News – Williamstown Literary Festival

22 Apr 2022

Willy Lit Fest is launching its 2022 program at a special event with Paul Kennedy and Alicia Sometimes

Be among the first to hear the Willy Lit Fest Program for 2022 at a special launch event with Paul Kennedy and Alicia Sometimes. Book your tickets here. Join us...

04 Mar 2022

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Willy Lit Fest returns with Trivia

It’s our first event for 2022 and it will sell out. Book your writers group, book club, auntie, neighbour, wordle wiz their ticket now. Willy Lit Fest Trivia returns: March 24th at 7.30pm,...

04 Mar 2022

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Volunteer with Willy Lit Fest 2022

Our volunteers are the face of the festival, and Willy Lit Fest would not be possible without the generous readers that give their time to bring our festival to life....

16 Aug 2021

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Introducing our new Program Director

Williamstown Literary Festival is delighted to announce the appointment of Jane Finemore as its new Program Director. Jane is the current Program Manager of the Queenscliffe Literary Festival. She succeeds...

16 Aug 2021

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Annual General Meeting 2021

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Williamstown Literary Festival Association Incorporated Notice is given that the Annual General Meeting of the Williamstown Literary Festival Association Incorporated will be held...

19 Jun 2021

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2021 Writing Award Winners

Congratulations to the shortlisted writers of this year’s Willy Lit Fest writing prizes. The Adas and the Jennifer Burbidge Short Story award were celebrated online today with special guests including...

04 Jun 2021

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Willy Lit Fest 2021 cancellation

It is with heavy hearts that the WLF organising committee takes the necessary steps today to cancel the 2021 festival, Silver Lining. The government’s decision to extend lockdown for a...

27 May 2021

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Authors of Hobsons Bay

Hobsons Bay Libraries is a proud supporter of the Williamstown Literary Festival. In partnership with the festival, the libraries are bringing together the literary history of Hobsons Bay with today’s homegrown...

20 May 2021

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Silver Lining 2021 Book List

We are really pleased to once again have Book and Paper Williamstown as our festival bookseller. Sue and her team will be at the Williamstown Town Hall during the festival...

19 May 2021

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The 2021 Adas shortlist

We are excited to announce the shortlisted entrants for the Ada Cambridge Biographical Prose, Poetry and Young Ada Writing Prizes 2021! Thank you to our wonderful judges who read the...

11 May 2021

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Silver Lining 2021 – Stella’s stellar speech!

Good evening, Thank you – Mayor, Councillors, invited guests one and all, to the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria for hosting us and most especially to the committee who have...

08 Mar 2021

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The Burbidge Prize

Entries are open for the Jennifer Burbidge Short Story Award, which will mark its 20th anniversary this year from its new home at Williamstown Literary Festival. The award, known as...

26 Feb 2021

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The two Kates: Kate Grevnville in conversation with Kate Mildenhall

The Willy Lit Fest 2021 got off to an exhilarating start on Thursday 18th February with a Zoom conversation between celebrated Australian author Kate Grenville and her capable interlocutor, novelist...

14 Feb 2021

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Meet the Adas’ 2021 Judges

Meet the 2021 Ada Cambridge Writing Prizes’ Judges Prose LIs Grove loves good writing. She has taught language and literature, English and French, at secondary and tertiary levels. Most recently, she...

07 Feb 2021

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Enjoy 2020 Vision online again

Enjoy 2020 Vision online again! Whether you missed out first time around or just want to enjoy them again, our online sessions are now available to view at your leisure....

01 Nov 2020

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Jennifer Burbidge Short Story Award

We are excited to announce the addition of a new writing prize for Willy Lit Fest in 2021, the Jennifer Burbidge Short Story Award. Now in its 20th year, the prize honours...

13 Jul 2020

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Notice of Annual General Meeting 2020

26 Jun 2020

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The Adas 2020

Always a highlight of the festival, this year’s awards ceremony for the Ada Cambridge writing prizes was the culmination of the 2020 Vison online Willy Lit fest on Sunday, 21...

19 May 2020

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Announcing the Young Adas shortlisted writers

We are excited to announce the shortlisted entrants for the Young Adas 2020! Congratulations to the shortlisted Young Ada writers. The young writers from Melbourne’s western suburbs will have their...

04 May 2020

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Announcing the Ada Cambridge Prose and Poetry shortlisted entrants

We are excited to announce the shortlisted entrants for the Ada Cambridge Prose and Poetry Writing Prizes 2020! Thank you to our wonderful readers and judges who read over 104...

30 Nov 2019

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2020 Artists’ Call Outs Now Closed

We have received SO many fantastic artist submissions for next year’s Willy Lit Fest! Thank you to everyone who submitted. We will be in touch soon.

12 Oct 2019

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Announcing the Ada Cambridge Writing Prizes open for submissions

The Adas are now accepting submissions Submissions for prose and poetry are open to all writers who live in Victoria. Submissions close midnight 9th March 2020. The Young Ada Writing...

07 Oct 2019

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Save the date – Willy Lit Fest 2020

We are excited to announce the dates for Willy Lit Fest 2020. Saturday 20 June – Sunday 21 June Artists’ submissions are now open for the 2020 Willy Lit Fest...

12 Aug 2019

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Notice of Annual General Meeting 2019

01 Jul 2019

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Willy Lit Fest 2019. What a beautiful Festival that was!

12 Jun 2019

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When you want to write, and … by Sherryl Clark

When you want to write, and … By Sherryl Clark Victoria University Polytechnic Professional Writing and Editing courses. Every year, thousands of writers vow that from the 1st of January,...

11 Jun 2019

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Melbourne’s West Covers Willy Lit 2019 – An Arts Inspired Weekend in Williamstown

Willy Lit Fest “Celebrating its 16th year in 2019, the Willy Lit Fest promises a weekend of imagination, creative learning and thought provoking discussion. This year’s program, which has been...

11 Jun 2019

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Out of the Shadows:True Crime Comes of Age

Get a taste of the 2019 Williamstown Literary Festival – The ‘anti true-crime podcast’ with Claire Halliday. Claire Halliday, journalist and author, talks to Tara Mitchell, Sisters in Crime National...

06 Jun 2019

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Caroline Overington at Willy Lit Fest 2019

JUNE 6, 2019 12:22 PM BY GOYA DMYTRYSHCHAK Star Weekly International best-selling author Caroline Overington will this month help launch the 16th Williamstown Literary Festival. She has gone from covering...

23 May 2019

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Forté Covers Willy Lit Fest 2019

“A book festival is the perfect place to celebrate your love of literature with fellow fans, see your favourite authors in action, and of course, discover new writers and illustrators....

20 May 2019

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Willy Lit Fest 2019 – Workshops

Choosing your own adventure in life can sometimes mean stepping outside of what we know and trying something brand new. Willy Lit Fest has become a gateway to knowledge and...

20 May 2019

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Listen Up! Willy Lit Fest on 3RRR

Willy Lit Fest is delighted to be partnering with the fabulous radio legends at 3RRR to bring you information on the 2019 Festival from May 23rd! So tune in and...

19 May 2019

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The 2019 Ada Cambridge Writing Prize shortlisted entrants

For the first time in the writing prize’s history submissions in the prose and poetry categories were open to all Victorian writers. As a result, we received an incredible amount...

05 May 2019

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Kerry O’Brien at Willy Lit Fest 2019

Kerry O’Brien’s life has spanned the post-war era through the maelstrom of the nuclear and digital age. He has witnessed life changing events, interviewed the great and good, and explained...

01 May 2019

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Willy Lit Fest 2019 Venue Locations

The 2019 Willy Lit Fest is delighted to be branching out to other great venues in beautiful Williamstown. Be sure to check the location of sessions on the program and...

21 Feb 2019

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Meet the Adas’ 2019 Judges

Meet the 2019 Ada Cambridge Writing Prizes’ Judges Prose: Lis Grove and Dmetri Kakmi Poetry: Chloe Wilson and Helen Cerne Young Adas: Dr Christopher Ringrose and Margaret Campbell LIs Grove loves...

16 Dec 2018

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The Adas 2019

We are thrilled to announce the Ada Cambridge Writing Prizes 2019 open for submissions! The Ada Cambridge writing prizes have given emerging writers from Melbourne’s western suburbs a wonderful opportunity...

21 Jun 2018

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Mini Reviews – Willy Lit Fest 2018!

Introduction to Kamishibai – Paper Theatre: Jackie Kerin Introduction to Kamishibai – Paper Theatre presented by Bernard Caleo was a session for adults with special appeal to artists, writers, performers...

18 Jun 2018

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Give us your feedback!

We’d love to hear what you thought of the Willy Lit Fest 2018. You can complete a hard copy form at the Festival, or click here to submit your feedback...

17 Jun 2018

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Ada Cambridge Prizes for 2018

We’re thrilled to announce the results of the Ada Cambridge Prizes for 2018. We’re particularly delighted that Catherine Ryan is among the short-listed authors for the Ada Cambridge Biographical Prose...

10 Jun 2018

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Keep writing and keep being brave – Author, Lucy Christopher tells us about her special relation with John Marsden.

Author, Lucy Christopher tells us about her special relation with John Marsden. John Marsden was a huge influence on my writing. I would go so far as to say that...

09 Jun 2018

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Five Questions with Jackie Kerin at Willy Lit Fest 2018

Tell us why you are at The Willy Lit Festival? I’m at the Festival for several reasons. I belong to a network of kamishibai storytellers (Japanese paper storytelling). Kamishibai a...

08 Jun 2018

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Civilex Joins The Willy Lit Fest Family

The Williamstown Literary Festival Committee is delighted to welcome Civilex as our newest sponsor! Their generous support will help us deliver a vibrant and rich program of sessions to the...

05 Jun 2018

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WRITER WRANGLING 101 or How to Collaborate On A Group Book Without Killing Each Other

THE SATURDAY LADIES BRIDGE CLUB by Alison Stuart Firstly, you are probably wondering who and what the Saturday Ladies Bridge Club is… I don’t think any of us play cards…...

04 Jun 2018

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Willy Lit Fest For Kids And The Young At Heart

It’s never too early to encourage imagination and a life-long love of books, ideas and creativity! Join us at Willy Lit Fest with your little ones, your youngsters, and your...

03 Jun 2018

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Five Questions With Danielle Ross Walls At Willy Lit Fest

Danielle Ross Walls is mum to two energetic boys, aged 8 and 5 years. In 2015, she created and directed the first Careers Expo for working mothers in Melbourne. Danielle’s...

03 Jun 2018

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Five Questions With Jenny Ackland at Willy Lit Fest

Jenny Ackland is a Melbourne writer and teacher. Her first novel The Secret Son – a Gallipoli/Ned Kelly mash-up about identity, truth and history – was published in 2015. Little...

03 Jun 2018

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The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree – Shokoofeh Azar at Willy Lit Fest 2018

Shortlisted for the Stella Prize, The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree is an extraordinarily powerful and evocative literary novel set in Iran in the period immediately after the Islamic Revolution...

31 May 2018

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An enchanting exploration of Australian literature with Bruno Lettieri

Bruno speaks with Il Globo newspaper — “I invited writers to come and speak to my students because I was trying to engage them in telling their own stories and...

30 May 2018

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FESTIVAL UPDATE – Sold Out Sessions

The sessions below have sold out. There’s plenty more on offer – please check the program! And if you want to see a particular author don’t forget you can see...