Meet the Emerging Writers’ Festival ambassadors of 2022!

The Emerging Writers’ Festival is nearly here! From the 15th to the 25th of June, you’re invited to discover new stories, new voices, and new worlds from some of the most exciting writers and artists. Based in Melbourne, there will be over 50 in-person and digital events featuring over 150 artists, ranging from performances to panel discussions to writing workshops.

To get Aussie readers in the mood for the festival, we’ve invited the 2022 EWF ambassadors, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Jennifer Down, Jeanine Leane, and Jamie Marina Lau onto the blog to share with us the writers they love and the events they’re looking forward to celebrating the most.

Read on …

Yassmin Abdel-Magied

Yassmin Abdel-Magied is a Sudanese-Australian writer, broadcaster, and award-winning social justice advocate. She has published three books, including two middle grade novels she is now adapting for television. Her fourth book, Talking About A Revolution, comes out in May 2022. Yassmin is also developing a slate of projects for the stage and screen.

What excites you the most about new and emerging writers?

There is so much talent out there! It’s always thrilling to see the fresh stories and approaches new and emerging writers bring out into the world. It can be suprising and inspiring in the most delightful of ways. There’s also something to be said for the pure, unadultered excitement and joy of folks coming into the industry – it reminds me to not be so jaded!

Who are the writers to watch out for at EWF 2022?

Thabani Tshuma, Oliver Reeson, Mykaela Saunders, and Ennis Ćehić.

Which event are you looking forward to the most?

Writing is my second, maybe even third career, so I am quite looking forward to ‘Whenever, Wherever: Emerging in Any Context‘. I think it’s vital we understand ‘emerging’ doesn’t only mean ‘young’. I’m a big believer in being able to come to different careers, or vocations, at any point in our lives, and I’m looking forward to learning from folks who have come to publishing in perhaps a ‘non-traditional’ manner.

What do you hope attendees will discover at EWF 2022?

I hope they discover community, or at least a sense of it. Writing can sometimes be a lonely thing, but the community around writing can be nourishing, validating, and affirming. My writing community sustains me! So I hope emerging writers find their community, the folks they will share ideas and stories and laughs and tears with, for hopefully many years to come!

Thanks Yassmin!

Jennifer Down

Jennifer Down is an author, editor and translator. Her debut novel Our Magic Hour and short fiction collection Pulse Points were published to critical acclaim. Her most recent novel, Bodies of Light, was shortlisted for the Stella Prize and the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, and longlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award.

What excites you the most about new and emerging writers?

The sense of discovery that comes with encountering a new voice or story. Of course, I don’t mean ‘discovering’ people’s talent like an archaeologist ‘discovering’ ancient fragments — often, these writers have been working away doggedly for years. But they might be ‘new’ in the sense they’re new to me and/or others, especially if they’re just at the start of a publishing or performance career. When Eileen Myles or Annie Ernaux publishes a new book, I’ll always run out and buy it, and I’ll be stoked — but it’s also, in some sense, a known quantity: it’s a privilege to spend time with these writers, but I return to them, in part, because I already know I’m going to enjoy it. There’s a sense of familiarity and comfort there, which is wonderful. But coming across something (or someone) who’s both dazzling and totally unfamiliar to you? That’s a different buzz altogether.

Who are the writers to watch out for at EWF 2022?

Thabani Tshuma is appearing at a couple of events, but I’m looking forward to his performance in ‘Writing the Stars‘, which is presented in partnership with Scienceworks. Thabani is appearing with other poets, including Bella Waru. It sounds like an immersive and dreamy event. Panda Wong’s poetry workshop looks super fun. And I’m so hyped for Paul Dalla Rosa’s debut, An Exciting and Vivid Inner Life, later this year—he’s appearing on closing night alongside Stella-longlisted author Paige Clark.

Which event are you looking forward to the most?

Critics’ Corner—part of the NWC programme, with Claire Cao, Carissa Lee, Oliver Reeson and Michael Sun—is on my radar. Sometimes mainstream Australian literary and cultural criticism can feel staid and a little myopic, but emerging practitioners are consistently among those producing the most thoughtful, lucid and incisive work in the space. The writers on the panel are all insanely talented critics who make me excited for the future of Australian reviews and book pages. I’m also looking forward to the event with Rosa Press—I reckon they’re putting out some of the most intellectually nourishing work in the country at the moment.

What do you hope attendees will discover at EWF 2022?

Something totally new or unexpected. I love seeing mates or writers with whose work I’m already familiar—but there’s also a lovely rush in choosing something at random and being introduced to a genre or artist I know nothing about. The line-up is so strong, it’d be hard to go wrong if you made a decision by shutting your eyes and jabbing a finger at the programme.

Thanks Jennifer!

Jeanine Leane

Jeanine Leane is a Wiradjuri poet, author, essayist and teacher who now has the privilege of living and working on the lands of the Kulin nations. Her poetry, short stories, critique and essays have been published in Hecate: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Women’s Liberation Australian Poetry Journal, Antipodes, Overland and the Sydney Review of Books. Jeanine teaches Creative Writing and Aboriginal Literature at the University of Melbourne.

What excites you the most about new and emerging writers?

Gathering with other First Nations writers and writers from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities to celebrate writing. And meeting emerging writers of all ages.

Who are the writers to watch out for at EWF 2022?

Look out for everyone at the EWF! What’s good about gatherings such as the EWF is that it is a space to break free of literary celebrity capitalism and its tropes of individualism and generating of stereotypes that conflate and equate emerging with youth.

Which event are you looking forward to the most?

Too hard to choose, it’s all so good. I really enjoy panels as they have a community focus and present diverse views.

What do you hope attendees will discover at EWF 2022?

Some of the richness of First Nations and CALD writing cultures along with celebrating the many new and emerging voices. The importance of a community of writers.

Thanks Jeanine!

Jamie Marina Lau

Jamie Marina Lau is a writer, multidisciplinary artist and the author of Pink Mountain on Locust Island and Gunk Baby. Find more at jm-lau.com or @babyzzks on Instagram.

What excites you the most about new and emerging writers?

When someone is in their early stages of discovering writing and using words as a means of expression, I think it’s inspiring to see how much transformation and renewal there can be, both within their works and also how it affects their lives around it. It’s a posture of thinking that is really special and important to celebrate.

Who are the writers to watch out for at EWF 2022?

I’m a fan of the writers/artists, Panda Wong, Eunice Andrada, Sol Fernandez and Cher Tan.

Which event are you looking forward to the most?

‘nex/us: a gathering’, ‘Amazing Babes’, ‘Bodies of Sound’ and ‘coven’ sound really cool.

What do you hope attendees will discover at EWF 2022?

I think EWF is definitely a space to be vulnerable, a safe space to stretch our ideas about the act and process of writing.

Thanks Jamie!

The Emerging Writers’ Festival is on from the 15th – 25th of June, 2022.

Check out the program and buy your tickets here!

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