Focus in 2020
Oh where to start! I’m at my desk today trying to make sense of the notes I wrote and process all I experienced and learnt.
Peter and I went to Sydney for a few days and as is becoming writer’s festival tradition, we stayed in a lovely hotel. It wasn’t far from the stunning Town Hall where we went for Saturday night’s event. The speakers were interesting and left us with a lot to think about, Benjamin Law was the MC and Megan Washington sang for us!
On Sunday I found my way in the wind and rain to Carriageworks for the festival Family Day. Firstly, a huge thank you to all the volunteers who helped me find my way around. I am so grateful to the shuttle bus driver!
I went along to four events, purchased books and lined up with hundreds of kids to meet some of my favourite authors and get my books signed!
So who did I see and what did I learn?
First up was Megan McDonald, the author of the Judy Moody and Stink books. I had no idea what to expect but her presentation was so personable and fun as she told us the story of her family and how they inspire her books. She told us how everyday events, memories, or something she sees or hears will spark an idea for a book.
Then it was time to settle in and see Sally Rippin, the author of Hey Jack and Billie B Brown and her new series Polly and Buster. I am a huge fan and she took us through the process of writing her books from finding the initial idea through to showing writer friends and then children drafts to read.
Sally, like Megan, talked about ideas coming from your imagination and experience. Take an experience and turn it around to become a story.
The presentations these two authors gave were the kind I want to do. They were so engaged with their audience and I felt like I was in a masterclass.
The Storytellers Battle and The Quack Up were so much fun and featured more of my favourite authors. All the kids and the adults too had a great time.
I got over my fangirling nerves and introduced myself to authors I love and told Sally, that her Hey Jack books gave me courage to write the characters I want to write.
In this year of attending writer’s festivals, I can’t wait for the next one.
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