G21’s best writers share talent

The region’s best writing talents will share insights into their chosen craft at the inaugural Local Word – Regional Showcase event in November, staged by the Geelong Regional Library.

Writers and readers have the chance to take part in an eclectic series of workshops and panel discussions with playwrights, song writers, authors and presenters that are all local to the G21 region over two days of programming.

“People in our communities have missed the chance to collaborate with other writers, readers and creatives in-person over the last few years,” chair of the Geelong Regional Library Corporation board Cr Ron Nelson said.

“Local Word will provide the perfect opportunity for people to reconnect and explore their craft.”

For those looking to navigate the world of social media and importance of self-promotion, prolific author Fiona Lowe is running a half day workshop that will take aspiring authors through the nuts and bolts of setting up or running an account and what platforms are best suited to them.

Renowned Barwon Heads playwright Christine Croyden is hosting a workshop focusing on character development, where participants will look at different plays and work out how they achieve dramatic tension and good dialogue.

“We’ll be working on a short play each and developing a particular character,” Croyden said.

“We do quite an extensive work through of how you look at your character from different angles, their wants, their desires, things they like about themselves, things they don’t like about themselves.

“You want to build a multi-faceted character, and most interesting characters will have flaws, so we look at the flaws of the character and we work all that through.”

Representations of First Nations people and culture in publishing will be the focus of the Not About Us Without Us panel discussion chaired by author Sue Lawson and featuring First Nations Elders and published writers Aunty Fay Muir, Aunty Edith Wright and Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Corrina Eccles.

Together they’ll look at the importance of truth telling and how to handle the complex issue of own stories in literature.

Local Word is being held at the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre and participating libraries around the region on November 18 and November 19.

To learn more about the events or book tickets, head to grlc.vic.gov.au/localword