Last week, a group of enthusiastic students attended the Byron Writers Festival’s Secondary Education Day. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to immerse themselves in rich and inspiring conversations led by acclaimed local and national authors. It’s hard to believe that the weekend event would be cancelled due to extreme weather, considering the wonderful experience the students had. The day featured a diverse range of genres and voices – from crime fiction and fantasy to Indigenous perspectives and drama – offering students valuable insight into the world of writing and storytelling.

Here are the voices of the students themselves, who have written reflections about their experiences on the day:

Year 10 students Pippy and Leni said: The Writers Festival was such a fun and inspiring experience. We heard from many amazing authors who generously shared their knowledge and writing processes. Among them was Markus Zusak, whose presentation was engaging, funny, and kept the audience captivated from start to finish. There was never a dull moment – he passed on his wisdom through powerful and entertaining storytelling. All the authors were incredibly generous in reflecting on their writing journeys, and the day was filled with interesting interviews and the chance to meet new people. It was an enriching experience, and we would highly recommend it to others!

Year 9 students Marley and Jesse said: The Byron Writers Festival offered creative insight for a new generation of writers in today’s society. Some of the featured authors included Markus Zusak, Anita Heiss, and Corey Tutt – each delivering valuable talks on important topics. They shared their knowledge with a kind of guru-like presence and thoughtfully answered audience questions. It was an enjoyable and inspiring experience that gave us a clear picture of what goes on inside the minds of creative writers. We were very happy to be a part of it!

Year 8 students Harlow, Tane, Elijah and Jali said: The Byron Writers Festival was a really interesting and fun experience that included funny tales, cool and helpful tips and so much more. There were tales of brothers cracking eggs on foreheads and tales of flooded cities with trolls and elves. We ate tons of nice food and stuff. Plus some amazing matcha! These snacks paired fabulously with all the author’s stories. It was a wonderfully warm day, filled with warm breezes and the chatter of students. Overall, it was a great day filled with the sharing of knowledge and yummy snacks.

Year 8 students, Katja and Zaya said: Everything from boiled eggs to wise advice for young writers, Markus Zusak is the person to go to for a laugh and a good time. Grab your lunch, a friend and follow the laughter and for $9.99 you will not only meet the author himself but also get a signed copy of his book!

Year 11 students, Poppy, Elliott, Maya, Tilly, Giacomo, Luka, Flynn, Liel said: The Byron Writers Festival was a great, educational and fun experience that multiple year groups from Shearwater got to share with many other different Schools. Making new friends, and listening to thrilling authors was just one of the many highlights of the day. The food and book room elevated the day in a way that exceeded our expectations and brought a warm and yummy element to the already amazing privilege of being able to go to the festival.