By Rosie Clynes
What would a writers and readers festival be without the opportunity to work on one’s own craft too? Between listening to your favorite festival authors, uncovering new ones, and getting caught up in the Festival’s exhilarating late night events, exhibitions, book launches and more, there is plenty on offer for writers on the hunt for ways to sharpen their skills. Whether you are a seasoned wordsmith or a newcomer in the world of writing, get ready to dig deep into workshops and discussions that will help you flourish in your own writing practice. Here are some of our highlights on honing the writer’s craft.
Learn how to turn your writing capabilities into capital for your next adventure with Travel for Trade, a workshop created by acclaimed travel writer Ian Neubauer. Make sure to head to Postcards from the Page too, where writers and editors full of wanderlust share travel notes and tips on writing about the great unknown.
Eager to take the next step into the online journalism sphere? Head to Writing Online, a workshop headed by prominent online journalist Brigid Delaney, who’ll reveal all the online tips and tricks you’ll need to break into the digital arena. For those looking for deep insights into investigative journalism, esteemed Indonesian journalist and human rights advocate Andreas Harsono will be running a workshop where you can prepare and craft your own journalistic piece incorporating his expert advice.
Josephine Wilson, winner of the 2017 Miles Franklin Award, has designed a workshop to take you to the heart of the novel writing process. Join her in Origins, Objects and Metaphors for an inquisitive look into the practice of writing long-form fiction. Or, if the transformative power of fables is what grabs you, Crafting Fables will be a compelling and comprehensive session on the fine art of fable writing.
Truth can sometimes be more extraordinary than fiction, but can often be a somewhat precarious challenge for those who choose to write it. For those mulling over a memoir or ensconced in the power of the personal essay, join us for True Stories for a discussion on memoir and biography with those who write them superbly.
If the UWRF’s Kitchen program hasn’t left you in a food coma, head on down to A Matter of Taste, a delectable discussion with an all-star panel on all things food writing.
For those who like things brief and beautiful, join the discussion in Short and Sweet. These writers from around the world are sure to grant a wealth of wisdom and knowledge if you’ve got a short story collection brewing.
Any playwrights who may find themselves in the lush surrounds of Ubud at the end of October should not miss this. From Page to Stage is a workshop led by Tanika Gupta and Lachlan Phillpott, two internationally-renowned playwrights who will share not only the practicalities of playwriting, but of getting your work in front of theatre companies, too. For those wishing to extend the experience, they will also be hosting The Playwrights’ Retreat, a five-day sanctuary in which to maximize productivity in the leafy solitude of Taksu Spa.
Heading to a writers festival as a bright-eyed new writer can be as exciting as it is influential. Get inspired by authors who hit the ground running with incredible tales of wildly successful first works in Dazzling Debuts.
Hear from a host of formidable critics who simultaneously maintain their own artistic practices in this insightful main program discussion, A Critical Eye. It may just be what you need to invigorate your own inner critic.
Head to the calming surrounds of Taksu Spa to finish off the Festival with a combination of posture and prose in this unique Yoga for Writers workshop. Who better to lead the way than Leza Lowitz, award-winning writer and owner of a popular Tokyo yoga studio. She will guide you through how one’s yoga practice can inform one’s writing practice, too.
Tickets to Workshops can be purchased by clicking the Buy Ticket link on the individual event pages. For Main Program tickets click the button below.
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