Workshop – Dinuka McKenzie: Upping the Ante: writing page-turning fiction
Time: 10:15 am to 12:00 pm
Place: Dixson Room, State Library of NSW
Cost: Members $40, non-members $55
Why are certain books almost impossible to put down once begun? How do writers create compelling forward momentum in a narrative? Think conflict, suspense, raising the stakes, and characters you care about.
Join crime fiction writer Dinuka McKenzie (author of The Torrent and Taken) in this two-hour workshop to explore techniques for ratcheting up the tension in your writing to hook a reader into a story, and keep them turning the pages late into the night.
Photo credit: Emma Stergio
Special Time for Chatting with your Friends
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Place: Dixson Room, State Library of NSW
Cost: Free!
Take an opportunity to sit and talk with your friends or even meet someone new in the Dixson Room – totally casual, in Sydney’s inspiring literary hub.
Make use of the workshop table and chairs, bring a book to share with others or just chat about your recent readings.
Please note: Food and drinks (other than water) cannot be consumed in the State Library but you can grab some lunch and coffee/tea at one of the local cafes.
Literary Event
Time: 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Place: Dixson Room, State Library of NSW
Cost: Members $25, non-members $40
Member Speaker – Margaret Zanardo: The Power of Emotion
My poems in Out of the Blue evolved from a year that saw the world undergo yet another tumultuous twelve months.
I write about all the emotions we experienced living in these unpredictable times — the fear, loneliness, frustration and insecurity which 2022 brought back to us, the loss and regret many of us endured, but then the resilience and occasional unexpected happiness. As always, I also write about the beauty and strength of love.
Sharing emotion in poetry is a powerful force that can help connect us in difficult times.
Margaret is a Sydney poet, writer and graphic designer. She is a member of Harbourside Poets and has had work published in a number of poetry journals.
Out of the Blue is Margaret’s third poetry chapbook from Ginninderra Press.
Guest Speaker – Melina Marchetta: ‘The Other’ from Josie Allibrandi to Zola
Growing up feeling that I didn’t quite belong has stayed with me most of my writing life regardless of where I am. This concept has been explored in my work regardless of the age group or medium. For this session, I’ll be talking about the importance of writing and reading about our diversity, the danger of cultural appropriation and the false concept that the white dominant voice has been replaced.
Melina is a bestselling author in more than twenty countries and eighteen languages. She has published award-winning young adult, fantasy and crime fiction. Her much-loved Australian classic, Looking for Alibrandi, swept the pool of literary awards when it was published, and was released as a film, adapted by Marchetta, winning an AFI Award amongst other awards. In 2009 she won the prestigious Michael L. Printz Award from the American Library Association for Jellicoe Road and was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award for The Piper’s Son. Her fantasy series, The Lumatere Chronicles, was also highly acclaimed and award-winning.
Book and pay:
Workshop: Members $40, non-members $55
Literary event: Members $25, non-members $40
Discount for full program (Workshop and Literary Event) when booked together:
Members $60, non-members $85
By Credit card: https://www.trybooking.com/CIMHA
or by Direct debit:
The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc
BSB: 062 018
Account: 00950433
Code: VM
Email Amanda and include
your name, receipt number and date of event
Zoom ($10) will be available for this function – please click here to book: https://www.trybooking.com/CIMHE