I went to
the Melbourne Writers Festival last weekend. I wanted to revel in writing and
books. I wanted to learn more about writing and publishing, and I wanted to be
reassured that I was on the right track with my writing. I also went to two
sessions specifically to use them as sources for articles to write for Divine.
the Melbourne Writers Festival last weekend. I wanted to revel in writing and
books. I wanted to learn more about writing and publishing, and I wanted to be
reassured that I was on the right track with my writing. I also went to two
sessions specifically to use them as sources for articles to write for Divine.
I saw some
authors soar and some perform aerobatics, but some just engaged the autopilot,
while others failed to take off, and one smacked into the ground. The first
session I went to had me thinking I was intellectually out of my depth, but the
other sessions reassured me that I am not that ignorant after
all.
authors soar and some perform aerobatics, but some just engaged the autopilot,
while others failed to take off, and one smacked into the ground. The first
session I went to had me thinking I was intellectually out of my depth, but the
other sessions reassured me that I am not that ignorant after
all.
The Sessions
The
sessions I went to were:
·
The
Future of the Novel
The
Future of the Novel
·
On
The Spectrum
On
The Spectrum
·
Dying
is Easy, Comedy is Hard
Dying
is Easy, Comedy is Hard
·
Healing
Words
Healing
Words
·
First
Flight
First
Flight
·
Fred
Watson’s Guide to the Universe.
Fred
Watson’s Guide to the Universe.
The Future of the Novel was not a discussion about ebooks and
Amazon destroying the publishing industry. It was about the influence of social
media on novel writing. One of the two panellists was American novelist Teju Cole, whose intellect daunted me at
the start, but when his ideas were teased out a bit more, I began to see his twitterverse.
Amazon destroying the publishing industry. It was about the influence of social
media on novel writing. One of the two panellists was American novelist Teju Cole, whose intellect daunted me at
the start, but when his ideas were teased out a bit more, I began to see his twitterverse.
On the Spectrum was a discussion about Asperger’s
Syndrome in writing. The two writers on the panel were Graeme Simsion who wrote the novel The Rosie Project, which
has a main character with Asperger’s, and Jo
Case whose book Boomer and Me (which I have nearly finished reading) is about
bringing up her son who has Asperger’s. Simsion proved to be a wonderful
performer and read a very funny section of his book. This session was the best
I saw over the weekend and it was free, unlike the other five.
Syndrome in writing. The two writers on the panel were Graeme Simsion who wrote the novel The Rosie Project, which
has a main character with Asperger’s, and Jo
Case whose book Boomer and Me (which I have nearly finished reading) is about
bringing up her son who has Asperger’s. Simsion proved to be a wonderful
performer and read a very funny section of his book. This session was the best
I saw over the weekend and it was free, unlike the other five.
Dying is Easy, Comedy is Hard lived up to its name with one of the
writers dying so horribly that you just wanted to look away. But Max Barry read a very good section from
his book Lexicon, which he admitted was not a comedy, more a thriller. I
would have rushed out to buy it had not I already visited Monitaur that morning
and purchased it.
writers dying so horribly that you just wanted to look away. But Max Barry read a very good section from
his book Lexicon, which he admitted was not a comedy, more a thriller. I
would have rushed out to buy it had not I already visited Monitaur that morning
and purchased it.
Healing Words was another session I went to because
of my writing for Divine. The panellists left me thinking about the various
ways reading and writing can help people cope with health concerns.
of my writing for Divine. The panellists left me thinking about the various
ways reading and writing can help people cope with health concerns.
First Flight featured three first time authors.
They did readings from their books and talked a bit about their pathway to
being published. Yet again, who you know played a big role in getting
published.
They did readings from their books and talked a bit about their pathway to
being published. Yet again, who you know played a big role in getting
published.
Fred Watson is an Australian astronomer who has
just written his own Guide to the
Universe. In a dazzling slide show I learnt much current astronomical
knowledge.
just written his own Guide to the
Universe. In a dazzling slide show I learnt much current astronomical
knowledge.
What I Learnt
If there
is one thing I will take away from the weekend it is that if I ever am doing
readings of my work I will choose a section that doesn’t need ten minutes of
backgrounding. I would also try to find a section with humour in it, as
laughter shows the audience is engaged with what is being read.
is one thing I will take away from the weekend it is that if I ever am doing
readings of my work I will choose a section that doesn’t need ten minutes of
backgrounding. I would also try to find a section with humour in it, as
laughter shows the audience is engaged with what is being read.
I plan to
write more detailed posts on the various panels in coming weeks.
write more detailed posts on the various panels in coming weeks.
I spotted Jason Steger from The Age and The Book Club, but I felt unworthy to
speak to him.
speak to him.
The Venue
I found
Federation Square to be a very sparse and soulless venue, its lack of crowds
seemed to emphasis a lack of enthusiasm for books and writing in Melbourne,
unlike the very crowded Malthouse Theatre complex that I attended last time I
went to the festival. Federation Square also lacked sign posting, but had
plenty of people to ask where to go.
Federation Square to be a very sparse and soulless venue, its lack of crowds
seemed to emphasis a lack of enthusiasm for books and writing in Melbourne,
unlike the very crowded Malthouse Theatre complex that I attended last time I
went to the festival. Federation Square also lacked sign posting, but had
plenty of people to ask where to go.
Overall, I
learnt a bit about writing, and I was regularly reassured that I was on the
right track. I also have an article to write after seeing the Asperger’s panel.
But the best thing about the festival was the many ideas that had my brain turning
concepts into patterns.
learnt a bit about writing, and I was regularly reassured that I was on the
right track. I also have an article to write after seeing the Asperger’s panel.
But the best thing about the festival was the many ideas that had my brain turning
concepts into patterns.
0 Responses
the sessions all sound interesting, and I look forward to your blog posts and Divine articles inspired by the Festival
The best things in life are free indeed.
One died horribly.. you mean as trying to be funny but failed? What happened?
Why am I not surprised… who you know… it's so aggravating.
Love Jason – hard to approach strangers… well, not them, but you… lol… done it a couple of times and they give you a look, as of course, they dont know you though you feel as though you know them. Odd.
The few times I've been to Fed Square I've been confused too. It's truly ugly too. Just doesn't fit in I don't think.
I'm sure you're on the right track. Now all you need is a friendship with an agent and a publisher…
😉
Hi Anthony,
What the one who died horribly did will be mentioned in a future post.
I'm not a fan of the appearance of Federation Square, except for the Deakin Edge venue, which was open and overlooking the Yarra.