National Writers’ Conference FAQs

When is the National Writers’ Conference happening this year?
EWF’s national, annual Conference will run over the 13-14 September weekend, 10am – 4pm AEST. Grab your tickets here.

Is this event online or IRL?
This is an in-person event, which is streamed nationally via private streaming links which EWF sends out to Digital Pass holders.

Will this event be available to watch on-demand following the live event?
No, this event is live, and can only be attended online at the scheduled time.

What should I bring on the day?

• •Water,
• •notepad and pen/s,
• •snacks,
• •your networking hat for meeting other writers and publishers,
• •your questions and curiosity.

Will this event be Auslan interpreted or live captioned?
Live captioning and/or Auslan interpretation are available upon request. Please contact us at [email protected] with your accessibility requirements.

Where can I purchase my ticket?

Right here!

I want to attend this event online, when will Digital Passes be released for people who can’t travel to the in-person Conference?

For those looking to stream the Conference online, Digital Passes will become available for purchase when our full program goes live on 7 August 2025.

Oh no, the Pitch-It! session tickets seem to be sold out! What can do I next?

More Pitch-It! session tickets will be released when our full program is launched in August. Sign up our newsletter to keep up to date on new tickets and opportunities.

What is a Pitch-It! session?

This is your chance to deliver a five-minute, online, one-on-one pitch with a literary industry professional. These publishers, editors and literary agents are always on the lookout for new and exciting voices, so here’s your chance to practice and pitch them yours! 

When and where will my pitching session take place?
On Saturday 20th September, between 10am and 1pm AEST. It will occur over Zoom, and you will be assigned to a breakout room with your industry professional.  

What time am I pitching and who am I pitching to? 
You’ll be sent this information via email a few days before the event. Please ensure you are in the Zoom room 10 minutes before your scheduled Pitch-It! session.

The publishers involved in Pitch-It! this year are:

Vanessa Radnidge (Hachettte Australia), Foong Ling Kong (Melbourne University Press), Julia Carlomagno (Monash University Publishing), Tom Langshaw (Pantera Press), Mandy Brett (Text Publishing)

Do I need to have a completed manuscript in order to pitch?
Not at all! This is a chance to practice talking about your work to an industry professional. Follow our tips and tricks below to help you prepare. 

Is there anything I need to do to prepare for my pitch?
Yes, you’ll need to whip up a draft pitch before the event. 

Below are some preparation and pitching tips, in addition to the coaching you’ll receive at the 2025 National Writers’ Conference: 

• Do know who your ideal reader is. What else would someone who would enjoy your book consume? Do they watch a particular genre of tv show? Are they listening to popular podcasts? Do they like a particular magazine or website? Knowing who will enjoy your manuscript is key to unlocking how to pitch your prospective book. 

• What other Australian authors have you read that inspire your writing? If your plan is to make a splash on the Australian publishing scene, being in tune with what other Australian authors are writing is going to help you refine your pitch. It also doesn’t hurt to show your support for the industry you’d love to be a part of. 

• Have you read the back of any new books lately? Publishers design the synopsis on the back cover of a book to hook in readers. They are specifically formulated to catch someone’s attention – and if you can pitch your manuscript in the same manner – it’s likely you’ll catch someone’s attention too. 

• Be professional. Pitching is a business tool – you want to sell your book to a publishing house. They in turn want to sell those books to consumers and make money for both the author (hopefully you!) and also make a profit from their investment. Understanding that all book publishing relates directly to a business decision is only going to help your cause. Know who your book is intended for and know why they want to read it. Keep all communication courteous and respectful. A little bit of good manners goes a long way.