Sydney Writers' Festival: What Makes a Writer

Writers in different stages of their careers come together to reflect on their work and writing paths.

Featuring iconic Australian writer and poet Maxine Beneba Clarke (beautiful changelings), the outgoing Parramatta Laureate in Literature Yumna Kassab (The Theory of Everything) and the new Laureate, award-winning essayist and fiction writer Eda Gunaydin (Root and Branch). This will be an illuminating and insightful conversation about the opportunities available and barriers facing writers throughout a lifelong career.

Join Maxine, Yumna and Eda in conversation with host James Jiang.

Date: Saturday 23th May 2026

Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm

Location: Parramatta Town Hall

Tickets: $10.00, bookings essential

Parramatta Town Hall is best accessed by public transport. Parking in Parramatta can be busy, especially during peak hours and on weekends. To assist you in finding convenient parking options, we have compiled a comprehensive list available on the Town Hall website.

We highly recommend considering public transport as an excellent alternative to driving. Parramatta is well-served by trains, buses, and other transportation services.

Parramatta Town Hall sits on the lands and waters of the Burramattagal of the Dharug nation and we acknowledge Burramatta as significant place of ceremony, story and tradition. We pay our respects to Dharug Ancestors and Elders, past, present and future and extend our respect to all First Nations people joining this program and visiting Parramatta Town Hall.