| The graduates of Year of Poetry and Year of the Novella 2020 celebrating their books launching. Woot! |
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Three Reasons to be Excited
This year is a very important one for our students. It's the year they need to make up for the huge disruptions to learning in 2020. The NSW Department of Education estimates that on average school students fell three to four months behind with literacy last year – for students in under-resourced communities, it was even further.
This year we will be working as hard as possible to support students to make up lost ground, while celebrating their voices and the many wonderful things they achieved in such a strange year.
Here are three things we’re super excited about in 2021:
- It's amazing to have our volunteers back! For the first time since March last year, our amazing Storytellers are returning to schools across Sydney with trained volunteer writing tutors who will give kids the personal attention to their writing that can be transformative.
- We're working behind the scenes on some exciting Big Projects, including a collaboration with one of our favourite visual artists and a project involving some pretty spectacular birds.
Yes, birds.
- Poets are having a moment in the sun following Amanda Gorman's incredible performance at the US Inauguration, so it’s no wonder our poetry collections from Year of Poetry 2020 sold out in record time. We’re re-stocking now: click here to order yours.
Our 2021 Year of Poetry program started last week, and we’re thrilled to meet the latest group of young poets coming through. We look forward to sharing all of this – and much more! - with you this year.
Warmest wishes,
Cath
Dr Cath Keenan AM
Executive director and co-founder
Story Factory
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 | Already a Sold Out Sensation - Get Your Reprints Today!We were blown away last December. Firstly by the talent of our Year of Poetry and Year of the Novella students in publishing their poetry chapbooks and novellas, and then by the extraordinary response from you, the public, in buying so many copies that we sold out! What a fabulous endorsement of their voices. If you missed out on your copies, we are reprinting and taking orders now, get your order in by 28 February to own your slice of brilliance! |
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| Nothing compares to being in the classroom for 'EUREKA!' moments like this one in Telopea Public School. |
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It's Good To Be BackWe've got to say, it's feeling pretty good to be back at school in 2021. After all the disruption, change and uncertainty of last year we're truly thrilled to be starting Term One 2021 with Storytellers and volunteers back in selected classrooms, bringing the joy of creative writing to our students and schools across the state.
Each year we bring a mix of term-long writing programs that take a class through curriculum-aligned literacy outcomes in a fun and engaging way, Big Projects that connect schools with art institutions in creating an exciting public art outcome, and Open Programs that connect students online or in our Parramatta centre.
It's through this mix that we take students step-by-step, idea-by-idea through the process of writing their own story. Completion of a story is a powerful moment, and one we celebrate with publishing their writing in a beautiful publication they can take home, or on our website.
This is the magic we use to build literacy, confidence and creativity in young people at risk of being left behind. We're glad you're joining us for this journey in 2021. |
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| One of our wonderful volunteers at our extremely cute volunteer park meet-up. You are looking at a legend. |
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Welcome Back Volunteers
Last week we were finally able to welcome volunteers back into our Redfern centre for training to go out into schools as creative writing tutors. Although we're rather proud of digitising the volunteer training experience, it was a special kind of magic to meet in person again. To celebrate, a group of new and long-standing volunteers got together in the park to get to know each other and our Volunteer Managers, as well as to revel in doing what we're all so committed to - helping kids find their voice.
For 2021 our spaces for in-person training and events are strictly limited in order to maintain COVID safety. If you're interested in getting back in the classroom or attending a training event, please make sure you RSVP early and let us know ASAP if your plans change. |
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 | A Twisted Tale From An 'Awkward Bookworm'
We really are spoiled with our Year of Poetry and Year of the Novella students from 2020, but this writer's blurb from one of our Year of the Novella students caught our eye. Here's how Tinoosh describes herself and her journey as a writer. If this resonates, why not buy Tinoosh's novella Gemini from our bookstore?
Tinoosh Zarei, 15 years old and one of the most awkward bookworms alive, decided to finally sit down and write her own twisted tale. Being from Iran and a refugee, her first language hadn’t always been English but it’s a language that she learned to speak with pride, a language she decided to take to another level by writing a book. In her spare time, she finds herself staring at the screen of her phone or laptop, watching countless episodes of anime, scrolling through Tumblr and reading way too many writer’s prompts and short stories, or reading books from her never-ending pile of, well, books. (No, it’s not an addiction.) But besides that, she also enjoys freaking herself out and losing precious sleep by thinking about how the world is a simulation. |
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But Wait, There's More...The Very Short Film Festival is a national competition that is open to anyone who’s ready to tell a story. There are no real rules except to include 'Tasmania' somehow. Cash prizes are awarded in two categories – 21 years of age and under; 22 years up, and they're offering a number of mentorships with actor Marta Dusseldorp, artist Rocco Fazzari, writer and editor Leta Keens; and the legendary Leah Purcell. For more info and to enter check out veryshortfilmfestival.com.au/
- Check out @southcoastwriters on Instagram for all the details of their upcoming writers events, workshops and competitions for young writers in the Illawarra and South Coast. They're got some amazing opportunities!
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