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.

Enter site

National Writers' Conference & Online

On the Cutting Room Floor

The phrase “kill your darlings” can seem harsh and hasty, but knowing what to cut and when to let go is just as important as getting the words down on paper. Hear from authors on how they go about whittling down their words to the ones that matter the most, and what they do with the ones they cut.

Featuring...

Maxine Beneba Clarke

Maxine Beneba Clarke is the author of the acclaimed memoir The Hate Race, the award-winning short fiction collection Foreign Soil, the poetry collections Carrying The World and How Decent Folk Behave, and many other books for adults and children.

Alaina Gougoulis

Alaina Gougoulis is a senior editor and has worked with Text Publishing since 2009.

Laura McPhee-Browne

Laura McPhee-Browne is a writer, social worker and counsellor living on Wurundjeri land.

Melanie Saward

Melanie Saward is a proud descendant of the Bigambul and Wakka Wakka peoples. She is a writer, editor, and university lecturer based in Tulmur (Ipswich), Queensland.