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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Festival FAQs

General Information

When and where does the festival take place?

The Emerging Writers’ Festival (EWF) takes place annually both online and on the ground in Naarm/Melbourne (as well as a few Interstate and even International events).

Where can I find EWF’s full program?

Right here on the website!

How do I stay in the loop during the festival?

Every few days throughout the festival, we’ll send out an eNews sent straight to your inbox filled with information on the events and projects you can get involved with.

Make sure you sign up to get these eNews so we can keep in touch during EWF. 

We’ll also be chatting to festival attendees (that’s you!) through social media, so make sure you’re our mate on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Can I chat to EWF’s community during the festival?

Yes, Discord is where a lot of the daily conversations will take place between the attendees during EWF. It’ll essentially be a free reign group chat between our EWF friends while the festival is on. Join our general chat and make sure you read our Community Guidelines on our Discord as the chat won’t be monitored 24/7, but we welcome you to use it as a space to network, chat about the events and connect with a community of like-minded digital storytelling champs.

What is the National Writers’ Conference (NWC)? 

The National Writers’ Conference is the centrepiece of the EWF. It’s the place to be for emerging writers who are hungry to hear from leaders in the field, develop their skills, meet their peers and forge connections within the industry. 

Check back in 2024 to see the latest NWC program

Accessibility

How do I find out which events are live captioned and Auslan Interpreted?

A full list of EWF Auslan interpreted events as well as captioned events will be highlighted in the Festival Program here on the site. 

How can I access live captioning for my event?

Live captioning will generally be accessible via the live captioning feature on Zoom as well as a live external transcript. Events on YouTube will have a live external transcript only. 

To access live captions on Zoom, click ‘Live Captioning’ on the control panel at the bottom of your Zoom window. 

To access live external transcripts on Zoom or YouTube, click the link posted in the chat box by EWF at the start of each session.

Tickets

Where can I book my tickets?

Check out the event page for tickets when they launch in 2024!

Technical and Troubleshooting

Which platforms are you using for EW?

We’ll be using Zoom for paid online events and a handful of free events. Some of these include the Masterclass, workshops, performance events and some other misc events.

A number of events will be free and livestreamed via our YouTube channel. Check event listing pages for links to these streams.

Do I need a Zoom account to join the session?

You don’t need a Zoom account to join a meeting, but mobile users will need to download the Zoom app for their device. Desktop and laptop users can either download the Zoom application or access the event via their web browser.

How do I access the chat in Zoom and YouTube?

In Zoom, click ‘Chat’ in the meeting controls. This will open a chat window.  

For events livestreamed via our  YouTube channel, you’ll find the chat window to the right-hand side of the viewing window.

Can I test my internet speed, microphone and camera before the event?

Absolutely. Here’s how:

  • Check your internet speed here.
  • Test your mic and camera are working. A great way to do this is to run a Zoom test meeting here

I’m in the Zoom waiting room. Will someone let me in?

Yes, someone will let you in shortly. If in doubt, contact us at [email protected]

Why isn’t my microphone/camera working?

In Zoom, click the arrow next to the microphone icon in the bottom left-hand corner. If there are multiple devices, check that the correct device is selected. Select ‘test speaker and microphone’ and follow prompts. If all else fails, use the chat in Zoom to get our attention and we’ll help you out.

Why can’t I hear anything?

Check your audio settings on Zoom. Click the arrow next to the microphone icon in the bottom left-hand corner. If there are multiple, check that the right device is selected. Select ‘test speaker and microphone’ and follow prompts. Try attaching headphones – this may help you hear more clearly.

I’m having technical difficulties. What can I do?

Try…. 

  • turning your device off and on again
  • using another browser
  • restarting your browser, application or wifi
  • closing unnecessary tabs
  • checking your internet connection
  • reinstalling Zoom
  • reloading your web page
  • checking your device’s permissions
  • changing your device
  • allowing pop-ups

Still require some support? Email us at [email protected] and we’ll help you out.