NorthTec Tutors Prominent at Annual Writing Conference

Registrations are open for this year’s NorthWrite conference: Expanding Horizons. Three NorthTec Creative Writing tutors are on the organising committee and another two will facilitate sessions during the conference.

NorthTec tutors will feature alongside New Zealand’s top writers. Multiple award-winning novelist, Catherine Chidgey, will present a masterclass on long fiction; poet, biographer and essayist, Harry Ricketts, will offer a masterclass on poetry, and editor, Simon Minto, will lead one on editing. The conference’s keynote address will be given by award-winning fiction writer, Kate De Goldi.

NorthWrite event coordinator and NorthTec Creative Writing Tutor, Kathy Derrick, said the organising committee was thrilled with the calibre of presenters they had secured for this year’s events.

“We have an outstanding line-up of very experienced and well-regarded New Zealand authors, poets and an editor, as well as an international guest and local publishing industry experts offering their expertise to the writing community at this year’s event.”

Kathy said that NorthWrite 2019 has been organised into parallel streams, designed to reflect the interests of the writing community. The masterclasses have been planned to give experienced writers, poets and editors opportunities to engage in in-depth discussions about their craft. They are restricted to a limited number of participants to ensure a high level of engagement. Participants may choose to attend sessions within or across streams when they book for the conference.

Briar Wood, NorthTec poetry tutor will facilitate a conversation about creating voices in fiction and poetry at the conference. She said: “It will be an opportunity to focus on technique, kōrero, reading, the latest developments in genre and publishing. I'm looking forward to the conference as a gathering of people who devote significant amounts of time to writing.

“We're spread out as a population in Northland, and some people live in remote locations, so Northwrite is a vital opportunity for readers and writers to have a hui, talk about contemporary issues and also have fun together.”

Zana Bell, Creative Writing tutor at NorthTec, will facilitate a conversation about pursuing the craft of writing. She said: "I’m really looking forward to meeting up with a wide range of Northland writers – we are so scattered usually though the local writing scene is flourishing."

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.
Early bird prices are available until 31 July. Reduced prices are available for students. Catering is provided by Soda Creek Kitchen (ex Food at Wharepuke).

To find out more about the conference and to register go to northwrite.co.nz