The Sydney Writer’s Festival is a celebration of writing and creativity in all its forms.
This year, the week-long event will be running from 22-28 May, featuring a lineup of over 300 incredible speakers. With a theme of ‘stories for the future’, it promises an intimate look at the writing process and its impact on the world. Whether you’re a fan of fact, fiction, or something in-between, this list of exciting and thought-provoking events will help you make the most out of your festival experience.
Julia Gillard – Not Now, Not Ever
Former prime minister Julia Gillard will discuss her new book – Not Now, Not Ever – ten years after she delivered the viral and significant misogyny speech in Australian parliament. This event features an important discussion on sexism and equality, addressing questions about how the country has changed over the last decade, and what the next generation of female leaders might expect. It’s sure to be an inspiring and unique perspective on Aussie politics from the woman who knows it best.
Breakfast with Food Writers
The perfect way to kickstart a morning of literary fun, this event is a foodie’s dream. Enjoy a coffee and a light bite at Carriageworks Farmers Market, before heading to the foyer to meet some of the country’s best food writers, including Maggie Beer, Mathew Evans, Rosheen Kaul and Alice Zaslavsk. These wonderful cooks will share stories of their culinary exploits and journeys through publishing, while also signing copies of their books. Breakfast with food writers is a free event emphasising the stories we tell through food.
This is Now
Fans of YA won’t want to miss this one. As part of the festival’s YA day, this panel explores what it’s like to be a young adult in today’s political and social climate. Featured authors will question how YA books can help expand our understanding of the teenage experience, and acknowledge universal challenges faced by our youth. Authors such as Tegan Bennett Daylight, Will Kostakis and more will break down popular young adult novels and television shows, and discuss their own experiences in the world of youth publishing.
In Conversation: Anthony Joseph
Join Anthony Joseph, winner of the 2022 T.S. Eliot poetry prize, as he examines writing in a philosophical and personal light. His recent work, Sonnets for Albert, was praised by judges as “a luminous collection which celebrates humanity in all its contradictions and breathes new life into this enduring form.” A look at his relationship with his father, and notions of masculinity, the poetry collection is one of five such anthologies and three novels that Anthony has published. This Trinidadian-English author has much to share, whether you prefer poetry or prose.
Sky Stories
This free event takes a look at how First Nations people have engaged in astronomy for generations. Wuthathi and Yadhaigana author Terri Janke, and Gomeroi astrophysicist and author Krystal De Napoli, discuss how Indigenous people use the stars to map seasons, tell stories, and connect with ancestral spirits. Be prepared to uncover mind-blowing facts, such as how Torres Strait Islanders can predict monsoons through shifts in starlight, and the roving emu constellation can signal what to eat and when. This event champions cultural and spiritual stories, sharing how nature can influence our experiences.
SMH Best Young Australian Novelists
A must for emerging writers and those interested in new Australian fiction. Melanie Kembrey, editor of Spectrum magazine, will lead a conversation with three authors selected as part of the Sydney Morning Herald’s list of the best young fiction writers in the country. The panel will tackle everything from their inspirations to their writing processes, challenges to wild successes, through lively and passionate discussion. If you’re hoping to discover Australia’s best new talent, look no further.
Podmania: Crime on the Record
Podmania is an investigation into the power of podcasts as a storytelling medium, specifically in the world of true crime. How has podcasting changed journalism? How does it reach a broad and diverse audience? And what are its implications for past and future investigations? All questions that will be answered by a collection of some of the top crime podcasters in the country, including Hedley Thomas, host of the world-famous Teacher’s Pet podcast. Grab your tickets now!
There are so many more amazing events at the Sydney Writer’s Festival, which you can check out here.
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