Frustration and inspiration. Sometimes one even bleeds into the other. I wrote a novel manuscript in a time of frustration, the first draft in just 12 weeks, as I saw it as a kind of 'golden ticket', a way through and out of my situation. Though it wasn't (a way out) in the end - the … Continue reading Frustration/inspiration
Commentary
Vote for the author! Craig Silvey for Cleo Bachelor of the Year (oh, and he’s on the Miles Franklin longlist)
Not only is Jasper Jones author Craig Silvey longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award, he's up for Cleo Bachelor of the Year! Go and vote for the lovely and talented (and yes, cute) Mr Silvey here. I chaired a panel with Craig and Eleanor Catton at the recent Perth Writers Festival, and remember one middle-aged … Continue reading Vote for the author! Craig Silvey for Cleo Bachelor of the Year (oh, and he’s on the Miles Franklin longlist)
Liveblogging from the zine fair: reader remnants; Adelaide; Format Fest
Hey gang, I'm sitting with Lisa Dempster and Caroline Hamilton (and right near lovely, cool zinesters panda and the fetus) at the zine fair on the final day of Adelaide's rad Format Festival. I don't even want to look up at all the tables as I spent far too much on second-hand books yesterday in … Continue reading Liveblogging from the zine fair: reader remnants; Adelaide; Format Fest
From Miller to McKellen
A quick note to let you know the podcast of my conversation with Alex Miller is now up. You can find it at the 720 ABC Perth website, here, or you can search in the iTunes store and download it to your computer, or iPod/iPhone for listening on the go. If you get a chance, let … Continue reading From Miller to McKellen
Ehh *crunch, crunch* what’s up, doc?
So… that ‘big announcement’ I’ve been banging on about! On 15 March I start a Doctor of Creative Arts through the University of Western Sydney. I’ll be working on fiction, more than likely a novel, alongside a great deal of reading and research (which will inform the fiction). I’ll give you a brief outline of … Continue reading Ehh *crunch, crunch* what’s up, doc?
Perth Writers Festival 2010 diary, part three: ‘I have just three questions…’
The last three days just slipped by. I thought I felt the Earth rotating beneath my feet on Monday night as I watched the sun set on Cottesloe Beach. My first sunset. A pink ribbon with little ships in it. Some people paused and others continued splashing and squawking like the rainbow birds. On the University campus, … Continue reading Perth Writers Festival 2010 diary, part three: ‘I have just three questions…’
Perth Writers Fest 2010 diary, part two: re-reading Alex Miller’s Prochownik’s Dream
Yesterday was my Q&A with Alex Miller, mainly focusing on his new novel Lovesong. I'm happy to report the session (where we actually covered a lot of ground, and got some great audience questions) will be available as a podcast on 720 ABC Perth. Watch this space. I'll write more about my sessions and general … Continue reading Perth Writers Fest 2010 diary, part two: re-reading Alex Miller’s Prochownik’s Dream
Perth Writers Festival 2010 diary, part one: ‘mint’ ideas
We live 'by and through and for ideas' said AC Grayling at last night's opening address. But the majority of ideas that we possess, that have shaped us - the way we see and react to the world - are unconscious or at least unexamined. Spinoza said that freedom came from making the 'inadequate' ideas 'adequate', that … Continue reading Perth Writers Festival 2010 diary, part one: ‘mint’ ideas
Soul-scorching voyage (bring it on!)
This is absolutely the best article I’ve read for a while on contemporary issues in writing – the way it’s talked about, taught, and so on: ‘A Writing Career Becomes Harder to Scale’, by Dani Shapiro. Shapiro says: ‘the decisive factor is what I call endurability: that is, the ability to deal effectively with uncertainty, … Continue reading Soul-scorching voyage (bring it on!)
A few sessions at Writers at the Convent, 2010
I caught three sessions at Writers at the Convent last weekend – run by Reader’s Feast Bookstore, held at the gorgeous Abbotsford Convent. The session ‘We’ll always have Paris’ featured chef Shannon Bennett (Shannon Bennett’s Paris) and Elizabeth Bard (Lunch in Paris) who is a New Yorker living in that magical city. Bennett is a Melbourne-based chef/restaurateur … Continue reading A few sessions at Writers at the Convent, 2010
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