The genre of crime immediately brings that gruff, scarily intelligent, weight-of-the-world-on-their-shoulders detective to mind. Think Sherlock Holmes, certified workaholic and condescending genius, or Nancy Drew, the immaculate, imaginative, sleuth-prodigy.  

With your host Stephen M. Irwin, co-creator/co-producer of the popular ABC series Harrow, and panelists R.W.R McDonald and J.P. Pomare, we’ll explore the endless ways to put your detective in the limelight and give them the recognition they deserve. 

Creative language can have a profound effect on how people absorb information. Writers who can create clever wordplay will keep readers on their toes and enjoying the work on multiple levels.  

Join host Megan Albany as she discusses weaving witty wordplay into your writing with panelists Natasha Lester, Steve MinOn and Jay Kristoff.  

This event is sponsored by Totally Lit Podcast.

Subtle shifts can help make your writing more nuanced and complex, more memorable, more persuasive. One word change, one shift in perspective, and everything's different. Finding subtlety in your writing is about discovering a balance between explicitness and implicitness, and it can mean the difference between a novel that works and one that falls flat.  

Lori-Jay Ellis discusses the subtle craft of romance with acclaimed authors Nalini Singh, Alli Sinclair and Will Kostakis. 

What makes Sci-Fi Sci-Fi? Science fiction is deeply cemented in fact, theories and principles and the effects of technology on people.  

Join acclaimed Sci-Fi writers Garth Nix, Jay Kristoff, Alison Ferguson and Bryn Smith as they discuss all things science fiction and the methods to writing in the genre. 

YA fiction is one of the most popular genres in the market today with a large and diverse audience. It’s important to have an understanding of the type of stories read by young readers and how you can stand out from similar YA books currently in the market. You know - same same but different.

Zachary Ashford leads this discussion with YA author Will Kostakis, shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year Award, Yellow Brick Books publisher Rowena Beresford, and Benython Oldfield from Zeitgeist Agency

Writing high concept romance means big love, high stakes and a wild ride. Whether it is outer world, seedy underbelly gangs or billionaire red rooms, it’s all about creating a story that’ll leave readers staring wide-eyed at the pages of your book or tearing through to find out what could possibly happen next. 

Join Lori-Jay Ellis and esteemed romance writers Nalini Singh and Amo Jones as they discuss how to plan, write and pitch high concept romance. 

Every genre has its forbidden door… 

Taboo subjects are not for the faint of heart but take a closer look and they can give you insight into real life struggles and transform your fiction.  

Join host Lauren Daniels as she opens forbidden doors alongside a panel of highly acclaimed authors including Garth Nix, J.P. Pomare and Amo Jones.  

Writers of historical fiction walk a fine line - how do they maintain the difference between ‘historicising’ fiction and fictionalising history?  

Join host Melissa Ashley, author of the The Birdman’s Wife, and her fellow bestselling authors Natasha Lester, Alli Sinclair and Simon Cleary as they discuss writing history and getting it right. 

Crime fiction is a wide-ranging genre that encompasses everything from detectives, cozy mysteries and whodunnits to non-fiction storytelling. Regardless of your form, crime can be a lens through which to view society and consider social issues. 

Join host Megan Norris and her fellow acclaimed crime writer, R.W.R McDonald, podcaster Jess Forsayeth and Curtis Brown agent Benjamin Paz as they tell you all about making a statement with crime. 

Let our Keynote speaker, award-winning sci-fi and fantasy writer and New York Times bestseller, Garth Nix get you motivated with the story of his journey in literature and everything the world of writing has to offer. This event launches the weekend activities for GenreCon 2023: Forbidden Doors, with an introduction by Queensland Writers Centre CEO Lori-Jay Ellis and Mykaela Saunders.

Join us at the home of GenreCon and receive your welcome pack for the weekend events.