Dr Donna Mazza, ECU Creative Writing Associate Professor. Photo credit: Sarah Mills.
Held in the first week of May, the MRRWF is the largest regional literary event in Western Australia and a highlight on the national literary calendar. ECU is proud to be a Headline Sponsor of this much-loved festival, reinforcing our commitment to supporting the arts and nurturing literary talent across WA.
A writer, researcher and mentor in ECU's School of Arts and Humanities, Associate Professor Mazza coordinates the Master of Creative Writing and has earned critical acclaim for her novels Fauna (2020) and The Albanian (2007), the latter winning the prestigious TAG Hungerford Award.
Her work spans environmental and feminist speculative fiction, with research that tackles pressing global issues such as genetic technologies and climate change.
At the 2025 festival, Dr Mazza will host a workshop and take part in a panel in collaboration with the ECU School of Arts and Humanities:
Immersive Writing Workshop (Without Getting Your Paper Wet!)
Saturday 3 May | 2.00pm – 4.00pm
ECU Learning Centre Busselton
This hands-on session hosted by ECU Creative Writing Associate Professor Donna Mazza and PHD Student Tiffany Hastie, invites writers to step away from the screen and into the rich landscape of the Buayanyup (Vasse River) in Busselton. Co-hosted with ECU PhD candidate Tiffany Hastie, the workshop will help writers develop immersive storytelling skills grounded in real-world sensory experiences.
"This is about writing that breathes," says Dr Mazza. "Writers will engage directly with the land, water and local environment to inspire authentic, emotionally resonant narratives."
Manuscript Speed Dating
Sunday 4 May | 2.00pm – 4.00pm
Writers Room, Margaret River
For writers looking to polish their manuscripts or overcome creative blocks, this interactive session offers the chance to receive expert feedback in a supportive environment. Participants will work with a panel of established authors—including Dr Mazza herself—and explore everything from plot development to craft and publishability.
Dr Donna Mazza and PHD Student Tiffany Hastie, at Lake Dumbleyung engaged in immersive writing research taken by Jo Porter.
"The best writing doesn’t happen in isolation," says Dr Mazza. "These workshops offer writers the chance to connect, collaborate and be challenged in the best way possible."
Mazza's presence at the festival is a perfect example of ECU's dedication to real-world learning, research excellence and community engagement in the creative arts.
Celebrating literature, championing creativity
The Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival, presented by Arts Margaret River, draws writers, thinkers and readers from across the globe. It has grown from humble beginnings in 2009 into a powerhouse event celebrating storytelling in all its forms.
Through ECU's sponsorship and the passionate involvement of academic leaders like Associate Professor Donna Mazza, the University continues to champion Western Australia's vibrant creative community—both in the classroom and beyond.
