2025 Program

Take inspiration from our line-up of leading names in Australian and International genre fiction, across a spectacular weekend of panels, workshops and special events.

Stream 1 of the Program is also accessible via online live stream.

Live Stream accessible.

LAUNCH NIGHT: CASTING SPELLS

FRIDAY 28 FEB

DAY ONE PROGRAM

SATURDAY 1 MARCH

STREAM 1

Key

STREAM 2

STREAM 3

8:50

FIRST WORD + KEYNOTE: ALCHEMY

GRAHAM AKHURST

STEFF GREEN

8:50 – 10:00

  • Fall under the spell of international guest Keynote Steff Green (Steffanie Holmes) as she shares her spooky, kooky journey to becoming a full-time author with over 50 books in market, and the magic of turning art into business.

    Includes an introduction by Queensland Writers Centre CEO and genre lover Lori-Jay Ellis, and a First Nations response to the theme of Alchemy by Graham Akhurst.

10:10

AMAZON… WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY?

PANEL

TRENT JAMIESON

JAMES MAXWELL

CATHERINE BILSON

10:10 – 11:10

  • Learn the secret spell to enchant the Amazon beast from a panel of expert sages who have mastered how to wrangle the mythical algorithm including the differences for trad and indie published authors, and reading the stars, charts, reviews and ratings.

SPECULATIVE INVESTMENT: MODERN SPEC-FIC AND SCI-FI

IN - CONVERSATION

TANSY RAYNER ROBERTS

EUGEN BACON

10:10 – 11:10

  • Are there fortunes in your future?

    Our author oracles chat about the realities of writing and working in spec-fic and sci-fi, unravelling international and local markets, and foretelling the future of publishing in this space. Can unearthing the past transport you to the future?

CRAFT PLUS: THE COMPETITION SCHEDULE

SEMINAR

QWC

10:10 – 11:10

  • Adaptable, Publishable, Scriptable and beyond – are you ready to answer the call to adventure?  

    Queensland Writers Centre offers a potent mix of annual national development programs and competitions, all designed to help you cross the threshold and take the first step on your quest.

11:20

WRITING RITUALS

PANEL

AMY ANDREWS

STEFF GREEN

JAMES MAXWELL

11:20 – 12:20

  • See how the pros get it done.

    Straight out of the grimoires of writers with dozens of books under their belt, learn the techniques for fitting writing into your day to day – including balancing your time spent writing vs selling, marketing, spruiking, appearing, etc. Swish and flick…it’s all in the technique.

GENRE ACADEMIA

IN - CONVERSATION

LAURIE STEED

GRAHAM AKHURST

11:20 – 12:20

  • What can we learn about ourselves and the world from our favourite fantastical stories and heroes?

    We pull on our robes, get academic and dissect the tomes to recognise the value of genre fiction to our culture and society, use genre as a lens to understand big concepts, and ask the hard questions: Why do we tell the stories we tell? And is it our job just to entertain?

12:20

BREAK

12:20 – 13:10

13:10

FAR-OFF MARKETS –

ON THE RISE

PANEL

HM HODGSON

STACEY MCEWAN

13:10 – 14:10

  • Set your sights on faraway lands, hoist the mainsails and cast off!

    Hear from authors who have returned from questing across the globe as they share treasures gleaned from working with international legends, attending book fairs and signings, using crowdfunding and more.

CRAFT PLUS: CONTENT WARNING

SEMINAR

QWC

13:10 – 14:10

  • There be dangers ahead, whoever dares to trespass — enter at your own risk!

    Content warnings... Beware Gentle Reader, or just Spoiler Alert? In this Queensland Writers Centre seminar, learn the dos and don’ts of putting together a content warning for when things are getting taboo, tricky or triggering.

WRITE REGARDLESS!

WORKSHOP

MICHAEL BURGE

13:10 – 15:20

  • You’ve conjured up your book ... now what? There’s more to having longevity as an author than just being a wordsmith. 

    This bookish boot-camp will help you build your long-term marketing muscles by developing multi-year marketing plan ideas. Give your book a long, beautiful tail that will continue to garner attention for years to come. 

14:20

MARKETING MOOLA

SEMINAR

HOLLY BRUNNBAUER

14:20 – 15:20

  • There’s is a pot of gold waiting at the end of the rainbow, but what’s the cost of finding it? If you had $2,000 to market your new novel, what you would do? What about $5,000? 

    Learn from an author marketing expert to build your spell book of marketing mojo, specifically tailored to you and your brand, and get the best out of your coin.

DARK WHISPERINGS

SALON

VARIOUS READERS

14:20 – 15:20

  • Can you hear the darkness beckoning with its tantalising murmurs? Are you tempted to step beyond the circle of light and see what awaits? 

    This special salon showcases writings and poetics that delight in the macabre, the mythic, and the weird. 

15:30

MAGIC OF WINNING

PANEL

GENEVE FLYNN

EUGEN BACON

PAMELA JEFFS

15:30 – 16:30

  • What does victory look like? It isn’t always winning the tournament and taking home the gold. Sometimes it’s slaying the dragon ... or your first draft.

    From the Aurealis to the Bram Stoker, the British Fantasy Awards to the Queensland Writers Fellowships, our champions share how to leverage victories to launch your career or turn personal triumph into your next adventure.

UNICORNS KEEP THE INDUSTRY AFLOAT

PANEL

AMY ANDREWS

TANSY RAYNER ROBERTS

TRENT JAMIESON

15:30 – 16:30

  • The mythical beast ... that majestic, magical outlier. Are they real or just a myth?

    Hear from a panel of unicorn wranglers as they discuss the shifting scales of power, dealing with genre prejudice, keeping traditional publishing alive, finding the treasure chest – and what happens when unicorns go indie.

16:45 ONWARDS

CHATTERBOXES

SPECIAL EVENT

These inclusive forums will give you the chance to deep-dive in your genre niche of choice.

16:45 – 17:45

DAY TWO PROGRAM

SUNDAY 2 MARCH

STREAM 1

Key

STREAM 2

STREAM 3

GENRE-BENDING

PANEL

GRAHAM AKHURST

STEFF GREEN

EUGEN BACON

PETER PAPATHANASIOU

9:00 – 10:00

9:00

  • Are you a student of genre transmutation? Or maybe you have the irrepressible desire to cross the streams. Perhaps you’re less of a ghostbuster and more of an X-Men mutant?

    Learn from wisened practitioners about crossing genre borders, adapting your writing style and taking what you’ve learned into a new sphere.

FIND YOUR TRIBE: SUBSTACK AND ONLINE STORYTELLING

WORKSHOP

LAURIE STEED

9:00 – 11:10

  • Stand out from the crowd and build an engaged, loyal audience. 

    It can be hard to break through the noise, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Under the guidance of our expert mentor, explore the various avenues available to reach the greater global marketplace. Using the tools of curiosity, enthusiasm, and authenticity, discover your ideal reader and tell your story in your own unique, engaging way.

10:10

A LIFE OF CRIME

IN - CONVERSATION

MICHAEL BURGE

PETER PAPATHANASIOU

10:10 – 11:10

  • How can you make a life of crime pay?

    From whodunnit to police procedurals get the gory details of writing and publishing crime fiction across its many subcategories and solve the mystery of commercial viability. 

ROOM AT THE TABLE

PANEL

GENEVE FLYNN

L.E. DANIELS

PAMELA JEFFS

10:10 – 11:10

  • We are the knights of the round table and there is always room.

    Find your kith and kin at GenreCon and be part of a community that supports and uplifts writers of all kinds. From writers’ groups to the inner circle, there is something for you here.

11:20

CRAFT PLUS: READ IN YOUR GENRE

SEMINAR

QWC

11:20 – 12:20

  • The best wizards are scholars of their craft, just like the best writers are readers. Learn how to critically read to understand genre conventions, gain insights on the market and grasp the essence of your genre. Take heed of the classics, the emerging and the local to supercharge your writing.

SECRET AGENT STUFF

PANEL

SAMUEL BERNARD

JAMES MAXWELL

STACEY MCEWAN

PETER PAPATHANASIOU

11:20 – 12:20

  • To agent or not to agent, that is the question ... and is it different locally to internationally?

    What are territory rights? How do you negotiate a deal? What are the differences between the UK and Australia? Get the top-secret breakdown to make the right decision for your book.

12:30

THE SHREADER

SPECIAL EVENT

12:30 – 13:50

  • Six brave, emerging writers will have their opening pages publicly, professionally  – and anonymously – read. 

    Our fierce panel of GenreCon presenters will decide whether to read on - will they like it enough to offer their critique, or will it be sent to the shredder? 

    Spaces limited, includes catered lunch. 

14:00

BEYOND BOOKTOK

PANEL

JACK RONEY

STEFF GREEN

LAURIE STEED

TANSY RAYNER ROBERTS

14:00 – 15:00

  • TikTok’s big, but there’s a whole other world of ways to mesmerise your readers. 

    Why not try casting a different spell with an alternative channel such as Kickstarter, Patreon, Substack, podcasts and beyond?

CRITICAL WRITING GIGS

PANEL

PHIL BROWN

JANE HULTGREN

SAMUEL BERNARD

14:00 – 15:00

  • Writing the next best-seller isn’t the only way to make a living from your wordsmithing. While you’re waiting for your publishing dreams to come true, why not earn some coin and grow your reputation with a side hustle?

    Content writing and freelancing is a great way to make some money while staying close to the writing game. This panel of experts can teach you how.

MELTING POT

PANEL

GENEVE FLYNN

MICHAEL BURGE

GRAHAM AKHURST

14:00 – 15:00

  • Bubble, bubble, unpredict-a-bubble...

    Inspiration is the great crucible of ideas, and the wellspring of identity and culture coming together to produce your unique writing voice. From where do you draw your inspiration? What motivates you? Listen to the sage advice of our panel as we discuss diverse voices and keeping authentic representation at the fore.

15:10

BURNOUT - BURN BACK, BURN BRIGHT

SEMINAR

AMY ANDREWS

15:10 – 16:10

  • What happens when you burn the candle at both ends and find yourself in a hot mess? How do you get back up and shine again? Knowing that you are not alone and that “this too shall pass” can go a long way to finding your mojo again. Sit under the tutelage of a master who has experienced it and come out the other side with tips and tricks to break through burn out and shine brighter than ever.

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW

PANEL

NIKE SULWAY

EUGEN BACON

PETER PAPATHANASIOU

15:10 – 16:10

  • Literary market trends are master shapeshifters, so what’s next? What are readers interested in and what are publishers looking for? 

    Genre allows us to tackle big themes and ideas––catharsis in an uncertain world. Heed the wisdom of our panel as they extol the virtues of writing the big issues, and how to represent them in our writing. 

16:20

CLOSING ADDRESS

LORI-JAY ELLIS

16:20 – 17:00

  • Now that we’ve been taught the spells, it’s time to put them into practice. Mastery will take time, energy and commitment. But now you’ve been shepherded by the maestros of the craft you’re ready to start.

    Got your three golden nuggets? Then it’s golden coins well spent.

    Are you ready for 2026?