Outback Writers' Centre

03/09/2026

Orana Writers' Hub meeting:
Saturday, September 5th. 2026 at 10.00am in the Music Room, at the Western Plains Cultural Centre.
In the first half of the meeting we will be reading and critiquing pieces shorter than 300 words, written to the theme of the month--Iridescence.
As a friendly group of writers, we welcome new and not so new writers to our Writers' Hub. We were thrilled to have some new young writers present their work last month.
The second half of the meeting is an opportunity for writers to present longer pieces.
If you want to present your work, please bring some printed copies so that the rest of us can follow it on the page. You can come along with work to read, or without, and participate in thinking about writing.

15/07/2026

Sadiya Shiraj
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July is a special month for Speakeasy, because it's one month before the official Australian Poetry Slam comes to The Establishment Bar Dubbo - - u know u want to !!!
So for our open-mic night this month, in-lieu of a featured poet to open the night, we will be putting on a short practice slam poetry session to give our local poets a taste of what a slam poetry heat will look like. We will invite a few willing poets to perform for a poem of up to 2 minutes in length, followed by an audience vote ~Speakeasy style~ (join us to find out what that means).
The "winning" poet will win... bragging rights! As well as hopefully some added confidence to enter the APS competition next month on August the 26th for a chance to perform their poem at the Opera House 😳
The rest of the night will be our usual open-mic format, no fuss, no frills, all welcome 🫶🏽
So come bring a poem or just your keen listening ears for this special edition Speakeasy Poetry Nights! See you all on the last Wednesday of the month, July 29th at 7pm 🤗

30/05/2026

Orana Writers Hub meeting is one week away
As a friendly group of writers, we welcome new and not so new writers to our next Writers Hub meeting on Saturday, June 6th. 2026 at 10.00am in the Music Room, at the Western Plains Cultural Centre.
This month, the theme is An old rusty ute.
We will be reading and critiquing pieces shorter than 300 words, written to the theme of the month, in the first half of the meeting. The second half of the meeting is an opportunity for writers to present longer pieces.
If you want to present your work, please bring some printed copies so that the rest of us can follow it on the page. You can come along with work to read, or without, and participate in thinking about writing.
The workshop will start after this session.
Writers Workshops
The next in our 2026 series of writing workshops is on Saturday, June 6th. 2026.
Last month Jack led us through Writing rules, and knowing when to break them.
This month Sue will be presenting an interesting workshop on Sensory Writing, where we use the power of the five senses to create vivid scenes.
Each workshop covers a different aspect of the writing process to give local writers opportunities to extend their creative, critical, and technical skills.
These workshops are free, open to all writers, and are held in the Music Room at Western Plains Cultural Centre on the first Saturday of each month at 11am.
For more information, check our web page -https://www.outbackwriterscentre.com.au/
Or email our secretary - [email protected]
The Outback Writers Centre gratefully acknowledges the support of Dubbo Regional Council.

17/05/2026

An old article but somethings never change.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/may/14/whatever-next-pleasures-plot-dickens-line-of-duty?utm_content=bufferb31ec&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fbclid=IwY2xjawR17y5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeebSpSKG2_GQwLjJKTOZDY9TI73ylj9MPxbrM_gRofTqJu6d2QUz2xNS23DI_aem_go9aadMnsk7T1_k5yab_5g

How do the best stories work? John Mullan examines what today’s TV dramatists can learn from the masters of the trade

29/03/2026

Writers Hub meeting this Saturday!
As a friendly group of writers, we welcome new and not so new writers to our next Writers Hub meeting on Saturday, April 4th., 2026, at 10.00am in the Music Room, at the Western Plains Cultural Centre.
This month, the theme is Monsters.
We will be reading and critiquing pieces shorter than 300 words, written to the theme of the month, in the first half of the meeting. The second half of the meeting is an opportunity for writers to present longer pieces.
If you want to present your work, please bring some printed copies so that the rest of us can follow it on the page. You can come along with work to read, or without, and participate in thinking about writing.
The workshop on Openings and Endings-engage your reader from start to finish will start after this session
These workshops are free, open to all writers, and are held in the Music Room at Western Plains Cultural Centre on the first Saturday of each month at 11am.
The upcoming workshop dates are –
April 4th. 2026
May 2nd. 2026
June 6th. 2026

For more information, check our web page -https://www.outbackwriterscentre.com.au/
Or email our secretary - [email protected]
The Outback Writers Centre gratefully acknowledges the support of Dubbo Regional Council.
Mid-week Writing Session
These popular sessions continue. Come along for part or all of the session held in 'The Studio' at Patrick's, to be inspired to work on your current WIP (work in progress) or begin writing a new piece in the presence of fellow writers.
Wednesdays 11am to 2pm
Patrick's Cafe
200 Fitzroy Street, Dubbo, NSW 2830

25/02/2026

Orana Writers Hub meeting
Our next Writers Hub meeting is on Saturday, March 7th at 10.00am in the Music Room, at the Western Plains Cultural Centre.
This month, the theme is The march of progress.
As always, the first half of the meeting is for reading and critiquing pieces shorter than 300 words, written to the theme of the month.
The second half of the meeting is an opportunity for writers to present longer pieces.
If you want to present your work, please bring some printed copies so that the rest of us can follow it on the page. You can come along with work to read, or without, and participate in thinking about writing.
As a friendly group of writers, we welcome new and not so new writers.

The workshop, The Function of Writing - Getting Back to Basics To Move Through Writing Problems, will start after this session, and will be followed by a Committee meeting.

29/01/2026

Membership for 2025-26

A reminder that membership is due to be paid within 3 months of the new financial year (to satisfy the model constitution for the Dept of Fair Trading who govern our not for profit organisation.)
Our membership dues underpin our efforts to support writers in our area.

1. Membership is $35 for one financial year, and can be paid by bank transfer to:
OUTBACK WRITERS CENTRE
BSB. 932 000
Account No. 100373109
Reference: [Your name] For Membership.
(Please put the reference so we know who is making the deposit and what it's for).

2. Alternatively you can pay membership through 123Tix.

https://www.123tix.com.au/events/49335/outback-writers-centre-membership-35

3. The most fun way to pay is to come along to a Saturday meeting and pay in cash to the Treasurer. You join for the year, and you get the excitement of being with a group of writers.

A new type of membership for 2025-26

At the AGM we decided to introduce an Associate Membership of OWC, in addition to Full Membership of OWC.
Full members receive all current benefits, including publishing their work on our website and being listed as a local writer.
Associate members are demonstrating support for the work of OWC and are included in all OWC information distributions but are not entitled to present their work at Hub Meetings, publish their work on our website or be included in our listing of local writers.

Website and Blog
Check out our Website-
https://www.outbackwriterscentre.com.au/
and our Blog-
https://www.outbackwriterscentre.com.au/blog
If you have presented short pieces over the last several months that you’d like added to the blog, please email them to our Website person, Dianne Sakoua, on [email protected].
Think about the pieces you have presented to the meetings now and in the past. Why not put them up?

29/01/2026

29/01/2026

Mid-week Writing Session
These popular sessions continue. Come along for part or all of the session held in 'The Studio' at Patrick's, to be inspired to work on your current WIP (work in progress) or begin writing a new piece in the presence of fellow writers.
As a courtesy, please consider purchasing a hot or cold beverage and/or food in return for using this space at no charge. Table water is provided.
Power outlets are available.
Wednesdays 11am to 2pm
Patrick's Cafe 200 Fitzroy Street, Dubbo, NSW 2830
Street parking is available on Fitzroy Street, and off-street parking is available behind the cafe (access via Loftus Lane behind the United service station).

29/01/2026

Writers Workshops

The Outback Writers Centre is proud to continue our 2026 series of writing workshops. The first workshop, presented by Nisaba, was very successful, leading us through the process of Writing to prompts, but not being limited by them.

The next workshop is on February 7th. 2026, presented by an experienced and published author, on the topic of Editing your own work.

We aim to give local writers opportunities to extend their creative, critical, and technical skills. Each workshop will cover a different aspect of the writing process.

There will be six workshops in 2026, each designed to support local writers in the development of their writing skills. They are free, and open to all writers, and are held in the Music Room at Western Plains Cultural Centre on the first Saturday of each month at 10am.

The upcoming workshop dates are
February 7th. 2026
March 7th. 2026
April 4th. 2026
May 2nd. 2026
June 6th. 2026

For more information, check our web page -
https://www.outbackwriterscentre.com.au/
Or email our secretary - [email protected]

The Outback Writers Centre gratefully acknowledges the support of Dubbo Regional Council