David
Hartley
Virtual Writer-in-Residence
~ Melbourne City of Literature ~
From Nothing to Something: Words, Worlds, and the Confident Writer
Throughout November 2025, I will be one of the Virtual Residents for Melbourne working with Story Studios Australia. I'll be leading two 'Worldbuilder' workshops focusing on the creation of entire self-contained realms, from the geology to the economy via the beasts, battles, and brotherhoods of the inhabitants.
I'll also present a 'Storycraft Live Stream' where, with help from viewers, I'll write an entirely new short story based on prompts generated by the paraphernalia on my bookshelves.
Follow my progress on my blog, and if you're reading this and you're a member of Story Studios Australia, please join me!
Writer, Performer, Artist, Editor, Tutor
I write strange stories about strange things for strange people. I am preoccupied by animals, neurodiversity, folklore, and untapped possibilities of storytelling forms. I've performed my work within bus stations, ancient libraries, decaying edgelands, a Swedish train station, and among a forest of tattooed bodies. I have collaborated with spectral musicians, Estonian performance artists, and a plant orchestra. I'm always interested in creative partnerships. Get in touch with me below.
~ PhD Creative Writing, University of Manchester
~ Fauna (Fly on the Wall Press) - short story collection
~ Incorcisms (Arachne Press) - short(er) story collection
~ Writer-in-Residence: Tartu, Estonia, 2024: 'The Forest of Ink & Skin'
~ Lead artist: 'The Embassy of Utopia', Festival of Libraries 2024 & 2025
~ Workshop Tutor for 'Beyond the Spectrum' with Writing East Midlands
~ Editor: Obscura: New Uncanny Tales (Comma Press)
~ Lecturer in Creative Writing, The University of Manchester
Picture: Nic Chapman
Sample Stories
