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DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261003T100000
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DTSTAMP:20260812T045309Z
CREATED:20260812T044112Z
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UID:10033570-1791021600-1791025200@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:The Festival of Ice and Snow with Angie Cui
DESCRIPTION:Inspired by treasured childhood memories\, Angie Cui’s new picture book The Festival of Ice and Snow follows two children and their beloved grandpa as they explore one of the world’s most spectacular winter celebrations\, where glittering ice palaces\, towering sculptures and colourful lights transform the world around them into something truly magical. \nJoin Cui for this interactive Wheeler Kids session of storytelling and creative activities and celebrate the joy of sharing special moments with the people you love. \nRecommended for ages 5+ \nChildren 16 years old or under must be accompanied by a ticket-holding adult \nWheeler Kids is generously supported by George and Rosa Morstyn.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/the-festival-of-ice-and-snow-with-angie-cui/2026-10-03/1/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Children's Literature,The Wheeler Centre
ORGANIZER;CN="The Wheeler Centre":MAILTO:ticketing@wheelercentre.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261003T130000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261003T140000
DTSTAMP:20260812T045309Z
CREATED:20260812T044112Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T045309Z
UID:10033571-1791032400-1791036000@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:The Festival of Ice and Snow with Angie Cui
DESCRIPTION:Inspired by treasured childhood memories\, Angie Cui’s new picture book The Festival of Ice and Snow follows two children and their beloved grandpa as they explore one of the world’s most spectacular winter celebrations\, where glittering ice palaces\, towering sculptures and colourful lights transform the world around them into something truly magical. \nJoin Cui for this interactive Wheeler Kids session of storytelling and creative activities and celebrate the joy of sharing special moments with the people you love. \nRecommended for ages 5+ \nChildren 16 years old or under must be accompanied by a ticket-holding adult \nWheeler Kids is generously supported by George and Rosa Morstyn.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/the-festival-of-ice-and-snow-with-angie-cui/2026-10-03/2/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Children's Literature,The Wheeler Centre
ORGANIZER;CN="The Wheeler Centre":MAILTO:ticketing@wheelercentre.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261006T190000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261006T200000
DTSTAMP:20260812T044620Z
CREATED:20260812T044620Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T044620Z
UID:10033572-1791313200-1791316800@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Andrew O'Hagan: On Friendship
DESCRIPTION:We move through life in the company of others: childhood friends\, kindred spirits and chance encounters that become lasting bonds. Some friendships are forged over decades while others arrive unexpectedly\, changing us in an instant. \nIn Andrew O’Hagan’s celebrated genre-defying style\, his new essay collection On Friendship draws on a lifetime of connections – with friends\, writers\, artists\, strangers and even those on four legs – to explore what friendship can mean\, and why it matters. Described by critics as ‘joyous’ and ‘heartfelt but intelligent’\, O’Hagan employs his characteristic wit to capture an optimistic portrait of all the many ways people find one another. \nBring a friend and join O’Hagan for an intimate conversation about the bonds that shape us and the enduring value of friendship. With host Marieke Hardy. \nPresented in partnership with RMIT University
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/andrew-ohagan-on-friendship/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:The Wheeler Centre
ORGANIZER;CN="The Wheeler Centre":MAILTO:ticketing@wheelercentre.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261009T200000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261009T213000
DTSTAMP:20260812T045038Z
CREATED:20260812T045038Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T045038Z
UID:10033573-1791576000-1791581400@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Speaking to Pictures
DESCRIPTION:Melbourne Alternative Comics Expo (MAKE) is a new festival celebrating all things comics\, graphic novels and graphic storytelling. \nFor their opening gala\, host Aaron Billings welcomes a line-up of critically acclaimed and experimental graphic greats – Rachel Ang\, Eloise Grills\, Mandy Ord\, Joshua Santospirito\, Bailey Sharp and Shaun Tan – who will each take the stage for a live reading of their comics accompanied by projected artwork. \nJoin the artists for a toast and an evening of stories brought vividly to life before MAKE unfolds across the city over an inspiring weekend. \nPresented in partnership with Melbourne Alternative Comics Expo 
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/speaking-to-pictures/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Comics and Graphic Novels,The Wheeler Centre
ORGANIZER;CN="The Wheeler Centre":MAILTO:ticketing@wheelercentre.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261010T100000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261010T160000
DTSTAMP:20260806T013242Z
CREATED:20260727T050815Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T013242Z
UID:10033479-1791626400-1791648000@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Memoir as Catharsis
DESCRIPTION:This workshop is an introduction to the practice of writing therapy to help process difficult emotions like grief and trauma. \nThrough free writing exercises\, participants explore challenging life events in an emotionally safe and supportive way. The session has a strong focus on writing craft and skill acquisition to help soften the emotional sting of difficult subject matter\, freeing participants to make art from suffering\, to turn poison into power.  \nWhether writing for an audience\, or purely for personal purposes\, participants learn simple and tested techniques to bring writing to life and to give personal stories universal resonance. \nBy the end of the session\, participants embark on their long-form personal writing project with confidence and the tools to do so in a way that empowers them to reframe life events to promote healing\, acceptance and meaning.   \nCourse requirements: pen and paper or a fully charged device to participate in the writing exercises. \nYou Will Learn:\n\nHow to get unstuck and achieve a flow state with your writing practice\nHow to evoke all the senses so that writing conjures a multi-dimensional world\nHow to move from feeling like a puppet having strings pulled by life\, to become the puppet master and author of your own story\nHow to identify the elements of the personal journey that will make for compelling narrative non-fiction\nThe fundamentals of free writing as a tool to process life’s challenges\n\nAbout the Tutor:\nTim Baker is an award-winning journalist and a best-selling author. His latest book Patting The Shark documents his journey managing a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Tim wrote Patting The Shark as part of a creative writing PhD scholarship from Griffith University. He is a former editor of Tracks\, Surfing Life and Slow Living magazines\, and a two-time winner of the Surfing Australia Hall of Fame Culture Award. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone\, the Sydney Morning Herald\, the Australian Financial Review\, the Sunday Age\, the Bulletin\, Inside Sport\, GQ\, and Text Journal.  \nNote: Memoir as Catharsis is based upon Tim’s own academic research into writing therapy as part of a creative writing PhD\, his lived experience as a cancer survivor who has used personal memoir as a potent source of catharsis and his lived experience as an author and journalist over 40 years.  \nThis workshop is not intended to replace personal psychotherapy or counselling\, but can be a helpful adjuvant practice to support the therapeutic process. 
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/memoir-as-catharsis/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:The Wheeler Centre,Writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261011T100000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261011T130000
DTSTAMP:20260806T013904Z
CREATED:20260727T051213Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T013904Z
UID:10033480-1791712800-1791723600@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Creative Journalling: A Forest of Things
DESCRIPTION:This workshop invites participants to explore journalling as a space for play\, reflection\, meditation and artistic experimentation. \nInspired by artists’ books\, zines\, comics and visual journals\, participants will learn to combine words and images to tell stories in new ways. Participants will experiment with short form writing\, collage\, sketching\, mapping\, lists and fragments.   \nNo prior artistic experience is required – the emphasis of this workshop is on creativity\, experimentation and personal expression.  \nAbout keeping journals: journalling is a practice in both senses: a ritual that is repeated and a tool for growth. By copying down passages that pique\, provoke or inspire curiosity\, we can study the rhythms of other writers while cultivating our own rhythm and voice. Journalling allows us to reflect and respond to others’ words (and art). Later\, journals can become archives and artifacts\, time capsules of the period in which they were kept.  \nYou Will Learn:\n\nHow to develop journaling both as a ritual and a tool for growth\nHow to weave visual elements (collage\, sketching\, mapping) and words\nHow to use journals as a time capsule or archive for writing projects\n\nAbout the Tutor:\nSimmone Howell is a highly awarded author. Her debut\, Notes from the Teenage Underground\, claimed the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award\, and her co-authored novel Take Three Girls (with Fiona Wood and Cath Crowley) won the 2017 CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers and earned a spot in the White Ravens International Youth Library Catalogue. Simmone has received grants from Creative Victoria and Creative Australia\, and her non-fiction on adolescence has been featured in The Age Spectrum\, The Conversation\, Island\, Overland and Kill Your Darlings. She holds a PhD in creative writing from La Trobe University and has taught at RMIT\, Melbourne University\, Writers Victoria and Faber Academy. Visit her website: simmonehowell.com.au 
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/creative-journalling-a-forest-of-things/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Comics and Graphic Novels,Education,The Wheeler Centre,Writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261014T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261014T193000
DTSTAMP:20260812T045234Z
CREATED:20260812T045234Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T045234Z
UID:10033574-1792002600-1792006200@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Stephen Fishbach: Escape!
DESCRIPTION:What happens when the promise of reinvention collides with the ruthless machinery of reality television? \nDrawing on his own experience as a two-time Survivor contestant\, Stephen Fishbach’s sharply observed novel Escape! follows a washed-up reality television star and a disgraced producer\, each chasing a second chance on a new survival show where every contestant has been cast as a type\, every storyline has been carefully engineered and the stakes soon become far greater than anyone imagined. \nJoin Fishbach with host Veronica Sullivan for a conversation about the blurred boundaries between performance and authenticity and what our appetite for spectacle reveals about contemporary culture. 
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/stephen-fishbach-escape/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:The Wheeler Centre
ORGANIZER;CN="The Wheeler Centre":MAILTO:ticketing@wheelercentre.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261015T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261015T193000
DTSTAMP:20260812T233906Z
CREATED:20260812T230855Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T233906Z
UID:10033575-1792089000-1792092600@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Susan Orlean: Joyride
DESCRIPTION:Acclaimed writer Susan Orlean returns to Melbourne to reflect on a remarkable career of curiosity and storytelling.\nSusan Orlean is widely regarded as one of the great narrative non-fiction writers of her generation. Best known for The Orchid Thief – turned into the popular 2002 film Adaptation – and The Library Book\, she has also spent decades as a beloved writer for The New Yorker. Guided by an insatiable curiosity\, she has built a remarkable career finding extraordinary stories in unexpected places. \nIn Joyride\, Orlean turns her keen eye towards her own life\, reflecting on a body of work shaped by curiosity\, observation and an enduring fascination with the people and world around her. Hailed by David Sedaris as ‘wise and exuberant’\, the book is both a celebration of a life in writing and a testament to the wonder that comes from paying close attention. \nJoin Orlean in conversation with host Jaclyn Crupi as she reflects on the art of finding stories worth telling.  
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/susan-orlean-joyride/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:The Wheeler Centre
ORGANIZER;CN="The Wheeler Centre":MAILTO:ticketing@wheelercentre.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261020T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261020T193000
DTSTAMP:20260812T231113Z
CREATED:20260812T231113Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T231113Z
UID:10033576-1792521000-1792524600@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Li Cunxin: The Lucky Son
DESCRIPTION:Li Cunxin\, one of the world’s most acclaimed ballet dancers and cultural leaders\, lifts the curtain on his much-anticipated second memoir\, The Lucky Son.\nBorn into a poor rural family in the People’s Republic of China\, Li Cunxin grew up under Mao Zedong’s rule during the formation of the new communist nation. His extraordinary talent saw him selected to train at the Beijing Dance Academy before he was chosen to study at the Houston Ballet. After defecting to the United States\, Li moved to Australia in 1995. \nHis memoir\, Mao’s Last Dancer\, was published in 2003 to critical acclaim and later adapted into the celebrated 2009 film\, introducing audiences around the world to his remarkable journey. In his second memoir\, The Lucky Son\, Li reflects on the next chapter of his life – from his illustrious career in Australia to the challenges and opportunities of migration\, family and belonging.  \nHe joins Tim Byrne to share his extraordinary story and reflect on the enduring power of the arts to change lives.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/li-cunxin-the-lucky-son/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:The Wheeler Centre
ORGANIZER;CN="The Wheeler Centre":MAILTO:ticketing@wheelercentre.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261022T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261022T193000
DTSTAMP:20260812T232240Z
CREATED:20260812T232240Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T232240Z
UID:10033578-1792693800-1792697400@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Josh Frydenberg in Conversation
DESCRIPTION:Josh Frydenberg opens up on family\, leadership\, the demands of public life and the changing nature of politics and civic discourse.\nA formative figure in the Abbott\, Turnbull and Morrison governments and a former deputy leader of the Liberal party\, Josh Frydenberg (A Grateful Son) stood at the centre of Australian politics during a period of significant economic and political upheaval. \nAs Treasurer\, he oversaw many consequential economic decisions that have shaped the nation’s recent history\, including the unprecedented emergency support measures and recovery efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic. \nFor this edition of The Fifth Estate\, Frydenberg joins host Sally Warhaft to reflect on his decade in public life\, from governing through a global crisis to his transition to life after politics and his efforts to combat hate and antisemitism.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/josh-frydenberg-in-conversation/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:The Wheeler Centre
ORGANIZER;CN="The Wheeler Centre":MAILTO:ticketing@wheelercentre.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261023T100000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261023T113000
DTSTAMP:20260806T013717Z
CREATED:20260806T012837Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T013717Z
UID:10033548-1792749600-1792755000@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Capturing Your Family Stories
DESCRIPTION:Few things are more precious than hearing a loved one share the stories that matter most to them\, especially when those memories are passed down through generations. In this beginner-friendly workshop\, experienced podcaster Nina Fromhold guides participants through the art of capturing life stories. Attendees will learn how to ask engaging interview questions\, navigate the basics of audio recording and preserve personal histories with care.\n\n\n\nThrough a supportive process\, clear structure and an interactive format with interview tools\, you will gain the confidence to start recording and saving your family’s history and those special life moments. \nCourse requirements: bring pen and paper or a fully charged device to participate in the writing exercises. \nYou Will Learn:\n\nHow to structure an interview\nHow to do active listening and support your storyteller\nHow to work with storytellers to ensure they feel proud of their final story\nWhat makes a great interview question\n\nAbout the Tutor:\nNina Fromhold is the founder of Memory Lane Life Stories\, a Melbourne-based business that makes life story audio recordings for families. Since 2018\, she has been making high-quality life stories in private recordings. Nina has an extensive background in community engagement and created Memory Lane Life Stories to have more conversations about the moments that matter. 
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/memoir-as-catharsis-2/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261024T100000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261025T130000
DTSTAMP:20260806T014150Z
CREATED:20260806T013128Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T014150Z
UID:10033549-1792836000-1792933200@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Navigating the Publishing Maze
DESCRIPTION:This comprehensive two-day workshop covers publishing traditional and self-publishing options as well as everything in-between.\n\n\n\n \nIn this workshop\, author and publisher Les Zigomanis explains what traditional\, self\, indie and partnership publishing models are. He explores the pitfalls\, how to spot scams and what questions to ask so that you find the best possible publishing option for your book.  \nUsing his years of experience in the industry\, he will show tips and tricks to prepare the manuscript\, how to spot a scam\, talk about query letters and what to expect if a tradional publisher is interested in your book.  \nParticipants will leave the course with information on what’s the best fit for their book\, how to prepare the course of action and what to avoid. \nThis is the publishing course every writer needs. \nYou Will Learn:\n\nThe difference between traditional and self-publishing\nThe danger of self-publishing\nHow to submit to traditional publishers\nHow to set yourself up for self-publishing\nHow AI fits in the current publishing landscape\n\nAbout the Tutor:\n​​Les Zigomanis is an author and screenwriter. He’s had six novels published\, and his short stories and articles have appeared in print and digital journals. He’s also had four screenplays optioned and a raft of screenplays place in numerous competitions. He has worked in publishing for the last twenty years\, firs as an editor and publications manager and\, for the last five years\, as a production coordinator. \n\n\n\n\n 
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/creative-journalling-a-forest-of-things-2/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Writers
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261027T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261027T194500
DTSTAMP:20260812T232436Z
CREATED:20260812T232436Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T232436Z
UID:10033579-1793125800-1793130300@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:China and the New World Order
DESCRIPTION:Journalist Cheng Lei and the University of Melbourne’s Professor of Contemporary Chinese Studies Anthony J. Spires explore the domestic and global tensions shaping China’s future.\nChina’s growing influence is reshaping the global landscape\, with far-reaching implications for economics\, technology and international relations. As alliances shift and tensions evolve\, understanding China’s ambitions – and how its people and the world are responding – has never been more vital. \nJoin journalist Cheng Lei (A Memoir of Freedom) and the University of Melbourne’s Professor of Contemporary Chinese Studies Anthony J. Spires (Everyday Democracy) for a timely conversation about China’s place in the world today. Drawing on Cheng’s experiences reporting from inside the country and Spires’ research into Chinese politics and society\, they will explore the forces shaping the nation’s domestic and global trajectory. \nFor this inaugural event in our new Scholarship to Society series\, Cheng and Spires examine questions of power\, democracy and influence – and what a new world order might mean for Australia. With host Associate Professor Louisa Lim\, Deputy Director at the Centre for Advancing Journalism. \n  \nPresented in partnership with Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative\, Faculty of Arts\, the University of Melbourne 
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/china-and-the-new-world-order/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:The Wheeler Centre
ORGANIZER;CN="The Wheeler Centre":MAILTO:ticketing@wheelercentre.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261029T183000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261029T193000
DTSTAMP:20260812T234423Z
CREATED:20260812T234423Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T234423Z
UID:10033581-1793298600-1793302200@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Josh Silver: Fruit Fly
DESCRIPTION:Join British novelist Josh Silver for a conversation about his novel that has everyone talking.\nFacing writer’s block and a floundering literary career\, Mallory makes a desperate decision to stay relevant: go gay\, go sad and go dark. Those are the ingredients for a bestseller\, after all. All she needs now is a story. \nWhen she meets Leo\, a young man struggling with addiction\, Mallory believes she has found exactly the material she’s been looking for – a life that is authentically queer\, heartbreakingly sad and undeniably marketable. \nTold through alternating perspectives\, Josh Silver’s Fruit Fly raises urgent questions about authenticity\, identity and the commodification of someone else’s experiences. He joins host Michael Sun to discuss his debut adult novel described by Juno Dawson as ‘savage and darkly hilarious’.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/josh-silver-fruit-fly/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:The Wheeler Centre
ORGANIZER;CN="The Wheeler Centre":MAILTO:ticketing@wheelercentre.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261031T100000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261031T120000
DTSTAMP:20260812T234648Z
CREATED:20260812T234606Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T234648Z
UID:10033582-1793440800-1793448000@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Shut Up and Write!
DESCRIPTION:Writing is often treated as something you do alone. The Wheeler Centre offers an alternative: write alongside others\, without comparison or competition. \nOver the years\, the phrase ‘shut up and write’ has travelled widely. What began as a simple\, practical mantra has become a global movement embraced by writers seeking focus\, accountability and a sense of shared purpose. At its heart is a straightforward idea: set aside distractions\, gather in a welcoming space and dedicate time to the page.  \nShut Up and Write! sessions at The Wheeler Centre are open to writers of all kinds – from novelists and poets to academics\, journalists and anyone keen to get words on the page. No critiquing and no pressure to share your work. Instead\, the emphasis is on carving out protected time to write within a supportive community.  \nWhether you’re starting something new or returning to a long-awaited draft\, these sessions offer structure\, camaraderie and the quiet motivation that comes from writing together.  \nHosted by Xanthea O’Connor. \n  \nPresented in partnership with Writers Victoria
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/shut-up-and-write-2/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:The Wheeler Centre
ORGANIZER;CN="The Wheeler Centre":MAILTO:ticketing@wheelercentre.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261107T100000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261107T160000
DTSTAMP:20260806T015657Z
CREATED:20260806T014415Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T015657Z
UID:10033550-1794045600-1794067200@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Developing a Manuscript to Publishing Standard
DESCRIPTION:To give a manuscript the greatest chance of success\, it needs to be developed to the highest possible standard. This process takes multiple drafts\, feedback along the way and no small amount of patience and determination – welcome to the development phase.\n\n\n\n\nDesigned for writers who have finished at least one full draft of their manuscript\, this workshop equips participants with the practical and emotional skills needed to navigate the long and winding path to publication. \nParticipants explore the stages of manuscript development (from writers’ drafts to readers’ draft)\, including tips and strategies to maximise the leap forward in the next draft. \nThe workshop also covers how to seek and manage feedback\, building resilience\, sustaining creative energy\, knowing when a manuscript is ready for submission to agents and publishers\, and surviving rejection. \nNote: This workshop is for writers of fiction and narrative non-fiction who have a complete draft of their manuscript. \nYou Will Learn:\n\nTips and strategies to maximise the leap forward in your next draft\nTips and strategies for seeking and managing feedback\nTips and strategies for getting your work in front of agents and publishers\nTips and strategies for dealing with the sometimes-tricky emotional terrain of manuscript development\n\nAbout the Tutor:\nLaurel Cohn is a book editor passionate about communication and the power of stories in our lives. As a developmental editor\, assessor and writing coach she has been helping writers prepare their work for publication for over three decades. She is a regular workshop presenter for Writers Victoria\, Writing NSW\, Queensland Writers Centre and Byron Writers Festival. She has a PhD in Literary and Cultural Studies.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/developing-a-manuscript-to-publishing-standard/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Education
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261114T100000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261114T160000
DTSTAMP:20260806T015651Z
CREATED:20260806T014701Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T015651Z
UID:10033551-1794650400-1794672000@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Tools and Tricks of Commercial Fiction
DESCRIPTION:No matter what chosen style or genre\, there is so much to learn from commercial fiction: build great worlds like a fantasy author\, learn to pace like a crime writer\, access your characters’ emotional landscape like a romance author or build tension like a horror writer.\n\n\n\n\nJoin publishing professional Kate Cuthbert to develop tools to invigorate craft skills with concrete examples\, in-class practice and fantastic reading list to keep exploring and expanding these principles at home. \nYou Will Learn:\n\nHow to recognise and use point of view\nHow to develop momentum and maintain pacing\nHow to build a convincing world\nWhere to begin and where to end your story\n\nAbout the Tutor:\nKate Cuthbert is a publishing industry consultant with 20 years’ experience across the sector. She has held senior roles at Books+Publishing\, Pantera Press and Writers Victoria\, and she launched the Escape Publishing imprint at Harlequin Australia. Her book on the creation\, impact and language of book covers and titles\, How to Judge a Book by its Cover\, was released in 2025. She is the founder and editorial director of Enough Trope\, a literary journal and podcast about genre fiction in Australia.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/tools-and-tricks-of-commercial-fiction/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Education
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261115T100000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261115T130000
DTSTAMP:20260806T015641Z
CREATED:20260806T014909Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T015641Z
UID:10033552-1794736800-1794747600@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Writing Place and Belonging
DESCRIPTION:In this three-hour workshop\, participants learn selected craft techniques with a focus on the importance of writing place to ground\, deepen their work.\n\n\n\n\nThrough selected readings and examples\, participants have the opportunity to discuss the relationship between place and belonging and try a range of activities and writing exercises focusing on landscape and description\, including close observations of people and home. \nThe workshop is open to writers of fiction and non-fiction\, including short fiction and long-form fiction writers\, and writers working in other forms such as non-fiction essays\, poetry\, graphic narratives and hybrid work. \nThis session is an excellent opportunity to inspire new work\, or to continue building a piece of writing with a focus on deepening place and belonging. \nYou Will Learn:\n\nTo look closer at the layers of writing place\nTo consider the relationship between people\, place and belonging\nTo consider how place can influence atmosphere\, tone\, and mood\nTo practise immersive observation of place\n\nAbout the Tutor:\nSuzanne Hermanoczki is a Meanjin/Brisbane-born\, Naarm/Melbourne-based award-winning writer\, creative writing teacher and academic\, of Argentine and Hungarian descent. She holds a PhD\, a Master’s degree and postgraduate studies in Creative Writing from the University of Melbourne and The University of Hong Kong\, respectively. Her writing centres around place\, home/land\, cultural identity\, post/memory\, the immigrant experience and journey. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including Cha\, Going Down Swinging\, Meanjin\, Overland\, Puentes Review\, Sobremesa\, SWAMP\, TEXT\, Varnish Literary Journal\, Westerly\, and HKU and Verge Anthologies. Suzanne has worked as a tertiary educator for many years and is currently co-director of Writing Days\, a creative writing society based in Merri-Bek.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/writing-place-and-belonging/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Education,Writers
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261122T140000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261122T170000
DTSTAMP:20260806T015636Z
CREATED:20260806T015115Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T015636Z
UID:10033553-1795356000-1795366800@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:The Mind at Work: Writing the Literary Essay
DESCRIPTION:This hands-on workshop invites participants to explore the contemporary essay and its boundless possibilities.\n\n\n\n\nThe contemporary literary essay serves as a designated space to try\, fail and try again. It is a venue for interior wandering\, questioning\, doubting and prioritising inquiry over definitive answers. \nWidely regarded as the most private of literary exercises\, essay writing requires vulnerability\, exhumes parts of the self for the reader\, and demands radical trust. A compelling essay mimics the experience of watching another mind at work. \nOver the course of this workshop\, participants will examine masterworks by Teju Cole\, Kristin Dombek\, Jenny Erpenbeck and Kate Evans to observe how these writers trial their thoughts before testing their own. Through exercises\, diagrams\, arguments and punchlines\, participants will have the opportunity to develop new work. \nCourse requierements: bring pen and paper or a fully charge devide to participate in the writing exercises. \nYou Will Learn:\n\nThe breadth and scope of the literary essay\nHow moving from concrete details to abstract reflections can build a sense of intimacy\nThe value of a community of readers whose aspirations align with your own\n​​To honour the elements of every life\, no matter how grand or small\, that make for compelling writing\n\nAbout the Tutor:\nRaeden Richardson is a writer of essays and novels. His debut novel\, The Degenerates was nominated for the Miles Franklin Award\, the ALS Gold Medal and the Voss Literary Award. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop\, his writing has appeared in New Australian Fiction\, Meanjin\, Griffith Review and The Sydney Morning Herald.
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/the-mind-at-work-writing-the-literary-essay/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:Education,Writers
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261128T100000
DTEND;TZID=Australia/Melbourne:20261128T150000
DTSTAMP:20260812T234921Z
CREATED:20260812T234921Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T234921Z
UID:10033585-1795860000-1795878000@cityofliterature.com.au
SUMMARY:Shut Up and Write!
DESCRIPTION:Writing is often treated as something you do alone. The Wheeler Centre offers an alternative: write alongside others\, without comparison or competition. \nOver the years\, the phrase ‘shut up and write’ has travelled widely. What began as a simple\, practical mantra has become a global movement embraced by writers seeking focus\, accountability and a sense of shared purpose. At its heart is a straightforward idea: set aside distractions\, gather in a welcoming space and dedicate time to the page.  \nShut Up and Write! sessions at The Wheeler Centre are open to writers of all kinds – from novelists and poets to academics\, journalists and anyone keen to get words on the page. No critiquing and no pressure to share your work. Instead\, the emphasis is on carving out protected time to write within a supportive community.  \nWhether you’re starting something new or returning to a long-awaited draft\, these sessions offer structure\, camaraderie and the quiet motivation that comes from writing together.  \nHosted by Xanthea O’Connor. \n  \nPresented in partnership with Writers Victoria
URL:https://cityofliterature.com.au/event/shut-up-and-write-5/
LOCATION:The Wheeler Centre\, 176 Little Lonsdale Street\, Melbourne\, Victoria\, 3000\, Australia
CATEGORIES:The Wheeler Centre
ORGANIZER;CN="The Wheeler Centre":MAILTO:ticketing@wheelercentre.com
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END:VCALENDAR