Workshops
Comic and manga scriptwriting for beginners
Have you ever wanted to write manga and comics but aren’t sure where to begin? Learn the basics in this brief workshop that covers terminology, structure, layout, formats and styles of scriptwriting, as well as some tips for writer/artist collaborations. Please note: this workshop is primarily about the writing side, though artists will find it helpful too.
Karen Beilharz is a writer, editor, comics creator and podcast producer. Her comics writing includes the comic anthologies Kinds of Blue and Monsters, and the science fiction graphic novel Eternal Life (with Paul Wong-Pan). Her comics editing includes Fabled Kingdom Volumes II and III (Queenie Chan), and Sneaky Goblins and Mythic Creature Trainer (René Pfitzner).
Edit Like An Expert
Whether you’re writing sci-fi, fantasy or horror, you will need to edit your work before sending it out into the world. But good editing isn’t just about finding typos and fixing commas. It’s about clarity, structure, reader engagement, character voice and knowing what matters.
In this workshop, learn the editorial strategies your manuscript needs before going to publishers, agents and/or readers. From big-picture assessments to line-level decision-making, this insightful presentation will empower you to review your manuscript effectively, avoid pitfalls, and recognise passages that need further work, regardless of genre.
Zena Shapter is a multi-award-winning author of science fantasy, conjuring journeys into the beyond and unusual. Author of When Dark Worlds Rise, When Dark Waters Burn , When Dark Roots Hunt, Towards White, and more, she’s “one of Australia’s most exciting and inventive writers” and a “master of immersive worlds”.
Instagram @ZenaShapter
From the Page to the Stage
In this workshop, speculative writers will learn the skills they need to front up to a crowd. While writing may be solitary, the next steps are not: pitching, publicity, panels and public readings. Learn valuable lessons in how to calm the quivering, command the stage and turn readers into fans.
Adam Richard celebrates 30 years as a stand-up comedian this year, his career now older than he claims to be. He’s the writer behind the ABC TV series Outland, Hard Quiz and the Mardi Gras broadcast, and has appeared on everything from Spicks and Specks to Celebrity Dog School.
Publicity 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Book PR
Book launches, media training, #gifted ARCs – the world of publicity is one of the more nebulous aspects of publishing. Whether you’re a trad author trying to work with a publicist, or an indie trying to DIY a campaign, this workshop will help you understand the power of publicity, what it is, how it’s different from marketing, and what’s actually realistic for genre fiction in today’s market.
Simone Corletto is an Adelaide-born, Sydney-based author and PR professional who spent four years toiling in the publishing mines at two of the largest publishers in Australia.
Bluesky @SimCorWrites
Substack @simonecorletto
Short Story Essentials – From Idea to Publication
In this workshop, learn how to go from getting an idea for a speculative short story, through to drafting, editing, and getting it out into the world. Along the way, we’ll answer common questions like dealing with rejection and where to send your story when it’s done. All stages welcome, whether you’ve never written a short story, or you have a few under your belt and are keen to learn more.
Guan Un is an Australian-Chinese speculative fiction writer. His short stories have been featured on LeVar Burton Reads and It’s Storytime with Wil Wheaton; nominated for an Aurealis Award; featured in Year’s Best Fantasy and the Locus Recommended Reading List; and translated into Mandarin and Estonian.
Story Matrices: Using History to Build Fantasy Worlds
Learn the cultural brickwork method of using history to build the right kind of world for your novel. The Middle Ages will provide a baseline, but other facets of history will be brought into play. Learn how different types of worldbuilding work for different kinds of story and how you can set up the world for the precise story you want to write.
Dr Gillian Polack is an award-winning Australian speculative fiction writer and also a Research Fellow at Deakin University. She is an ethnohistorian with a special interest in how story transmits culture. Her current research looks into how we worldbuild for fantasy novels and examines how contemporary speculative fiction novels serve as vectors for cultural transmission. Her most recent scholarly book is Story Matrices: Cultural Encoding and Cultural Baggage in the Worlds of Science Fiction and Fantasy.
Photo: Sanna Pudas
