National Writers' Conference

The National Writers’ Conference is EWF’s prestigious weekend of conversations and workshops on craft, publishing and the literary sector at large. Boasting both emerging and veteran authors, as well as the finest hands of the industry, our flagship festival weekend is for every writer, wherever you are in your journey. Elevate your craft, broaden your industry knowledge, and bolster your creative networks and community. Leave with valuable learnings, new-found motivation and fresh faces to help you along your unique path as a writer.  

DAY 1: BEGINNING | Saturday, 12 September, 10AM-5:15PM  

 Settle in for a day devoted to the incipient concerns of a writer’s life: what are the options when it comes to publishing? What's involved in publishing your first work? How do you capture that ineffable energy that a quality piece of writing contains? Fire away questions to our acclaimed Agony Aunt as part of The Book Deal Podcast, and enjoy some dedicated mingling time during your lunch break. 

DAY TWO: Enduring | Sunday, 13 September, 10AM-5:15PM 

With some essentials safely tucked in your toolbox, get ready to dig a little deeper on Day 2 of the Conference. Start your Sunday with some pro-tips on finding and submitting the best possible funding application for your next project. Consider how you can lead a sustainable life with writing at the centre of it. Where does the novel stand in 2026? How does one write responsibly? Finish the weekend contemplating who you are actually writing for. 

Purchase a Pass to this two-day event , as well as a limited add-on Pitch session , to reserve an online pitching slot with an industry publisher/editor for Sunday, 27th September . See more details about this event on our FAQs page .  To find out more about the individual session, and buy single session tickets , click on the session hyperlink in the schedule below. 

Saturday 12 

10am – 11am: Pitch Perfect 

11.30am – 12.30pm: Submit, Sign or Start a Small Press 

1pm – 1.40pm: Mingling and networking time 

1.45pm – 2.45pm: Frist Press: Debut Authors 

3pm – 4pm: Finding the Energy – structure, story and sentence 

4.15pm - 5.15pm: The Book Deal podcast: EWF Edition 

Sunday 13 

10am – 11am: Funding 101: Finding & Writing Grants 

11.30am – 12.30pm: A Writer’s Livelihood 

1pm – 1.40pm: Mingling and networking time 

1.45pm – 2.45pm: Writing Responsibly 

3pm – 4pm: How to Tell a Story 

4.15pm - 5.15pm: Who Are You Writing For?