Young Writers Committee
September saw the launch of Sydney PEN's latest initiative, the Young Writers Committee. Established to support and encourage young and aspiring writers, this group has big plans for the future. Katja Gaskell talks to the newly-appointed Chair, Jeff Errington, to find out what they are.
"The aim is to build a solid group of keen people who are interested in writers' freedoms and writing," explains Jeff. "Writing is such a solitary pursuit so it's good to have a forum rather than randomly meeting to talk shop together."
Jeff should know. Aged 25 he is accustomed to working by himself having already written a handful of short stories and a novel. Not surprisingly, he's excited about the opportunities that the committee can bring.
"There are forums for young writers in Melbourne but not Sydney," explains Jeff. "We hope to slowly build events and readings, and it would be great if we could get some publications happening although that comes down to finances."
"We'll recruit, brainstorm and then see what happens," he adds.
Jeff also hopes that the committee will collate information on relevant competitions, publishing outlets and magazines thereby establishing a support network for young writers.
"All the information is pretty disparate at the moment," he explains.
And in the long term, the committee could prove to be a powerful way to promote works by young Australians.
But first they need members.
"We've got the National Young Writers Festival coming up and we hope to get lots of people signed up then," says Jeff. "And after that we'll recruit at grass roots level and try to get it to snowball."
The Young Writers Festival, which is taking place as part of the This Is Not Art festival in Newcastle from 28 September to 2 October will feature a session presented by Sydney PEN and Jeff hopes that the audience will want to sign up to the young writers committee.
"Hopefully the committee will give writers direction," says Jeff. "And also a sense of fraternity with other writers. Orhan Pamuk in a PEN address on the freedom to write said 'when another writer in another house is not free, no writer is free'."
For more information on the Young Writers Committee email sydney@pen.org.au.
"The aim is to build a solid group of keen people who are interested in writers' freedoms and writing," explains Jeff. "Writing is such a solitary pursuit so it's good to have a forum rather than randomly meeting to talk shop together."
Jeff should know. Aged 25 he is accustomed to working by himself having already written a handful of short stories and a novel. Not surprisingly, he's excited about the opportunities that the committee can bring.
"There are forums for young writers in Melbourne but not Sydney," explains Jeff. "We hope to slowly build events and readings, and it would be great if we could get some publications happening although that comes down to finances."
"We'll recruit, brainstorm and then see what happens," he adds.
Jeff also hopes that the committee will collate information on relevant competitions, publishing outlets and magazines thereby establishing a support network for young writers.
"All the information is pretty disparate at the moment," he explains.
And in the long term, the committee could prove to be a powerful way to promote works by young Australians.
But first they need members.
"We've got the National Young Writers Festival coming up and we hope to get lots of people signed up then," says Jeff. "And after that we'll recruit at grass roots level and try to get it to snowball."
The Young Writers Festival, which is taking place as part of the This Is Not Art festival in Newcastle from 28 September to 2 October will feature a session presented by Sydney PEN and Jeff hopes that the audience will want to sign up to the young writers committee.
"Hopefully the committee will give writers direction," says Jeff. "And also a sense of fraternity with other writers. Orhan Pamuk in a PEN address on the freedom to write said 'when another writer in another house is not free, no writer is free'."
For more information on the Young Writers Committee email sydney@pen.org.au.
posted by Sydney PEN at 3:35 pm
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