As
part of the Melbourne Wheeler Centre’s “On the Road” program, author Tony Birch
was in Wangaratta last Wednesday. Birch’s novel Blood was nominated for
this year’s Miles Franklin award. I went and saw him talk primarily because he
had some indigenous blood in him and I am curious about how his writing might
portray indigenous Australians. He also teaches creative writing at Melbourne
University so I was hoping for some writing tips.
part of the Melbourne Wheeler Centre’s “On the Road” program, author Tony Birch
was in Wangaratta last Wednesday. Birch’s novel Blood was nominated for
this year’s Miles Franklin award. I went and saw him talk primarily because he
had some indigenous blood in him and I am curious about how his writing might
portray indigenous Australians. He also teaches creative writing at Melbourne
University so I was hoping for some writing tips.
The
talk was free, but only about a third of the 100 or so seats were occupied. The
audience made me feel young.
talk was free, but only about a third of the 100 or so seats were occupied. The
audience made me feel young.
The Perfect Pedigree?
Tony
Birch seems to have lived a life full of hardship and triumph over adversity.
He grew up on a housing commission estate, his father was an alcoholic, Birch
was expelled from schools for fighting, he was a fireman for eight years, he
then went on to get a PHD in history. Jealous of how his background made him
attractive to publishers, I consoled myself with the knowledge that I could
still reimagine my background like Bryce Courtney seems to have done.
Birch seems to have lived a life full of hardship and triumph over adversity.
He grew up on a housing commission estate, his father was an alcoholic, Birch
was expelled from schools for fighting, he was a fireman for eight years, he
then went on to get a PHD in history. Jealous of how his background made him
attractive to publishers, I consoled myself with the knowledge that I could
still reimagine my background like Bryce Courtney seems to have done.
Tips on Character
Development
Development
Birch
had some interesting things to say about writing. The narrator in Blood is a 13 year-old boy. Birch said
when creating the character he had to think how a 13 year-old would think. But
there was a lot more to it than thinking how he would relate to a particular
issue at that age. Birch had to try and think how this particular, older and
wiser than his years because of his hard life, character would think. Birch said
unlike his first novel Shadowboxer, Blood was not autobiographical.
had some interesting things to say about writing. The narrator in Blood is a 13 year-old boy. Birch said
when creating the character he had to think how a 13 year-old would think. But
there was a lot more to it than thinking how he would relate to a particular
issue at that age. Birch had to try and think how this particular, older and
wiser than his years because of his hard life, character would think. Birch said
unlike his first novel Shadowboxer, Blood was not autobiographical.
Birch
said he got one of his characters from an image he saw. This interested me as I
have gone a lot further than just appropriating an image. In the novel I am
currently writing I used aspects of particular movie/television characters. My
excuse is I started writing it in National Novel Writing Month, so I had no
time to fully imagine characters while frantically writing. But the
appropriated characters developed their own non TV/movie personas as I wrote.
said he got one of his characters from an image he saw. This interested me as I
have gone a lot further than just appropriating an image. In the novel I am
currently writing I used aspects of particular movie/television characters. My
excuse is I started writing it in National Novel Writing Month, so I had no
time to fully imagine characters while frantically writing. But the
appropriated characters developed their own non TV/movie personas as I wrote.
How Birch Learnt to
Write
Write
He
said even though he was expelled from school, he was always good at English at
school and wrote a lot of stories. Birch said reading books and newspapers was
very important in him learning to write. Disappointedly he did not mention any
Australian authors when asked to name writers who influenced him. John Steinbeck
was one of the writers he mentioned.
said even though he was expelled from school, he was always good at English at
school and wrote a lot of stories. Birch said reading books and newspapers was
very important in him learning to write. Disappointedly he did not mention any
Australian authors when asked to name writers who influenced him. John Steinbeck
was one of the writers he mentioned.
He
suggests writing economically, leaving it up to the writer to fill in the
details. He also admitted he can’t write sex scenes. He sees himself more as a
writer of short stories. Nearly all the stories he writes are published. In a
good year he sells six short stories.
suggests writing economically, leaving it up to the writer to fill in the
details. He also admitted he can’t write sex scenes. He sees himself more as a
writer of short stories. Nearly all the stories he writes are published. In a
good year he sells six short stories.
I
walked out of the hour long talk with a copy of his book and a boost in motivation.
walked out of the hour long talk with a copy of his book and a boost in motivation.
0 Responses
Sounds like an interesting writer.
I havent heard of him.
Nice to get some culture Wang way.
😉