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

Estuaries, Workshop & Partner

Poetics of Pop

What does the new Sabrina Carpenter album say about your parental trauma? How many labubus does it take to heal heartbreak? Is the meme algorithm taking charge of your healing?


In this workshop, pop culture scourer Dom Symes demonstrates how to turn tabloid trash into literary masterpieces.  

    presented in partnership with:

Accessibility

Auslan Interpretation may be available on request, Wheelchair Accessible, Accessible Toilet,

Saturday 12 September, 10.30AM-12.30PM

Pay-What-You-Wish/Free

Book tickets

Browse events by accessibility options

Geelong Library and Heritage Centre
51 Little Malop St, Geelong VIC 3220

Venue accessibility information

View location at V934+6P

Featuring...

Dominic Symes

Dominic Symes lives quietly in naarm/Melbourne. He writes poems, some of which have, over the last few years, been published in Australian journals and anthologies—including Overland, Cordite and Best of Australian Poems. His debut collection ‘I saw the best memes of my generation’ (Recent Work Press) was highly commended in the 2024 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards—Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry. In 2025 he was shortlisted for the Overland Judith Wright Poetry Prize and in 2026 longlisted for the Peter Porter Poetry Prize. His second book ‘Songs of Love & Hate Speech’ is out now through the Rabbit Poets Series.

Major Supporters