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adelaideseanWell, Adelaide's newest writers' festival, WORD, has come and gone. It was a riotous event*, despite the best efforts of the weather, and a successful one, I think. Thanks to the participation of some truly stellar guests--including Anna Funder, Shaun Tan and Richard Flanagan--and helped in no small part by a large supporting cast of actors, comedians, techies and volunteers, the last three nights have covered everything from serious discussions of politics and death right through to the popular Read Dating and Prose Jam improv events in the Cane Corner-inspired bar. I really enjoyed it.
That last sentence needs some elaboration. Normally I find writers' festivals a bit dry. I yawn through panels--often purely because they're scheduled in the afternoon, when I'm always sleepy, but sometimes because of the content--and I begin to dread yet another round of speechifying, no matter who's on the bill. The demographic spread of the crowd is often limited, demonstrating that the event is appealing to only a narrow section of the community, to which I sometimes do not belong.
Science fiction conventions, on the other hand, enjoy a much blurrier line between panel and audience, an informal approach to author presentations, and a clear emphasis on entertainment, mingling at the bar, and late nights. For me, therefore, they have an unending appeal.
On the second night of WORD, it occurred to me that I had attended most of the programmed events and was actually looking forward to those that remained. And I realised that WORD had managed to combine the best elements of both sorts of event. It was a deeply literary festival, but it was also fun.
I'm honoured to have been part of it.**
No doubt those of us on the advisory committee will be debriefing over the next few weeks, in preparation for a repeat performance next year. There will be some bugs to iron out and many new ideas to pursue. I'm hopeful that 2008's WORD will be an even bigger and better experience than this year's. And I hope that many people who, like me, yearn for a literary experience that's a little out of the ordinary, will come along to see what all the fuss was about.
*For me, WORD ended very late last night in a tiny karaoke bar on Hindley Street. Thanks to a particularly enthusiastic rendition of "Doctor Doctor", I may never sing again. (The world cheers.)
**Heartfelt thanks to everyone who came to my sessions and the "Strange Bedfellows" masterclass I took yesterday. Thanks to Fiona McIntosh for being such a fun co-presenter. And thanks to Sandy Verschoor and Christie Anthoney for inviting me along for the ride. It's been wild!
That last sentence needs some elaboration. Normally I find writers' festivals a bit dry. I yawn through panels--often purely because they're scheduled in the afternoon, when I'm always sleepy, but sometimes because of the content--and I begin to dread yet another round of speechifying, no matter who's on the bill. The demographic spread of the crowd is often limited, demonstrating that the event is appealing to only a narrow section of the community, to which I sometimes do not belong.
Science fiction conventions, on the other hand, enjoy a much blurrier line between panel and audience, an informal approach to author presentations, and a clear emphasis on entertainment, mingling at the bar, and late nights. For me, therefore, they have an unending appeal.
On the second night of WORD, it occurred to me that I had attended most of the programmed events and was actually looking forward to those that remained. And I realised that WORD had managed to combine the best elements of both sorts of event. It was a deeply literary festival, but it was also fun.
I'm honoured to have been part of it.**
No doubt those of us on the advisory committee will be debriefing over the next few weeks, in preparation for a repeat performance next year. There will be some bugs to iron out and many new ideas to pursue. I'm hopeful that 2008's WORD will be an even bigger and better experience than this year's. And I hope that many people who, like me, yearn for a literary experience that's a little out of the ordinary, will come along to see what all the fuss was about.
*For me, WORD ended very late last night in a tiny karaoke bar on Hindley Street. Thanks to a particularly enthusiastic rendition of "Doctor Doctor", I may never sing again. (The world cheers.)
**Heartfelt thanks to everyone who came to my sessions and the "Strange Bedfellows" masterclass I took yesterday. Thanks to Fiona McIntosh for being such a fun co-presenter. And thanks to Sandy Verschoor and Christie Anthoney for inviting me along for the ride. It's been wild!
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no subject
Date: 2007-03-24 11:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-25 02:37 am (UTC)Anyhoo... the things you learn when hanging out with a writer in a funky hawaian-esk shirt (among a few other funky people)in a tiny kareoke bar on Hindley... I'm talking of course of the varse range of 70 and 80s music that I had never knew exsisted not to mention the singing.... hmmmmm... I'll stop it there... although you weren't that bad... alhtough some song choices... :P Now you can proudly say you've been kareoking!
Anyway to the topic of the post... you're right WORD was fun with a good mix of programed sessions. I must say one of the best gigs around the fringe I've been to recently.
Now I hope you don't mind me adding you to my flist (and hopefully I didn't scare you enough that you'll add me too)
no subject
Date: 2007-03-25 11:58 pm (UTC)I reckon. Until someone steps forward with the inclination, willingness and time to organise a con, WORD will fill the vacancy quite nicely--if we can encourage more SF&F readers to come along!
no subject
Date: 2007-03-26 12:02 am (UTC)Sorry about the song choices. I am, alas, a child of that era, so my thoughts naturally turn there whenever the opportunity arises. "Africa" and "Jump" were two other stand-outs, IIRC. I'm amazed we were allowed to stay so long.
Just be glad my best friend didn't arrive, otherwise all the Judas Priest tracks on the catalog would have gotten an airing for sure!
a writer in a funky hawaian-esk shirt
I am hopeful that people realise my string of awful (and genuinuely Hawaiian) shirts was an attempt to blend into the Fringo Fringo bar surrounds, not the sort of thing I wear in my ordinary life...
strange bedfellows
Date: 2007-03-27 03:35 am (UTC)It will be the funnest if word gets invaded by sci-fi/f freaks next year!
(the Clayton's con)
Strange bedfellows was fun too, especially watching you trying to sit still for five minutes. Vroom Vroom, where do you get all your energy?
The re-writing of the paragraph was a good idea.perhaps do it twice? the second time it could be deliberately surreal, just for laughs...
It did my head in when I found out 'the resurrected man' you're a clever one.
Still dying to know your feedback about short story, damn you for being so popular!
cheers Donna
Re: strange bedfellows
Date: 2007-03-27 07:06 am (UTC)Nerves! :-)
The re-writing of the paragraph was a good idea.
Thanks, Donna. That was fun, wasn't it? I'll admit that this was a new exercise for me, too. I'm not sure the younger me who wrote The Resurrected Man would have been comfortable with the idea of a roomful of writers taking apart one of his clumsiest paragraphs and putting it back together, properly this time--but the sooner one develops a thick skin in this business, the better. :-)
the Clayton's con
I am deadly serious. That's what the Fringe is all about! Fiona McIntosh and I will start making plans soon for a full-on invasion. Stay tuned...
no subject
Date: 2007-03-27 08:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-27 09:01 am (UTC)