
As frequent readers of this blog might guess, I am a strong believer in giving back to the community. Since I am still unemployed (alas) I have volunteered to help out at my local writing festival (yay). My excitement and enthusiasm for the Brisbane Writer’s Festival reminds me of my first writing conference, now over ten years ago.
At that first conference, I felt like I was ‘cheating’ to be there. I hadn’t started my writing degree, and I only had one or two serious writing credits. What I found was my tribe, and I felt more at ease in the group than I had ever felt anywhere before. I got them; they got me.
Since then, I have discovered pop culture conferences, which are another part of my tribe. However, as much as I enjoy Supanova and its ilk, nothing has quite the same buzz as a writers’ conference. I have volunteered at ‘Voices on the Coast’, which is for YA and Children’s authors, and at Reality Bites, the conference for creative nonfiction writers. I always learn something new at every conference, even if it just about just how friendly the Australian writing community really is. As an attendee or as a volunteer, writing conferences energise and inspire me.
I love hearing about other writers experiences with the writing process. If there is one thing I know, it is that no two writers have exactly the same process.
This festival, I am in the Green Room team. This means I have to rein in the fangirl and remain completely professional for the talent. They are the stars of the show, and my job is keep them happy and unstressed – well, as unstressed as you can be when you know you are about to front up to an auditorium full of excited festival attendees.
If you are one of the lucky people coming to the Brisbane Writers Festival, you are in for a real treat this year.