NATIONAL WRITERS' CONFERENCE

Writers and industry professionals from around Australia will converge on the State Library of Victoria for the National Writers' Conference (June 23-24). From the emerging to the established, writers and panellists will offer varied perspectives on the industry, deconstructing and discussing the art and craft of writing and the business of working in the publishing industry. Writers will have the opportunity to grill the Emerging Writers' Festival Ambassadors (Melissa Lucashenko, Isobelle Carmody, Ellen van Neerven, Michael Mohammed Ahmad and Stuart Grant) in Control Room sessions, pitch directly to publishers and hone their craft in workshops.

FURTHER FROM THE SUN

A big party is being held to celebrate the winter solstice. Depending on how you look at it, today is the shortest day of the year, or the longest night. Come light the touchpaper of renewal and join others around a fire for a night of performance, stories, song and dance. Take along an old piece of writing, or a note to your future self to put in the bonfire. With Manisha Anjali, Joey Bui, Quang Dinh, Amal Ibrahim, Lay the Mystic and Charlotte Raymond. Hosted by Leah Avene, tunes by MzRizk.

Thursday, June 21, 7pm. $19 full/$17 concession. Footscray Community Arts Centre