It has taken me a week to blog about it, but the Emerging Writers Festival was great, again. For those who haven't been, it's like a small regional festival, as it focuses on "professional development." most of those attending are emerging or aspiring writers and/or small press publishers, and so the conversations tend to be industrial - how to work better, how to get paid, etc. getting paid might be optimistic, but i think it's a worthwhile goal.
although i think i've done my time under the 'emerging' qualifier (jennifer byrne said so, it must be true), it is great to share skills and connect with other writers, especially the young fashionable people of melbourne, who seem to be getting younger by the minute. it's like a city of dorian grays in the wintertime.
in the middle i went to see p!nk as my friend's band faker is supporting the whole 52-show tour. i had a surprisingly enjoyable time. it reminded me of going to the moscow circus on ice as a five-year-old. i felt a bit sorry for the ice-skating bears, but was still compelled by their performances. the theatre of it, especially the trapeze, was fun, and the costumes were great. p!nk gets extra credit for skipping backwards in stilettos. i could have done without the self-indulgent acoustic crap in the middle though.
then back to EWF for the zine-and-self-publishing fair, which was a bit disappointing. fed square gets mostly walk-in, stickybeak trade - lots of middle-aged men that were there for the ford show. it was cold and i didn't sell anything. i think i prefer sending and receiving zines through the mail. could it be that the zine fair is nothing but a thinly veiled social activity for people who can only communicate via photocopier? surely not.
my EWF highlights were hearing Susan Hayes, the seemingly mild-mannered Australia Council director of literature, say 'eat dirt, Meanjin!'
...and zipping poet Nathan Curnow into a rabbit suit for his panel appearance.
'yeah, blog that mate!'
done.
another week in sydney, then i get to go home for at least two months! yay. the sun has come out, finally. i'm going to crawl out there and lie in it.
one last plug: there's an interview about The Diamond Anchor on 2SER's book show final draft this evening at 7pm. sydney peops can tune in to 107.3. the rest of you can find it on their podbot soon.
although i think i've done my time under the 'emerging' qualifier (jennifer byrne said so, it must be true), it is great to share skills and connect with other writers, especially the young fashionable people of melbourne, who seem to be getting younger by the minute. it's like a city of dorian grays in the wintertime.
in the middle i went to see p!nk as my friend's band faker is supporting the whole 52-show tour. i had a surprisingly enjoyable time. it reminded me of going to the moscow circus on ice as a five-year-old. i felt a bit sorry for the ice-skating bears, but was still compelled by their performances. the theatre of it, especially the trapeze, was fun, and the costumes were great. p!nk gets extra credit for skipping backwards in stilettos. i could have done without the self-indulgent acoustic crap in the middle though.
then back to EWF for the zine-and-self-publishing fair, which was a bit disappointing. fed square gets mostly walk-in, stickybeak trade - lots of middle-aged men that were there for the ford show. it was cold and i didn't sell anything. i think i prefer sending and receiving zines through the mail. could it be that the zine fair is nothing but a thinly veiled social activity for people who can only communicate via photocopier? surely not.
my EWF highlights were hearing Susan Hayes, the seemingly mild-mannered Australia Council director of literature, say 'eat dirt, Meanjin!'
...and zipping poet Nathan Curnow into a rabbit suit for his panel appearance.
'yeah, blog that mate!'
done.
another week in sydney, then i get to go home for at least two months! yay. the sun has come out, finally. i'm going to crawl out there and lie in it.
one last plug: there's an interview about The Diamond Anchor on 2SER's book show final draft this evening at 7pm. sydney peops can tune in to 107.3. the rest of you can find it on their podbot soon.
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8 Comments:
Sorry I missed you at the fair, ma'am. I was too focussed on taking very ordinary pictures, I think.
Great wrap! 'a city of Dorian Grays in winter'. HEH.
*literes*, Yes.
Hi Jen, interesting take on the zine fair. It did seem to fall a little flat, didn't it?
Loved your story in Overland, btw :)
How was your Mum's exhibition?
Ha ha. LOVE this, Jen. best pic I've seen. and yes, I hate Pink's self indulgent acoustic crap too. go well now. cheers.
thanks simonne - was great to meet you, and you genevieve, and to see you again nathan, you lil prankster. i think it was just me and the zine fair - wasn't ahndling the cold or the crowd too well by that stage.
mum's exhibition opening was great, thanks for asking. the mayor made a lovely speech. art lovers should get there quick while there's still some paintings left!
hey Jen
I spotted you at the 'there goes the neighbourhood' launch the other week but lost you when I went looking for you..;-(
I've just been reading some of the reviews for the Diamond Anchor as really wanted to purchase this book for my sister (i do have a self interest motive however, as i get to read it when she's finished).
so thought i'd post an entry saying well done and i look forward to the read.
all the best..til we cross paths again
Paul
hey paul! sorry i didn't say hi at TGTN. i was in scurry-away mode. thanks for your kind words, i hope you and your sister enjoy the book.
hey jen,
i already couldn't wait to get my hands on the diamond anchor, but after the 2SER podcast, i am ever more hungry. i have even ordered a copy for the public library i work in. i feel it appropriate to congratulate you on your debut, even though it remains to be consumed.
cheers, jessi
why thankyou.
i hope you like it at least one tenth as much as i like public libraries!
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