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The Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival Schools Program is now open for bookings for Wed 7th to Friday 9th June 2023. The Schools Program is an exciting opportunity for both primary & secondary students to engage directly with well known Australian authors in their very own classrooms.
Choose from a selection of authors to deliver either a workshop or talks designed to inspire the imagination & creativity or to teach writing skills & the literary process and more! Authors bios and details on the workshop/talks on offer are below.
The world of words, books and writing is brought to life with an author’s school visit. The feedback each year is amazing. Students, librarians & teachers are delighted to have us bring to our regional schools, authors from around the country.
The program runs for 3 days and bookings are taken up quickly so don’t delay – fill in the online form to make a booking and get started!
Schools Program 2023 Authors
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Isobelle CarmodyIsobelle is an Australian writer of science fiction, fantasy, children’s and juvenile literature. She began work on the highly acclaimed Obernewtyn Chronicles when she was just fourteen years old and more since. Last year she completed her PhD at the University of Queensland and she is currently a Research Fellow at The University of Queensland with the Creativity and Human Flourishing Project. Her most recent novel is the final book in the Kingdom of the Lost series, The Velvet City. Workshops and talks
WorkshopsMy Future Town – 90 minutes – max 15 -20 students.These workshops will be based on research I have been running at The University of Queensland as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow. They involve getting young people to use science fiction genre tools to write stories set in their own environments. In the workshop they would be using writing but also drawing and collaging, as we discuss the future. Preferably the session would not be age limited as it is very interesting and important for participants to see the different ways they relate to one another and to ideas and ideals of a future that will be made up of all of their ages. In my experience, the young students are lifted, and the older ones are often touched as well as protective and nurturing. The ideal, based on the workshops I have been running, would be a group of mixed ages from 11- 17. Required for workshop
Student pre-preparationBring a printout (or drawing) of a map of their home suburb or the suburb in which their school is situated TalksHow to write a dragon – why fantasy? – 45 minutesAn author talk covering my beginning to write my first book at 18, Obernewtyn, which was bought by the first publisher I sent it to, and short listed for the CBC Book of the year, and on through my career focusing on why and how I used the fantastic, with reference to books and stories I have written. The aim is to allow the audience to see how the tools of the fantastic can be used powerfully and beautifully to engage real world questions. |
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Reece CarterReece grew up on his family farm in Tammin, Western Australia. There was an unfortunate lack of witches and ghosts though, so Reece had to find them in books instead. Roald Dahl, Paul Jennings and Emily Rodda were some of his first favourite authors. When Reece moved away to boarding school at the age of eleven, he could regularly be found hiding in the library, tucked away in the corner with a good book. With the encouragement of his English teacher, Reece started writing his own stories. After a few years travelling overseas, Reece moved to Melbourne. But even while working as a nutritionist by day, Reece maintained a secret double life, continuing to write middle-grade novels by night. Now, he lives in Sydney and writes kids’ fiction full-time. When not reading or writing, Reece can usually be found talking to his dog Hagrid – and hoping that one of these days Hagrid might decide to talk back. A Girl Called Corpse is his debut novel. Workshops
Workshops45 mins – Primary Students – aged 8 to 12 years – up to 30 students. Reece guides attendees through making their own spook characters. Kids will be encouraged to think about the physical and non-physical attributes that go into creating memorable heroes and terrible villains. School requirements
Student Requirements
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Aleesah DarlisonAleesah Darlison is an award-winning author of over 65 books for children. She is known for her books that champion the cause of animals and the environment and for her stories that empower children. Aleesah has won or been shortlisted for many awards including the Book Excellence Awards, the Environment Award for Children’s Literature, the CBCA Awards, and the Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards. The Super Sloth Series, the League of Llamas Series, the Space Kids Series, and the Endangered Animal Tales Series are among Aleesah’s latest books. Workshops and talks
WorkshopsSuit class-sized groups of 20-25 students. Crank It Up – Techniques for Developing Exciting Narratives – 1 hour – Years 3 to Year 8In this inspirational and interactive workshop, Aleesah Darlison shows students how they can source and develop ideas for fresh, original stories. Delve into memories, dreams, the imagination, and life experiences to create plans for fictional stories. Bring It On – Writing Games – 45 minutes – Years 2 to Years 6It’s like the Olympics, only loads more fun! Join Aleesah Darlison for an exciting session of writing games. Enjoy Word Association, Rhyme Time, Alliteration, Character Creation and more in this fun, past-paced session. Laughs and prizes included! Creating Fantasy Characters & Worlds – 60 minutes – Years 4 to Year 8Explore the fantasy genre and learn how to create new worlds and unusual characters. Students will design a hero or villain to star in their own adventure. Participants also build a brand new fantasy world for their next story. Aleesah shows students how to create otherworld characters and build fantasy worlds. Turtle Dreaming – Alliteration & Haiku – Duration 45 mins. Suits K-Y4.Using her turtle picture books Poppy, the Punk Turtle and Emerald: The Green Turtle’s Tale as springboards, Aleesah Darlison helps children create an animal inspired haiku poem and drawing. Next Level Writing – Sensory Descriptions – Duration 1 hour. Suits Y4-Y10.Students will study the concept of 3-Dimensional writing, learning how to use their senses to create evocative scenes and descriptive passages. They will also learn how to ‘paint a story picture’ via the use of vivid imagery that feelings, places, and things can invoke. Standard room setup requirementsIt’s usually best if I’m based in one room and students can come to me in turn. This saves multiple setups. Presentation needs for the venue are as follows:
TalksYears 2 to 6. Laugh Out Loud Llamas Comedy Show – 45 minutes – Years 2 to 6Everybody loves llamas and in this LAUGH OUT LOUD session you’ll see why! League of Llamas (aka LOL) is Aleesah Darlison’s 4-book comedy series featuring llama secret agents. Hilarious hi-jinks and loads of audience participation feature in this interactive and inclusive show. Includes a multi-media PPT presentation. The Super Sloth Show – Yay! – 45 minutes – Years 2 to 6In this energetic session that features Aleesah Darlison’s new Super Sloth Series, we’ll look at heroes and villains and the key aspects of effective story settings. Includes loads of sloths, a sloth naming game, superhero antics, and a story plotting exercise. Includes a multi-media PPT presentation. Let’s Explore Space: The Final Frontier – 45 minutes – Years 2 to 6Blast off into outer space with Aleesah Darlison’s new Space Kids Series! Learn about space travel, the billionaire space race, discuss famous space characters through history, and draw your own alien. Includes a multi-media PPT presentation. |
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Will KostakisWill Kostakis is an award-winning author for young adults. He’s released several, but his mum insists it’s just a phase and any day now, he’ll pursue a real career. He signed his first book deal in high school. His contemporary novels, The First Third and The Sidekicks, warmed (then broke) hearts the world over. His first foray into fantasy, the Monuments duology, saw teenagers accidentally killing gods hidden under different Aussie high schools, absorbing their powers, and wrestling with what it means to be gods. His latest novel is the sweeping family epic, We Could Be Something. Workshops and talks
Workshops90 minutes – ideally for fewer than 30 people – high school only. Crafting VoiceThrough a series of hands-on and collaborative exercises, students will learn to capture voice and put it on the page. Elevating Your WritingWriting is rewriting, and students will be shown strategies to improve their first drafts. Talks – 45 mins – no audience size restrictionsBattling The Blank PageThis is a presentation for Years 3-6, taking them through how the book I started writing in Year 6 became the first novel I released when I was 19. It’s a light, fun talk, but I mix in practical writing advice and how to conjure ideas. I touch on my books Stuff Happens: Sean (also featured in A Lot Of Stuff Happens) and Monuments (Year 5-6+). No tech requirements. How I Got A Book Deal (and Other Accidents)An energetic presentation for high school aged students, taking them through my author journey and how I’ve turned my life into fiction. I touch on my books The First Third, The Sidekicks and my new release, We Could Be Something. No tech requirements. Reading To WriteA seminar tailored to Year 11 English syllabus. I’ll need a laptop/projector, I’ll bring a USB. The Craft of WritingA seminar tailored to Year 12 English syllabus. I’ll need a laptop/projector, I’ll bring a USB. |
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Lili WilkinsonLili Wilkinson is the author of eighteen books, including Green Valentine, After the Lights Go Out and The Erasure Initiative. She established insideadog.com.au and the Inky Awards at the Centre for Youth Literature, State Library of Victoria. Lili has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Melbourne, and now spends most of her time reading and writing books for teenagers. Her latest books are How to Make A Pet Monster and A Hunger of Thorns. Workshops and talks
Workshops20 Questions to a story – 90 mins – secondary students, years 7-12Lili will lead students in a series of activities where they will brainstorm a setting, character and plot for a new story. By the end of the session they’ll have a plot outline, an opening line and a planned ending. TalksMeet Lili Wilkinson – 45 minutes – secondary students, years 8 -12 Lili will outline her journey to becoming an author, describe her writing process and introduce some of her books. How to Make a Pet Monster – 45 minutes – primary students, years 1-4Lili will talk about her How To Make A Pet Monster series, and lead the children in a brainstorming activity where we’ll make our own pet monster. |
2023 Schools Program dates and times
The 2023 BRWF Schools Program will run on Wednesday 7th, Thursday 8th and Friday 9th June 2023.
All of the authors will be available on these days.
How to book a session for your school
- Complete the booking form below before 1st March 2023
- Preference your
- author
- date, and
- session type (workshop or talk)
- Choose your preferred session time
- morning or afternoon (at $330 inc gst), or
- both (at $660 inc gst)
- We’ll get back to you to finalise details
- You don’t need to pay at this stage – we’ll invoice you later
Schools Program 2023 Booking Form
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More information
Schools Program co-ordinators
Margaret Chaffey, phone 0419 216 707
Lynn Phillips, phone 0450 858 546
Rebecca Hollis 0421 438 171
Schools Program feedback
Anna Feinberg’s ability to relate to all ages of students and make the child feel like they could be the next author if they wanted. The ideas she gave them to become a writer. Bought my library lessons for the past term to life.
Coffs Harbour Public School.
On Thursday, Year 6 didn’t have any old English lesson. No, they had the English lesson of their dreams when the magnificently creative Oliver Phommavanh came and told us how to write a narrative. It was great to hear some advice, and it’s pretty cool to have someone famous come to our school. We learnt a lot of useful skills, the five-finger technique, the fear chart and the embarrassment-o-metre! Everybody had a great time!
Year Six Student, Bishop Druitt College Primary School
Alana Valentine’s ability to engage with the students and to offer honest and relevant insights into the texts and process. She was also able to discuss the dramatic elements and techniques and expand on how decisions were made to increase meaning within the play. Also being able to watch excerpts was amazing for the students as they will not be able to access this in regional areas.
Macksville High School
