Tune into the official WestWords YouTube channel as we showcase the brilliant things that go on in the creative community of Western Sydney. Discover readings of well-known and winning writings, mini masterclasses, workshops, art tutorials, tips and tricks of the writing trade and more.
Blake Poetry Prize
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Dave Drayton This elaborate and intelligently crafted poem oscillates between scherzo and seriousness. Every line is an anagram of the first (a...
Don’t Call Us Dirty
Lou Garcia-Dolnik This poem is ambitious and yet confessionally dense. Its mixture of registers is fresh and startling, as it switches between...
Sweeter than Honey
Heather Ellyard A mad jubilant song of praise to life in an era of sadness. It contains spiritual images and Biblical references that resonate. It...
Draw This
Draw This! CHARMAINE LEDDEN-LEWIS draws A CLOUDY SKY
Charmaine Ledden-Lewis In this tutorial illustrator Charmaine Ledden-Lewis explains how to draw a broad cloudy sky using pastels. Charmaine...
Draw This! LIZ DUTHIE draws OLIVE
Liz Duthie Is an internationally published children's book illustrator, visual artist, art educator and community arts worker. Her passion is...
Draw This! ALAA ALFARAON draws WATERCOLOUR MONSTERS
Alaa Alfaraon Is an emerging 21-year-old illustrator and long-time lover of animated films. Born in Syria to Iraqi parents, Alaa has lived in...
Living Stories Videos
WestWords Living Stories Online Creative Writing Workshop for 13-15yr olds
Join Kim Pham as she runs 13 to 15yr olds through a hands-on Living Stories Online Creative Writing Workshop to help them develop a short story or...
WestWords Living Stories Online Creative Writing Workshop for 10-12yr olds
In a Living Stories Online Creative Writing Workshop, Liz Ledden helps 10 to 12yr olds brainstorm place, characters and plot, as well as utilise...
Living Stories Western Sydney Writing Prize 2021 – announcement of winners and book launch
"The WestWords/WestLit "Living Stories" Western Sydney Writing Prize took place over all thirteen local government areas in Western Sydney, with one...
Hemmingway’s Polydactyl Kitten Club
Hemingway’s Polydactyl Kitten Club & Speakeasy, October 2020
Guest: Rawah Arja It's the October gathering of the Kitten Cub, featuring our special guest, writer, teacher and debut YA novelist (and accidental...
Hemingway’s Polydactyl Kitten Club & Speakeasy, August 2020
Guest: Malla Nunn It's the August meeting of the Kitten Cub, featuring our special guest, crime writer and debut YA novelist, Malla Nunn. It was a...
Hemingway’s Polydactyl Kitten Club & Speakeasy, July 2020
Guest: Ali Whitelock It's the July meeting of the Kitten Cub, featuring our special guest ali whitelock. It was a small group, all poets, but a fun...
Mini Masterclasesses
I, MEMOIRIST
Fiona Wright This is a WestWords Mini-Masterclass podcast, reproduced for YouTube. In this episode, first published as a podcast on 23 April 2020,...
PAGE TO SCREEN – ADAPTING FOR FILM
Kirsty Eagar This is a WestWords Mini-Masterclass podcast, reproduced for YouTube. In this episode, first published as a podcast on 23 July 2020, YA...
REALITY AS FANTASY
Isobelle Carmody This is a WestWords Mini-Masterclass podcast, reproduced for YouTube. In this episode, first published as a podcast on 27 October...
Poet’s Corner
Poets’ Corner with David Ades featuring Christopher (Kit) Kelen
Poets' Corner is WestWords' monthly encounter with celebrated Australian poets, curated by David Ades. Each month a poet is invited to read and talk...
Poets’ Corner with David Ades featuring Lisa Gorton
Poets' Corner is WestWords' monthly encounter with celebrated Australian poets, curated by David Ades. Each month a poet is invited to read...
Heather Taylor-Johnson
Heather Taylor Johnson is a multi-form writer living and working on Kaurna land near Port Adelaide. Her most recent poetry books are the verse novel...
The Readings
Writing Western Sydney: The Readings with Magdalena Ball
The enchanting Magdalena Ball shares poetry from her most recent book, Bobish, in the latest instalment of 'Writing Western Sydney: The Readings'....
An Ordinary Ecstasy
Author: Luke Carmen The seven stories that make up An Ordinary Ecstasy explore the lives of people whose days are marked by anxiety and tenderness...
Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over
Author: Miranda Luby Sadie Starr is obsessed with starting over. A new year, a new diet, a new social media identity. Anything that gives her a...
West Side Poetry Slam
Ellen Bellew & Jonathan Battista – June 22
Highlights from June's West Side Poetry Slam, presented as a hybrid event at WestWords and via Zoom. Featuring Ellen Bellew & Jonathan Battista....
Tom Kaldor & Gnattie ~ May 22
West Side Poetry Slam – May 2022 feat. Tom Kaldor The West Side Poetry Slam is presented as a hybrid event at WestWords and via Zoom.Presented by...
Sarah Temporal ~ Saturday 07 May
A sampler of February's West Side Poetry Slam, organised live via Zoom! Featuring Sarah Temporal. Presented by WestWords and West Side Poetry Slam,...
Writing Western Sydney: The Interviews
Academy Live!
Once a month, come along to our open mic event!
Let’s Get (Un)Comfortable: How and why to write tricky things with Emma Darragh
Join Jumaana Abdu in conversation with Sara Saleh to discuss her new book Translations.
Auburn Poets and Writers Open Mic with Oormila Vijayakrishnan Prahlad
Each month the WestWords Centre for Writing hosts the hybrid West Side Poetry Slam.