Amazing.
The past four days have been an experience that I would love to repeat over and over again. The authors, the discussions, the learning that I have taken on board would have to make this the most interesting subject that I have undertaken at University. Also the versatility of the content. I approached this from the perspective of what I can take into a classroom whereas there were Arts students looking at the course to enhance their craft.
The last day was a wrap up of what we have learnt as well as looking at the research project.
THEN we got to go on a paddleboat.
We were told to look at the trip and write down the verbs and nouns.
The ways that simple objects can be looked at with this in mind is amazing.
A tree for example is a tree. But the tree has bark both light and dark, contrasting due to the clouded sky creating deeper colours. The branches so strong and powerful, holding up to nature until nature decided to fell them and they come crashing down to provide safe harbour for native fish and turtles. The life that is now dead providing more life. The leaves blowing gently in the breeze, making sounds so subtle you need to strain to hear what they are saying.
This is an example of the many things that I focused on during the trip and was a good finish to a wonderful course.
Then we had lunch at The Office which was a good farewell to all that we had met.
Thursday 21 July 2016
Wednesday 20 July 2016
The circle with Sunil Yapa and Nick Gadd
Listening to the stories of the two authors in such a close way was excellent. The way that they interacted and provided feedback on the stories that each of us told was encouraging as it showed that they listened to each of the conversations and responded in a manner we could understand.
The quote of the session was from Rebecca "I am 22 which means I was 21".
The quote of the session was from Rebecca "I am 22 which means I was 21".
Presentations on the final day (for the authors)
This was a good day as we were having a beautiful lunch, in both looks and taste, and we got to present our awards.
The highlight for the session was when Tony accepted his award and rubbed it in the faces of those 'Miles Franklin award winners'.
The afternoon was excellent as we got to see the authors in a much less formal environment.
The highlight for the session was when Tony accepted his award and rubbed it in the faces of those 'Miles Franklin award winners'.
The afternoon was excellent as we got to see the authors in a much less formal environment.
Sunday at the writers festival - David Malouf 17/07/2016
Powerful, enigmatic, stage presence, intelligence, wise, experienced.
These are only some of the words that can be used for David Malouf.
Listening to David is like listening to a football coach preparing you for the big game. You absorb absolutely everything that he says and it resonates with your own experiences. The beginning was about proposed legislation that will strip the copyright from authors 15 years after it has been published where the rest of the world maintains 70 years after the author has died. Why would we try and strip away their livelihood? I think the politicians should listen to David and they would soon change their minds.
The quote of the session was when David reflects on writing his second book. In David's own words "I had written my first book and my last book and now I have to write all the books in-between". The way that he also commented on how you should maintain loyalty to a publisher as it allows a relationship to build, also the perils of taking and advance on a book as it may come back to burn you later on.
A wonderful session by a wise man.
These are only some of the words that can be used for David Malouf.
Listening to David is like listening to a football coach preparing you for the big game. You absorb absolutely everything that he says and it resonates with your own experiences. The beginning was about proposed legislation that will strip the copyright from authors 15 years after it has been published where the rest of the world maintains 70 years after the author has died. Why would we try and strip away their livelihood? I think the politicians should listen to David and they would soon change their minds.
The quote of the session was when David reflects on writing his second book. In David's own words "I had written my first book and my last book and now I have to write all the books in-between". The way that he also commented on how you should maintain loyalty to a publisher as it allows a relationship to build, also the perils of taking and advance on a book as it may come back to burn you later on.
A wonderful session by a wise man.
Saturday sessions - part 2
Sunil Yapa and Tony Birch
After Sunil's session on the Tuesday I could not wait for the next reading from the book and I was left suitably impressed yet again. The passion that he gives the characters as he reads from the book is inspiring and was enough to get me to buy his book (which he signed for me).
Tony was also impressive with his reading and I am glad that he opened with "I thought this was a G rated audience but after Sunil I thought fuck it" and read from his book. Again the power that the authors are able to draw from the characters in the book in their execution whe nreading left me amazed and wanting to know more of what was happening.
When Tony discussed where he draws his characters from "I just googled it printed it off and took it from there" showed that having that physical image to look at can help create the character that you may want for your story.
Nick Gadd and Olga Lorenzo
I was cautios of this session as it was listed as Prose and Poetry in the Uni guide but was a reading and explanation of the authors works. A good read and talk about what they do again.
After Sunil's session on the Tuesday I could not wait for the next reading from the book and I was left suitably impressed yet again. The passion that he gives the characters as he reads from the book is inspiring and was enough to get me to buy his book (which he signed for me).
Tony was also impressive with his reading and I am glad that he opened with "I thought this was a G rated audience but after Sunil I thought fuck it" and read from his book. Again the power that the authors are able to draw from the characters in the book in their execution whe nreading left me amazed and wanting to know more of what was happening.
When Tony discussed where he draws his characters from "I just googled it printed it off and took it from there" showed that having that physical image to look at can help create the character that you may want for your story.
Nick Gadd and Olga Lorenzo
I was cautios of this session as it was listed as Prose and Poetry in the Uni guide but was a reading and explanation of the authors works. A good read and talk about what they do again.
The Saturday sessions - readings from the authors - part 1
David Malouf and Emily Bitto
Both of the authors during the readings used powerful descriptive language, portraying their worlds with such clarity that it was like listening to a movie with all the images being described with a language both powerful and accurate in its use.
Quote of the session went to David Malouf " The most interesting is the most ordinary".
Les Murray
Quote of the session by Les Murray "I love gravy, boy I love gravy". This immediately brought one of our discussions for award to mind and at this point I knew I had to get some gravy for an award for Les as the passion that he used to describe the food both in his poems and then outside of teh works was amazing. When asked why he came back to Mildura for the festival his response was again food related and was "where else can I get a free meal". Les' discussion on writing was also deep as he admitted that he doesn't know what he's thinking when he is writing it and it is only later when he looks at it that it makes sense.
Both of the authors during the readings used powerful descriptive language, portraying their worlds with such clarity that it was like listening to a movie with all the images being described with a language both powerful and accurate in its use.
Quote of the session went to David Malouf " The most interesting is the most ordinary".
Les Murray
Quote of the session by Les Murray "I love gravy, boy I love gravy". This immediately brought one of our discussions for award to mind and at this point I knew I had to get some gravy for an award for Les as the passion that he used to describe the food both in his poems and then outside of teh works was amazing. When asked why he came back to Mildura for the festival his response was again food related and was "where else can I get a free meal". Les' discussion on writing was also deep as he admitted that he doesn't know what he's thinking when he is writing it and it is only later when he looks at it that it makes sense.
Saturday at the writers festival - session 1
The day began slowly but with Jan Owen and Judith Beverage the morning picked up quite quickly.
Not a quote for the session but an observation. Both of the speakers brought mention to the fact that certain rituals must be followed before any writing can commence.
What I took from this session was that translating poems is not as easy as grabbing a translation app. typing in the words and then printing out the results. To maintain the rhyme and meter of teh poem words have to be interpreted to the new language and maybe shuffled to ensure the meaning are being portrayed as the original author wished. As Jan confessed if she had have known it was such a large task when she began she may not have undertaken it, while at the same time admitting that since she had started she persisted until the end.
Overall a good start to the day.
Not a quote for the session but an observation. Both of the speakers brought mention to the fact that certain rituals must be followed before any writing can commence.
What I took from this session was that translating poems is not as easy as grabbing a translation app. typing in the words and then printing out the results. To maintain the rhyme and meter of teh poem words have to be interpreted to the new language and maybe shuffled to ensure the meaning are being portrayed as the original author wished. As Jan confessed if she had have known it was such a large task when she began she may not have undertaken it, while at the same time admitting that since she had started she persisted until the end.
Overall a good start to the day.
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