For the second Melbourne Writers Festival in a row I
attended a session involving three debut authors. The session was free and held
in a much larger room than last year’s session. The audience was young,
probably many were aspiring writers.
attended a session involving three debut authors. The session was free and held
in a much larger room than last year’s session. The audience was young,
probably many were aspiring writers.
The authors were Holly Childs, Eli Glasman and Melinda
Huston. The session was moderated by Sam Twyford-Moore, the director of the
Emerging Writer’s Festival.
Huston. The session was moderated by Sam Twyford-Moore, the director of the
Emerging Writer’s Festival.
Holly Childs
Holly Childs was up first. She is an art magazine editor,
artist and curator. Her debut book was a novella, No Limits, published by Hologram Books. It’s set in Melbourne in
2012 where the main character’s plane to Auckland has been delayed due to
volcanic ash. There is an apocalyptic vibe in the air as Ash bounces from raves
to internet cafes to…
artist and curator. Her debut book was a novella, No Limits, published by Hologram Books. It’s set in Melbourne in
2012 where the main character’s plane to Auckland has been delayed due to
volcanic ash. There is an apocalyptic vibe in the air as Ash bounces from raves
to internet cafes to…
Childs nervously read at a rapid pace from her novella.
It had a lot of jargon, I had no idea how much was currently in use and how
much was made up. The scene involved a group of youths wandering the streets of
Melbourne after leaving a rave.
It had a lot of jargon, I had no idea how much was currently in use and how
much was made up. The scene involved a group of youths wandering the streets of
Melbourne after leaving a rave.
Her novella was published after it won a competition. The
competition was for novellas about contemporary themes. Authors had to be under
30 year of age. Childs said she had not written much before she wrote the
novella.
competition was for novellas about contemporary themes. Authors had to be under
30 year of age. Childs said she had not written much before she wrote the
novella.
Childs said her characters were one third her, one third
other people and one third made-up. She also based some on characters in other
literature.
other people and one third made-up. She also based some on characters in other
literature.
She is off to take up a residency for writing and art in
Europe.
Europe.
Eli Glasman
Has a creative writing degree with honours. He blogs a
lot. His debut novel is The Boy’s Own
Manual to Being a Proper Jew (Sleepers Publishing). It is about a
homosexual boy in the Melbourne orthodox Jewish community. Either the section
Glasman choose to read or his rapid monotone delivery failed to spark my
interest. But Twyford-Moore assured us it was beautifully written.
lot. His debut novel is The Boy’s Own
Manual to Being a Proper Jew (Sleepers Publishing). It is about a
homosexual boy in the Melbourne orthodox Jewish community. Either the section
Glasman choose to read or his rapid monotone delivery failed to spark my
interest. But Twyford-Moore assured us it was beautifully written.
Glasman came out during the session, saying he was not
gay, which was a surprise. I have to wonder how many straight authors would or
could write a novel with a gay central character.
gay, which was a surprise. I have to wonder how many straight authors would or
could write a novel with a gay central character.
He used to be obsessed with the age an author’s first novel
came out, but not anymore. He is 28. Originally, he sent a story to a publisher
who liked it and they asked him to write a novel, but his first attempt was
terrible. So he tried again and was published with a different publisher.
came out, but not anymore. He is 28. Originally, he sent a story to a publisher
who liked it and they asked him to write a novel, but his first attempt was
terrible. So he tried again and was published with a different publisher.
He kept many journals as he grew up and uses pieces from
them in his writing. When he started taking anti-depressants memories from his
past cropped up, he used them in his novel. He said he workshopped the first
10,000 words of the manuscript and then knew he was on the right track.
them in his writing. When he started taking anti-depressants memories from his
past cropped up, he used them in his novel. He said he workshopped the first
10,000 words of the manuscript and then knew he was on the right track.
Melinda Huston
Has written news and celebrity profiles, and hundreds of
book, film, food and bar reviews. She is currently a TV critic and columnist for
most Fairfax newspapers and for radio 3AW and 2UE. She wrote young adult
fiction in her twenties, but couldn’t make any money out of it so gave up.
book, film, food and bar reviews. She is currently a TV critic and columnist for
most Fairfax newspapers and for radio 3AW and 2UE. She wrote young adult
fiction in her twenties, but couldn’t make any money out of it so gave up.
Her debut novel, which she described as chick lit, is Kat Jumped the Shark, published by Text.
It is about a reality television program where the contestants have to live on
the streets of Melbourne for the duration of the show. She read a humorous
section from it. She was the most accomplished performer of the three writers.
It is about a reality television program where the contestants have to live on
the streets of Melbourne for the duration of the show. She read a humorous
section from it. She was the most accomplished performer of the three writers.
She said her role as a TV critic had her analysing how
stories work, and she used television’s three act structure in her novel. She wrote the first draft of the novel, gave
it to a friend to read and then rewrote it.
stories work, and she used television’s three act structure in her novel. She wrote the first draft of the novel, gave
it to a friend to read and then rewrote it.
No agent would take her on. She sent it to every major
publisher, they said they loved it but didn’t think it would sell enough copies.
Text eventually accepted it.
publisher, they said they loved it but didn’t think it would sell enough copies.
Text eventually accepted it.
Melinda is constantly asked which people in the media her
characters are based on.
characters are based on.
She is currently writing a sequel.
Whereas last year’s session left me thinking that who you
know had a lot to do with those three writers getting published, this years was
a bit different. The manuscripts of these writers seemed to be selected more on
their quality and appeal to the publisher than them having a friend who knew a
publisher.
know had a lot to do with those three writers getting published, this years was
a bit different. The manuscripts of these writers seemed to be selected more on
their quality and appeal to the publisher than them having a friend who knew a
publisher.
I ended up buying Childs’ No Limits.
My next post will
be about two sessions about the future of the planet.
be about two sessions about the future of the planet.