With the beaming Lisa Dempster at its helm, the 2010 Emerging Writers' Festival, here in Melbourne, is in full swing. So far I've attended The First Word (the opening night), one of the Fifteen Minutes of Fame Sessions (which received a great write-up here by Thuy-Linh Nguyen), the Page Parlour, and last night's Wordstock performance - … Continue reading 2010 Emerging Writers' Festival in full swing
Commentary
The Novel Challenge – help Team LiteraryMinded raise money for people affected by MS
I used to do the MS Read-A-Thon every year when I was a kid. When I heard that the challenge was now open to adults (as The Novel Challenge), I realised what a good opportunity this would be to raise money for a worthy cause. So I've gotten some friends and writerly-folk together, and Team … Continue reading The Novel Challenge – help Team LiteraryMinded raise money for people affected by MS
A postcard from Beth Sometimes
Beth Sometimes is the author/creator of From Sometimes Love Beth, where Sometimes wrote a postcard to somebody or someone (or something) every day for a year. She sent me this postcard, which gives you some insight into her work! Sometimes will be appearing at the Emerging Writers' Festival, which starts this weekend in Melbourne (how exciting!)
‘Down in the hole, lingeringly, the grave digger puts on the forceps.’ (Yesterday, today, tomorrow.)
Next day. Same time. Same place. Saw Sean Mathias' production of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot last night. Woke up sad that it was yesterday and it's over. It (so knowingly) passed the time. I really enjoyed the production, particularly the physicality of it - the gestures, the slapstick. When they said 'calm yourself', they would … Continue reading ‘Down in the hole, lingeringly, the grave digger puts on the forceps.’ (Yesterday, today, tomorrow.)
Provoking, presenting, plays, programs and the possessed
I fear with my opinion piece in Crikey the other day I may have misconstrued or misrepresented the words of one of my favourite authors, and someone I respect very much, Alex Miller. I think I raised some valid points (and I am certainly not the only one to have written on literary awards in … Continue reading Provoking, presenting, plays, programs and the possessed
Miles Franklin Award shortlist, 2010
Guten Tag. I've a piece in today's Crikey newsletter: Miles Franklin Award: Alex Miller Puts in the Boot. It begins: 'Are there too many literary awards in Australia, and is our oldest one “slipping away”? If an Australian literary award was provided increased funding and focus, would the Miles Franklin be the most relevant?' You … Continue reading Miles Franklin Award shortlist, 2010
Show me your spines (some books in the 'tower of hope')
Books I've been sent or given in the past few weeks: And then I still haven't gotten to: or: (the Roald Dahl books I plan to re-read). And these are really only the fairly recent additions to the 'tower of hope'. Currently reading: ...and a couple of others on my bedside table. You can see how hard … Continue reading Show me your spines (some books in the 'tower of hope')
On writing, blogging and social media: an interview from Victorian Writer
After reading A.S. Patric's thoughts on blogging, in an interview he did for Nigel Featherstone at the Canberra Times, I thought I'd reprint a recent interview I did for Victorian Writer, the Victorian Writers' Centre magazine, to add to the conversation. Enjoy! And please share your thoughts in the comments, or via the Facebook fan page, Twitter, your own blogs, … Continue reading On writing, blogging and social media: an interview from Victorian Writer
Joe Meno coming to Sydney Writers Festival (and some event updates)
The program for Sydney Writers Festival, which runs May 15 to 23, was revealed today. I'm still deciding on whether I'm going to make it up to Sydney for it or not, as I do have involvement in the Emerging Writers Festival here in Melbourne (for which the program is released on April 22). I had a … Continue reading Joe Meno coming to Sydney Writers Festival (and some event updates)
Raj Patel: Messiah? Or Sydney Writers Festival guest…?
So you may have heard about author Raj Patel being deemed a Messiah by a religious group after appearing on The Colbert Report recently. Well I have heard more exciting rumours, that Patel - the author of The Value of Nothing - will be gracing our shores at Sydney Writers Festival this year. The program for the … Continue reading Raj Patel: Messiah? Or Sydney Writers Festival guest…?
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