WestWords 2014
WestWords 2014 was held in Dubbo over the weekend of 9-11 May, hosted by the Outback Writers' Centre.
Writers from around the North and Central West congregated at the Western Plains Cultural Centre and were provided with many opportunities to understand the world of publishing, meet publishers and access training to develop their craft of writing.
It was exciting to see nine writers pitch their manuscripts to publishers. Louise Thurtell, from Allen and Unwin, and Alison Green, from Pantera Press, were very impressed by the quality of both the work and the nature and organisation of WestWords 2014. Based on these pitching sessions, OWC is aware of five requests from these publishers to see full manuscripts. Ms Thurtell wrote: “Very few writers outside the capital cities ever have access to the range and depth of information provided at the conference, nor would they be able to get such detailed feedback from experienced people in the publishing industry.”
Irina Dunn, who ran the NSW Writers Centre for fifteen years, facilitated the panels and ran one-on-one Super Sessions for writers, concentrating on their first chapters. The OWC appreciated her enthusiasm, generosity of spirit and insight at the panels, in her workshop, and in Super Sessions. Ms Dunn also spent an hour with the OWC committee and interested members discussing ways in which the organisation can grow and develop.
Guests and delegates alike found the panels, workshops and one on one sessions extremely valuable.
Thank you to Dubbo Artz for their sponsorship of the panel program.
Writers from around the North and Central West congregated at the Western Plains Cultural Centre and were provided with many opportunities to understand the world of publishing, meet publishers and access training to develop their craft of writing.
It was exciting to see nine writers pitch their manuscripts to publishers. Louise Thurtell, from Allen and Unwin, and Alison Green, from Pantera Press, were very impressed by the quality of both the work and the nature and organisation of WestWords 2014. Based on these pitching sessions, OWC is aware of five requests from these publishers to see full manuscripts. Ms Thurtell wrote: “Very few writers outside the capital cities ever have access to the range and depth of information provided at the conference, nor would they be able to get such detailed feedback from experienced people in the publishing industry.”
Irina Dunn, who ran the NSW Writers Centre for fifteen years, facilitated the panels and ran one-on-one Super Sessions for writers, concentrating on their first chapters. The OWC appreciated her enthusiasm, generosity of spirit and insight at the panels, in her workshop, and in Super Sessions. Ms Dunn also spent an hour with the OWC committee and interested members discussing ways in which the organisation can grow and develop.
Guests and delegates alike found the panels, workshops and one on one sessions extremely valuable.
Thank you to Dubbo Artz for their sponsorship of the panel program.
