South Australia
The Australian Writers’ Guild (AWG) is the professional association for all performance writers, writers for television, screen, theatre, radio and multimedia. The AWG gives access to legal and contractual advice, provides a script development registration service and a script assessment service. The AWG offers professional courses and publications. The SA office is open Tuesday to Thursday 10am-5pm. Consultations are available by appointment.
Barossa Writers is a dedicated group of writers who meet monthly to read and critique members’ work. The group have published several anthologies, hold workshops with guest speakers and run a regular competition for young writers. Members’ interests include, but are not limited to, writing poetry, short stories, family history and children’s stories.
Carclew Youth Arts is South Australia’s peak arts body for people aged 26 and under. Carclew Youth Arts’ Board was previously known as the South Australian Youth Arts Board, or SAYAB.
The Dudley Writers Group is based on Kangaroo Island and meets monthly and runs one workshop per year. Also runs a new performance writing series with a professional director. Has produced several books and sponsors awards for schools.
A support group for published children’s writers and illustrators in South Australia.
The Friendly Street Poets Inc. organisation is a voluntary, artistic, egalitarian, inclusive, supportive and welcoming community of poets. FSP encourages the development of SA poets and poetry by providing live performance and publishing opportunities. FSP publishes an annual anthology, launched at Writers’ Week during the Adelaide Festival of Arts. Open mic readings are monthly and everyone is welcome to listen or perform.
Marion Writers offers critiques, encouragement and inspiration to all members. Each member emails up to 1500 words to all other members a week prior to each meeting, and at the meeting honest constructive criticism, written and oral, is exchanged to promote the development and enjoyment of creative writing, concepts and techniques. Member positions are limited. After each meeting we adjourn for lunch at the cafe in the centre.
The May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust provides annual Creative Time Residential Fellowships for Australian children’s authors and illustrators in its studio apartments situated in Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra.
The Media Resource Centre is a member of Screen Development Australia, a national network of organisations supporting the development of a strong, innovative and diverse screen industry in Australia. It provides entry-level to early-career film, video and digital media makers with access to equipment, subsidy programs and advice on all aspects of development and production. The related Mercury and Iris Cinemas provides local practitioners with the opportunity to screen their works.
The Rocky River ‘Riters meet twice a month for book discussions and prose and poetry writing exercises. Offers lively conversations and encouragement. Meets on the second Friday of each month in the morning at Gladstone, and on the fourth Wednesday of the month in the evenings at Crystal Brook. Contact the secretary for more information.
Yorke Peninsula Writers Group has produced three anthologies and two magazines. Having purchased the equipment to put their publications together themselves, the group are a keen do-it-yourself lot. All editing is done at meetings, which is the perfect learning experience for members to learn more about their craft. New members welcome. Members’ ages range from 19 to 87 years old. Meetings are held the third Thursday of the month at the Senior Citizens Rooms in Minlaton.
The South Australian Writers’ Theatre Inc (SAWT) is a group of writers who specialise in the writing of scripts for stage and radio. The primary aim is to increase the quantity and improve the quality of South Australian writing for performance. To become a Full Member of SAWT you need to have written a script or be working on a script, otherwise you join as an Associate Member. Concessions apply for the unemployed, students and pensioners.
The Copper Triangle Writer’s Group is made up of around twenty friendly and diverse writers. New members are always welcome to the lively and entertaining meetings.
The Adelaide Writers’ Week is Adelaide’s premier literary festival.
Since 1998, “Between Us” has served hundreds of writers, including some award-winning ones. We handle all categories of fiction except fantasy and porn, and most non-fiction subjects.
Open-access arts festival, featuring performers and groups from all artistic mediums. The second-largest fringe festival in the world. Arranges medium-specific programs like 2007’s Word program, which featured writers reading from and talking about their work. Open to programming requests from individuals who want to perform or read at the festival.
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The weekend celebrates the life of CJ Dennis through a small, but unique literary festival. The main focus of the Festival is the award presentation for the CJ Dennis Literary Awards and the Max Fatchen Literary Awards for Children’s Poetry Writing. The CJ Dennis Literary Awards Competition runs from January-July each year. Awards are for poetry and short stories. Check with organisers to confirm dates.
Calling all queer writers – Feast’s annual writing competition is now open. The theme this year is ‘Square’. Max. 1,500 words prose, 20 lines poetry. Entry fee $5 each entry.
Original and previously unpublished poems with a limit of two poems per poet. Names and addresses of poets must appear on cover sheet only, not on poems. Poem title to appear on entries, and on the cover sheet for identification purposes. Please supply a contact phone number. The competition is restricted to South Australian residents. Entries will not be returned. Check website for further details.