What We Offer Members

Services

Advice and support

The Writers' Centre is a resource and information base for writers and readers. We are here to help! We provide information about services available locally and throughout the publishing industry, have links to writers' groups and industry sources and can help advise you on the options for the next step in developing your skills and your work.

Member magazine, northerly

Our member magazine is posted to all members every second month and features pages of information related to literature, publishing, industry-related events and upcoming workshops and seminars conducted by the Northern Rivers Writers' Centre. Industry Insight offers a feature article based on a current industry-related issue or element of the craft of writing. There is an extensive list of current competitions, a noticeboard where members can promote their events, a section for members celebrating their literary achievements and pages of opportunities, awards and scholarships. If you are thinking about becoming a member, please contact us and we will send you a package including a membership form and a copy of the magazine.

Mentorship Scheme

Our mentorship scheme is available to members seeking a professional mentor to assist in developing their work. We have a list of writers of various genres (fiction and non-fiction) as well as professional editors who reside in the Northern Rivers and who are willing to be a paid mentor to a developing or emerging writer. For members seeking more information on our mentorship scheme, please log-in to the members section of the website and go to Mentorships. If you are not a member and would like more information on our mentorship scheme, please contact us on 02 6685 5115

Workshops and Seminars

The Writers' Centre offers a year-round program of workshops, seminars and author visits. For more information about what we have coming up, click here. Workshops are group sessions designed for writers of all levels and experience. They are intended for writers to develop skills in a particular style or topic through exercises and discussion. Previous workshops have included subject areas such as writing and illustrating children's books, memoir, editing a manuscript, journalism and travel writing. Seminars are large group presentations or panel discussions designed to give an insight into writing and publishing industry practices or topics of interest. We also hold masterclasses, small group sessions of ten participants designed for writers with significant practical experience and skill and/or published writers. They provide an intensive tutor/participant focus and concentrate on manuscript development or advanced technique.

Library

The Northern Rivers Writers' Centre has an extensive library of more than 1400 books. The collection predominantly features works by Australian authors, many of whom have appeared at the Byron Bay Writers' Festival since 1997. A large number of local writers are represented. There are separate sections for kids' books, young adult books, poetry, literary journals and periodicals. Our solid reference collection consists mainly of writing guides including editing, marketing manuals, publishing and grammar. Writers' Centre members are able to borrow four books at a time from the collection for a two week period. Members now have access to titles in the full library collection through the members section of this site.

Support for young readers and writers

In response to increasing interest from young writers and readers and the popularity of the schools program at the Byron Bay Writers Festival, we have extended our services to support young members. We dedicate a section of our member magazine and website to fledgeling members with writing tips, new books etc. We also hold workshops and events for young writers throughout the year.

Support for writers' groups

While the Writers' Centre does not have its own writers' group, it provides solid support for a range of other groups throughout the region. We currently have writers' groups located in all areas and focusing on a range of genres including memoir, haiku and poetry. For a full listing of writers' groups, click here. If you are a member of a writers' group that is located in the Northern Rivers and not listed, please contact us so we can update our records. Writers' group contact and meeting details are also listed in our regular member magazine, northerly and we are happy to promote your events and readings through our office, website and e-bulletins.

Support for Readers

In addition to our library, we provide support for readers' groups by making multiple copies of books available for review, if we have them in our library. If your group is open, we are happy to refer new members and help promote your events. We can also provide suggested reading lists, particularly in the lead-up to the Byron Bay Writers' Festival.

WRITERS RESOURCES

YOUWRITEON.COM
YouWriteOn.com is a UK website for new writers to develop their work, providing a system of peer review and an opportunity for the website’s highest-rated writers to be reviewed by senior editors of mainstream publishing houses such as Random House and Orion. Recommended by an NRWC member, who has found the site useful in progressing her manuscript. 

THE FICTION SHELF.COM
TheFictionShelf.com is a place where everyone who loves reading will be able to read high-quality new writing. And where they will be able to choose exactly how they do that: be it online, printed at home, on their phone or e-book reader, or in a traditional hard-bound
copy. The website is being constructed and the virtual shelves will soon be ready for all to peruse – organisers are calling for short stories and poetry, only the most creative, innovative and interesting work will be chosen to be published online.  Log on to www.thefictionshelf.com and read the submission guidelines and send in your work.  Queries to The Fiction Shelf editors at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

WRITING RAW ONLINE
Writing Raw is a free literary ezine dedicated to new and emerging writers. Writing Raw aims to give the literary community the opportunity to have their work online and out in the world. In this world of disappearing literary magazines, Writing Raw is providing the blank pages for writers to fill. Check out the new February issue at http://writingraw.com/

KURUNGABAA
Kurungabaa is a the journal that is always looking for submissions. It is a journal all about the ocean, so Byron writers might find it relevant. http://kurungabaa.net/