Now in its fifth year, the festival draws together an array of free and ticketed events from zine fairs to panel discussions, poetry slams and author talks – this year’s theme is can words change the world.

“It's been heartening to see the huge public response we have gotten this year,” Hayley Scrivenor said. “We think that the strength of our program speaks for itself.

“From the Poetry Slam event on Thursday night ... to the Reading and Writing in Uncertain Times panel that closes out the festival Sunday, we are expecting over a thousand attendees.”

Wollongong’s Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery will officially launch the festival on Friday night at Wollongong Art Gallery. It’s a free event with cabaret performances, art auction and the announcement of the short story prize and poetry competition winners.

One of the events Ms Scrivenor is most looking forward to will be the “Outside In Panel” which will touch on “hot button” issues like sexuality, race and disability and said to be quite thought provoking.

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Other highlights on the festival menu, Southern Highlands adventurer Huw Kingston will be presenting a talk about his time in the Mediterranean at Jane’s Bar on Saturday.

Reknowned journalist and author Tracey Spicer will join a panel of women who will discuss the pressures on female writers from negotiating the hazards of the post- 9/11 terrain, lack of female representation, body image and workplace harassment.

“This event is a fantastic meeting point for a range of talented women to talk about issues that affect all of us,” Ms Scrivenor said.

“From a discussion of body image and representation, to seeing how far women have actually come in the workplace, I hope that the audience walks away feeling like they've seen a unique and quality literary event right here in Wollongong.”

Earlier this year a survey revealed reading books was ranked more enjoyable than browsing the internet and watching television, according to the Arts Council of Australia.

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