TAF2024 | WRITERS' RETREATS
with CRITIQUE GROUPS and
INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATION CONSULTATION
Sunday 3 to Saturday 9 November
Franklin, Tasmania
Are you writing a crime, mystery or other genre story?
Need to get away to a dedicated working space, because job and family commitments make it hard to find time to write?
Want support from experts?
Imagine staying in the heart of rural Tasmania, in a tiny historic village on the edge of the wilderness, writing in a stained glass-windowed sandstone church built in 1863. Our retreats, with scheduled writing time, daily accountability group sessions, support from program leaders, and optional critique groups, are like an incubator for your story.
Join four internationally successful authors – New Zealand’s Vanda Symon, RMIT lecturer Angela Meyer, journalist Poppy Gee and action scene specialist Alan Baxter – and Indigenous representation advocate Jonathan Berry, and write your story with confidence.
Classes and tutor groups will be held in Frankin’s St. John’s church, with a warm welcome for writers next door at Frank’s Ciderhouse and Cafe. Days are a mix of writing sessions, group sessions and optional masterclasses and publishing salons, and nights can be spent writing, joining group dinners in local restaurants or, on Thursday 7 November, at a Tasmanian Chapter of Sisters in Crime Australia Mysterious Women of Crime Trivia Night.
The retreats are suitable for genre writers at any stage of development, especially crime and mystery writers. Each person booking into a retreat will work with one or more program leaders to set daily goals, report back on progress, discuss common writer challenges and make a plan to continue once they return home.
Choose from a six-day retreat ($690), or for those seeking a Melbourne Cup long weekend escape, a three-day retreat ($449), both starting Sunday 3 November 2024.
You’ll leave feeling refreshed with new knowledge, skills and connections.
For more information on retreat inclusions, continue reading below.
To go to details of the retreat location, accommodation etc. please click here.
On the main street of FRANKLIN
Sunrise over the river in FRANKLIN
ST JOHN’S CHURCH in Franklin, the home of TAF2024
Based in the gorgeous southern Tasmanian village of Franklin, amid orchards, historic buildings and stunning views, participate in our retreats to:
make signficant progress on your story,
develop new skills,
connect with other writers, and
leave feeling renewed and eager to keep writing.
Classes will be held at St John’s Church in Franklin, with a warm welcome for writers next door at the cosy Frank’s Ciderhouse and Cafe with a fireplace, lounges and coffee from 10 am each day.
Franklin is set on the banks of the HUON RIVER
St John’s Church, home of TAF2024, is at the top of the driveway at FRANK’S CIDERHOUSE AND CAFE
FRANK’s CIDERHOUSE AND CAFE, at the bottom of the hill from St John’s church, offers coffee, cakes, lunch and refreshing ciders from 10 am each day
RETREAT INCLUSIONS
The retreat includes:
pre-retreat planning worksheets to help you make the most of your days,
daily goal setting and tips on how to achieve them,
suggested morning and afternoon writing hours with tips on how to structure your time,
daily sessions with program leaders to share your progress, boost your resolve and discuss solutions to common issues (e.g. imposter syndrome),
planning to continue your momentum once you return home,
an option to consult members of the Melukerdee/Huon Valley Aboriginal community on respectful Indigenous representation in your current or future work,
optional critique groups to receive feedback on your work, and
a mix of semi-organised and free evenings.
Please note that once you book in, if you are on Facebook, you will be invited to join a private Facebook group to chat with program leaders and get to know your fellow retreaters ahead of the week.
Melbourne Cup long weekend three-day retreat, 3 to 6 November 2024 (Classes on 3, 4 and 5 November, suggested travel days 2 and 6 November, $449 including GST)
Full six-day retreat, 3 to 9 November 2024 (Classes 3 to 8 November, suggested travel days 2 and 9 November, $690 including GST)
To go to details of the retreat location, accommodation etc. please click here.
Be inspired by the LOCAL PEOPLE, including local indigenous arts, culture, history and stories. Here, Melukerdee cultural leader Jamie Bantick offers the TAF2022 Welcome to Country
Explore LOCAL COLONIAL HISTORY, such as the history of the family behind Frank’s Cider.
Take writing breaks to wander along the Huon River, taking in the STUNNING VIEWS in every direction
OPTIONAL EXTRAS
Masterclasses, including how to set your publishing goals, get started on and craft your novel, and edit your work to stand out to readers and publishers alike.
Deep diving into the publication journeys of four internationally successful authors at our publishing salons.
A fun night with friends and fellow writers at the Mysterious Women of Crime Trivia night.
The magical TAHUNE AIRWALK is less than an hour’s drive into the Tasmanian wilderness from FRANKLIN
The GEEVESTON PLATYPUS WALK is on the way from Franklin to both the Tahune Airwalk and Hastings Caves
The otherworldly rainforest walk at HASTINGS CAVES and thermal pools is an hour by car from FRANKLIN
Links to:
the week’s program leaders;
the Tasmanian Chapter of Sisters in Crime Australia Mysterious Women of Crime Trivia Night;
the full timetable; and
Stay up to date on what’s happening at the festival.
Sign-up for #TARWF Updates
Terror Australis Readers and Writers Festival would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our festival is held, the Melukerdee People of the South East Nation, and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
TARWF’s 2024 professional development program is made possible by partner Frank’s Bar and Ciderhouse and TARWF’s 2024 masterclass series is supported by the Tasmanian Government.
