HNSA 2023 Online Program

  Making fiction requires not just artistic vision, but also the practical carpentry of writing. In this workshop for emerging fiction writers, internationally acclaimed author Kathryn Heyman will lead you through the crucial elements for structuring great fiction. By exploring the need for a bit of chaos in the writing process and giving you the ... Read more

What does the market for historical novels look like in this country? What are publishers looking for? How do they make their decisions? How can you best attract the attention of a publisher with your historical novel? And what pitfalls do you need to avoid throughout the process? This workshop includes an overview presentation, practical ... Read more

  Grabbing and holding your readers' attention has never been more important and one means by which historical fiction can successfully do this is via a parallel narrative structure. It’s also a brilliant way to infuse your novel with page-turning mystery and suspense. International bestselling author, Kayte Nunn, who has written five novels with a ... Read more

  Writing family history demands curiosity, research, interviewing, writing, and critical thinking. How do you develop the research skills of a researcher, the investigative skills of a journalist, and the imaginative empathy of a creative writer? How do you deal with dead ends, false leads, and too much/too little information? This practical workshop with Paula ... Read more

  Are you having trouble identifying the key elements of your story? Have you become a victim of your own success when it comes to research? Do you want to ensure your manuscript is presented as professionally as possible when approaching a publisher or agent? Editor Linda Funnell will take you through the different stages ... Read more

  In this workshop Anne Gracie will share her knowledge about the difference writing in a series made to her career. We'll discuss the appeal of some historical series and why readers like them. We will explore the features of various kinds of historical novel series and what might link a series — characters, themes, ... Read more

  Writing Biographical Fiction with Melissa Ashley will familiarise participants with the major considerations, resources and skills required to create engaging narratives, vivid settings and unforgettable characters in your biographical fiction. Topics covered in the three-hour workshop include: whose story and why tell it; research, scope and getting started; interpreting textual and visual sources; when ... Read more

  In this fun workshop Brian takes you through his creative process, from story idea through to editing, with an emphasis on writing a series. Topics covered include the principle of story, character empathy, the framework of writing and creating suspense. Participants will gain a better understanding of how to construct a story, and a ... Read more

Library and archival collections offer rich source material for the historical novelist. This workshop aims to provide an introduction to searching the National Library’s Trove – the online gateway to the extraordinary material held by Australian collecting institutions. With a focus on the incredible collection of digitised newspapers, this session will look at search strategies, ... Read more

  This workshop with Meg Keneally will look at how historical crime fiction works. What makes a good historical crime novel? How do you create a pacey, immersive reading experience? We’ll look at character, plot, setting and voice. This workshop will be interactive, so come prepared with questions! This workshop includes a 15 minute break. ... Read more