In writing, we are so often worried about getting from A to B – whether that is moving the narrator or character from one place to another, getting dialog from one character to another, or information from the narrator to the reader – we often forget about the spaces that surround ourselves, our words, our ideas, and our readers. These spaces have shapes, sounds, vibrations, feelings, resistances, echoes, and other presences in the world that call out to the writer and reader who take the time to listen and feel. This workshop is designed to get you to spend an hour listening to and feeling these physical and metaphorical spaces with the intention of learning to incorporate them into your writing.

Exercise One: Pt. 1

Necessary Materials

In this pre-recorded audio segment, two poets share and discuss their recent work. Weaving language, labour and spirit, they expose the intersections and splinters that arise when two perspectives are made to share the same space.

Frayed at the ends

Crossings is EWF's new podcast series of in-conversations between local writers & artists.  Each episode pairs two artists whose practices exist at the threshold of one another. These free-flowing, intimate conversations are coloured by curiosity, attentiveness and enquiry. Hear novelists, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, publishers, musicians, architects and photographers proffer questions and perspectives about the minutia of their creative and professional practices.

Episode 1: DREAM & SONG. Genevieve Callaghan & Felix Garner-Davis.

Genevieve is a writer and performer based on Wurundjeri Country. In 2022 she released her first book called one story a day, published by no more poetry press. She is also one half of musical duo Water Signs.  Find her work on instagram @one_story_a_day & @watersignsband

Felix Garner-Davis is a writer and architecture student at the Melbourne School of Design, having previously studied literature at Monash. His first book, 'drone', was published in 2021 also published by no more poetry. Find him on instagram @felixgarnerdavis

Read a selection of Genevieve & Felix's poems at emergingwritersfestival.org.au

Credits: 
 
Producer: Jess Zanoni (@jesszanoni) 

Co-Producer & Audio Engineer: Sam Pannifex (@otlagiaaudio) 
 
Intro Music: Georgia Farry @bby__g__) 
 
Artwork: Tinieka Page (@tinieka) 

With thanks to Henry Farnan, EWF's Marketing & Publicity Coordinator.
 
With support from the Queen Victoria Women's Centre (@qvwc_melbourne), Creative Australia, Creative Victoria, City of Melbourne. Proud to showcase the works of creatives of @melcityoflit.

Episode 1: DREAM & SONG. Genevieve Callaghan & Felix Garner-Davis

Episode 2: ASSERTING COMPLEXITY. Vivian Nguyen & Jamie Tram

Asian Australian playwright and actor Vivian Nguyen brings a wealth of stage experience. Her debut 'Thin Threads' was shortlisted for the Patrick White Playwrights Award and 'Bugged' was published in ATYP’s National Studio. Her plays 'Politics Aside' and 'a moment to love' debuted to acclaim at Melbourne Fringe, and was supported by Theatre Works and City of Melbourne . She was shortlisted for  the Red Stitch INK Writing Program, and was a recipient of The Wheeler’s Centre Hot Desk Fellowship for 2023. She’s been commissioned by Malthouse Theatre and Footscray Community Arts Centre. Her most recent work is 'The Astonishing Comet Boombox' which was presented in collaboration with City of Maribyrnong for Melbourne Fringe Festival. . Find her on instagram @vivngyn

Jamie Tram is a culture writer and screenwriter. They are the Small Screens Editor at The Big Issue, and their work can be found in Spectrum at The Age, Senses of Cinema, Filmink, and elsewhere. They’ve appeared on ABC’s Art Works and Triple R’s Primal Screen to gush about their favourite Hong Kong actors (amongst other less important topics). In 2022, they co-wrote the animated short Graveyard Shift, which premiered at MQFF Opening Night. They are an alumni of MIFF’s Critics Campus and the VCA, where they’ve since returned to tutor screenwriting. They are also a 2023 Hot Desk Fellow.  Find them on instagram @jamiecatchesthetram, and twitter @sameytram

Credits:

Producer: Jess Zanoni (@jesszanoni)

Co-Producer & Audio Engineer: Sam Pannifex (@otalgiaaudio)

Intro Music: Georgia Farry @bby__g__)

Artwork: Tinieka Page (@tinieka)

With thanks to Henry Farnan, EWF's Marketing & Publicity Coordinator.

With support from the Queen Victoria Women's Centre (@qvwc_melbourne), Creative Australia, Creative Victoria, City of Melbourne. Proud to showcase the works of creatives of @melcityoflit.

Episode 2: ASSERTING COMPLEXITY. Vivian Nguyen & Jamie Tram

Today EWF are delighted to share a conversation between Peggy Frew and Mark Hewitt.  

Peggy Frew’s work has been shortlisted for the Stella Prize and the Miles Franklin Literary Award, longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award, and the winner of the Barbara Jefferis Award. Peggy is a member of the critically acclaimed and award-winning Melbourne band Art of Fighting. Wildflowers is her fourth novel. 

Mark Hewitt is a writer from Melbourne. His debut fiction, the short story Doorknocker, was published in Empty Mind Plaza in 2022. Westie is his first novel.  

Peggy and Mark met in September for this conversation, having been acquainted in the past. They spoke about the ethics of writing fiction, their individual writing processes, making a living as an artist and more broadly the public and private identity of being a writer.  There's great wisdom and food for thought in this conversation. We hope you enjoy listening.

Credits:

Producer: Jess Zanoni (@jesszanoni)

Co-Producer & Audio Engineer: Sam Pannifex (@otalgiaaudio)

Intro Music: Georgia Farry @bby__g__)

Artwork: Tinieka Page (@tinieka)

With thanks to Henry Farnan, EWF's Marketing & Publicity Coordinator.

With support from the Queen Victoria Women's Centre (@qvwc_melbourne), Creative Australia, Creative Victoria, City of Melbourne. Proud to showcase the works of creatives of @melcityoflit.

Episode 3: CLOSE TO THE BONE. Peggy Frew & Mark Hewitt

EPISODE 4: BEING ALONE & TALKING TO PEOPLE. Rebecca Kelly & Misbah Wolf.

Today EWF are stoked to share a conversation between poets Rebecca Kelly and Misbah Wolf. 

Rebecca Kelly is a poet from the waters of Darkinjung Country, currently situated on Wurundjeri Country. Presently, her work is fuelled by questions of class, being, identity and psyche.   

Misbah Wolf is a Naarm based poet, who is a hybrid artist, combining music, poetry, performance and art. Their current obsession is exploring the intersections of monotheism and alternative spiritualities through cut-ups, music, research and channelling and are currently writing what they have called an ‘auto-mythological’ fiction funded by Creative Victoria. They have published work through Peril Magazine, Australian Poetry Journal, Cordite, Slow Canoe, Solid Air: Australian and New Zealand Spoken Word, Mascara Literary Journal, Overland, Red Room Poetry and La Mama Poetica.. Their first book was Rooftops in Karachi. Her new book ‘Carapace’ was published by Vagabond Press in 2022. 

Misbah and Rebecca met for the first time for this conversation. They spoke about the spiritual, musical and thematic influences within their poetry, and the idiosyncratic patterns and processes of their practices. This is a tender-hearted, down-to-earth conversation. We hope you enjoy.

Credits:

Producer: Jess Zanoni (@jesszanoni)

Co-Producer & Audio Engineer: Sam Pannifex (@otalgiaaudio)

Intro Music: Georgia Farry @bby__g__)

Artwork: Tinieka Page (@tinieka)

With thanks to Henry Farnan, EWF's Marketing & Publicity Coordinator.

With support from the Queen Victoria Women's Centre (@qvwc_melbourne), Creative Australia, Creative Victoria, City of Melbourne. Proud to showcase the works of creatives of @melcityoflit.

Episode 4: BEING ALONE & TALKING TO PEOPLE. Rebecca Kelly & Misbah Wolf

Episode 5: The (Im)Permanence of Punk. Kurt Eckardt & daniel ward.

EWF are thrilled to share this final conversation of Crossings, between Kurt Eckardt and daniel ward.

Kurt Eckardt works as Marketing and Events Manager at PBS in Naarm, and has recently worked in freelance music publicity, social media management and strategy, event booking and production, and as host of local music radio show Homebrew. Kurt also manages and performs in bands Hearts and Rockets and Astral Skulls, and runs DIY music and zine label and event collective, Psychic Hysteria. 

daniel ward is a poet and musician. they are the editor and founder of ‘no more poetry’, an independent publisher of poetry books and art magazines. their second and most recent collection is titled ‘eternal delight paralysis’. daniel is currently writing their third book titled ‘lavender poems’, a series of poems generated through automatic writing techniques guided by sensory explorations, meditation and mantra. their work often explores relationships between transgenderism and pantheism and is interested in the poem as both a problem and a prayer. they are a member of experimental sound collective ‘bodies of divine infinite and eternal spirit’ and are the drummer and sometimes guitarist for Wet Kiss. 

daniel and Kurt came together in October in Coburg North. They spoke about DIY culture, the local music & poetry scene, live performance & running their own label & publishing house. daniel & Kurt's thoughtfulness & enthusiasm towards the local arts scene was a perfect conversation to bring this season of Crossings to a close  

Credits:

Producer: Jess Zanoni (@jesszanoni)

Co-Producer & Audio Engineer: Sam Pannifex (@otalgiaaudio)

Intro Music: Georgia Farry @bby__g__)

Artwork: Tinieka Page (@tinieka)

With thanks to Henry Farnan, EWF's Marketing & Publicity Coordinator.

With support from the Queen Victoria Women's Centre (@qvwc_melbourne), Creative Australia, Creative Victoria, City of Melbourne. Proud to showcase the works of creatives of @melcityoflit.

Episode 5: THE (IM)PERMENEANCE OF PUNK. Kurt Eckardt & daniel ward

The Richell Prize for Emerging Writers is one of the most valuable prizes for an up and coming writers’ career. (We would say that though, wouldn’t we?) It’s not all about winning though – even making the shortlist can get you noticed. Before the prize closes on July 3rd, come and hear from a previous winner and shortlistee and their publisher about what makes a good synopsis, how to write a compelling chapter breakdown, and what the prize could do for your career. And then submit!

With: Sally Abbott, Brodie Lancaster, Robert Watkins

More information: http://www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au/richell-prize-emerging-writers-2017/

From Prize to Publication: The Richell Prize

Emerging Writers' Festival

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