Bookings
School bookings open 24 September 2024 for all DreamBIG 2025 events and performances.

Registrations for this event are now closed, and selected schools has been notified.
The WRITE NOW Festival is back for another year!
This one day event invites aspiring writers of all genres and mediums to discover different pathways to becoming professional writers. Participants will enjoy a day of masterclasses, panel talks and workshops with inspiring authors and writers across a range of writing experiences - there is sure to be something to spike the interest of any budding writer!
In this writing workshop, Gary will explore finding your voice, the importance of authentic characters and representation. Most importantly, you’ll write!
In this engaging workshop, Lili will lead participants through the writing process, from coming up with an initial idea, to developing a character, to building a sturdy plot structure.
Learn the basics of editing and build confidence in correcting your work without throwing it all in the bin. Participants will learn how to approach new editorial jobs, common mistakes they’ll find, and the art of invisible mending.
Like crime stories? Come along to this workshop and discover the key elements of crime stories and how you can write your own.
Working from the macro to the micro, imagine worlds that hold countries, countries that hold counties, counties that hold mountains, mountains that hold cities, and cities that hold citizens. And from here, make the final authorial leap, into the mind and heart of a protagonist, telling us what you find.
Ever wanted to write big feature stories for magazines and websites? Aimee will help you turn your hot take into the genuine article, covering everything from pitching, research and interviewing through to polishing and publishing your writeup.
Join zine creator Jessica Zeng for a hands-on workshop on the art of zine making. Learn about the history and culture of zines, explore different techniques for making your own zines, and discover the power of DIY publishing to share your story.
This interactive workshop will teach the fundamentals of writing for television journalism, from crafting compelling news stories to writing in a clear, concise format for broadcast. Participants will learn the basics of TV news, including story selection, storytelling, and audience engagement.
Join us for an insightful panel discussion exploring the journey of a book from initial manuscript to publication and beyond. Industry professionals will share their expertise on the editorial process, securing a book deal, marketing strategies, and the evolving landscape of publishing. This conversation will provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of bringing a book to readers.
How do personal experiences shape compelling stories? This panel explores the power of writing from lived experience, whether through fiction, memoir, or journalism. Writers will discuss how they transform real-life knowledge into engaging narratives and the balance between truth and creativity. Whether you’re crafting your first piece, or refining your voice, this discussion will offer inspiration and practical advice on making your writing authentic and impactful.
Image credit:
This year’s WRITE NOW image, ‘Looking into the Horizon’ was created by Year 10 student Chenwul Gu from St Peters College. Originally a submission for the DreamBIG 2025 poster competition, we felt like it was a perfect fit for the WRITE NOW Festival.
This venue is wheelchair accessible.
Gary Lonesborough is a Yuin writer, who grew up on the Far South Coast of NSW as part of a large and proud Aboriginal family. His young adult novels, The Boy from Mish and We Didn’t Think It Through, have been shortlisted for numerous awards, including the NSW Premier's Literary Awards and the Prime Minister's Literary Awards. His third novel for young adults, I’m Not Really Here, was published in September 2024.
Lili Wilkinson is the award-winning author of twenty books for young people, including A Hunger of Thorns, which won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, and was a CBCA Honour Book in 2024. Lili has a PhD from the University of Melbourne, and is a passionate advocate for YA and the young people who read it. Her latest books are Unhallowed Halls and Bravepaw 1: The Heartstone of Alluria.
Michael Bollen is publisher and managing director at Adelaide-based Wakefield Press, an independent small publishing house that releases around 40 books each year across a range of fields, including Young Adult fiction. Michael has led Wakefield Press for 35 years. He works across all areas, from commissioning and acquiring works to sales and marketing.
Maddy Sexton is an editor and Head of YA at South Australia’s Wakefield Press, where she chooses fantastic stories for young people and turns them into beautiful books. She has sat on judging panels for a number of literary awards and competitions, and manages the monthly Wakefield Weekly Writing Competition.
Troy Hunter is an adult and YA crime fiction writer whose short stories have appeared in a variety of publications and journals. Troy has a Bachelor of Business/Marketing (La Trobe University) and a Diploma of Professional Writing & Editing (RMIT). He has held senior marketing and communications roles in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. He currently works as a research marketing and communications consultant at the University of Melbourne. Gus and the Missing Boy is his first novel, with a sequel due out in 2025. Gus has been shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Awards’ Best Debut Crime Fiction 2024.
Finegan has had 105 plays performed on six continents, translated into eight languages and studied at many international universities. His work has received 42 awards, including eight Australian Writers Guild Awards, the David Williamson Prize for Excellence in Australian Playwrighting, and an inaugural Sidney Myer Fellowship. He has spoken at conferences in ten countries, with papers and plays published. This year his first novel, The End and Everything Before It, is published by Text Publishing.
Aimee is a writer, editor and screen critic published by The Guardian, Sydney Morning Herald, Literary Hub, Kill Your Darlings, Letterboxd's Journal and more. She's a former staff writer for The Big Issue, where she's also held the film and small screens editor roles. An alumna of the Tin House Workshop and Berlinale Talent Press, she’s mentored young writers at Melbourne International Film Festival's Critics Campus and Melbourne Women in Film Festival's Critics Lab. With the support of Arts South Australia, Aimee is currently writing her first book.
Jessica is an Adelaide-based illustrator and zine-maker working under the name Ban-She. Their work explores feminist and political ideas in an accessible and light-hearted way through their zines, prints, and other artistic creations.
Georgina Chadderton (she/they) is a comics creator based on Kaurna Yerta (Adelaide). Working under the art name George Rex Comics, her work is mainly autobiographical (although she dabbles in fantasy and mystery genres too). Her debut graphic novel, Oh Brother, is due to be published by Penguin Random House in 2025. Georgina is passionate about sharing her love of storytelling through comics with everyone and facilitates many comics and drawing workshops, as well as co-directing Papercuts Comics Festival. When not making comics, Georgina plays roller derby, eats crunchy snacks, watches cartoons and loves other people’s dogs.
Sarah Larsen is the producer of "Behind the News" (BTN), a children's news program produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. She has more than two decades of experience in journalism as a reporter, presenter and producer.
The State Library of South Australia is located in the Hetzel Lecture Theatre & Institute Building - SLSA, Corner North Terrace and Kintore Avenue, Adelaide.
This venue is external to Festival Centre. To plan your visit, please go to the State Library of South Australia's website.
School bookings open 24 September 2024 for all DreamBIG 2025 events and performances.