“Don’t all writers have a hidden nerve, call it a secret chamber, something irreducibly theirs, which stirs their prose and makes it tick and turn this way or that, and identifies them, like a signature, though it lurks far deeper than their style, or their voice or other tell-tale antics?”

— André Aciman

MARION and FNAWN are thrilled to present Hidden Nerve in 2025.

Learn from some of the most exciting Australian writers working today on the art of writing prose. HIDDEN NERVE is designed to be of most benefit to writers who are actively working on a prose project and are committed to developing their practice.

HIDDEN NERVE is shapeshifting in 2025.

In previous years, Hidden Nerve followed the structure of Francine Prose’s Reading Like a Writer. Taking place monthly across the duration of the year, Hidden Nerve dug into the granular aspects of shaping a story from words, sentences and paragraphs through to dialogue, gesture and details.

What’s New?

This year, Hidden Nerve is back in a more compact and intensive form. Hidden Nerve in 2025 will consist of a trio of thematic series.

Participants will meet across 3 consecutive Saturday mornings, and be immersed in 3-hour workshops.
Each workshop is inspired by the theme of the series, and led by a different writer.

About Season 1 - Autumn Program

The first season of Hidden Nerve is themed around history and memory. Come along as we explore the following questions and more:

How can history inspire fiction?
How do you weave research into storytelling?
How do you place your story in collective memory?
What stories reside in place?

WORKSHOP

March 29, Saturday	10am–1pm	Andra Putnis	Our Kaleidoscopic Memories
April 5, Saturday	10am-1pm	Lisa Fuller	History in Place
April 12, Saturday	10am-1pm	Mirandi Riwoe	Research to the Page

DETAILS

Workshop Dates: March 29, April 5, April 12, Saturdays

Time: 10am–1pm (3 hours)

Location: Zoom

The sessions will be recorded and made available for 1 week after the workshop.

The program also includes the opportunity to write together on two Wednesdays, 12PM between the main sessions. This allows you to connect with the rest of the cohort and make new connections.

COST OF PROGRAM

MEMBER SEASON PASS:
$150 for members of MARION, the First Nations Australian Writers Network (FNAWN), or Canberra Society of Editors (CSE)
GENERAL SEASON PASS: $200
for those who are not members of MARION, the First Nations Australian Writers Network (FNAWN), or Canberra Society of Editors (CSE)
MARION offers 2 semi-subsidised places in all programs which provides a 50% discount of program price. No personal details need to be disclosed, just email Zhi Cham via creative@marion.ink. These are available on a first come first served basis.

Estimated Workshop Structure

10:00am–10:30am Quick intro and update

10:30am–11:15am Workshop

11:15am–11:20am Break

11:20am–12:10pm Workshop

12:10pm–12:20pm Break

12:20pm–1:00pm Q&A