Saturday
Extra! Extra! Read all
about it! Or not. Amateur journalists here. We subjected three authors to our
questions for an hour and they couldn’t leave. Mwahaha! Anson Cameron, Anna
George and Erica Hayes, all writers for different genres or professions bravely
answered all questions and even gave us a laugh or two. I was a little nervous
before this all began because I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was happy with
what transpired. I listened to quite a few good stories and I wish I had
written them all down but I remember the feelings were all good.
“Write sober and write
early.” Good advice from the entertaining Anson Cameron as he told us about his
experience staying up late at night, drinking wine or whatever, and then
writing something.
“Don’t give up because
it doesn’t work right away.” Also by Anson Cameron thanks for that especially
since I generally do the exact opposite. I’m known to give up after failing but
now I will try and think of this.
“There is an audience
out there for absolutely everything.” Erica Hayes, thank you so much for this
because it gives me hope.
“If you love writing
then write.” By the lovely Anna George. I might just frame this and turn it
into a poster.
I have never been able
to write or read or watch horror movies. It has always intrigued me though, the
talent which goes into making such a story. Keri Arthur and Sean Williams talk
about their own stories in the genre and their own experiences with writing it.
Which sounds like an excerpt from a blurb but moving on. “A good story is full
of the fear of the thing that scares the character, the dread and anticipation,
rather than the actual thing that is scary” (partial quote) by Sean Williams. I
never looked at it that way before but now that I have I can understand it a
little more. Probably still can’t write it but if I ever become brave enough I
can look back on these words and hopefully be successful.
I really linked a lot
of myself with that Keri Arthur said, such as “People who read have a vivid
imagination.” I have a pretty good imagination, sometimes too much which I’ve
always said is why I can’t watch horror movies, because I will remember and my
brain will try and convince me the monster is under my bed or waiting around
the corner. Even writing about this making my nervous, wondering if there is
something out in the hallway, which goes to show how good (or manic) my
imagination is.
“I got sick of all the
females in stories being idiots who fall over and need rescuing. I like strong
female roles” Keri Arthur’s reasons for why she started writing just about
inspired me to pick up her book because I like a female character who “kicks
butt” as well. However I’m one of those people who can’t really stand a cliff
hanger and Keri Arthur doesn’t conclude her happy ending (if there even is one)
until the end of the series. Still, definitely something to keep in mind.
“I turn my nightmares
into stories” Keri said that and I remembered a dream I turned into a story
years ago which I never got to finish.
“Are you dark inside?”
“I am. I was a former
chef I played with knives”.
This is the kind of
slightly dark humour I like so another reason why I think Keri Arthur is
awesome.
I went to Almost
True…and wished I didn’t. I’m sure it was a lovely seminar; I’m not saying it
wasn’t, but it just wasn’t the thing for me. I chose wrong and regretted it.
Consult an Expert gave
me really great ideas. Find a publisher or get self-published. Network. Online
profile. Wheeler Centre. A lot to take in and a lot to think about.
Publish or Be Damned
was not my choice, rather my friend’s, however it sounded interesting so I went
along to it. I was not interested for most of it until the end. Politics are
not my thing. It was like she had been going through the motions until she
mentioned at the end, publishing Mick Gatto’s book and then it resonated with
me because she sounded passionate. Perhaps it was just my perception. She
sounded proud of her accomplishments.
I ended up writing a
haiku poem during the seminar which just popped into my head while I was zoning
in and out of the speech.
Writer’s Festival
Bendigo in Winter
Writers in Action
Yeah not that great,
pretty simple, but it’s odd what will just pop into my head at random times.
Plotting did its job,
it inspired a plot in my brain and I spent a while sitting there brainstorming
my new story rather than listening although I did take notes. Geraldine Wooller,
Peter Timms and Ellie Marney were three very different people with different
ideas.
“I’m a notorious
pantzer” when Ellie Marney said this I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who wondered
what the heck she was talking about. Do you run around pulling people’s pants
down? What on earth is a pantzer? Apparently a pantzer is someone who “flies by
the seat of their pants” instead of plotting when it comes to writing a story.
Certainly something to think about but I am definitely a planner. I like to be organised.
What’s Love Got To Do
With It? Well, romance writing is apparently quite popular right now so that
might be it. A group of five women all sat down and told us about their
different forays into the genre of romance writing. They mentioned The Black
Moment, when everything that can go wrong, goes wrong, and makes the reader
think that there is no way for a happy ending. I like to write about romance
but I’m never sure if I really can but hearing from these amazing authors than
“You can write about anything, so long as you do it right” was possibly some of
the best advice ever.
Beyond Extreme. Again,
politics are not my thing however Tariq Ali was an interesting person to listen
to. He sounded very passionate and assured about his beliefs.
“History doesn’t repeat
itself, but the echoes are always there.” I’m not sure I fully grasp this but I
have the feeling it could be important some day so I hope I remember it.