Enthusiastic and talented writers in Years 10-12 are encouraged to attend the annual overnight Senior Writers’ Retreat at Land’s Edge, Chowder Bay. The retreat commences at 8:30 am Sunday 6 May and concludes at 2:30 pm Monday 7 May. The program includes an excursion to the Sydney Writers’ Festival, individual writing sessions and presentations.
At the Sydney Writers’ Festival, students will attend presentations from the following writers:
- Carmen Maria Machado- Her debut short story collection, Her Body and Other Parties, was a finalist for the National Book Award and the Kirkus Prize, and the winner of the Bard Fiction Prize. She is a fiction writer, critic, and essayist whose work has appeared in the New Yorker, Granta, Tin House, Guernica, and Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy.
- Jennifer Down- a writer, editor and translator. Her debut novel, Our Magic Hour, was shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Award and the Voss Prize. Her second book, a short story collection titled Pulse Points, was published in 2017 and she was named a Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Australian Novelist in the same year.
- Eileen Myles- a poet, novelist, performer and art journalist. Her twenty books include Afterglow (a dog memoir), Cool for You and the iconic Chelsea Girls.
The following writers will be guest presenters at the Senior Writers’ Retreat:
- Philip Wilcox: multi award-winning poet, Australian Poetry Slam Champion and a two-time NSW Poetry Slam Champion.
- Felicity Castagna: former HSC English teacher and HSC marker. The author of the multi-award winning novel The Incredible Here and Now, and its stage adaptation. Her collection of short stories Indiscretions was named an ABR book of the year. Her latest novel, No More Boats, is set during the 2001 Tampa crisis that became the catalyst for Australia’s new border protection policy. Her work has appeared on ABC Radio and TV as well as in national journals and newspapers. She has taught creative writing all around Australia and currently runs the storytelling series Studio Stories.
The total cost of $150 per student covers writing sessions and presentations, writing materials, most meals and overnight accommodation.
There are limited spaces available and expressions of interest are due to Asheeka Nand, Faculty Co‑ordinator – English, or Thomas Hinton, Assistant Faculty Co-ordinator – English, by Tuesday 3 April.