BOORANGA NEWS
NEWSLETTER FOR BOORANGA WRITERS’ CENTRE OF
WAGGA WAGGA WRITERS WRITERS INC.
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2011
EDITOR: DEREK MOTION
Writer-in-residence:
Kalinda Ashton
Booranga is pleased to welcome our third writer-in-residence for the year,
Kalinda Ashton. Kalinda is the author of the novel The Danger Game
(Sleepers Publishing, 2009, Australia; Tindal Street Press, 2011, UK)
which saw her named as one of the Sydney Morning Herald Young Novelists of the Year in 2010. Her short stories have been published in journals
and anthologies including the Sleeper Almanac, Overland, Meanjin and
Kill Your Darlings.
Kalinda has taught creative writing and literature at several Australian universities and was for four years the Associate Editor at Overland journal.
We at Booranga are once again looking forward to being able to feature a talented and exciting young writer as a writer-in-residence.
While here Booranga members can take the following opportunituies to hear Kalinda Ashton read and talk about the craft of writing:
* Panel discussion at the Write Around the Murray Festival in Albury, Sunday 11th September,
11.30am. (Further information in this edition of Booranga News.)
* Writers’ workshop at Booranga, Saturday 17th September, 2pm.
* Reading on Thursday 22nd September, at the Wagga City Library, 5pm.
Booranga Writers’ Centre (McKeown Drive) 2010 Office Hours:
Staff will be in every Monday (9am - 3.30pm), Tuesday (9 - 11.30am), Thursday (9 - 11.30am).
For enquiries (with a quick response) email us: [email protected]
Or alternatively email our director directly: [email protected]
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BOORANGA NEWS
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2011
Writer-in-residence: Holly Throsby
Booranga is now finally able to re-schedule the planned Wagga visit for Holly
Throsby.
Holly will now be in Wagga Saturday 22nd October, and Sunday 23rd October.
2011 Calendar of Booranga Events
September
Writer-in-residence, Kalinda
Ashton
Holly is a songwriter, singer and musician from Sydney who has released five
albums to date: On Night (2004), Under the Town (2006), A Loud Call (2008), a
children’s album called See! (2010), and her latest long-player, Team (2011).
11th: Write Around the Murray
Panel Discussion (Albury), 11am
Holly has toured Australia many times as well as the UK, Europe, America and Canada. She has been nominated for two ARIA awards for Best Female Artist (in 2006 &
in 2008); she is a council member for the animal protection institute, Voiceless; and a
regular judge of the Australian Music Prize.
(16th: Wagga Heat of the National
Poetry Slam, Home Hotel, 7pm)
Holly is in town for a short time only, but while here she will be giving a free allages concert at the Riverina Museum’s Botanic Gardens site, where her writing
and performance skills will be on display. Holly will also be giving a workshop for
practising regional songwriters (registration essential).
- Holly Throsby - Performance, at the Riverina Museum, Botanical Gardens
site, 1pm, Saturday 22nd October.
- Song Writers’ Workshop - at the Booranga Writers’ Centre, 2pm, Sunday 23rd
October. (Please note: You MUST contact me at Booranga to register before attending. If necessary phone 0449854901 out of hours)
17th September: Writers’ Workshop at Booranga, 2pm
22nd September: Reading at the
Wagga City Library, 5pm
October
Writer-in-residence, Holly
Throsby
22nd: Performance, Museum of
the Riverina, Botanice Gardens
site, 1-4pm
23rd: Song writing workshop,
Booranga, 2pm
November
fourW twenty-two launches
19th: Wagga City Library, 2pm
20th: Melbourne (Courthouse
Theatre), 2pm
26th Sydney (Gleebooks), 3pm
Holly Throsby - Image by Yanni Kronenberg
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JULY - AUGUST 2007
BOORANGA
NEWS
EDITOR: DEREK MOTION
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2011
Recent Booranga Events...
Jim Haynes residency
(report written by Jim)
I recently had a wonderful two weeks on campus at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, as Writer in Residence. The writer’s centre cottage is
set in bushland and only the possums playing on the roof in the early hours
break the serenity. Luckily for me, I was working when the possums arrived home around 4 or 5 am most mornings and found their presence and
noise quite comforting.
Also
on in the Region...
The solitude and peace of a bushland setting is very different from my
usual working conditions at that hour. I am used to watching the sun rise
over a sleeping city as I work creatively - usually from 4 am till 7 am. At
Charles Sturt it was often 9 am before I realised that the day was up and running and the campus was busy. Being so spread out in
natural bushland makes the campus unusual in that it often appears that no one is actually on site. The full car parks are the only real
sign of life.
The first week of my stay was a chance to proof-read my next book and start serious work on a musical play adaptation of an earlier
book.
I had a few media commitments in the first week but most of the readings, performances and classes were in the second week of my
stay, so the first week was most productive for me creatively.
Sessions on song writing and publishing took place at the Writers’ Centre on Saturday and with the writing students on campus on the second Monday. My visit to
the writers’ group at Narrandera was a real highlight. What an enthusiastic group
they are and what a busy session that was! I don’t think I’ve ever covered so many
aspects of writing in four hours before in my life.
The Tuesday evening performance at the Wagga Wagga Library, along with Jane
Williams and David Reiter, was very gratifying and well attended - for me it was a
chance to share some of my favourite pieces from my books on Gallipoli and WW2
as well as some amusing rhymed verse and songs.
I want to thank David Gilbey and Derek Motion for making it all possible. It was a
really interesting and pleasant experience that further strengthened my connections
with Wagga Wagga. It also gave me opportunities to share my work and ideas with
fellow writers and different types of audiences.
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BOORANGA NEWS
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2011
The Australian National Poetry
Slam
Two minutes in the spotlight. No props. No music. Judged by the audience. Just
you... and your story. The Wagga Library is calling all poets, hip-hop artists and
other outspoken wordsmiths to perform their original work in the 2011 Poetry
Slam. The Wagga heat will be hosted by local performer Derek Motion, with the
winner and runner-up facing a live audience at the Sydney Theatre on November
27th.
Last year the Wagga Heat of the Australian National Poetry Slam was one of
Booranga’s most popular events. Over 70 people packed into the back bar at the
Home Hotel to either enter the contest or enjoy the performances.
There are once again some great prizes on offer and the rules are simple:
Arrive early and sign up on the night if you intend competing. You have 2 minutes to perform your work. Going overtime will incur a points deduction. Your
work must be original, written in the past 12 months. Judges will be randomly
elected members of the crowd.
Wagga Heat: 16th September, 7pm, Home Tavern Hotel
INFORMATION: 6926 9700 or [email protected]
Or for further information on poetry slam go to: http://australianpoetryslam.com/
Booranga on the Web
Homepage: http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/arts/humss/booranga/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Booranga-Writers-Centre/198309036885917
http://twitter.com/#!/Booranga
https://foursquare.com/venue/17176180
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JULY - AUGUST 2007
BOORANGA
NEWS
EDITOR: DEREK MOTION
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2011
fourW twenty-two
It’s been a busy couple of months for our editorial committee as they have read their way through literally hundreds of poems and
short stories. But the tough decisions have been made and now the design and printing process begins. The workload has now been
handed over to our industrious office manager Sandra Treble. Sandra has the task of letting all submitting writers know the committee’s decision regarding their work, and of then collating all the selected work into a single document. After this the work is once
again revised by editor David Gilbey before being sent to our designer
In the coming months we will be selecting artwork and a cover design for the book, before getting it to the printers before the allimportant deadline.
The launches for fourW - held in three locations across the country - are always our most well-attended events, and in effect function
as an end of year party. We look forward to seeing you at one or all of these events:
fourW twenty-two launches:
Wagga City Library, 19th November, 2pm
Melbourne (at the Courthouse Theatre in Carlton), 20th November, 2pm
Sydney (at Gleebooks), 26th November, 3pm
New additions to the Booranga Library:
The Booranga Writers’ Centre has a small library of books and journals, and every now and then writers or publishers send us new
additions. These books are available for members to borrow. You may even want to write a short review for the Booranga News of a
title that intrigues you?
Bite Your Tongue, by Francesca Rendle-Short (Septyember 2011, Spinifex Press).
Publisher’s Blurb: Bite Your Tongue is a story of great heart. It is the story of a teenage girl’s growing
up in Queensland during the 1970s, the daughter of a morals crusader: Angel Rendle-Short / Mother Joy
Solider. The tale is thoroughly embedded in Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen’s conservative Queensland; a time
of great social change for the whole of Australia.
While harrowing at times, Bite Your Tongue also displays a superb lightness of touch, and a great joy in the
power of language. It is an investigation into the very nature of storytelling, displaying great humour and
heart.
5
BOORANGA NEWS
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2011
Albury Write Around the Murray Festival
The Festival is on again between Wednesday 7th - Sunday 11th September 2011. Below are details of some events that might particularly interest aspiring writers (including the panel session featuring Booranga writer-in-residence Kalinda Ashton).
Full details of all events can be found at: www.writearoundthemurray.org.au
Story First with Steven Amsterdam
One way to avoid the problem of the blank page is to never see one. Grab hold of ideas when they come, take the time to expand
them and give them meaning and structure before you write the first sentence. With an outline by your side, when you sit down to
begin you have a roadmap for your journey. The goal of this workshop is to develop strategies for shaping the story before you start
writing. Through exercises and workshop discussions, attendees will be better equipped to avoid the blank page.
Saturday 10 September, 10.00am—11.30am, cost: $30, concession: $15. Register at www.writearoundthemurray.org.au or book
through the Albury Entertainment Centre 02 6051 3051.
Writing for TV with Fiona Wood
Fiona Wood has been writing television scripts for the last ten years on shows ranging from MDA and The Secret Life of Us, to
Home and Away and Neighbours. This hands-on workshop will include exercises on character, dialogue and editing. It will look at
TV screenwriting basics for the toolbox, and provide tips for breaking into the industry.
Saturday 10 September, 10.00am—11.30am, cost: $30, concession: $15. Register at www.writearoundthemurray.org.au or book
through the Albury Entertainment Centre 02 6051 3051.
Ten Minutes of Talent
Would you like a platform to share your story or poem, or publicise a recently released book? Then the Write around the Murray
event Ten minutes of Talent is for you. We require presenters who are willing to donate 10 minutes of their time to this event and
share the love of writing. Please call Festival Coordinator, Caitlin Tunstall on 02 6023 8357 or email [email protected]
if you are interested in being a presenter. This is a free event, so bring your family and fan club to watch you shine!
Poetry at the G – calling all poets and performers!
If you have a desire to perform then this event may be for you. Poetry at the G is an open mic poetry night on Friday 9 September
7.30pm (held at the Gums bar, CSU campus, Thurgoona) hosted by Emilie Zoey Baker. If you have a favourite poem (not necessarily
written by you) or have written a poem you’d like to tell the world (or one small corner of it), contact event organiser Jenni Munday
at [email protected] for more information or to book your spot on the night.
6
JULY - AUGUST 2007
BOORANGA
NEWS
EDITOR: DEREK MOTION
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2011
Moment with a Mentor
Two publishers Fayez Philippe Hanna and Zoe Dattner will be available during the festival to give you personalised advice on your
writing. The sessions cost $15 for 30 minutes. Limited places currently available for Philippe on Saturday 10 or Sunday 11 September. Places are available on Sunday only for Zoe. It is requested you provide payment when you make your booking either via phone
or in person at the Albury LibraryMuseum. Please submit 2 pages of writing samples with your booking for Philippe or Zoe to read
before your meeting. Phone 02 60238357 for more information.
Panel Session – Construction of Self : Developing Characters
A well-written character can inspire a range of emotions in a reader, but how does a writer know when a character will connect with
their readership? Discover how two very different novelists, crime writer Michael Robotham and the politically motivated Kalinda
Ashton, build their characters, and learn which characters have inspired them and why.
11.30am – 12.45pm, Albury Entertainment Centre Theatrette, cost: gold coin donation
Other events in the region...
Behind-the-Curtain Theatre Company Benefit
Behind the Curtain Theatre Company is holding a fund-raiser for their
2012 season. Come for the BBQ and stay for the great bands and othentrainment.$7 gets you in.
10 September · 14:00 - 23:30
The Black Swan Hotel (The Muddy Duck)
37 Gardiner Street, North Wagga, Australia
Featuring local performers:
3pm - Andrew Hurley
4.15pm- The Motions
5.30pm - Vic McEwan
6.45pm - Rob Moss
8.00pm- The Curtain Trio
9.15pm - Cut your losses
10.30pm - The Ikaros Trial
7
er
BOORANGA NEWS
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2011
PUBLISHING, COMPETITIONS and OPPORTUNITIES
General Submissions
dotdotdash Recursive Poetry Competition
Remember to keep in mind those literary journals that are open
for submissions all year. A good place to start researching the
major Australian ones is here:
http://www.litmags.com.au
(Booranga receives copies of the NSW based journals Southerly and HEAT, and these are available to borrow for Booranga
Members)
Also, don’t forget that fourW is open for submissions all year
round, but the cut off for each annual edition is June 30th.
In the spirit of the Recursive theme, dotdotdash are looking for
sestinas, pantoums and villanelles to publish in their ninth issue.
The competition’s first prize is a choice of $250 or three reference texts, with the winner and four honourable mentions
receiving publication in dotdotdash Issue 9.
More information at: http://dotdotdash.org.
Closes: 24 October
Prose
The EJ Brady Competition
Poetry
The EJ Brady Competition ran by the Mallcoota Arts Council is
back for the 18th year, and offering $1500 for the winning short
story in 2011.
The Peter Porter Poetry Prize
Entry to the eighth annual Australian Book Review poetry prize
– renamed the Peter Porter Poetry Prize, in memory of the late
Australian poet – is now open.
Judges: Judith Beveridge and David McCooey
The Peter Porter Poetry Prize is one of Australia’s most lucrative
and respected awards for poetry, and guarantees winners wide
exposure through publication in ABR.
You can enter two different lengths of short story, the Major
Short Story and the Very Short Story. Major Short Stories must
be under 2500 words long, and the best story in this category
will win $1500. The Very Short Story must be under 750 words,
and the best story in this category will win $500.
Enter online at: http://www.artsmallacoota.org/page4.htm
Closes: 16 September, 2011.
First prize: $4000 / Shortlisted poems: $250
Entry forms available: http://www.australianbookreview.com.
au/files/Forms/PPPP_Entry_Form_2012.pdf
Closes: 21 November 2011
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JULY - AUGUST 2007
BOORANGA
NEWS
EDITOR: DEREK MOTION
SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2011
PUBLISHING, COMPETITIONS and OPPORTUNITIES
Calibre Prize for an Outstanding Essay 2012
Finch Memoir Prize
Australian Book Review seeks entries for the sixth Calibre
Accepting entries between 1 September and 14 October 2011.
Prize for an Outstanding Essay, the nation’s premier award for
The prize is for an unpublished non-fiction manuscript in the
an original essay and one of the world’s major essay competi-
form of a memoir. The winning manuscript will be published by
tions. The Calibre Prize is intended to generate brilliant new
Finch, and the author will receive prize money of $10,000.
essays and to foster new insights into culture, society, and the
human condition. We welcome essays from leading authors and
Further information available at www.finch.com.au.
commentators, but also from emerging writers. All non-fiction
subjects are eligible.
Entries close: 14 October
First prize: $7000 / Second prize: $2000 / Third prize: $1000
au/files/Forms/Calibre_Prize_2012_Web_Entry_Form.pdf
The Ten Minute Quickie - Short Play Competition
24-26th May 2012
Closing date: 1 December 2011
$1,000 is awarded by the judges for the best script courtesy of
Entry Forms available: http://www.australianbookreview.com.
the Nillumbik Shire Council
Writing Australia - Unpublished Manuscript
Award
$500 is awarded to the best play as determined by popular vote
$10,000 + $2,000 for the mentor of your choice
$300 is a awarded to the best play in the Youth Category (14-21
of the audience over the four performances.
yo) as determined by the selection panel.
The Award, to aid in the development of the next stage of an
unpublished manuscript, is for a work of adult literary or genre
More information and entry forms available at: http://www.
fiction. It will be granted to the work that shows the greatest
elthamlittletheatre.org.au/textfiles/Quickie%20Pack%20
promise and likely to benefit most from this opportunity. Over
2012.pdf
the next three years this Award will become one of Australia’s
major prizes for an unpublished manuscript.
Submissions open from: 1st September - 13 November 2011
Enter online at: http://writingaustralia.org.au/events/manuscript-award-registration/
Closes: 13th October
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BOORANGA WRITERS’ CENTRE
APPLICATION FOR 2011 MEMBERSHIP
Wagga Wagga Writers Writers Inc (trading as the Booranga Writers’ Centre) was formed in 1987 to assist and promote local
authors and their work. The group holds regular readings at local venues, conducts writing workshops, offers fellowships at
Booranga, the Riverina Writers’ Centre at Charles Sturt University, and published an annual anthology, fourW, under the imprint of fourW press, and is active in promoting writing and writers throughout the Riverina.
Membership period: 1st January to 31st
December 2011
MEMBERSHIP ENTITLES YOU TO...
- Copy of fourW twenty-one Anthology
- Regular newsletter (bi-monthly) & e-list mailouts
Group membership (including one copy of fourW)
- 10% discount at Book City, Wagga
$55.00
- 10% Discount at Angus & Robertson Bookworld,
Single membership (including one copy of fourW)
Wagga
$36.00
- Member discounts to readings, performances & workSingle membership (not including anthology)
shops
$25.00
- Invitations to writing events & get-togethers
Concessional membership (one copy of fourW)
- Access to a network of writers, book enthusiasts &
$26.00
Concessional membership (not including anthology) other writers’ centres for information & friendship
- Use of Booranga Writers’ Centre library (featuring
$15.00
Student membership (under 21 years) not including current editions of journals such as HEAT and Southerly, as well as the newsletters of other writers’ centres).
anthology
$11.00
Please fill out and send application form to:
Wagga Wagga Writers Writers Inc. Booranga Writers’ Centre,
Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga NSW 2678, Phone/Fax (02) 69332688
Name:
Address:
Telephone:
Email:
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Enclosed is: $............. cheque/money order FOR:
(please indicate membership type required)
undeliverable return to:
POSTAGE PAID AUSTRALIA
Booranga Writers’ Centre
Locked Bag 588
Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2678
POSTAGE PAID
AUSTRALIA
WWWW & the Booranga Writers’ Centre are supported by: