25th Annual Conference

Rising Tides
The Australasian Association of Writing Programs’
25th Annual Conference
Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus
16-18 November 2020

A rising tide can be good for launching a boat, or surfing, or limen-dwellers of coastal waterways. Yet rising tides, aquatic or otherwise, can mean disaster for those at the edge of survival in a climate-affected world.

It is now a quarter of a century since the first AAWP conference – a milestone in the history of creative writing in Australia. The 2020 conference will be held at the Gold Coast campus of Griffith University, a place known as much for its real estate expansionism, as for its tidal settings. Thankfully, the Gold Coast campus of Griffith University is well above sea level. 

In this anniversary year, we ask what does 20/20 vision bring us as we face the rising tides of the future? What must writers write for now? Where should research be directed? How might publishing adapt? How can teaching prepare the writers of the future? What do the coming changes mean for traditional genres and emergent technologies? Will writing itself sink or swim?   

We invite proposals for presentations of 15-20 minutes duration that reflect broadly on the theme of ‘rising tides’, to be submitted by 24 April 2020*.

Deadline has been extended to 15 May 2020

Scholarly, pedagogical and creative work is welcome. Proposals for collaborative discussion panels are also encouraged.

Starting points for topics might include:

  • Breaking lines
  • Distant visions
  • Erosion
  • Encroachment
  • Rebellion
  • Vantage points
  • Low-lying terrain
  • Continuity/Discontinuity
  • Connection/Disconnection
  • Common ground
  • Sandcastles
  • Beachcombing
  • Survival
  • Arrival and departure
  • Rapid change
  • Urgency
  • Escape

We welcome diverse voices and points of view.

Please follow this link to the 25th Australasian Association of Writing Programs 2020 Conference website to submit abstracts and proposals (150 words max). These should include your name, university affiliation, e-mail address, the title of your proposed paper, and a short bio (100 words max). Please note, too, that all presenters need to be current AAWP members. We are presently offering a 25% discount for the first 50 new or renewed Concession Memberships, or until the end of 2020. Please head to the membership page to take advantage of this offer by clicking here.

We note that a dedicated professional development workshop session for postgraduate candidates and ECR colleagues will be offered in association with the main conference program.

To see the official Griffith website for the conference, click here