University to host inaugural writers’ event

University to host inaugural writers’ event

Top international and NZ writers, publishers and industry experts are coming together for a two-day forum hosted by the University of Auckland on 17 and 18 September.

Open to writers of all genres and levels of experience, the National Writers Forum will offer participants advice on everything from how to get published in today’s rapidly changing media environment to the nuts and bolts of writing and editing a manuscript.

International guests will include Chris Cleave, the acclaimed author of Everyone Brave is Forgiven and The Other Hand and Scott Pack, UK-based publisher, writer and entrepreneur.

Best-selling New Zealand writers Nalini Singh (romance) and Ben Sanders (crime) will be talking about book and author promotion as well as elements of structure, plot and pace.

Master classes and workshops will be on offer from renowned New Zealand author Patricia Grace, fantasy writer Helen Lowe, young adult author Anna McKenzie and Canadian writer Kate Pullinger, among others.

Award-winning New Zealand writer Paula Morris, who is also the convenor of the Master of Creative Writing at Auckland, is delighted the University is hosting such a useful and worthwhile event, in partnership with the NZ Society of Authors.

“It’s fantastic to be supporting our writing community in this way, with such wide ranging knowledge across multiple genres and practical tools. We have beautiful facilities at the Owen Glenn Building (home to the University’s Business School), so it’s the ideal place for an event of this kind.”

Dr Morris sees the forum as a unique opportunity for authors to meet and learn from other writers, editors, festival directors, publishers and industry professionals from New Zealand and overseas.

Other highlights of the weekend will include sessions with comic artists Toby Morris and Sarah Laing and a celebrity debate on the moot ‘New Zealand books need special treatment’, featuring Toby Manhire, Paula Morris, Michele A’Court and Leilani Tamu, moderated by Te Radar.

The National Writers Forum will be held on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September at the Owen G Glenn Building, University of Auckland, 12 Grafton Road, Auckland. Tickets are still available at $325 or $220 for students, which includes morning and afternoon tea, lunches and a party.

A full programme can be found at www.nationalwritersforum.org.nz and tickets are available from iTicket.

ENDS

© Scoop Media