NYWF Daily Wrap-Up - Friday

Photo by Sarah-Jane Edis

Friday begins with a workshop called Writing Sex. Unsurprisingly, it’s about writing sex. I am super nervous about this because I struggle to talk about sex, let alone write it, but it’s actually an incredible experience. People are honest in their discussions and in the writing they share. Reading and writing all these stories makes me realise that sex as an interaction between two humans is a really interesting way to develop plot and character. My infinite thanks to Emma Marie Jones for a brilliant workshop. 

We get lunch and incredible donuts from Dough Heads. My donut has pretzels on it because why not? After stuffing myself with pretzel donut I embark on my self-titled Feminist Friday Arvo. At Why Romance is Here to Stay I learn that I’m a massive snob and maybe I should read some sexy books with hunky man chests on the front cover. At Fucking while Feminist I learn that we still insist on rehashing exactly what feminism is, which to be honest is a bit disappointing given the title of the thing. I’d been really looking forward to a panel about feminist sexual politics or at least some good ol’ fashioned ‘fuck the patriarchy’ to make me feel better about being street harassed on the way there. 

The highlight of my Feminist Friday Arvo is undoubtedly History Chicks. In the United Services Club (nicknamed the Gun Club), surrounded by mounted weapons and photos of (male) soldiers, the panellists talk to a packed room about the women of World War I and II. Niki Aken talks about writing my new favourite show (legit, not just saying), Anzac Girls. She and the other panellists, Bridget Lutherborrow and Davina Bell have all researched and written the untold stories of historical women and their discussion just makes me happy and keen to see what they and other writers will uncover about more women of our past. As I look around, the only woman on the wall, QEII looks down on me and smiles. She was a mechanic in the war, she knows what’s up. 

Fem Fri Arv over, it’s time for trivia. I invite myself onto a now three year old team, the John Triviaoltas and frankly this was a *winning* decision. We won, is what I’m saying. The questions are great, the host, Dave Warneke is fantastic, and I manage to contribute answers beyond the singular Harry Potter question (Ireland won the World Cup but Bulgaria got the snitch). A super fun event all round. 

Basically the entire festival then make the 30 minute trek back to the Royal Exchange for TV-Land and Late Night Readings. We hear from Lawrence Leung and Niki Aken about writing for TV, how to get your ideas out there, the underrated shows they are excited about and various anecdotes about giant props. It’s a good time. The late night readings are crime themed - it’s totally a good idea to end your night with graphic descriptions of true crimes, drug fuelled encounters with hit men   and the story of a detective and his injured goose.

I’m running on far less sleep and far more carbs than I’m used to, but I’m having a wonderful time.


I'll be doing a daily wrap up every day at the National Young Writers' Festival, you can read them here or at www.youngwritersfestival.org where you'll also find a tonne of other cool content.