The Week That Was with Writing WA: Monday 30 September
Our weekly roundup, in pictures, of Writing WA' various events and other activities
A Visit to the New Beaufort Street Books
We caught up with bookseller Jane Seaton at Beaufort Street Books’ spacious new home on the corner of Beaufort and Vincent in Mt Lawley. Light, airy and, in our opinion, with a distinctly Scandinavian vibe, this reinvention of a Western Australian classic is destined for Great Things. Here’s a fascinating video of Jane and Laurie Steed chatting in situ. Don’t miss the timelapse section showing the human conveyor belt in action!
Dr Marion Kickett joins Writing WA’s Board
We officially welcomed respected Balardong Noongar Elder, writer and academic Dr Marion Kickett to our Board. Born in the Wheatbelt town of York, Marion spent her early years living on the York Reserve. After completing two bachelor’s degrees, Marion completed her PhD at The University of Western Australia on ‘Resilience’ from an Aboriginal perspective, using an Aboriginal methodology. Marion has previously worked in the areas of public health and academia for 30 years. This photograph shows Marion in the powerful Two Mountains Dreaming, produced as part of the York Festival in 2022 and the precursor to WA Opera’s Wundig wer Wilura, which itself was performed in York just over a week ago after premiering at His Majesty’s Theatre earlier this year.
the little journal in York!
Speaking of York, that town’s famous Barclay Books (yes, it was featured in the second season of The Twelve, filmed in York) now stocks copies of Writing WA’s speculative fiction anthology, the little journal. Although bookseller and owner Clayton Smith seems somewhat unsure about exactly where to place it on his shelves…
Once more in York…
Writing WA Board member and accomplished poet Shey Marque was in town, performing her work with York dancer Lynn Boon at The Rookery. It’s not every day you see a work specifically for spoken word poetry and dance, and Saturday was it. Intimate, evocative and unique.
A Workshop with Sasha Wasley
WA author Sasha Wasley (whose latest book, coincidentally, is set in York) delivered her masterclass I’m Every Woman: Writing strong female characters with Sasha Wasley to much acclaim. Just so you can lament having missed this one, here’s the original pitch:
“Writers of women's fiction, romance and commercial fiction, as well as male/non-binary writers who want to get an insight into how to write a strong female character - this one's for you!
”Whether your female character is a warrior, a princess, a stay-at-home mum or a CEO, you want her to be memorable, complex, flawed and (at least eventually) empowered. So, how do you strike the right note with today's discerning and politically aware readers?
”In this masterclass, Sasha will take you on a deep dive into archetypes, gender, intersectionality and generation when it comes to writing female protagonists. We'll do post-mortems on some famous female characters, interrogate roles and stereotyping, and try some fascinating activities around developing your own complex FMCs.”
Changing the Conversation: Stories in all Spaces
This was also the week in which we officially launched our latest DLGSCI-funded project. Changing the Conversation: Stories in All Spaces is a groundbreaking initiative which aims to build new bridges between writing and other creative fields, offering a series of immersive, often experimental experiences designed to reshape how literature is perceived across the community.
This initiative perfectly aligns with Writing WA’s long-term vision to see the incredible work of our writers, poets and illustrators more fully integrated into a larger cross-disciplinary conversation where collaboration is key.
Through partnerships with 10 local organisations between 2024 and 2025, the Writing WA team will deliver over 2,000 literary encounters, featuring 122 Western Australian voices across diverse and unexpected spaces. Audiences will explore unusual connections between literature and other artforms, highlighting the interdependence between writing and practices like science, architecture, and music.
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