A Golden Word - A Golden Weekend

We gather together in the VAC

one last time to share.

Each seat is taken, new friends are made

sitting in groups or in pairs. 

To share our weekend, which part do we choose

there were so many fun times had.

Memories made, notes taken, books signed,

So, wait now it's over? That's sad! 

We share our awards each unique in their own

The trophies handmade- one of a kind. 

The winners so fitting- each one chosen with thought

The Golden Word

who'd have thought? 

Though hard to choose it was Alice who mused 

our admiration and delight.

The perfect contender for the Golden Word

for a golden weekend, spend with friends.

So much fun had, laughter shared. 

Words written down with a pen.

Bendigo Writers in Action 

together again

to only part ways at the end.

But now we must write,

get our blogs up to date

and to share the weekend that we had. 

For the Writer's Festival 2015,

it's fine I'll be back in a year.

The Festival Vibe

So far I've realised that Writer's Festivals consist of coffee, writers, books, coffee, reading, discussion and coffee. The amount of lattes I consumed this weekend is overwhelming.

The Bendigo Writer's Festival has had it's own unique atmosphere. The 'festival bubble' which the
Writer's in Action students have been a part of has encircled us as writers and readers. We've been wrapped up in a bustle of running to sessions, running for coffee, and running to the Ulumbarra Theater so we're not late. Being surrounded by so many different writers has opened my eyes to the endless possibilities for writing. More importantly, the question that forever floats around my head "would anyone want to actually read something that I wrote?" has been answered.
The answer is yes.

There's an audience for everything, and even if I were to have one reader, it would be worth it right? Writing is about exploring the very deep recesses of our minds, and then scribbling some words down on paper. But sometimes those words can be pretty good. Also apparently coffee seems to help too- as I've mentioned.

The Bendigo Writers Festival 2015 has been more than I had hoped for, and exceeded my expectations far more than I imagined. After basically having a panic attack the Wednesday before, I had an amazing time that I had to realise; "Wait, this was a class for Uni? Oh, cool! That's a bonus!"
Plus writing a blog has fun, it's like a diary but..... not. -Wow, profound.

I'm sure David Astle would agree with me when I say any area in Bendigo besides View Street this weekend has been beyond the goats cheese curtain. Because let's face it, who else goes to Writers Festival besides school groups and hipsters? But I mean, I fit into both of those groups.

Culture, Class and Conflict

Alice Pung writes about the reality behind high school. The reality behind bullying. And, as the session title suggests; culture class and conflict.

Alice Pung's new novel Laurinda explores these themes through the eyes her protagonist living and going to school in Melbourne. A range of influences including her own experiences, formed Pung's story, as she talks about the meanings behind her new novel.

 Laurinda centers around a young high school girl. Pung says she included some of her own experiences into the creation of her character. One of these includes her character's class. As Pung herself did not grow up in a wealthy home, her childhood experiences are reflected throughout the book. When discussing this, one particular quote that resonated with myself, but I'm sure, others in the room as well, is that in Australia:

                                              "We're allowed to make fun of poor people"

This particular quote really hit me and I think it's a very profound statement. In Australia, it is very widely accepted to make fun of and mock of un-wealthy people, as a social norm. Pung related this concept to Australian TV shows such as Kath and Kim; were it is humorous to observe lower-class citizens and their lives. Although I feel as though I have had a personal connection with this quote, books like Laurinda try to expose the struggles of living as a lower class citizen to those who may not be familiar with this. Pung decides to write about this in her novel. The struggles of being poor, but presented in reality, not through TV fiction.

This is something that perhaps I would like to do with my own writing. Write for the purpose of informing readers; making them open their eyes to the struggles of real life and not the trashy programmes on T.V. I felt inspired by Pung's ability to express her honesty in her writing, and not pretend to express her difficulties of growing up as an outcast in urban Australia.


The entire theater was captivated with Pung's discussion. Her genuine attitude and love for writing, delighted the audience and engrossed them into her session. There were so many quotes from Alice that I'd love to talk for hours about about, but I couldn't help not mention this one.

"That's the nerdiest thing I've ever heard"

Being the massive nerd that I am, I made sure to attend both of David Astle's sessions during the Writers Festival.

As I am a huge Letters and Numbers fan, and just general loser, I was pretty excited to meet David and discuss words. Yay learning!

After announcing that I was going to be seeing him and getting 'my dictionary signed', I was told by my brother in law "that's the nerdiest thing I've ever heard".

YES!

But that made me think about what is it about words or the interest in writing that makes people nerdy? Who cares! We discussed the IT crowd and 'street countdown' so we're basically BFF's now.

Here's an image for proof if you don't believe me. He asked for my favourite words encase you were wondering. Yeah, I'm cool.

Deceiving Words

Deceiving Words - Susan Butler and David Astle. 

Did you know that the Macquarie Dictionary weights about 4 kgs? Well neither did I. And now you know. 

Susan Butler and David Astle's session really had me thinking about words. (Which I hope, is what they intended). I had to stop and think about how much our words change, and how differently we use them in a variety of situations. Something that was brought up in the session was the fact that we find our voice in our language. We choose the words we like to use. I really liked that statement as I think we definitely have our own vocabulary, tailored and suited to each personality. Every person has their own words, and their own use of these words- not matter what is is. We personalise words and apply them to our own experiences. Often this can be a great depiction of character. 

This made me think about my own writing. I often feel as though my vocabulary isn't broadened enough to be able to write something profound- per se. Does writing require elaborate descriptions and complex concepts and a layering of plot driven motives? Is the way in which each person writes just a depiction of their creativity? Maybe that's just how some people are, and their writing often isn't like that.

So, when I write, will I only use the words I like to use? And will my writing be unexciting? Or is that what makes my writing exciting? The fact that I have my favourite words that I cannot help but use? What is it about words that make us drawn to them, and why do we make connections with them? 

When we associate ourselves with words, we often have the tendency to make our own meanings for them, and then perhaps create our own words altogether. David Astle discussed the process of creating words, and how often it can be difficult to give a definition to them. One phrase that particularly stood out to me was David's mention of the term "goats cheese curtain". A goats cheese curtain refers to the boundary, you might say, that encloses the general gathering area of hipsters. (I think Brunswick was used as an example of the hipster capital of Melbourne.) Recently, eating/liking/buying goats cheese has been recognised as one of the qualifying factors for a being a hipster. It's funny how much meaning we can give words, and how they can be applied to so many different concepts.

That's what I like about words. Words have the ability to change over time, and the meaning often becomes the complete opposite of what it once was.

Deceiving Words opened up a whole new way at looking at language, and means I can totally start making up new words now.

What the G 'n' Tea Meant to Me

Poetry is hard.

Poetry is very hard.

Why so hard to write a word,

that joins another, should I use a verb?

How do I start when I have no clue,

to sound like others, this will not do.

To inspire and ignite imagination,

only frustrates more this indignation.

You'd think it simple, they're only words, 

yet the pain is felt from forming a verse.

Now you see this is an art.

To even think of where to start. 

Why then can't I write like them?

To move and feel with my pen.

It's then you see as to why we care

to those who write, and write to share.

As you feel contempt;

this poor attempt

to create words, so moving,

when all you can do is sit and listen,

listen and sit just swooning.

It is clear to me

we need poetry you see,

to fill our hearts with love,

as this art is hard

and full of mistakes, can't you see?

First it rhymed on every line,

but inadvertently swapped, deary me.

So as I now close 

slightly embarrassed to know,

that someone will read this and laugh,

out of pity or pleasure I cannot say,

but that's a reaction, so yay? 

Blogging the Festival

Well here I am, venturing onto yet another side of the internet that I thought I would never attempt to be a part of- Blogger! I feel like I'm rather well immersed in social media, so blogging may not be too scary? I always thought that having a blog is for organised, regular human beings who have their lives together, so I wasn't feeling too confident. But yay, writing! 

Being immersed with professionals, amateurs, teachers and emerging writers is very exciting to be a part of and I'm sure I will learn lots about blogging along the way. 

There's at least one thing I know I can do- Tweet! Hopefully my pre-existing experience with Twitter  will come in handy at some point, and I will be tweeting throughout the festival to share the amazing activities and sessions in the Bendigo Writers Festival 2015! 

Get excited!