Watchwords

The Brisbane Writers Festival 2014!

The big tent on the Maiwar Green between the State Library of Queensland and the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) - seen here in the background - is home to the BWF's Festival Club with FREE sessions all afternoon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and long into the night. There are drinks and munchies in the tent for the thirsty and hungry. To get there, walk along the Plaza under the atrium on Level 1 to the end of the building where the Knowledge Walk meets the path to GOMA outside SLQ. Follow the path to the tent – you can’t miss it. (Photo courtesy of the Brisbane Writers Festival)

Watchwords

Welcome to the Poor Woman's Guide to the Brisbane Writers Festival

 

The festival runs from Wednesday, 3 September 2014 to Sunday, 7 September 2014

 

   

 

Watching our Stories Unfold: reading, writing and challenging ideas in the sub-tropical City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

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To BOOK ONLINE and check out the 2014 program, go to http://www.bwf.org.au, and to read a MINI PROFILE ON BWF WRITERS go to the biography and session page at http://bwf.org.au/2014-writers.

Check out the UPDATE PAGE on the BWF website at http://bwf.org.au/2014-program/updates to ensure that these sessions have not already been filled (many sessions have been), and to find out about any updates and changes to the program. The BWF BOX OFFICE will operate daily during the festival from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. at the State Library of Queensland on Level 1 (the ground floor Plaza on the main entrance level), near the BWF Information Desk.

Sessions and Publishing Seminars on this page range from $20–$35

FRIDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER 2014

PUBLISHING SEMINAR: A GUIDE TO SELF-PUBLISHING. COST: $25–$35. WHO: Caylie Jeffery, Darrell Pitt, Ben Aitchison, Leonie Tyle, Queensland Writers Centre. WHERE: Now relocated to the Queensland Museum Lecture Theatre, South Bank Cultural Precinct (next to the Queensland Art Gallery). WHEN: 3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. WHAT: The Queensland Writers Centre leads a panel of self-publishing experts, from authors who found success publishing independently, to printers and digital vendors with tips to help you achieve your goals. 

DANGEROUS ALLIES. COST: $25–$35. WHO: Malcolm Fraser, Robert Manne. WHERE: Ithaca Auditorium, Brisbane City Hall. WHEN: 6.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. WHAT: Do we need the U.S. for defence, or do we need defence because of the U.S.? Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser talks with Robert Manne about Australia’s history of strategic dependence on the U.S., our regional security, and the way forward for a truly independent Australia.

ANALOGUE MEN (AND THEY’RE GRUMPY). COST: $20–$25. WHO: Nick Earls, Michael Robotham, David Hunt, Tim Ferguson. WHERE: Auditorium 1, Level 2, SLQ. WHEN: 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. (really? – might be typo – 7.00 p.m.?) WHAT: Grumpy middle-aged men Nick, Michael, David and Tim, declare a hashtag-free zone in an hilarious (hour?) session of moan-bonding about pop culture, generations and the endless march of internet memes.

LITERARY VAUDEVILLE SHOW FEATURING DAVE EGGERS (ET AL). COST: $25–$30. WHO: A witty and dazzling literary cabaret featuring an incendiary international lineup of performers, including bestselling author Dave Eggers.   WHERE: Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm. WHEN: 8.00 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.  WHAT: Join Dave Eggers, authors, poets, musicians, and performers from the 2014 Brisbane Writers Festival in the Literary Vaudeville Show, a monument to the seductive nature of language. No applause please; just throw money! Well, maybe a little applause. For more info on the artists involved, check http://www.bwf.org.au.

SATURDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER 2014

PUBLISHING SEMINAR: SO, YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK. COST: $25–$35. WHO: Meg Vann, Angela Slater, Robert Edeson, Kelly Higgins-Devine. WHERE: Queensland Art Gallery Lecture Theatre, South Bank Cultural Precinct. WHEN: 1.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. WHAT: 612 ABC’s Kelly Higgins-Devine interviews a panel of publishing industry experts about the process of developing and polishing your manuscript, where to turn for feedback and what’s involved in editing your book.

PUBLISHING SEMINAR: DIGITAL BOOKS – NOW AND NEXT. COST: $25–$35. WHO: Simon Groth, Richard Nash, Malcolm Neil. WHERE: The Gallery, Level 2, SLQ. WHEN: 1.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. WHAT: Yet again the battlelines are drawn between Amazon and major publishers, and even some authors. As the eBook market rapidly matures, what are the opportunities for writers? if:book Australia’s Simon Groth speaks with U.S. publishing expert Richard Nash and Malcolm Neil of Kobo Books.

INSPIRE: ADVENTURE. COST: $20–$25. WHO: Tony Wheeler, Bradley L. Garrett, Mark Visser. WHERE: The Edge, SQL. WHEN: 2.00 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. WHAT: Three tales of thrilling adventure and exploration from intrepid voyagers. Tony Wheeler, founder of Lonely Planet, Bradley L. Garrett ‘place hacker’, and big wave surfer Mark Visser, share what it’s like to go where others fear to tread.

BETTY CHURCHER: AUSTRALIAN NOTEBOOKS. COST: $20–$25. WHO: Bettty Churcher, Chris Saines. WHERE: The Edge, SLQ. WHEN: 4.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.  WHAT: Chris Saines, director of QAGOMA, talks with Betty Churcher, one of Australia’s most-loved cultural commentators, as she revisits some of the artworks she cherishes most, and invites us to look afresh at the treasures to be found in Australian galleries.

GOOD THINKING: TARA MOSS – The Virgin, the Whore & the Witch. COST: $20–$25. WHO: Tara Moss. WHERE: Auditorium 1, Level 2, SLQ. WHEN: 6.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. WHAT: Crime writer Tara Moss has worn many labels in her time, including author, model, gold-digger, dumb blonde, feminist, and mother. In this insightful and witty lecture, Tara explores the historical and cultural underpinnings of our perceptions of women and the contemporary challenges of everyday sexism and discrimination women still face.

SUNDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2014 

PUBLISHING SEMINAR: SO, YOU WANT TO GET PUBLISHED. COST: $25–$35. WHO: Kelly Higgins-Devine, Catherine Drayton, Sophie Hamley, Peter Ball. WHERE: Queensland Art Gallery Lecture Theatre, South Bank Cultural Precinct. WHEN: 11.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. WHAT: For those who have written a book, 612 ABC’s Kelly Higgins-Devine introduces you to a panel of Australian and international literary agents and publishers, who will explain the process and opportunities for becoming a published author. Your panellists are Catherine Drayton, Sophie Hamley and Peter Ball. 

GOOD THINKING: BOB BROWN – Optimism. COST: $20–$25. WHO: Bob Brown. WHERE: Auditorium 1, Level 2, SLQ. WHEN: 1.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. WHAT: Bob Brown talks about his optimism for conservation and social change in the future, giving insight into how communities and individuals can tackle the challenges of our age with positivity and purpose.

GOOD THINKING: DAVIDMARR – Inequality. COST: $20–$25. WHO: David Marr, Brigid Delaney. WHERE: Auditorium 1, Level 2, SLQ. WHEN: 4.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. WHAT: Brigid Delaney introduces political and social commentator David Marr, who will tackle the pressing and controversial topic of inequality.

 

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Skulduggery rules in the Maiwar Tent!