose, music, song and promote the humanitarianism that was the basis of Katharine Susannah Prichard’s work.Program Brochure
Friday 11th March 7.00pm The Festival begins at 93 Darlington Road, Darlington with an ‘Open Mic’ evening hosted by the talented Janet Jackson, Darlington’s resident poet. Open Mic Details
Saturday, 12th March 1.00pm at the KSP Writers Centre. If you want to enter the Mad Monologues Competition on Sunday, don't worry if you’ve never written a monologue before. Playwright and workshop facilitator Jo-Ann Whalley will show you the ropes of monologue writing. Workshop Details
On Saturday evening, 12th March 7.00pm, in the Darlington Hall, aspects of Katharine Susannah Prichard’s (KSP’s) life and works will be performed in a special reading by Perth professional actors, and local musician Tim Clegg at Darlington Hall. The tribute Winged Seeds, named after the third in KSP’s Goldfields trilogy, will open with a percussive rendition of the Fiji hurricane that welcomed Katharine into the world on the morning of December 4th, 1883.
Also for Saturday evening, songwriter, guitarist and singer, Bernard Carney, is writing a musical tribute based on Katharine’s poems, which will be performed by the inaugural KSP Choir, under his direction. Proceedings will be opened by Katharine’s grand-daughter, Karen Throssell, who is flying to Perth especially for the Festival as guest-of-honour. Karen herself marks four generations of Prichard-Throssell family writers. Her great-grandfather Tom Prichard was a journalist and editor, and her father Ric Throssell an accomplished playwright as well as the biographer of his mother’s life and literary works in Wild Weeds and Wind Flowers.
Sunday morning, 13th March 11.00am at the KSP Writers Centre, Author Talk with Afeif Ismail. Come along and meet poet, playwrite, artist, author and human rights activist, Afeif Ismail, as he speaks passionately about his life and work.
Sunday afternoon 13th March 1.30pm at the KSP Writers Centre, recite your monologue on the theme of ‘mad’ in the ‘Mad Monologues’ competition Mad Monologues Details & Entry Form, to be hosted by accomplished writer and MC Jon Doust. Please note: If you wish to compete you must complete and return an entry form before Friday 4th March.
All Festival events are individually ticketed with packages available. Download this order form to order your tickets. To find out more or request a Festival Brochure, please contact the Festival Co-ordinator, Carol Astbury, on 9299 7770 or email kspf@iinet.net.au.
The KSP Writers Centre gratefully acknowledges the support of the WA Premiers Fund, Perth Convention Bureau, The Rural Building Company and Earnshaws Real Estate whose sponsorship has made this 25th Anniversary Festival possible.
New to performance writing? Not sure where to begin or lacking confidence in how to write the spoken word? Monologues are a great way of exploring your own distinctive theatrical voice as well as being a discrete art form. This two-part workshop for adult writers will take participants through the creative process of writing a 10 minute monologue that can be used as a catalyst for a longer work or as a finished product in its self. The first half of the workshop will look at several dramatic and comedic monologues and analyse their structure, rhythms and dramatic voice. Participants will then undertake a series of fun and energetic hands on creative exercises utilising a mixture of sensory triggers to help them find a moment of dramatic interest as a starting point. The second half of the workshop will utilise a 10 step writing exercise process to help participants complete their monologue to first draft stage. Participants will be encouraged to consider entering their work into the 2011 Annual Maj Monologue competition as well as being provided with information regarding other performance competitions and opportunities.
Jo-Ann Whalley is a Western Australian writer whose work has appeared in Australian and international journals and anthologies. Her work has been adapted and broadcast on ABC Radio National and she has just completed her second novel The Anatomy of Mermaids as part of her PhD studies at Murdoch University. Jo-Ann’s first play Break debuted in 2002 and her second play, Ghost Net, with an impossibly large cast including a full Greek chorus, debuted in 2004. Jo-Ann lives near Fremantle with her partner and children and a superfluity of pets.
Join us at KSP to listen to Emerging Writer in Residence,Jo-Ann Whalley, read her work. Meet other authors and enjoy a three-course candle-lit dinner. Bring your own favourite drinks.
Costs: $25 for KSP-members and $30 for non-members. Booking and payment in advance essential.
Natalina Cherubino's workshop is about going back to the kitchen and to revive the old traditions of cooking. A focus will be made on making fresh pasta with easy to follow steps so that anyone can learn. The pasta making will be complimented with fresh, seasonal ingredients. All participants will observe, assist, cook, eat and enjoy the pasta dish prepared!.
Natalina Cherubino was born in the South of Italy in a little village called La Rocca and migrated to Western Australia in the early fifties. In 2005 she published her book La Rocca which focused on family traditions, food stories and recipes. Natalina says:”Over the years my love and passion for growing and cooking fresh food has heightened and I want to share this wonderful and healthy lifestyle with my family, grandchildren, interested people, particularly children, as they are the hope for the future generation for a healthier lifestyle.”
Costs: $35 for KSP Members and $50 for non members (which includes the food). Booking and Payment in advance is essential. Places are strictly limited.
This workshop describes how to compose an MS Word document so that it is print-ready as a .pdf for different types of self-published books or booklets. This workshop is for users of MS Word 2003 or earlier. Please bring your own lap-top and a .doc file you would like to work with. People without lap-tops may attend, as detailed how-to notes will be provided, but some of the benefit to them will obviously depend on them putting into practise what they have learnt later at home. The workshop will cover text editing techniques, styles, making a .pdf and settings, the format of a typical book and printers’ requirements. Attendees should be reasonably computer literate.
Costs: $25 for KSP Members and $40 for non members. Booking and Payment in advance is essential.
How do we give (and receive) first class feedback? Have you asked for feedback from a fellow writer and found the comments disappointing or unhelpful? Have you struggled with how to give honest and constructive feedback to other writers? This workshop will provide you with a structured way to critique a piece of prose and then provide relevant, indispensable feedback to the writer. The same process can be used when you want to rewrite your own first drafts.
We will cover active listening/reading, working from strengths, delving deeper, twenty trigger questions, delivering on a promise, responding to feedback and more. This workshop will be interactive and participants will practice the strategies presented by reading and critiquing short examples of prose during the session.
Rachel Robertson is a writer, editor and part time lecturer in writing at Curtin University. She also assesses manuscripts for writers and for an established manuscript assessment agency. Her short fiction, creative non-fiction and reviews have been published in a range of journals and anthologies, including Best Australian Essays 2008, Griffith Review, Island and Indigo. In 2008, Rachel was joint winner of the Calibre Australian Book Review Prize for Outstanding Essay for a memoir about her family. Rachel is currently working on a set of autobiographical essays (which was short listed for the Penguin/Varuna Scholarship) and her doctorate in creative writing.
Costs: $25 for KSP-members and $40 for non-members. Booking and payment in advance essential.
Come join KSP and the Shire of Mundaring and Mundaring Tourism Association partnered with local community groups and organisations to enjoy a great family fun filled and active day in Mundaring. Find the treasure, follow the hints and write your wish on the KSP 'Wish List' (Find your written wish in Activities - Young Writers)
This workshop describes how to compose an MS Word document so that it is print-ready as a .pdf for different types of self-published books or booklets. This workshop is for users of MS Word 2007 or later. Please bring your own lap-top and a .doc or .docx file you would like to work with. People without lap-tops may attend, as detailed how-to notes will be provided, but some of the benefit to them will obviously depend on them putting into practise what they have learnt later at home. Two lap-tops with MS Word 2007 are available for hire from KSP. The workshop will cover text editing techniques, styles, making a .pdf and settings, the format of a typical book and printers’ requirements. Attendees shold be reasonably computer literate
Costs: $25 for KSP Members and $40 for non members. Booking and Payment in advance is essential.
Everybody is welcome to come along and join KSP when we open our doors and celebrate the many wonderful things that happen at Katharine’s Place.
This is a free community event so put it in your diary and join us for a great, literary day.
This workshop describes how to compose an MS Word document so that your book/story/poem(s) can be published for free via Smashwords.com for readers all over the world to buy and to read on their PCs, I-phones, i-pads, Kindles and other palm pads. Please bring your own lap-top and a .doc file you would like to work with. People without lap-tops may attend, as detailed how-to notes will be provided, but some of the benefit to them will obviously depend on them putting into practise what they have learnt later at home. The workshop will cover styles, copyright notices, opening a paypal account, openinga Smashwords account and how your book will look on some of the i-readers. Attendees should be reasonably computer literate.
Costs: $25 for KSP Members and $40 for non members. Booking and Payment in advance is essential.
JOIN US for three days of writing fun at KSP’s School Holiday Write-a-Rama.
Meet other writers your own age, and develop your writing skills in a creative, safe and friendly setting. No special writing skills or experience are necessary, though people obsessed with writing will definitely be catered for!
Change the world one word at a time! Write to persuade with author, editor and educator Adrian Glamorgan (see Nova magazine for a taste of his persuasive writing).
WHERE? Katharine Susannah Prichard (KSP) Writers Centre, 11 Old York Road, Greenmount (Thursday and Monday) and the City of Perth (Friday)
WHEN? April 28 and 29 and May 2, from 9:30 AM to 4 PM
HOW MUCH? only $120 ($40 per day) for KSP members and $150 ($50 per day) for non-members
HOW DO I SIGN UP? You can download an ENROLMENT FORM from the website.
Facilitator:
Melissa O’Shea is the facilitator of the past eight KSP school holiday Write-a-Ramas. Besides devising ingenious ways to make children write in a variety of locations, she does a bit of writing of her own. Melissa has a PhD in Writing from Edith Cowan University, and is working on a young adult novel. Check out her recent short fiction in Indigo Volume 4, Dot Dot Dash Issue 2, the KSP 25th Anniversary Anthology 2010 and online in Australian Reader and Parenting Express.
Visiting Authors:
Jo-Ann Whalley is a Western Australian writer whose work has appeared in Australian and international journals and anthologies. Her work has been adapted and broadcast on ABC Radio National and she has just completed her second novel The Anatomy of Mermaids as part of her PhD studies at Murdoch University. Jo-Ann’s first play Break debuted in 2002 and her second play, Ghost Net, with an impossibly large cast including a full Greek chorus, debuted in 2004. Jo-Ann lives near Fremantle with her partner and children and a superfluity of pets.
Adrian Glamorgan's sense of fun and play is paramount, especially with children. He has been a Steiner teacher (primary, secondary and occasionally even kindy!), and beyond, bringing his love of words and learning to kids at risk, learning centres, men's groups, poetry and journalling groups, and at various times teaching creative writing and sustainability at university. Although Adrian has experience in the wider world of reconciliation, refugees, industrial relations, the campaign to abolish nuclear weapons and many issues to do with the environment, his articles with Nova magazine focus on hope and self-understanding, bringing a sense that we can do something. In 2002 Adrian was finalist for a United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Prize. He is a regular presenter on RTR FM 92.1's Understorey environment program. Sustainability education begins with the young, he believes - they have much to teach us.
The class is designed for writers who have a substantial body of work in MS form. It will provide participants with the opportunity to:
On the first day, the class will attend to story telling and examine in detail the four essential strands around which narrative fiction is woven - Plot – Characterisation – Dialogue – Exposition. There will be about 20 handout notes relating to these four elements and the class will be encouraged to discuss how the principles governing each element have (or have not) been applied to their own work.
Participants will be encouraged to do some homework in the week between the two classes by applying the principles they have learned through rewriting and editing of their own work in order that they can return the following week to share with the class what improvements and changes they have made.
In addition, they will be asked to copy and bring to class, a single, double-spaced A4 page from the most moving paragraph in their favourite book by their favourite author.
The point of this exercise will be revealed on the second Saturday of the Advanced Class, when class participants will examine in detail how their favourite authors write, as the class deconstructs the copied paragraphs and examines the Phraseology – Syntax – Narrative Mode (including dialogue, action, description, exposition & thoughts) and Analogy used by the authors.
John Harman has written for a living all his working life, first in advertising, then for many years as a journalist in the UK and on Fleet Street, as well as in New York and California. Later he owned a small film company where he wrote hundreds of training and documentary film scripts before going on to write for some of the most popular UK television series, including early episodes of The Bill. He is the author of a number of crime thrillers and of more than twenty non-fiction booksJohn also works as a lecturer and teacher of creative writing. He has taught at the University of Cambridge Board of Continuing Education in the UK and at the University of California Summer Schools in the United States. Here, in WA, he teaches for, among others, UWA Extension; The Fellowship of Australian Writers, The WA State Literature Centre, and the Institute of Public Administration.
He is an adjunct senior lecturer in the School of Communication & Contemporary Arts at Edith Cowan University.
John’s latest book, ARTHUR’S WAR, published by Penguin, Australia, came out last September.
Costs: $170 for KSP Members and $190 for non members. Booking and Payment in advance is essential.
The class is designed for writers who have a substantial body of work in MS form. It will provide participants with the opportunity to:
Costs: $170 for KSP Members and $190 for non members. Booking and Payment in advance is essential.
If you are aged 12-25, interested in writing, and living in Perth - your'e invited!
National Young Writers' Month is being held at KSP in collaboration with the WA Amabassador for NYWM, Kaitlyn Plyley who will be facilitating the workshop. The Young Writers' Workshop is designed to help you kick off your writing projects.
Write a little, or write a lot - either way, come along.......it's free.
Natalina Cherubino's workshop is about going back to the kitchen and to revive the old traditions of cooking. A focus will be made on making fresh ravioli with easy to follow steps so that anyone can learn. The pasta making will be complimented with fresh, seasonal ingredients. All participants will observe, assist, cook, eat and enjoy the pasta dish prepared!.
Natalina Cherubino was born in the South of Italy in a little village called La Rocca and migrated to Western Australia in the early fifties. In 2005 she published her book La Rocca which focused on family traditions, food stories and recipes. Natalina says:”Over the years my love and passion for growing and cooking fresh food has heightened and I want to share this wonderful and healthy lifestyle with my family, grandchildren, interested people, particularly children, as they are the hope for the future generation for a healthier lifestyle.”
Costs: $35 for KSP Members and $50 for non members (which includes the food). Booking and Payment in advance is essential. Places are strictly limited.
Are you writing a novel or autobiography, or maybe contributing to an anthology?
Careful editing and proofing is important to all written work.
Benefit from Peter's years of experience with this workshop.
Peter is a media professional with 32 years of experience in journalism, business management, newspaper and magazine editing, publishing and computer networking systems. Peter Ramshaw bio
This course is designed to undress the mystique that surrounds the 'backroom' craft of book and newspaper/magazine editing. Yes its demanding, exacting, solitary and absolutely vital work...but that doesn't mean it can't be a hell of a lot of fun too!. We take a lighthearted but in-depth look at what editing actually is.
Read more: Peter Ramshaw Editing Workshop
Costs: $25 for KSP Members and $40 for non members. Booking and Payment in advance is essential.
Nick Hendrie is a career writer who lives in Perth, Western Australia. Nick was born and raised in Hobart, Tasmania, and has lived a colourful life for all his thirty years.
From destitution to professional writer, Hendrie has one of the most short-lived military careers in Australian history - four months - has worked in some of Australia's best restaurants as a professional chef and also studied at the University of Tasmania for his Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Hendrie finally took his passion and skill for the written work to the next level and published 'Exit the Madhouse', his debut novel. Exit The Madhouse Synopsis
Members $5 Non-Members $8 For bookings call 9294 1872 or kspf@iinet.net.au
If you are aged 10 - 16 and like the idea of whispering truth into fiction then this workshop will give you the opportunity to let your imagination run wild. Come along and join Lynn Gumb from 'The Storyteller'. Lynn Gumb Bio
The workshop is designed to assist young people draw on their personal experience and knowledge to create short stories suitable for writing competitions, or to share with family and friends.Flyer
Costs: $20 for KSP-members and $25 for non-members. Booking and payment in advance essential.
Join us at KSP to listen to Established Writer in Residence, Peter McAllister, read his work. Meet other authors and enjoy a three-course candle-lit dinner. Bring your own favourite drinks.
Costs: $25 for KSP-members and $30 for non-members. Booking and payment in advance essential.
Join science writer and novelist Peter McAllister as he gives this practical yet inspiring workshop on the ten dos and don'ts of approaching agents, publishers and editors to sell your writing.
Drawing on Peter's many years of experience as a published author, scriptwriter and freelance journalist, this workshop will cover: how to write an enticing cover letter, who to send it to, and what the standard formats for pitch documents and chapter samples are. It will also give pointers on market research and niche and genre publishing.
The target audience for Peter's workshop is all those writers, of all ages and types of fiction, who wish to make a serious effort at major publication, but may not know how best to go about it.
Join Peter for this enlightening workshop and get pitching! Perfect Pitch Workshop
Costs: $25 for KSP Members and $40 for non members. Booking and Payment in advance is essential.
Opportunity exist for three writers under the age of 25 to experience a week of quiet and wonderful ambience in which to write, staying in the Centre's beautifully appointed cottage retreats in the Centre's garden. The three Young Writers will be paid (See the WIR application details) and will each be giving a reading of their work. They will be encouraged to join in with as many of the writing groups that they wish, reading their work and critiquing others. A dinner will be held in their honour during their stay, but otherwise they are responsible for their own food. A mentor will be allocated to each Young Writer.
All three residences will be for the week 25th November to 2nd December 2011
Come along to the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre for a fascinating afternoon. Attend the Award Presentations, listen to the readings from the winning entries and hear the judge's report on the outstanding quality of this year's entries. Afternoon tea.
Costs: Open to the public. Gold coin donation for afternoon tea.
Designed for ages 10-16, from beginner writers to advanced. It aims to provide practical knowledge and skills in writing short stories and the fundamentals of poetry via games and other fun approaches. Children will build on existing skills, learn new techniques, edit their work, develop ideas and delve into their imagination.
Costs: $20 for KSP Members and $25 for non members. Booking and Payment in advance is essential.
Join Emerging Writer in Residence, Zachary Cotler and members from the Poets @ KSP at this light afternoon meeting to share and compare.
Costs: $5 for KSP-members and $8 for non-members.
Join us at KSP to listen to Emerging Writer in Residence, Zachary Cotler, read his work. Meet other authors and enjoy a three-course candle-lit dinner. Bring your own favourite drinks.
Costs: $25 for KSP-members and $30 for non-members. Booking and payment in advance essential.
How ordered or chaotic is your style? Would it benefit from some self-containment, some added symmetry? Or might it be too mannered, not quite brave and strange enough to get at the ineffable?
The bravest art is that which cleaves to the harrowing balance between formal organisation and wild word-drunkenness.
In this workshop, participants will examine poems and prose excerpts they bring in (along with a few samples from well-known writers) with an eye toward balance of order and chaos.
T.Zachary Cotler bioCosts: $25 for KSP-members and $40 for non-members. Booking and payment in advance essential.
Poetry and prose are alive and well – and OUT LOUD! Poet, performer and slam poet, Vivienne Glance, will cover the basics of reading or performing work to an audience for both poets and prose writers. Vivienne's popular 3-hour workshop will give you strategies on how to overcome nerves, engage with an audience, prepare for a reading, plus an understanding of voice, presentation styles and microphone technique. Learn how to bring your work to a wider audience.
Vivienne Glance is a professional actor for stage, radio, film and TV with over twenty years experience. She has applied her performance skills to poetry performance and regularly reads at events in Perth. She was a finalist in the National Poetry Slam in 2007, and has since performed her poetry at writers' festivals around Australia. Vivienne has run her popular 'Can you hear me up the back?' performance workshop for writers since 2005.
Costs: $25 for KSP-members and $40 for non-members.
Theme this year is ‘Winning’
To celebrate National Poetry Week and the WA Spring Poetry Festival, the KSP Writers’ Centre is inviting contributions of poetry for its annual Poetry Wall. Please enclose a SSAE if you wish to have your work returned. Maximum three A4 pages of poetry per person, which can be posted or delivered to: Poetry Wall, Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers’ Centre, 11 Old York Road, Greenmount WA 6056. Submissions to reach KSP before Friday 19 August
The wall may be viewed during weekday office hours from Tue 23rd Aug to Fri 9th September, Mon/Wed/Fri 9 - 1 or Tue/Thu 9 – 4
This heARTlines Festival and KSP Children’s Literature Workshop for adults will show you how to bring your love of storytelling to the craft of writing narrative non-fiction—non-fiction that goes beyond stating facts to using facts to tell a compelling story. Working with award-winning author of narrative non-fiction, Mark Greenwood you’ll learn to tell non-fiction stories that publishers — and young readers—will love!
This workshop will cover:
Costs: $25 for KSP-members and $40 for non-members. Booking is essential
Meg McKinlay is a Fremantle children's writer and poet. After several years of rejection and near misses, her first novel, Annabel, Again, was published in 2007. Since then she has gone on to publish seven books for young people, ranging from picture books through to junior fiction. Her work has been shortlisted for a number of prizes, including the WA Premier's Book Awards and the Children's Book Council Book of the Year Awards. A self-described 'lapsed academic', Meg remains an Honorary Research Associate at the University of Western Australia, where she has taught Australian Literature, Japanese, and Creative Writing. She is always busy cooking up more books and you can visit her on the web at www.megmckinlay.com.
"Child's Play?" For five years, Meg McKinlay was told she was an 'emerging' children's writer. Her steadily growing collection of rejection letters led her to wonder what that actually meant and how long this stage could possibly last. With seven children's books published since 2007, she's now told she's passed through 'developing' and is on her way to 'established'. Join Meg as she shares her path through these nebulous categories. She'll talk about how she got started, why and how she writes, and why she's almost given up many times but then given up on giving up. She'll share what she's learned along the way, what she wishes she'd known during those long 'emerging' years, and reflect on some of the issues she's still struggling to grasp. There will be plenty of time for discussion, so bring along any questions you have about writing for children or the nuts and bolts of this area of publishing.
Costs: $5 for KSP-members and $8 for non-members.
Sally Murphy is a children’s author of over 30 books. As well as writing for children, her passion is spreading the word about great books. Sally runs a review website called Aussiereviews (http://www.aussiereviews.com) where she reviews as many Australian books as she can find time to read. She also reviews children's books for Reading Time, the magazine of the Children's Book Council of Australia.
For the 2011 heARTlines Children’s Literature and Book Illustration Festival (2 September – 9 October), Sally will also be talking about her latest books written in prose, Toppling and Pearl Verses the World. For further information visit www.mundaringartscentre.com.
Costs: $5 for KSP-members and $8 for non-members.
What is the ‘voice’ of a story? Is it that of a character? Or is it more general? Is it that the writer? Or is it something more nebulous and difficult to define? If the story in your head doesn’t match the words on the page; if the writing stalls after a page or two and you don’t know why, it could be the wrong voice trying to tell the story. Glenda Guest will work through some of the areas that affect the voice in a piece of writing. Workshop participants are invited to bring a short piece (around 500 words) of work in progress to experiment with, if they wish.
Costs: $25 for KSP-members and $40 for non-members. Booking and payment in advance essential.
Join us at KSP to listen to Emerging Writer in Residence, Glenda Guest, read her work. Meet other authors and enjoy a three-course candle-lit dinner. Bring your own favourite drinks.
Costs: $25 for KSP-members and $30 for non-members. Booking and payment in advance essential.
JOIN US for three days of writing fun at KSP’s School Holiday Write-a-Rama.
Meet other writers your own age, and develop your writing skills in a creative, safe and friendly setting. No special writing skills or experience are necessary, though people obsessed with writing will definitely be catered for!
WHERE? Katharine Susannah Prichard (KSP) Writers Centre, 11 Old York Road, Greenmount (Monday and Thursday) and the City of Perth (Tuesday)
WHEN? October 10 and 11 and 13, from 9:30 AM to 4 PM
HOW MUCH? only $120 ($40 per day) for KSP members and $150 ($50 per day) for non-members
HOW DO I SIGN UP? You can download details and an ENROLMENT FORM shortly from the website.
Facilitator:
Melissa O’Shea is the facilitator of the past nine KSP school holiday Write-a-Ramas. Besides devising ingenious ways to make children write in a variety of locations, she does a bit of writing of her own. Melissa has a PhD in Writing from Edith Cowan University, and is working on a young adult novel. Check out her recent short fiction in Indigo Volume 4, Dot Dot Dash Issue 2, the KSP 25th Anniversary Anthology 2010 and online in Australian Reader and Parenting Express.
Do you want to gain a realistic insight into the publishing jungle, get to the bottom of the demands of the industry, pick up a few tips and tricks about contribution and marketing? Whether you are looking for a publisher for your novel, poetry, short stories, non-fiction articles or to self-publish then don’t miss the opportunity to participate in a hot discussion lead by publishers with years of experience in the industry and get a chance to finally ask all the questions you’ve always wanted to ask. Get the inside information here.
Costs: $25 for KSP-members and $40 for non-members. Booking and payment in advance essential.
You are warmly invited to the launch of the Writefree Women’s Group’s 15th anthology officially launched by Amanda Curtin. Join them at Katharine’s Place for an afternoon of stories and poems. Afternoon tea provided. Ever wanted to have your stories published? Come along, join us and find out how. Cost: FREE!
Annamaria Weldon has a recent poetry collection, The Roof Milkers published by Sunline Press 2008. Come along and meet Annamaria and listen to her perform readings of her poetry. Copies of her work from "Indigo" will be available for purchase. Then stay for afternoon tea and the official launch of the Poets@KSP 2011 chapbook Shimmer. Sales and book signings by the poets.
Cost: $5 for KSP-members and $8 for non-members.
Participants, teachers, parents, sponsors and the public are invited to the announcement and presentation of the 'Best Book' awards at the historic Midland Town Hall in conjunction with The Princess Margaret Hospital for Children Foundation. Light refreshments. Free.
The Darlington Art Festival is held on the Darlington Oval on the first week-end in November. KSP will have a stand in one of the pavillions on both days, selling books by their members, encouraging the public to write the world's longest poem, and answering questions about the Centre, its writers retreats, workshops, dinners and writing groups.
Join WA writers Joanna Fay, Naomi Mondello and Carol Ryles as they launch the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild's latest anthology of speculative fiction stories, 'Winds of Change'. WA writer Guy Salvidge will also be launching his second novel, 'Yellowcake Springs', which won the IP Picks Award 2011 for Best Fiction. Books will be available for purchase and authors will be present to do book signings. Cost Free.
Anna Jacobs will have had 55 novels published as of October 2011. She
writes for three UK publishers and her novels are sold all over the English-speaking world in print, e-book and audio. She is currently the 11th most borrowed author of adult fiction in the UK. This class is for writers with a complete manuscript and will focus on the final skills needed to get published: polishing the story line, editing, honing and extending writing skills, understanding market needs, background information about the publishing industry (including e-books), targeting markets, financial aspects, etc. Anna will pre-analyse your manuscript samples sent at least one week in advance and work on the results during the Master Class.
Cost: KSP Members $50, Non-Members $80
KSP is pleased to announce the three Young Writers-in-Residence 2011: Jannali Jones, Indigenous writer from NSW; Harriet Riley, fiction writer, journalist and documentary film maker from WA/USA; Jake Dennis, poet from WA. During their residency they will be staying and writing in KSP's writers' retreats, reading their work at a literary sundowner, attending writing groups and giving workshops. These residencies are sponsored by the Department of the Culture and the Arts.
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| Jannali Jones | Harriet Riley | Jake Dennis |
Jake Dennis, WA poet, journalist, and jazz singer/promoter for RNB/Soul/Funk/Pop band Neon
Workshop aimed at generating new poetry and encouraging high quality poetry performance and writing. This workshop will be delivered in three parts:
Cost: $25 KSP members and $40 non-members
WA writer and documentary film maker Harriet Riley will give this workshop focussing on how to organise creativity in order to produce a work for the theatre. Part of the workshop will involve 'Artistic Teamwork' role-playing exercises to demonstrate how to develop team-work skills to enhance your creative role in any production. The second part will focus on the 'Business of Being a Writer' whether you intend to begin a production company or publish a Zine to plan an effective business model.
Cost: $25 KSP members and $40 non-members
For anyone who is interested in writing about Indigenous people or themes or those interested in Indigenous literature. The workshop will cover:
Cost: $25 KSP members and $40 non-members
Join us at KSP for an evening of readings from our three Young Writers-in-Residence: Jannali Jones, Harriet Riley and Jake Dennis. Mingle and talk with the writers on the veranda at Katharine's Place as the sun sets. Finger food, wine and soft drinks included.
Cost: $10 KSP members and $15 non-members
Join us at Katharine’s Place for our special celebration. You are warmly invited to take part in the Awards Ceremonies of two annual competitions, namely the Karen W Treanor Poetry Award and the KSP’s Short Fiction Award. Many of these winners will share with us extracts of their winning stories. The celebrations will also honour our numerous volunteers, present a tribute to Katharine and give tours of the heritage listed house and garden. A delicious lunch and afternoon tea will be available for a gold coin donation. Everybody is welcome to join us for this special occasion!
This year’s special guest presenter is Impian Films producer, Stephen Van Mil, who will talk about Robert Drewe’s The Drowner, its adaptation to film, and the making of the film right here in the hills.
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| Stephen Van Mil | Robert Drewe's The Drowner |
The Thursday Night Group will launch its 12th anthology with readings, theatre and a large array of food. Authors will be present to sell and sign copies. Cost: $5 members, $8 non members.
The Writers-in-Residence and some of the programs for Young Writers are funded by The Department of Culture and the Arts. The Young Writers' categories in the KSP Speculative Fiction Award and the KSP Short Fiction Award are funded by the Shire of Mundaring and Karen F Treanor Poetry Award is funded by the Mundaring Community Bank.
These events are also advertised in the Hills Gazette, Midland Reporter, and The Echo. Bookings are essential. Please email kspfevents@iinet.net.au, or phone the events coordinator on (08) 9294 1872.