If you missed the latest Writers at Sea newsletter, you can read it online at bit.ly/WAS250914

Writing doesn’t have to be a solitary life. On the Writers at Sea retreat, we love to bring together authors who share a love of storytelling and creating a supportive community while travelling. Get all the details at www.writersatsea.com.au or email us at [email protected] #WritersAtSea

Join us and take your writing on a journey with the Writers at Sea Retreat. It’ll give you the time and space to focus on your work while enjoying a cruise to Vanuatu. You can find all the details at www.writersatsea.com.au #WritersAtSea #WritingCommunity

How does a writing retreat at sea sound? Join authors Alli Sinclair and T.M.Clark on Voyager of the Seas from 19–27 February 2026 for an 8-night creative adventure to Mystery Island, Port Vila, and Luganville, Vanuatu. Find out all the details and book your place at www.writersatsea.com.au

We hope you'll join us for our 20th anniversary Writers and Illustrators Conference, with online sessions this weekend and in-person/streamed sessions next weekend. If you haven't booked yet, you can do so at www.CYAConference.com #CYA2025

The conference is a hybrid event, enabling participation from anywhere in the world. Conference Details 🗓 19–20 July – Live online sessions 🗓 26 July – In-person sessions at Pullman Brisbane King George Square, (streamed for online attendees)

Join Bobby Harris (USA - Hey! Digi Marketing) on July 20th for Smart Marketing: Using Social Media & Analytics to Target and Grow Your Audience at the CYA Writers & Illustrators Conference. Find out all the details and register at www.cyaconference.com

Rowena Beresford’s In-Person Writing Bootcamp – 27 July Join Rowena Beresford, Managing Editor of Riveted Press, for an intensive, in-person Writing Bootcamp designed to refine your craft and accelerate your manuscript progress. Secure your place now at www.cyaconference.com/bootcamp

Mary Anastasiou from will be doing online assessments of Illustrations, Chapter Books, Early Readers, & Picture Book manuscripts at CYA. www.cyaconference.com/assessments #CYA2025 #CYAConference #WritersCommunity #writing #YALit #FictionWriters #WritingTips #PictureBooks

Join Karen Wasson on July 19th for Thinking Inside the Box - writing a graphic novel at the CYA Writers & Illustrators Conference. Details 🗓 19–20 July – Live online sessions 🗓 26 July – In-person sessions at Pullman Brisbane King George Square, (streamed for online attendees) www.cyaconference.com

Lauren Clarke from Creating Ink will be doing online assessments of Adult Literary Fiction, Commercial Adult Fiction, Historical, Romance, Thrillers, Women's Fiction, & YA Writing manuscripts at CYA. www.cyaconference.com/assessments #CYA2025 #CYAConference #WritersCommunity #writing

What’s Included: • Small-group editorial feedback tailored to your manuscript • Structured writing sessions and progress check-ins • A dynamic panel discussion and interactive Q&A

Luna Soo’s In-Person Writing Bootcamp – 27 July Join Luna Soo, Senior Editor at Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, for an intensive, in-person Writing Bootcamp to refine your craft and accelerate your manuscript progress. Secure your place now at www.cyaconference.com/bootcamp

Laura Franks from Affirm Press will be doing online assessments of Commercial Adult Fiction, Crime, Historical, Thrillers, Women's Fiction, & Literary Speculative Fiction manuscripts at CYA. www.cyaconference.com/assessments #CYA2025 #CYAConference #WritersCommunity #writing #YALit #FictionWriters

Join Jacqueline Harvey on July 19th for Keeping Creative Ideas Flowing at the CYA Writers & Illustrators Conference. Conference Details 🗓 19–20 July – Live online sessions 🗓 26 July – In-person sessions at Pullman Brisbane King George Square, (streamed for online attendees) www.cyaconference.com

Join Juliet Marrilier on July 20th for Writing Historical Fantasy: Blending Myth, Magic, and History at the CYA Writers & Illustrators Conference. Conference Details 🗓 19–20 July – Live online sessions 🗓 26 July – In-person sessions at Pullman Brisbane Register at www.cyaconference.com

Join Lauren McKeller on July 26th for Coming soon at the CYA Writers & Illustrators Conference. The conference is a hybrid event, enabling participation from anywhere in the world. Find out all the details and register at www.cyaconference.com

Join Pam Rushby on July 26th for The Perfect Pitch: pitching your book to publishers at the CYA Writers & Illustrators Conference. The conference is a hybrid event, enabling participation from anywhere in the world. Conference Details- www.cyaconference.com

oin Catherine Bilson on July 20th for Plot It Out: Structuring Your Story with a Plotting Sheet at the CYA Writers & Illustrators Conference. The conference is a hybrid event, enabling participation from anywhere in the world. Find out all the details and register at www.cyaconference.com

Daniel Pilkington will be doing online assessments of Adult Literary Fiction, Commercial Adult Fiction, Crime, Horror, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Narrative Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Romance, Speculative Fiction, Thrillers, Women's Fiction, Memoir manuscripts at CYA. www.cyaconference.com/assessments

Join Megan Norris on July 19th for Crafting Compelling Narratives from Real Events at the CYA Writers & Illustrators Conference. The conference is a hybrid event, enabling participation from anywhere in the world. Find out all the details and register at www.cyaconference.com

Kristina Schulz will be doing online assessments of Chapter Books, Early Readers, Illustrations, Junior Fiction, Middle Grade, Picture Book, & YA Writing manuscripts at CYA. www.cyaconference.com/assessments #CYA2025 #CYAConference #WritersCommunity #writing #YALit #FictionWriters #WritingTips

Fiona Smith from Beyond Words Literary Agency will be doing online assessments of Adult Literary Fiction, Commercial Adult Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Historical, Literary Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Speculative Fiction, Thrillers, Women's Fiction, YA Writing, Memoir manuscripts at CYA.

Join Brian Falkner on July 19th for AI as a tool to writers at the CYA Writers & Illustrators Conference. The conference is a hybrid event, enabling participation from anywhere in the world. Find out all the details and register at www.cyaconference.com

Donna Rawlins will be doing online assessments of Early readers, Illustrations, Narrative non-fiction & Picture books manuscripts at CYA. www.cyaconference.com/assessments #CYA2025 #CYAConference #WritersCommunity #writing #YALit #FictionWriters #WritingTips #ChildrensBooks #JuniorFiction

Kate Stevens will be doing online assessments of Chapter Books, Junior Fiction, Middle Grade, Picture Book, & YA Writing manuscripts at CYA. www.cyaconference.com/assessments #CYA2025 #CYAConference #WritersCommunity #writing #YALit #FictionWriters #WritingTips #PictureBooks

Got any Questions - Don't hesitate to ask us! For anyone needing clarification: What CYA calls - Chapter books - encompasses both junior fiction and middle grade novels! Please don't think that we have excluded a section just because the name is a little different in terminology to what you know.

Join Rory H Mather on July 20th for Dreaming Big: The Art of Writing Picture Books at the CYA Writers & Illustrators Conference. The conference is a hybrid event, enabling participation from anywhere in the world. Find out all the details and register at www.cyaconference.com

Kate Chisholm from Five Mile Press will be doing online assessments of Chapter Books, Early Readers, Junior Fiction, Middle Grade, Narrative Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Picture Book, YA Writing manuscripts at CYA. www.cyaconference.com/assessments #CYA2025 #CYAConference #WritersCommunity #writing

Dani Vee from Larrikin House will be doing online assessments of Chapter Books, Commercial Adult Fiction, Crime, Fantasy, Illustrations, Junior Fiction, Middle Grade, Mystery, Non-Fiction, Picture Book, Women's Fiction, & YA Writing manuscripts at CYA. www.cyaconference.com/assessments #CYA2025

Crystal Corocher from Write Now Literary will be doing online assessments of Chapter Books, Early Readers, Historical, Junior Fiction, Middle Grade, Narrative Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, & Picture Book manuscripts at CYA. www.cyaconference.com/assessments #CYA2025 #CYAConference #WritersCommunity

Join Lauren Clarke from Creating Ink for a full-day, in-person Writing Bootcamp designed to deliver structured, high-impact feedback and dedicated time to advance your manuscript. 📍 In-person only – Brisbane | 27 July 2025 Register now at: www.cyaconference.com/bootcamp #CYA2025 #WritingBootcamp

Who Should Attend? Writers developing chapter books or young adult manuscripts who are ready to take their work to the next level. Secure your place now at www.cyaconference.com/bootcamp

The Editors Panel on July 26th will be all about the state of the industry and what the future holds for authors and illustrators at the CYA Writers & Illustrators Conference. Find out all the details and register at www.cyaconference.com

Join internationally renowned illustrator Serena Geddes for an immersive Illustration in-person boot camp at the CYA Conference. In-Person Bootcamp (Brisbane): 27th July 2025 Register Now at www.cyaconference.com/bootcamp #IllustrationBootcamp #ChildrensBookIllustration #CYAConference #CYA2025

LAST DAY TO ENTER This is your moment to step into the spotlight. The CYA Writing and Illustrating Competition closes tonight at midnight AEST, and we’re calling on creatives from around the globe to put their best work forward. Submit now at www.cyaconference.com/competition

Ahoy there! Writers at Sea has another writing retreat scheduled for 2026 and bookings are open! Get ready for a week of fun, workshops and writing. See you on board! www.writersatsea.com.au

@cyaconference.bsky.social is our sister conference where you can get assessments by agents and editors on your manuscripts and illustrations. Bookings are open for this year’s sessions.

Don't forget to enter the December Writers Space Competition for you chance to win a copy of Shooting Butterflies and a $10 Amazon Gift Voucher. Follow the link to enter. www.writerspace.com/our-contests... #writers #writersspace #writing #competition #giveaway #prizes

View at the final breakfast isn’t too bad. @writersatsea.bsky.social @cyaconference.bsky.social

Last round table session for this year’s Writers at Sea retreat. It has been such a wonderful time. Bookings are open for the 2025 retreat if you’re interested in joining us next year. #WAS2024 #writersretreat #writerscommunity #YALit #iamwriting #romancewriters #scriptwriter #writerslife

Fabulous morning at Mystery Island during the @writersatsea.bsky.social retreat #WAS2024 #writersretreat #writerscommunity #YALit #iamwriting #scriptwriter #writerslife

Good morning from the South Pacific

Boarding time for the Writers at Sea retreat. If you’re interested in next year’s retreat visit www.writersatsea.com.au

First leg of the journey done. Looking forward catching up with all the authors on the cruise.

Its tomorrow!!!! Cant wait to see you all!! #writingtips #writingsociety #writingislife #writinglove #writingofinstagram #writingskills #writingabook #writingtime #writingcommunityofig #writinginstruments #writingofig #writingsofinstagram #writingworkshop #writersatsea #royalcaribeann

2 days to go, We are flying down from Brisbane to Sydney tomorrow morning! The packing is underway!! #writingsociety #writingislife #writinglove #writingofinstagram #writingskills #writingabook #writingcommunityofig #writingofig #writingsofinstagram #writingworkshop #writersatsea #royalcaribeann

Anyone starting to get excited yet? 3 Days to go! #writingtips #writingsociety #writingislife #writinglove #writingofinstagram #writingskills #writingabook #writingtime #writingcommunityofig #writinginstruments #writingofig #writingsofinstagram #writingworkshop #writersatsea #royalcaribeann

4 days!! #writingislife #writinglove #writingofinstagram #writingskills #writingabook #writingtime #writingcommunityofig #writinginstruments #writingofig #writingsofinstagram #writingworkshop #writersatsea #royalcaribeann