NorthWrite 2019: Expanding Horizons

Conference Overview

NorthWrite 2019 will be held at Barge Showgrounds Events Centre, Whangarei. It will open with a mihi and meet-and-greet event on Friday 30 August. The conference will take place on Saturday 31 August and Sunday 1 September.

Initial registrations are for the full conference only. Day tickets will become available from 1 August. If places are still available for individual sessions towards the end of August, we will announce this shortly before registrations close.

Tickets for the conference dinner on the Saturday evening are discounted if purchased with a full conference ticket. They can be also purchased separately at the full price.

NorthWrite 2019 has been organised into parallel streams, designed to reflect the interests of our writing community. Participants may choose to attend sessions within or across streams when they book for the conference. Presentations, other than masterclasses, are scheduled in 1.5 hour sessions. Masterclasses are 3 hours long, covered over 2 sessions.

NorthWrite 2019 streams

• Publishing – this stream focuses on information about publishing, with ebook publishing covered on Saturday and print publishing on Sunday.
• Writing techniques – this stream caters for a range of writers. There are sessions on writing for children, non-fiction, fiction writing and self-editing.
• Masterclasses – this stream is designed for experienced fiction writers, poets and editors. They have been planned to give experienced writers, poets and editors opportunities to engage in in-depth discussions about their craft. The masterclasses are restricted to a limited number of participants to ensure a high level of engagement.
• Conversations – this stream provides opportunities for participants to engage in informal discussions on a range of topics pertinent to writers.

Masterclasses

Masterclass 1: Editing. This masterclass is limited to 15 participants. It is open to qualified and experienced freelance or in-house editors. This masterclass will be presented by Simon Minto.

Masterclass 2: Novel. This masterclass is limited to 10–12 participants. It is open to writers who are currently working on a novel AND have at least three years of writing study (for example, a Bachelor in Creative Writing or a three-year diploma programme) OR a Masters in Creative Writing OR at least one completed book length work of fiction. Participants’ writing will be workshopped. Full instructions for submitting your sample of your novel will be sent when you book. This masterclass is presented by Catherine Chidgey.

Masterclass 3: Poetry. This masterclass is limited to 15 participants. It is open to writers currently working on poetry who have been published in at least one forum for poetry or short lyrical fiction (such as flash fiction). This masterclass is presented by Harry Ricketts.

Presenter bios are published on here.

Please read the full programme details prior to booking.

Full programme details

Tickets

All ticket prices include GST. Additional booking fees may apply at the time of registration. If you are registering as a student or NZSA member you must have your id number available when booking.

Get Tickets

Early Bird from 1 July

Student Conference only	$150
Student Conference plus dinner	$200
NZSA member Conference only	$175
NZSA member Conference plus dinner	$225
Non-member Conference only	$200
Non-member Conference plus dinner	$250
Dinner only	$ 75

Full Price from 1 August

Student Conference only	$175
Student Conference plus dinner	$225
NZSA member Conference only	$200
NZSA member Conference plus dinner	$250
Non-member Conference only	$220
Non-member Conference plus dinner	$270
Saturday day ticket	$150
Sunday day ticket	$130
Dinner only	$75

Please check this page for FAQ.

NorthWrite 2019 is presented with the support of Creative New Zealand.

Writing Technique Descriptors

Boundary Riding: Different Forms for Young Readers

10.30am Saturday 30 August
Kate De Goldi

Writing and publishing for children most often settles around familiar forms – stories, novels, poetry, educational non-fiction, and comics. But what about the personal essay, flash non-fiction, multi-modal narratives, personal art responses, narrative board games, language adventures that are not quite poetry or prose? This workshop will explore the imaginative extension possible for both writer and young reader when traditional forms are pushed, prodded, and sometimes abandoned…

Senses and Setting

1pm Saturday 30 August
Catherine Chidgey

Drawing on the senses can be a powerful means of both building a believable narrator and evoking a three-dimensional setting. Novelist Catherine Chidgey shares some examples of short stories that demonstrate this skill, before leading a series of bespoke exercises for beginner to intermediate level writers. Participants will leave with a wealth of new material to be shaped into a short story – or even a piece of creative non-fiction.

Creative Non-fiction: People and Place

3pm Saturday 30 August
Harry Ricketts

We all have people and places that are special to us, that preoccupy us, lift us, puzzle us, haunt us. This class encourages you to write about people and places special to you through a combination of discussion, short exercises and workshopping.

Self-editing and Revision for Writers

10am Sunday 1 September
Simon Minto

This session looks at ways to polish writing and identify and remove empty text. Using a published story, it will explore ways to keep sentences active and make the language sparkle in the mind of the reader.

The Young Eye: Voice and Perspective

11.30am Sunday 1 September
Kate De Goldi

‘Children are new, though we are not,’ wrote the legendary children’s publisher, Ursula Nordstrum, and much of the great children’s fiction has at its heart a watchful child, scoping the wonder, puzzle, and absurdity of the new – adult driven – world they find themselves in. This workshop will explore the fictional child’s point-of-view and the business of ‘voice’, a mysterious alchemy of subject matter, point-of-view, tone, rhythm, and language.

Plotting for a Great Story

2pm Sunday 1 September
Leeanna Morgan

Do you have an awesome idea but don’t know how to transform it into a great story? Join Leeanna Morgan as she combines Michael Hauge’s six-stage plot structure with a grid board and sticky notes to create the perfect visual journey of where your story is going. Suitable for all levels and forms of writing.

Masterclass Descriptors

Masterclass 1: Editing

10.30am – 12pm & 1 – 2.30pm Saturday 31 August
Simon Minto

This class will examine ideas around why people read and how stories work. It will look at different kinds of editing, from structural editing through to copyediting and proofreading, and will include an analysis of editing for structure, focusing on narrative arc, character changes, and flow. It will also look at effective and helpful ways of working with authors. Brief exercises will reinforce the ideas. This masterclass is limited to 15 participants.

Masterclass 2: Novel

3pm – 4.30pm Saturday 31 August & 10am – 11.30am Sunday 1 September
Catherine Chidgey

Bring out your tricky bits! In this masterclass, participants will explore how to turn a perceived problem or sticking point in their work into a strength. Catherine Chidgey will share some examples from her novel The Wish Child as well as from her current work-in-progress, and we will then workshop your own ‘tricky bits’ with a view to finding a powerful solution.

Important: after you have registered for the masterclass, you will be sent an email detailing how to submit an extract from a current novel-in-progress (1500 words maximum), along with a brief paragraph summarising the particular issue you are facing. You must submit this within five days of registration. You will also need to read everyone else’s work in advance (it will be emailed to you). We will not be reading submissions aloud in the workshop, so it’s vital everyone is familiar with the material. This masterclass is limited to 10–12 participants.

Masterclass 3: Poetry

11.30am – 1pm & 2 – 3.30pm Sunday 1 September
Harry Ricketts

Poems sometimes seem to come effortlessly, almost to write themselves. More often, we soon get stuck or find it hard even to get going. How might we kickstart a stalled poem? Alternatively, if we have been writing for some time, we can become used to certain ways of making poems, used to our own poems sounding and behaving in a particular way: how might we surprise ourselves, tap into other possibilities? Participants will be asked to submit in advance a single poem so that Harry can tailor the masterclass to the audience. This masterclass is limited to 15 participants.

Writing Techniques Presenters

The Writing Technique stream caters for a range of writers. There are sessions on writing for children, non-fiction, fiction writing and self-editing.

Kate De Goldi

Kate De Goldi writes fiction for all ages. She has been a recipient of the Michael King Writer’s Fellowship and twice winner of New Zealand Post Children’s Book of the Year. Her most recent novel, From the Cutting Room of Barney Kettle, won the Esther Glen Award in 2016.Kate teaches creative writing at schools throughout New Zealand and in 2019 will begin teaching a new course at Massey University, Writing for Children.  She is co-editor, with Susan Paris, of ANNUAL and ANNUAL 2, literary miscellanies for 9-13 year olds. In 2018, Kate and Susan, in association with Massey University Press, established the children’s imprint Annual Ink, which this year produced its first novel for children, Hazel and the Snails by Nan Blanchard.
Kate will be presenting two sessions on writing for children. She will also present the keynote speech on Saturday morning and will represent Annual Ink on the publishing panel.

Catherine Chidgey

Catherine Chidgey will be presenting a session on senses and setting. Catherine’s bio is here.

Photo credit: Helen Mayall

Harry Ricketts

Harry Ricketts will be presenting a session on creative nonfiction. Harry’s bio is here.

Simon Minto

Simon Minto will be presenting a session on self-editing. Simon’s bio is here.

Leeanna Morgan

Leeanna Morgan will be presenting a session on plot. She will also be presenting a number of publishing sessions. Leeanna’s bio is available here.

Masterclass Presenters

What is a masterclass?

NorthWrite’s masterclasses have been planned to give experienced writers, poets and editors opportunities to engage in in-depth discussions about their craft. The masterclasses are restricted to a limited number of participants to ensure a high level of engagement.

Masterclass 1: Editing. This masterclass is limited to 15 participants. It is open to qualified and experienced freelance or in-house editors. This masterclass will be presented by Simon Minto.

Masterclass 2: Novel. This masterclass is limited to 10–12 participants. It is open to writers who are currently working on a novel AND have at least three years of writing study (for example, a Bachelor in Creative Writing or a three-year diploma programme) OR a Masters in Creative Writing OR at least one completed book length work in fiction. Participants’ writing will be workshopped. On registration, you must submit 1500 words of a novel in progress, which will be distributed to Catherine and the other participants. These writing samples should be read by all participants prior to the event. This masterclass is presented by Catherine Chidgey.

Masterclass 3: Poetry. This masterclass is limited to 15 participants. It is open to writers currently working on poetry who have been published in at least one forum for poetry or short lyrical fiction (such as flash fiction). This masterclass is presented by Harry Ricketts.

Simon Minto

Simon Minto is an editor and writer, and he teaches publishing students at Whitireia Polytechnic. He’s edited countless novels, short stories, and works of non-fiction for all ages. While he wrangles words and grammar every day, he still delights in reading and discovering new writers. Simon will be presenting Masterclass 1: Editing, as well as a writing technique session on self-editing. He will also convene a panel discussion with publishers.

Catherine Chidgey

Photo credit: Helen Mayall

Catherine Chidgey is a multiple award-winner whose novels have attracted international acclaim. In a Fishbone Church, her debut, won Best First Book at both the New Zealand book awards and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize (South-East Asia and South Pacific region). It also won the Betty Trask Award (UK), and was longlisted for the Orange Prize. Her second novel, Golden Deeds, was a 2002 Best Book in the LA Times Book Review and a 2002 Notable Book in the New York Times Book Review. Her novel The Wish Child won the 2017 Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize – the country’s richest writing prize. Radio New Zealand called it ‘a brilliant, brilliant novel…a masterpiece’, and The Times (UK) ‘a remarkable book with a stunningly original twist’. Other honours include the Katherine Mansfield Short Story Award, the $60,000 Prize in Modern Letters and the Janet Frame Fiction Prize. Catherine teaches creative writing at the University of Waikato and is currently completing her sixth novel. Later this year she will release her first children’s book, Jiffy, Cat Detective. She lives in Ngāruawāhia with her husband, daughter and odd-eyed cats. Catherine will be presenting Masterclass 2: Novel, as well as a writing technique session on senses and setting.

Harry Ricketts

Harry Ricketts teaches English Literature and creative non-fiction at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. He has published around 30 books. These include eleven collections of poems (most recently Winter Eyes, 2018), literary biographies ‒ The Unforgiving Minute: A Life of Rudyard Kipling (1999) and Strange Meetings: The Poets of the Great War (2010) ‒ and a number of co-edited anthologies of New Zealand poetry. Harry will be presenting Masterclass 3: Poetry, as well as a writing technique session on creative nonfiction.

NorthWrite 2019: Expanding Horizons Conference Programme Release

NorthWrite 2019 will be held at Barge Showgrounds Events Centre, Whangarei. It will open with a mihi and meet-and-greet event on Friday 30 August. The conference will take place on Saturday 31 August and Sunday 1 September.

Initial registrations will be open only to those who register for the full conference. If places are still available for individual sessions towards the end of August, we will announce this shortly before registrations close.

Tickets for the conference dinner on the Saturday evening are discounted if purchased with a full conference ticket. They can be also purchased separately at the full price.

NorthWrite 2019 has been organised into parallel streams, designed to reflect the interests of our writing community. Participants may choose to attend sessions within or across streams when they book for the conference. Presentations, other than masterclasses, are scheduled in 1.5 hour sessions. Masterclasses are 3 hours long, covered over 2 sessions.

NorthWrite 2019 ProgrammeDownload

NorthWrite 2019 streams

• Publishing – this stream focuses on information about publishing, with ebook publishing covered on Saturday and print publishing on Sunday.
• Writing techniques – this stream caters for a range of writers. There are sessions on writing for children, non-fiction, fiction writing and self-editing.
• Masterclasses – this stream is designed for experienced fiction writers, poets and editors.
• Conversations – this stream provides opportunities for participants to engage in informal discussions on a range of topics pertinent to writers.

Masterclasses

NorthWrite’s masterclasses have been planned to give experienced writers, poets and editors opportunities to engage in in-depth discussions about their craft. The masterclasses are restricted to a limited number of participants to ensure a high level of engagement.

Masterclass 1: Editing. This masterclass is limited to 15 participants. It is open to qualified and experienced freelance or in-house editors. This masterclass will be presented by Simon Minto.

Masterclass 2: Novel. This masterclass is limited to 10–12 participants. It is open to writers who are currently working on a novel AND have at least three years of writing study (for example, a Bachelor in Creative Writing or a three-year diploma programme) OR a Masters in Creative Writing OR at least one completed book length work of fiction. Participants’ writing will be workshopped. On registration you must submit 1500 words of a novel in progress, which will be distributed to Catherine Chidgey and the other participants. These writing samples are to be read by all participants prior to the event. This masterclass is presented by Catherine Chidgey.

Masterclass 3: Poetry. This masterclass is limited to 15 participants. It is open to writers currently working on poetry who have been published in at least one forum for poetry or short lyrical fiction (such as flash fiction). This masterclass is presented by Harry Ricketts.

Tickets

Ticket sales will open at 5pm on 1 July. Details about how to book will be published by the end of June. All prices include GST. Additional booking fees may apply at the time of registration. Your NZSA membership number must be recorded when making your booking.

Early Bird from 1 July

Student Conference only	$150
Student Conference plus dinner	$200
NZSA member Conference only	$175
NZSA member Conference plus dinner	$225
Non-member Conference only	$200
Non-member Conference plus dinner	$250
Dinner only	$ 75

Full Price from 1 August

Student Conference only	$175
Student Conference plus dinner	$225
NZSA member Conference only	$200
NZSA member Conference plus dinner	$250
Non-member Conference only	$220
Non-member Conference plus dinner	$270
Dinner only	$75

Presenter bios are published on this page.

Please check this page for FAQ.

NorthWrite 2019 is presented with the support of Creative New Zealand.

NorthWrite 2019: Expanding Horizons

Save the date for this major Northland event for all writers.

NorthWrite 2019: Expanding horizons – 30 August–1 September 2019 Barge Showgrounds Event Centre, Whangarei.

An exciting programme of master classes, workshops and conversations for fiction and non-fiction writers, poets and editors.

Confirmed presenters include Catherine Chidgey, Kate de Goldi, Simon Minto, Harry Ricketts and Leeanna Morgan.

Entertaining speakers, a meet and greet event and a formal dinner will also feature.