School Holiday Creative Writing
December 2025 School Holiday Workshops
Creative writing workshops for young people aged 6–15, face-to-face at Sydney Olympic Park (Field Studies Tower in the Education Centre, Bicentennial Park).
Bookings for December holiday workshops are now open. All workshops led by award-winning author Dr Bernard Cohen.
Book by 4th December 2025 for earlybird discount.
All times are for Sydney, Australia. Prices are in Australian dollars.
Venue
Field Studies Tower, Bicentennial Park
Education Centre, Bicentennial Park
Bicentennial Drive (off Australia Ave)
Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127
December 2025
Thursday 18th December
Spy Stories workshop for 8-13 year-olds. Face-to-face at Sydney Olympic Park.
Ssshhhh! We can’t tell you too much about this writing workshop because it’s classified — but this is the one for you if you’d like to dive deep into the information trade, meet smiling double agents, create mysterious devices and secret codes… and trust no one! Two breaks for recess and lunch. Bring lunch, a snack (no nuts, please), a drink, a hat, and suspicious attitude…
Thursday 18th December 10.00am - 3.30pm. $180. We accept NSW Creative Kids vouchers.
Places available. Book now
NEW Friday 19th December
Skilled Writers: Narrators in the Wild, Unexpected Perspectives & The Weight of the World workshop for 10-15 year-olds. Face-to-face at Sydney Olympic Park.
It is said that there are only seven basic plots in the world of stories. What makes a telling unique and compelling is the narrator’s personality. Develop your own striking narrative voice in this workshop led by award-winning author Dr Bernard Cohen. This workshop is the most advanced offering in our holidays program. We offer new content and approaches for skilled young writers every holidays. Two breaks for recess and lunch. Bring lunch and a snack (no nuts, please), a drink, hat, and your curiosity.
Friday 19th December 10.00am - 3.30pm. $180. We accept NSW Creative Kids vouchers.
Places available. Book now
Saturday 20th December, Morning
Hilarious Holidays creative writing workshop for 6-9 year-olds. Face-to-face at Sydney Olympic Park.
When my parents mentioned a beach holiday, I didn’t expect the beach to knock on the front door… Strangest holiday meals, unexpected visitors and what to do when your tent runs away. Write your own hilarious stories and poems. Short break only. Bring a snack (no nuts please) and drink.
Saturday 20th December 10.00am - 1.00pm. $110. We accept NSW Creative Kids vouchers.
Places available. Book now
Monday 22nd December
Write Your Own Book creative writing workshop for 8-13 year-olds. Face-to-face at Sydney Olympic Park.
How to set, plan, build and finish your own extended story. Create atmospheric settings, memorable characters and gripping plots. This full day will give you all the skills and inspiration you need to write your own book. Two breaks for recess and lunch. Bring a hat, lunch, snack (no nuts please), drink, and brain turned to HIGH.
Monday 22nd December 10.00am - 3.30pm. $180. We accept NSW Creative Kids vouchers.
Places available. Book now
Tuesday 23rd December, Morning
Future Inventions creative writing workshop for 6-9 year-olds. Face-to-face at Sydney Olympic Park.
Invent the most useful machines in the history of invention: devices that make life fun, easier, more exciting... but what if things don’t quite work out as well as you expected? Write your own stories of new inventions that go whirr, vroooom, clunk, and (maybe) ouch! One break for recess. Bring a snack (no nuts, please), drink, hat, and your curiosity.
Tuesday 23rd December 10.00am - 1.00pm. $110. We accept NSW Creative Kids vouchers.
Places available. Book now
Tuesday 23rd December, Afternoon
Selective Schools and Scholarships Test Preparation workshop for students entering Year 6 in 2026. Face-to-face at Sydney Olympic Park.
Build creative writing skills for the NSW Selective Schools Placement Test and scholarship tests. The workshop focuses on writing across a range of textual forms, flexible thinking, ideation, and showing your writing ability and potential in the test format. How to deliver your best on the day. Materials and notes provided. Short break only.
Tuesday 23rd December 1.30pm - 4.30pm. $132. We accept NSW Creative Kids vouchers.
Places available. Book now
100,000 participants, thousands of workshops, focused on each child
The Writing Workshop began in 2006. Since then we've inspired over 100,000 participants – from five years old to school-leavers – and read over half a million pieces of imaginative writing. Surely this is a record!
We want each child to develop skills in and enjoyment of writing. We aim to make it fun.
"Thank you for all the positive energy you put into the writing course. You really have a talent for engaging young writers. My son had a great time and it's great to see him write outside of the realms of his comfort zone. He has come home writing and already I can see some development in the area of characterisation and plot formation. He has asked to do another course which is fantastic. It was wonderful seeing so many children with a passion for writing in the same room." - Year 2 Parent.
More information
Learn more about our approach, meet our workshop leaders
The Writing Workshop takes COVID-19 seriously and will always prioritise the safety of participants, staff and our community. We are registered with the NSW government as a COVID-Safe business and follow NSW Health rules and venue (Sydney Olympic Park Authority) requirements.