The Emerging Writers’ Festival work, learn and play largely on the land of the Kulin nation, and pay our respects to their Elders, past and present.

EWF celebrates the history and creativity of the world’s oldest living culture.

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Event Guide

Whether you’re looking to meet other writers, develop your skills or connect with the industry, allow us to introduce the many ways you can tailor your Emerging Writers’ Festival experience in 2025.

You can search the following event types by visiting our full program, clicking the ‘Event Type’ drop-down menu and selecting any of the following event types, or by simply clicking the links below.

Performances

Our curated offering of live, in-person events in intimate settings. With limited in-person attendance numbers, the focus is on the artists and their creativity. Gather with us under stars, inside memories and between worlds for a series of limited capacity, boutique performance events.

Alcoves

Like your favourite writing nook in your local library, or the altar that is your writing desk, Alcoves gift you with crucial, cosy nourishment — from stirring panel conversations, intimate roundtables, and relaxing drop-in sessions, expect replenishing food for thought, and opportune time for writing, thinking and feeling amongst fellow writers.

Estuaries

An estuary is a body of water, where river melds into ocean. At EWF, it’s the place where the literary meets other creative forms. Float down towards these special offerings, where your writing can be inspired and enlivened by music, photography, visual art, and more.

Ethers

Satellites, online-streaming, writers on the World Wide Web. Everything in the ether-world, allowing you to check out talks, workshops, exhibitions, and more. You’re at EWF in spirit, and via wireless transmission.

EWF X

EWF X events are co-produced by selected collectives and curators who express interest in offering events specific to their communities and comrades, to present evenings of stellar performances and fresh perspectives.

EWF Festival Hub

The rumours are true! In 2025, EWF officially unveils our Festival Hub, located on Level 1 (below ground) of The Wheeler Centre. Open every day, the Hub is your single port of call to grab a cup of tea, work on your writing, read, socialise, and attend our daily morning drop-in writing sessions. If you’re in the city and need a place to hang out between EWF events, make yourself at home at EWF HQ.

Full information on opening hours and wayfinding for the Festival Hub can be found here.

National Writers’ Conference

Returning in-person over a whole weekend at EWF25, the 2025 National Writers’ Conference is the place for emerging writers to advance their skills, hear from literary industry experts, and network with publishing professionals. As the centrepiece event of the Emerging Writers’ Festival, running 13-14 September, the National Writers’ Conference informs and inspires writers of all genres and styles, and features publishing professionals, fellow emerging writers, and literary virtuosos. Pick up a full Weekend Pass for full Conference access, or curate your experience with tickets to individual sessions.

If you have questions about the National Writers’ Conference, please see our FAQs and email us at [email protected].

Open Air

To go inwards, writers must firstly venture outward. Open air — that delicious space away from your screen, artificial lights, and windowless writing spaces. Commune under clouds, and springtime sun to hear words travel outside the confines of four walls. Notice the invigorating sensation of writing in a notepad, or notes app, with bare hand against the wind.

Partnered Events

Curious to see which of your favourite arts organisations, publishers, and local collectives we’re teaming up with this year? Check out our partnered events!

Workshops

Want a straight-forward workshop experience at the festival?

These workshops are interactive professional development events, each shaped around the most topical and in-demand subjects, and responding to industry trends and skills gaps.

Writers’ Salon

EWF’s new Writers’ Salon is the place and space for literary discussion and creative connection. Part workshop, part roundtable — this is an exclusive, intimate space where writers gather in community and where craft is nurtured.

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