WestWords Creative Writing Workshops
Sharpen your writing skills with two WestWords workshops to be led by a local professional writer at the Hawkesbury Central Library on Saturday, 20 April 2024.
The workshops are in line with the 2024 Living Stories Western Sydney Writing Prize, a writing competition for Western Sydney and Wingecarribee Shire residents, and are offered by WestWords Centre and WestLit. The latter is a partnership between the Centre and Western Sydney Zone libraries.
According to the Hawkesbury City Council (HCC), the workshops are free, but bookings are essential. The partnership will have two sessions in Hawkesbury, one for 10 – 15 years old and another for 16 years old – Adult.
- Ages 10 – 15 years: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
- Ages 16 – Adult: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
In addition, The HCC says entries will be judged locally, with regional winners competing for the overall prize in each category.
WestWords and WestLit Libraries are encouraging the mentioned residents from ages 10 or older to join the writing competition. The Centre will still accept online entries until Monday, 6 May 2024.
Interested individuals can join two genres: short story or poetry. There are four age categories: 10 – 12 years; 13 – 15 years; 16 – 18 years; and Adults (18+).
The ‘LGA Winners’ will be announced in early June via online announcement in the WestWords newsletter and social media platforms. On the other hand, the announcement of ‘Overall Winners’ and book launch will be by the end of July school holidays and will be held at the PHIVE Parramatta.
WestWords mentions that the four winners and four highly commended entrants from each competing LGA will have their work published in the ‘2024 Living Stories Anthology: Over the line…?’
They will also receive a cash prize. As of this writing, the Prize pool will be announced on the competition launch date.
This year’s theme is “Over the Line.” The Centre provides some interpretation but leaves writers with enough room to have their own:
“Sometimes an argument goes too far.
A thing that’s been said can’t be taken back.
Does the line divide, Or keep you safe?
Do you regret crossing it?
Or are you brave enough to step over The chalk line on the ground
Or climb the fence between places
Or countries.”
To learn more about the 2024 Living Stories Western Sydney Writing Prize, visit the WestWords website here. The NSW government supports the workshops and the competition via Create NSW.
The Hawkesbury Central Library is located at 300 George Street in Windsor, NSW 2753.
