GCWA Write & Sip 19th November 2025

Brushstrokes become storylines and canvases spark creativity! Whether you're a seasoned writer or a keen beginner, fun and interactive writing exercises will loosen your writing muscles and ignite your imagination.

Come and be inspired by art and use guided prompts to create scenes and flash fiction stories or the beginning of something larger.

Then we’ll get crafting to create Redacted (Black Out) poetry. Discover new meaning by removing words, leaving only the essence of what moves you most.

A fun and informative evening for writers seeking fresh inspiration, art lovers curious about creative writing, anyone wanting to explore the connection between visual and written art and those looking for a unique, relaxing evening of creativity.

Bring your curiosity, your favorite pen and notebook, and your sense of play. We'll provide the art, the prompts, the refreshments, and the magic.

All skill levels welcome.

What to Expect: 2 hours of guided creative writing, art viewing, light refreshments, and good company

What You'll Take Home: A collection of original vignettes, a redacted poem, and a renewed appreciation for the art-writing connection

Christine Betts trained in education and the arts. Her writing won the 2022 Tasmanian Writers Prize and gained recognition in the 2025 Hawkeye Manuscript Development Prize, 2021 Scarlet Stiletto Awards, QWC, RWA and BWF short fiction competitions, and published in numerous anthologies. Christine completed the Fiona McIntosh Commercial Fiction Masterclass in 2022.

Christine co-hosts the GCWA critique groups and teaches ekphrastic writing workshops at the HOTA Art Gallery on the Gold Coast. Christine is workshops manager for the Currumbin Crime Writers Festival. When she is not on a plane going somewhere or coming back, she lives and writes on Bundjalung country with her husband and cats.

Leah enjoys writing across the genres with recent projects exploring time travel, coming of age and adventure. She also writes non-fiction on Medium, highlighting life experiences in music, art, culture and travel at medium.com/writingwithleah . She values her writing groups as an ambassador for Writing Sundays at Southport Library and a regular with Gold Coast Writing Association's critique groups and HOTAs Art Write Now workshops. You can find her on instagram as Writingwithleah.

Reserve your spot now for an evening of prose and pinot, prosecco, or pink lemonade.

Whisky Lounge, Mudgeeraba, cater for all tastes, including non-alcoholic options.

Date:  Wednesday 19 November 2025
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Location:
Whisky Lounge
Shop 2A/58 Railway St, Mudgeeraba Qld 4213

Tickets:

• $20 GCWA Members

• $40 for non-members

Includes drink on arrival (Beer/Basic Spirit/Glass of Wine/non-alcoholic), nibbles, and a goody bag.  Meals can be ordered and delivered from local restaurants.

Email secretary@goldcoastwriters.org for any further information.

All proceeds from the night will support the Gold Coast Writers Association Inc. to help writers from all genres, age groups, and levels to grow, learn, and excel in their craft.