The NZSA Regional Roadshows: What Do People Get Up to at Writers Forums?

Back in those sunny pre-Covid days, the New Zealand Society of Authors held a couple of writers forums, each running over a weekend. I went to one in Auckland, where there were guest speakers on writing and publishing, authors and experts brought in from around the country and even overseas. There were workshops you could attend and a chance to pitch your novel to a publisher. You could browse booths promoting publishing services and sales tables laden with books by the featured authors.

Then Covid happened and we started having meetings via Zoom. Suddenly, it seemed possible to attend meetings that previously you had to visit a major city for. With Covid restrictions, we were suddenly having to think outside the box. And someone had the thought that if you couldn’t easily travel to a city for a writers forum, maybe the writers forum could come to you. Out of this idea came the Regional Roadshow.

I recently attended the NZSA Regional Roadshow at Ahuriri. This was an all-day event held at East Pier Hotel, which as an NZSA member cost me $120 ($150 for non-members) - not bad for a full-on day of masterclasses and workshops with lunch, morning and afternoon tea provided. There was a choice of workshops to suit whatever stage you were at in your writing career and I’m sure everyone came away with their heads buzzing with creative inspiration and helpful tips.

My day began with the workshop: The Business of Being a Writer with Elizabeth Kirkby-McLeod, a poet and children’s author. Elizabeth exhorted us to see ourselves as being ‘in the business of intellectual property’. This session explained the particulars of the legal and commercial aspects of being an author: agents and distributors, copyright and contracts, for the traditionally or independently published alike. Elizabeth made a potentially dry subject entertaining with case studies and spot prizes (thanks for the Cadbury Flake, Libby).

After morning tea and a chance to chat with fellow writers, it was time for the second workshop, Tell It Slant with Tracy Farr. Tracy is author of several well-received novels and is the NZSA Vice-President. Whether you are writing non-fiction or fiction or a mix of both, Tracy offered examples of how facts and fiction can blend or intersect in interesting and surprising ways.

After lunch on a windswept veranda, watching the seagulls and whitecaps with other writers, we knuckled down for our third workshop, for me: Making 3-D Characters with Sprigs author, Brannavan Gnanalingam. We had a go at reworking characters in different ways, getting them to talk like people we knew, or exploring backstory by putting our characters into situations outside our novels, such as their first kiss or getting into trouble at school. It was all go with the pen and paper.

My day was rounded off with a panel discussion: Getting Through the Hoops with Mikaela Nyman, Anna Mackenzie and Elizabeth Kirkby-McLeod which discussed how you can apply for grants, residencies and mentorships. I love a good panel discussion, and this was useful information for anyone interested in applying for funding in the creative sector.

These were just some of the workshops on offer. Others included a Poetry Workshop with Rob Hack, or short-story editing with Shelley Burne-Field and John Prins. I might also have chosen the workshop on writing for Young Adults with Aaron Topp. So there really was something for everyone. Best of all the Roadshow was a chance to meet and chat with other writers.

As well as eight Regional Roadshows hosted around the country, NZSA offers a wide array of helpful advice including online workshops, mentoring and publishing tips. You can find out more at authors.org.nz. Happy writing!

Posted by JAM

25 August 2022

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