Have you gazed at the night sky with wonder, curiosity and awe?

Yes? Then you are ready to become a Skywriter!

Writers and aspiring writers in the Parkes Shire are invited to join the Big Skies Collaboration Skywriters project to author stories, in any genre, about their own or other people (or beings'?) relationships with celestial phenomena in our Southern Sky.

The Skywriters project is part of the Big Skies Collaboration, supported by the Regional Arts Fund and hosted by Arts OutWest.

To nurture and support these literary efforts, Big Skies Collaborator Dr Merrill Findlay is working with local libraries on establishing a ‘constellation’ of Skywriters’ hubs, where she will offer Skywriters a series of free writing workshops, plus support from professional editors, to author new works to publication quality.

Finished works of up to 3,000 words – fiction, nonfiction, prose or poetry – will be published on the Big Skies Collaboration website, and may also be included in a Skywriters’ anthology to be published in 2019, the 50th anniversary of humanity’s first steps on Earth’s moon.

Shellie Buckle, Manager Cultural Education & Library Services is excited about the opportunities this wide ranging project will bring to the shire.

"Merrill will lead face-to-face sessions with each writing group using the theme of astronomy to build skills. In addition to these sessions online support will be provided. The Skywriters project will give writers and poets the chance to build their knowledge and abilities, and possibly be published" said Shellie.

The launch of Parkes Skywriters in being hosted by Parkes Library on Wednesday, March 22 at 12pm. Join Merrill and the Parkes Library team for lunch and information session on joining the Skywriters project.

Please RSVP for catering purposes on 6861 2309.

If you are interested in becoming a Skywriter and are unable to make the launch register your interest with Shellie by emailing shellie.buckle@parkes.nsw.gov.au.