I returned home around midnight on Sunday after spending four wonderful days at the Mildura Writers Festival. I should clarify that while I’ve returned physically to Perth, my mind, and heart, are still in Mildura. The festival was one of the most special weekends of my life and it will be some time before I come back down to earth.
Signing the Mildura Writers Festival autograph book
The Mildura Writers Festival is a festival like no other. People book for the whole weekend and, as there are no competing sessions, everyone attends the same discussions. You share meals together—writers, readers, committee members, everyone, sits down at the table. Conversations that began in the sessions continue over lunch and dinner and long into the night and, basically, you only part to sleep. At the festival opening, it’s as if you’re ushered into a literary sanctuary from which you don’t emerge for three-and-a-half days. Surrounded by words and food and friendship, you almost forget the rest of the world exists, and w
hen you eventually come out, you’re renewed, transformed even.
Opening address by Robyn Davidson
There were so many highlights that I can’t list them all, but here are a few of my personal favourites:
1. I shared a session with Marie Munkara, an indigenous writer from Arnhem Land. She was so warm and humorous, and a delight to share the stage with. I’ve also never seen an author crack themselves up while reading their own work aloud at a festival. (Tess Woods and I only do that in private!)
(L to R) Louise, Diane, Marie
2. I shared a session with Sian Prior. Her beautiful book, ‘Shy’, touched me four years ago when I first read it (I reviewed it here), so it was really special to meet her and discuss her book both on and off the stage.
3. I met David Malouf—need I say anymore! To hear his words of wisdom would have been enough, but to share a weekend and converse with him was something I’ll treasure forever.
I’d worship him for this statement alone:
‘The most difficult thing to do is write a second novel.’
As a writer struggling to pen her second novel, it helps to know David Malouf found it hard, too.
4. I discovered Cate Kennedy is one of the wisest authors ever, and one of the kindest, most encouraging and supportive, too.
Before I go any further, I’ll just say that publishing a book isn’t only champagne and bubbles; it has its downbeat moments, too. Like when someone gives your novel the thumbs down or doesn’t review your book at all. Or when you’re ignored for a literary event. Or when another author’s book garners a lot more attention.
Since my novel came out, I’ve had to give myself a serious talking to on a number of occasions. I’ve told myself to put my blinkers on and just worry about me, not what other people think or how other authors and their books are doing. I’ve stepped away from Goodreads and stopped checking my Amazon ranking.
I’ve reminded myself that I did the best I could with my book, and that’s all anyone can ask. I’ve remembered how proud of it I am—I think it’s pretty good for a first effort! I’ve tried to hammer home that I need to keep doing my thing, my way, because ultimately the only person I have to please is me, and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.
And I’ve kept reminding myself of why I do this: it’s for the writing and only for the writing. Because I love crafting a beautiful sentence. Because I enjoy creating something from nothing. Because I love my fictional worlds and characters. Because I’m happiest when I’m writing. That’s what it’s about, not reviews or rankings or any of the hype around publication.
You’ve no idea how often I’ve had to tell myself these phrases, over and over and over. When I embarked upon writing a second novel, apart from doubting I even had another story in me, I wondered if I was tough enough to undergo the craziness of publication again.
People say prizes don’t count, but they do. Well, this one did to me. I didn’t write my book in the hope of winning something—not even in my wildest imagination—but it’s nice to know that someone, and a New York professor of English at that, liked my book.
It also says I might have written something worthwhile and perhaps my crazy mid-life career change wasn’t so silly after all.
Most importantly, it’s encouraged me to commit to my art, to learn more, practise harder and become the best writer I can be.
After spending four days with these intelligent, accomplished writers, I realise I’m just out of the starting blocks and I’ve much to learn. But being surrounded by literary minds, I’ve resolved to do that: to work harder, to give myself completely and utterly when I’m writing, and to try to create an even better book next time and every time after that, so that all of my future books will be better than the last.
This festival and the award were exactly what I needed—to be reminded of why I write and how much I love it.
I’m already feeling ripple effects from the past four days and my zest for writing is returning. I have so many ideas bouncing around inside my head, enough to keep me writing for the next ten years at least. And I’m making a commitment to becoming the best writer I can be. To improving and giving my all to everything I create.
While I was at the festival, I was also reminded of the personal blogging I used to do, which I’ve largely stopped because it took me away from writing my novel. But I miss it, and I think it actually helps me write a novel—it’s where I process my thoughts. So, I’m going to return to blogging again. (I can’t promise anything, but I’ll try!)
Before I go, I’ll mention one more thing about the Mildura Writers Festival—the food! It was amazing! All meals (except for a special dinner by Tony Tan) were prepared by Stefano de Pieri and his wonderful team of chefs. It’s worth attending the Mildura Writers Festival for the food alone, but a word of caution: fast beforehand or, like me, your girth will be a little wider when you return.
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Congratulations on achieving the award, Louise. You certainly deserve the accolade (obviously!)
The festival sounds amazing and inspiring.
I’m looking forward to your next novel.😊
Thank, Susan! I’m really looking forward to writing my next novel now!
Well done, Louise. You are going from strength to strength. I have missed your blogs.
Thanks, Maureen! I’ve missed writing them! 🙂
It all sounds so wonderful, Louise. Congratulations again on your award and what a treat to meet all those writers. I’m glad you’re back to blogging.
Thank you, Lis! It was an amazing and transformative experience. I suspect you’d find it the same—every writer should experience it at least once in their lifetime!
Congratulations, Louise, that’s a wonderful achievement and well-deserved.
I’ve wanted to go to the Mildura Festival for years, and the program was so good this year I nearly made it, I do wish I’d been there to meet you!
You would have loved it, Lisa! It’s going in my diary as an annual event, so maybe we’ll meet another year?! 🙂
Well, (hopefully) next year The Spouse won’t have study commitments and he can share the driving. I’d come by train from Melbourne, but the train only goes as far as Swan Hill and then there is the discomfort of a bus for the rest of it which doesn’t appeal at all.
Oh, I hope we get to meet each other at Mildura 2019! On the travel front—I completely understand about having a co-pilot. I hope your husband’s study commitments are such that you can come. 🙂
He’ll have his BA (his second degree) as long as he doesn’t decide to do Honours…
Tell him that he’ll learn more in four days at Mildura Writers Festival than by doing Honours. 😉
Don’t worry, the campaign is well under way…
Good plan!
Congratulations, Louise. I feel so proud of you. And glad to hear you had such a great time at the Mildura Festival. x
It was the sustenance I needed! 🙂
How exciting,lovely fabulous….Congratulations, well deserved. So happy for you that you have been encouraged and inspired by these events.By being yourself you will continue to write books that others love and “get”. Maureen xx
Thank you, Maureen! Yes, it’s about being myself and writing what I want to write. 🙂
You have always been a winner to me! Huge congrats lovely lady – very proud. So glad you had an amazing weekend and enjoyed Mildura. It’s a special place.
Thanks, Lily! It is a special place—loved every minute of it! 🙂
I’m so glad you had a lovely time!
It was fantastic!
Congratulations Louise. You are going from strength to strength and deserve your success. So proud of you xxxxx
Thank you! 😌
Oh Louise, that looks like the most amazing festival! I love your photos, and thanks for sharing all those details about the festival – we’ll all just have to live vicariously through your wonderful, hard-earned, and much deserved success.
Congratulations on your award, and I’m looking forward to your upcoming blog posts – and novel two!!! 😊
Thank you, Marie! If you ever want to be inspired to write, this is the festival to go to! 🙂
Louise, congratulations on receiving the award! I am extremelly happy for you! I just wanted to share with you that no matter the fact that sometimes we all feel scared or not confident enough in ourselves, our abilities and our writing, to me, an amateur that has gotten nowhere (yet) you are a role model. To me, you are an amazing woman, who has gotten to the other side, the side of a writing career, talking at the writing festivals and writing for a living. It might not be much, but it is always important to remember that even if to us we sometimes seem as not good enough, to other we might be life-altering 🙂
The Mildura Writers Festival sounds amazing, like a perfect place for a writer to be. And I am very excited to see more of personal bogging from you! I cherish all the authors and writers blogging about writing, but I always crave for more personal blogging, to peak behind a name on the cover and into the reality of a writer’s life.
Thank you so much for your lovely words, Daria! I hear what you’re saying about personal writing—it can really speak to people.
I hope you achieve your writing dream one day! Best wishes. xx
I have shivers. I love seeing how fired up you are and can’t wait to follow you on the next part of your journey.
Thank you, dear friend! I can’t wait to go on the next part of the journey—with you alongside, I hope! 🙂
Awesome blog Louise – it catches us all up with what you’ve been up to and it sounds like you had the most awesome time over in Mildura. What a unique festival experience – I imagine it would be so intimate and so conducive to real discussion and connection. Congrats on your prize, you award-winning author, you! And David Malouf’s words are just what you needed to hear, I’m sure. Speak soon! 🙂
Thanks for reading, Holden! Now I’ve got to turn my attention to novel #2 again—see you in Camp Nano! 🙂
Hoorah! Back to the grind. See you in the cabin! 😀
*thumbs up*
Congrats on your award, Louise 😊. It sounds like it was a fantastic weekend.
Thank you! 🙂 It was an incredibly inspiring weekend, and I can’t wait to return!
Hi Louise! I read your post this morning and didn’t have time to comment before work, but I got tears in my eyes reading it, just hearing how happy and fulfilled you sound. I’m so glad the festival was such a wonderful experience, and congratulations on your award. I’m just thrilled for you! xx
Thank you, Fi! It was a wonderful experience—something I’ll remember forever! 🙂
Louise, that festival sounds amazing! So glad you had a great time and David Malouf’s words, I can imagine the positive impact they would have had when you first heard them 🙂 So happy for you, it sounds like this was exactly what you needed. Congrats on winning the award and can’t wait to read more of your awesome blog posts 🙂
It was exactly what I needed at this stage of writing book #2 and of my writing career. Thank you so much for reading, Sam! 🙂
This post made me smile and smile. I must get myself to this festival. And congrats on the award.
From what I’ve I know about you, Irma, I suspect you’d love this festival! The whole weekend was like a giant bath in soul-soothing and mind-enriching waters. 🙂
Congratulations on the award, Louise. So well deserved! And thank you for passing on David Malouf’s word about a second novel. Just between you and me, I’m glad that struggle (with the doubts, self expectations and comparisons) is over. When the lovely Sarah Dunant wrote the endorsement for my novel, I wrote and thanked her, mentioning how bloody hard it had all been; she wrote back, saying, Well, at least you’ll never again have to write a second novel. I’m so glad to hear the festival has given you the wind in your sails that you needed. Here’s to fine weather and good seas. xx
I’m so jealous that your struggle with the second novel is done and dusted! Although, I am finding that it’s getting easier.
David M said so many gems of wisdom that I could write a whole blog post on them alone. (I just might, actually!)
I think you’d love a festival like this—it truly is one of a kind. Good luck with writing Novel #3—and know I’m a tiny bit jealous. 🙂