Want to improve your creative writing and get your stories published?

 
 

Want to improve your creative writing and get your stories published?

Want to improve your creative writing and get your stories published?

Workshops for Kids

Karen is a fabulous teacher! Our boy loved every moment of these workshops. He had so much fun and no idea was ever seen as a bad one. His handwriting and writing skills improved tremendously. His imagination and ability to describe and create have developed alongside his confidence. Thank you for a fantastic year!

Lani Jacobs

Karen is a fabulous teacher! Our boy loved every moment of these workshops. He had so much fun and no idea was ever seen as a bad one. His handwriting and writing skills improved tremendously. His imagination and ability to describe and create have developed alongside his confidence. Thank you for a fantastic year!

Lani Jacobs

Holiday Fun in our Maitland Studio and on Zoom

Turbo-charge your creative writing this school holidays with our popular creative writing workshops, Animal Magic, Superhero School and Mad Scientist. Woo hoo! Kalika Magic author Karen Hughes will be presenting these fantastic 3-hour workshops for kids aged 8-13. Join us from anywhere for a morning of fun and inspiration.

WHERE: 248 High St. Maitland OR join us on Zoom

WHEN: 16-18 January 2023

TIME: 10am-1pm

School Holiday Info

School Holiday Workshops

19-21 April

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Join our 2023 Talented Kids Program

Congratulations to all our talented young authors!

'Reach for the Stars', our latest anthology of wild and wonderful stories, is now in bookstores everywhere.

Our talented kids have put in a huge effort learning their craft, chasing inspiration, drafting and redrafting, and polishing up their stories for you to read.

Enjoy!

Get a copy
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Weekly Workshops in Maitland

Weekly one hour sessions for kids aged 9-12 with author Karen Hughes every Thursday at our secret garden studio with afternoon tea provided. At the end of the year, we will publish our own book of wild and wonderful stories.

WHERE: 248 High St. Maitland

WHEN:  Thursday 4pm-5pm from 4 May

Learn More
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High School Club in Maitland

For kids aged 12-15 who love creative writing. Come along and make new friends. Publish your own book. Weekly one hour sessions with author Karen Hughes every Wednesday in our Maitland studio.

WHERE:  248 High St. Maitland

WHEN:  Wednesday 4.00pm-5.30pm

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Learn More
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Inspiration for Schools

We offer an exciting full term program for schools and community groups with at least 10 participants. The program consists of weekly one hour writing sessions with author Karen Hughes at your school, at our studio or on Zoom, and is aimed at sparking creativity and improving writing skills.

At the end of the term, we'll publish an anthology of student stories.

Alternatively, talk to us about a half or whole day of creative writing workshops, either live or on Zoom.

School Writing Programs

Young Authors Online Club

For kids aged 10+

10 weekly video/activity modules, each with a different story challenge, and one (1) live Zoom session with author Karen Hughes.

Try exciting writing challenges, learn new tips and techniques, and have lots of fun exploring all kinds of different worlds. Submit your stories for publication in our new book.

WHERE: In your own home!

WHEN: Self-paced. Join at any time. New lessons available each week.

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Join the Club
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Learn More

Weekly Advanced Zoom Sessions

For kids aged 12-15 who have completed the Talented Kids Program or Young Authors Club and want to take their writing even further. Weekly one hour sessions with author Karen Hughes every Monday. Get creative. Explore all kinds of genres and learn new writing techniques. Submit your stories for publication on our website and in our annual anthology.

WHERE:  At home on Zoom.

WHEN:  Monday 5pm-6pm from 1 May

Mali is 13 and he's currently doing the Talented Kids program with Karen Hughes ... He's actually just signed up for the program for the third time. He's loved it so much and got so much out of it. He's absolutely loving writing every single week and seeing his writing develop and improve ...
Jo Wise, Melbourne
I’ve just completed the Hunter Valley Writers Talented Kids program for the second time. I enjoyed it a lot and I’m going to do it again multiple times. I liked the structure of it and that I got to write every week and finish stories. I like the idea that my stories will be published in a book for other people to read.
Mali

Our Writing Studio

We acknowledge the Wonnarua people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather in the Hunter Valley, and pay our respects to their Elders, past and present. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the Hunter Valley today. Anikanya!

Holiday Fun in our Maitland studio and on Zoom!

Turbo-charge your creative writing this school holidays with our popular creative writing workshops, Animal Magic, Superhero School and Mad Scientist. Woo hoo! Kalika Magic author Karen Hughes will be presenting these fantastic 3-hour workshops for kids aged 8-13. Join us for a morning of fun and inspiration.

WHERE: 248 High St. Maitland or join us on Zoom

WHEN: 16-18 January 2023

TIME: 10am-1pm

Learn More
Image

Join our 2023 Talented Kids Program

Congratulations to our young authors!

Image

'Reach for the Stars', our latest anthology of wild and wonderful stories, is now in bookstores everywhere.

Our talented kids have put in a huge effort learning their craft, chasing inspiration, drafting and redrafting, and polishing up their stories for you to read.

Enjoy!

Get a copy

Weekly Workshops in Maitland

Image

Weekly one hour sessions for kids aged 9-12 with Kalika Magic author Karen Hughes every Thursday at our secret garden studio with afternoon tea provided. At the end of the year, we will publish our own book of wild and wonderful stories.

WHERE: 248 High St. Maitland

WHEN:  Thursday 4pm-5pm from 4 May

Learn More

High School Club in Maitland

Image

For kids aged 12-15 who love creative writing. Come along and make new friends. Publish your own book. Weekly one hour sessions with author Karen Hughes every Wednesday in our Maitland studio.

WHERE:  248 High St. Maitland

WHEN:  Wednesday 4.30pm-5.30pm from 3 May

Learn More

Inspiration for Schools

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We offer an exciting full term program for schools and community groups with at least 10 participants. The program consists of weekly one hour writing sessions with author Karen Hughes at your school, at our Maitland studio or on Zoom, and is aimed at sparking creativity and improving writing skills.

At the end of the term, we'll publish an anthology of student stories.

Alternatively, talk to us about a half or whole day of creative writing workshops, either live or on Zoom.

School Writing Programs

Young Authors Club

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Join our Self-Paced Online Course for kids aged 10+

Introducing Young Authors Club, our exciting online creative writing program. 10 weekly video modules, each with a different story challenge. The modules are available for 12 months. During this time, kids will have the opportunity to meet author Karen Hughes on Zoom and to submit stories for publication. 

Try exciting writing challenges, learn new tips and techniques, and have lots of fun exploring all kinds of different worlds.

WHERE: In your own home!

WHEN: Self-paced. Join at any time. New lessons available each week.

Learn More

Weekly Zoom Sessions

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For kids aged 12-15 who have completed the Talented Kids Program or Young Authors Club and want to take their writing even further. Weekly one hour sessions with author Karen Hughes every Monday. Get creative. Explore all kinds of genres and learn new writing techniques. Submit your stories for publication on our website and in our annual anthology.

WHERE:  At home on Zoom

WHEN:  Monday 5pm-6pm from 1 May

Learn More

Breaking News

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Our school holiday workshops went off with a bang! Witches, Cats and Broomsticks, UFO Adventures and Shipwrecked! were all completely fabulous and we can't wait to do it again in June.

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    Our book launch on Sunday 23 October in Sun Street was heaps of fun! Thanks for coming along to celebrate with our Adventure Unlocked authors. Our Mythical Magical Creative Writing Workshop afterwards was fully booked and everyone had a great time eating jam drop cookies and writing brilliant stories. You can check out the photos here.
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    Visit our bookshop
    Congratulation to the Talented Kids at Central West Leadership Academy in Dubbo!
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    Get your copy now
    Congratulation to the Talented Kids at Murrurundi Public School!
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    Get your copy now

    Our 2022 anthology is here!

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    Get your copy now

    Our 2022 anthology is out of this world!

    Congratulations to all the talented kids who contributed their magical stories to this year’s collection.

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    Adventure Unlocked

    Unlock a world of adventure with this wild and wonderful collection of stories written and edited by our talented kids – with a little help from author Karen Hughes. From time travel to space diaries, dragon quests to friendly zombies, there’s something in here for everyone!

    ‘I wish I had an imagination like this.’ – Lewis Carroll

    Read Our Stories

    Featured image for “The White Star of the Mountain”

    The White Star of the Mountain

    by Georgia Shaw This is the story of the brave hero of Kilga, Jason McLean, who risked his life for…
    Featured image for “Sun Street News #2”

    Sun Street News #2

    The latest edition of our newspaper is hot off the press!…
    Featured image for “The Goblin-Monkey”

    The Goblin-Monkey

    by Anushka Iyengar Gorch stomped his heavy, green, warty feet. Children all scattered as he came near; animals ran to…
    Featured image for “Who You Really Are”

    Who You Really Are

    By Sienna Hardy PAGE 1 The wind swirled around the town and whipped Jade’s hair into her face. Her mother…
    Featured image for “Welcome to the first edition of our newspaper”

    Welcome to the first edition of our newspaper

    Our Talented Kids are not only fabulous story writers, playwrights and poets, they are also professional journalists with a nose…
    Featured image for “Air”

    Air

    by Chloe Patron Wind whistles through my hair,as we play in the yard.The flying kite freezes midair,when the wind catches…
    Read Arthur and the Dead, The Time Machine, Flip, and more!

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    We love Hunter Valley Writers workshops and courses in our family as they are magical experiences for all children. The inspiration, fun and laughter are what school holidays are all about ... becoming published authors is a happy bonus! There is something very special and motivating for children to see their own words in print in a 'real book'! Karen Hughes is a wonderful teacher and great writing mentor!
    Claire Michell

    Sharing the magic of words

    Dr Karen Hughes is the author of Kalika Magic series for kids 9+, exploring themes of courage, adventure, and the power of the imagination. Karen grew up on a cattle station on the Liverpool Plains, where she spent her childhood climbing trees, riding horses, and reading Narnia books. She attended a primary school with only six pupils, before being packed off to boarding school at age 12. Karen was a lawyer in Canberra for almost 10 years, but has now thankfully recovered. She is currently writing her fifth Kalika Magic book and working on a speculative novel for adults.

    PhD English/BA(Asian Studies)/Bachelor of Laws/Grad.Dip Legal Practice/Adv.Dip Classical Herbal Medicine/Children's Book Council of Australia/Australian Society of Authors/International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts/Speculative Literature Foundation USA

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    Now on the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge!

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    Now on the NSW Premier's Reading Challenge!

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    Visit our bookshop
    Visit our bookshop
    Supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.