Writers explore the power of collaboration

COLLABORATIVE writing will be the focus of this year’s Midwinter Words, with established and aspiring authors invited to explore the creative process together.

Workshop facilitators Pearl Wilson, a former journalist, and Jenny Macaulay, a former teacher, said growing interest in collaborative writing inspired this year’s theme.

Wilson and Macaulay have first-hand experience of collaborative writing, having co-authored the crime novella Argyle with Jacqui Conor.

“It is very interesting because there’s several ways you can do it and we’re going to present all the different ways and they can choose which one they want to have a go at,” Wilson said.

 

The workshop will be held across two sessions, with participants gathering on 18 July before returning on 29 July to share their work.

Wilson said the gap between sessions would give participants time to continue developing their stories.

Joining Wilson and Macaulay as a workshop facilitator is artist and author Fern Smith, whose environmentally friendly concertina book features more than 1,000 community contributions on handmade paper.

Smith said she hoped to show participants that anyone could become an author.

“Once you produce something on a page in this book you are an author or an author and an illustrator,” she said.

Participants will also create their own ribbon-bound book during Smith’s workshop.

“I’ll be trying to say [to the workshop participants] you’re already there. You’re just learning skills and you can make your own book now,” she said.

Smith said creating a one-off handmade book reminded people that every story was unique.

“Single publications are really valuable because there’s only one in the world,” she said. “It’s unique and you are unique, and no one can tell your story, only you.”

Midwinter Words will be held at Parks Hall, Portarlington from 10am on 18 July.

Tickets are $45 and can be booked by calling Portarlington Neighbourhood House on 5259 2290.