Chris Johnston Uncategorized

Planning for 2026

2025 was a busy and exciting year for Newstead Writers. As the end of the year charges towards us, it’s time to think about 2026 – should we do the same things or something different? Please head to our quick online survey and share your thoughts. We’d really appreciate it!

In 2025 we ran Shut Up And Write (SUAW) sessions on the 4th Friday of each month (February to November) from 1-5pm. We also hosted three evening events – The Writing Life events where a local writer shared their journey. In November we will host Writers Read, an evening session where writers are invited to read short pieces written over the year. We also launched our website, wrote a monthly article for the Newstead Echo and sent our e-news to more than 40 members.

If you haven’t completed the survey – its not too late! Here’s the survey link again. It’ll take just 5 minutes out of your precious writing time.

Chris Johnston Newstead Arts Hub, The Writing Life

Cate Kennedy: The Writing Life

Cate Kennedy is a regular contributor to local writing activities and an acclaimed author of poetry collections, a novel, a travel memoir and many short stories. We were delighted to host her on the evening of Friday 26 September at the Newstead Arts Hub. Cate shared her experience of the writing life with a full audience, as well as reading extracts of her work.

Cate regards fiction as a ‘perfect medium for creating empathy’ and believes that short stories offer ‘constraint’ to the creative mind. A short story, she explained, is the ‘perfect dive’, as an execution of an idea. Dark Roots, a collection of award-winning short stories published in 2006, offers some great examples of her skill.

Chris Johnston Newstead Arts Hub, The Writing Life

The Writing Life 23 May: Bonny Cassidy

Newstead Writers hosted local writer Bonny Cassidy at our evening session of The Writing Life on 23 May. Bonny engaged a full audience with reflections on the creative process, her life spanning forest and city, her ‘compost of poetry’, the constellation of elements of long-form writing, and how she allows work to find its own form. We were treated to Bonny’s poetry readings and selections from her critically acclaimed first book of nonfiction, Monument (Giramondo, 2024).

Bonny Cassidy
Intensely engaged audience
Thank you gift for Bonny

The Writing Life is an occasional evening session inviting local writers to reflect and share insights into the experience of writing, the life behind the words and how the writer comes to create a unique published work. In Bonny’s case, it has been also the process of finding the emotional and creative space to write within a busy working regime.

Find further information on Bonny’s website here.

Our monthly writing sessions are on the 4th Friday of the month between 1-5pm at Newstead Arts Hub. Come and join our growing community of writers and feel the support of writing together. No need to book – just turn up. Dates for the rest of the year: 25 July, 22 August, 26 September, 24 October, 28 November.

Stay in touch: use the QR code to join our mailing list.

Chris Johnston Uncategorized

Get along to the Central Goldfields Words in Winter in Maryborough – Friday 30 May to Sunday 1 June – for three glorious days exploring the power of storytelling.

‘This festival is a space to excite, stimulate, and engage; to spark conversations, challenge perspectives, and celebrate creativity. Join us as we explore new possibilities, embrace bold voices, and immerse ourselves in the power of storytelling. Let’s inspire and be inspired together.‘ Words In Winter Coordinators Patty Brown & Janice Simpson

Download a copy of the program. Lots of wonderful talks, workshops and panels at a modest price! Bookings via the WiW Central Goldfields website: https://wiwcg.com.au/

Chris Johnston Uncategorized

Carmel Bird – sharing a writer’s wisdom

It’s always a treat to spend time with Carmel Bird⎯a prolific author, wise, generous and a local treasure. Last October, Carmel read Arabella with young writers under the ‘Faraway Tree’ at the Young Writers Festival at the Arts Hub. Recently, Newstead Writers were privileged to host Carmel at our first evening session on The Writing Life on Friday 28 March.

On a warm Autumn evening on the railway platform, we enjoyed Carmel’s life stories and readings from some of her many published works, especially her 2022 memoir, Telltale.

‘When you are a writer, everything in your life feeds you as a writer,’ she told us, to foster the writer’s self in our work. We were heartened to hear that ‘writers can have everything – words are there for you to use.’ Carmel adopts this perspective with those she mentors and writes for.

We are grateful to Carmel and for the writing champions we have in our local patch. The Writing Life is an occasional evening presentation hosted by Newstead Writers. Our next writer in the series will be Bonny Cassidy on 23 May, and then Cate Kennedy on 26 September. For more on these two sessions and to book, go to our Coming Up page.

Each month we host an afternoon Shut Up And Write session at the Newstead Arts Hub. We meet next on Friday April 25, to write individually from 1pm until 5pm, with a break at around 2.30 for a cuppa. No need to book – just come along. The Welcome page has more on these sessions. More dates and information in the Newstead Arts Hub News.