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CULTURAL CRINGE Every year I make it foremost among my list of resolutions, and at the end of every year it remains undone. The simple truth is, when you write for a living, staring at a screen all day, then bashing out a novel isn’t as attractive a side-project as it seems. “I hate writing,” said Dorothy Parker once, “but I love having written.” That’s the view I tend to subscribe to – but the truth is, without some serious Star Trek technology, that stuff ain’t going to transport itself from your head to the page without a lot of blood, sweat and tears – well, carpal tunnel syndrome, sweat and tears. But Queensland Writers’ Centre have announced their 2009 program this week, and it just so happens to be chock full of little incentives to encourage the slack-arse to finally knuckle down and get into it. The program contains many varied topics, so whether you’re a travel writer, a historical fiction scribe, a poet, or simply need to work out this whole editing thing, chances are QWC will have a seminar, workshop or course available to address that gap in your skillset. There’s a Young Writers’ Boot Camp happening mid-year during the holidays, where parents can pack off their budding scribblers for a week, but the jewel in the crown is always their Year of the Writer series (which has been immensely popular for QWC in the past – slots do tend to fill up pretty quick) in which tutors Veny Armanno, Nerida Newton and Kim Wilkins will be doing their best throughout the year to guide mid- to advanced-level writers into a place where they’re finally sitting on that fat manuscript and ready to shop it. One of the workshops pitched at novelists this year is entitled The Book’s Journey, happening in July, which will be conducted by emerging novelist Belinda Jeffrey, her publisher Kristina Schulz from UQP, and her literary agent Sophie Hamley from Cameron Creswell Agency. This one addresses where a writer need go after typing ‘the end’, as the panel discuss Belinda’s debut novel Brown Skin Blue from the end of the writing stage and into editing, design, promotion and professional development. Young Adult/Adult Crossover novel Brown Skin Blue is the third book Belinda’s written, but her first to be published. “It’s about a 17-year-old boy from the Top End who’s got dark skin and doesn’t know why,” she explains. “It’s a quest for who he is and why he is who he is, so it’s steeped in the landscape of the Northern Territory and the Bush and the Australian-ness he experiences and questions.” Belinda’s career was kick-started through winning an interview with an agent, through a competition organized by the Bundaberg Writers Centre. As a result of this her third book got picked up, and she’s recently been going through the process of trying to get it out there. “I’ve been told that finding an agent is the toughest part of the whole process, some people liken it to winning the lottery,” she says. “But conversely, there’s also a saying that you do find your own path into the business. Some authors really love having agents, and some are happy to navigate the industry without one. I’m very appreciative of having both an agent and a publisher. You hear horror stories of people saying that once you hand [an manuscript] over it’s not your own, but I’ve not had that experience. With the cover, my editor and I talked about ideas and she chose a designer who she thought would be a good match, and it was always made known to me that if it was not a cover that I was happy with we would not go to print. And I do love it! And also, as an author, you have to trust in the skills other people have, people who know a lot more about the business and are not so passionately tied to the creative product inside the cover. And again, at the copyediting stage I had a lot of input and involvement.” By the time the seminar rolls around in July, Belinda expects to have experienced many more aspects of the business like international marketing and selling to book fairs, making sure that this session will be full of vital information for aspiring novelists. I may even see some of you there – if I can pull my finger out of my arse in time, that is. For more information on QWC’s 2009 program call 07 38391243 or check out www.qwc.asn.au. |
