Write stuff
A festival of words
Someone asked Rachel Dore´ recently why she was making the Manawatu¯ Writers’ Festival free. So everyone could come, she said. It’s that simple. Dore´ wants everyone to find a session they are interested in. She wants the four-day festival to hum.
‘‘Readers, writers, people who want to write, people who love books – there is something for everyone. It’s not an elite event, economically or intellectually. I want to reach people, all people.’’
In its second year, the festival is jam-packed with events in Feilding and Palmerston North. Dore´ has been in whirlwind mode for quite some time, making sure the programme is varied and full and she is excited about what’s in store.
The list of events alone makes for interesting reading – from a Writing for Change talk from journalist, author, academic and researcher Max Rashbrooke to children’s writing, crime, poetry, genealogy, a how-to on writing erotica elegantly and a session about how fake news has always been a thing.
Authors, editors, novelists, poets, academics, a publicist, a genealogist, a journalist and a playwright – they will all be descending on Manawatu¯ armed with words, wit and wisdom. But Dore´ says the festival isn’t just about listening to those who put one word in front of the other – ‘‘it’s about doing too’’.
‘‘There are lots of tool-box sessions, about 50 per cent. For writers, it can be so helpful to hear the variety of approaches that people use and it is also very freeing to know that funny little mistakes and regrets that we have with our own work are irrelevant because it happens to everyone. It’s encouraging.’’
Dore´ herself is a writer and an artist and she says it can be a lonely thing being a writer. But for four days she has made it her mission to entice people out from behind their books, or from behind their desks and computer screens, to interact and be inspired.
‘‘I want people to feel connected and to encourage and develop a community of writers who can offer support to each other afterwards.’’
Dore´ was so busy racing around last year making sure things were ticking that she didn’t sit in on enough sessions, but this time she says there are some ‘‘not-to-bemissed events’’.
‘‘The one I’m looking forward to the most is New Zealand crime fiction. This is really out of the box. It will be quite something.’’
There will be a panel made up of crime fiction writers – Nikki Crutchley and Paul Thomas, author Joanne Drayton, novelist Tina Shaw and criminal law specialist Chris Gallavin. They will discuss the popularity of New Zealand crime fiction, from Dame Ngaio Marsh through to contemporary crime fiction.
‘‘But it won’t be just the audience asking questions. The panelists will also turn the tables and ask the audience questions.’’
Dore´ says people are encouraged to have a little fun and to dress up in 1930s costumes in honour of Dame Ngaio Marsh. ‘‘There will be a few surprises and it’s going to be a great night – it’s the one I can’t wait for.’’
Barbara Else’s name in the programme in front of her is another that Dore taps her finger on furiously in happiness. Else’s latest book is the bestseller list topper Go Girl – A Storybook of Epic NZ Women and Dore says the chance to hear her talk about her process is an exciting one.
And for those aspiring scriptwriters out there, a session at the Little Theatre in Feilding could be just the ticket. A group of actors will be on hand to read it out to see if it flows ‘‘in the flesh’’.
‘‘It gives the writer a chance to hear how the dialogue rings, how it comes out of the mouths of the actors. It can be very different on the page and you need to know if it sounds authentic. So that’s going to be great.’’
There is plenty of poetry – a Delivering the Poem workshop with Sebastian Hales, a discussion on what makes a poem good with Jack Ross, a morning tea session with love and war poems and a night of poetry, banter, Celtic music and beer at Murray’s Irish Public House.
‘‘It’s all there for people to get involved, freely available and accessible to all.’’
The festival will be officially opened at the Feilding Library on Saturday, September 8, at 9am, and will continue in various Feilding locations on the Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday the 11th, sessions will be held at Palmerston North City Library.
The Manawatu¯ Writers’ Festival is run by a small group of volunteers and its main funders have been The Earls’ Trust, the Palmerston North City Council and the Manawatu¯ District Council.
The festival programme is extensive and Dore´ hopes people will sit down and circle what interests them before dipping in and out. And then? She hopes they talk, think, write, read and get inspired.
Her tapping fingers sit still on the programme at last. ‘‘It’s going to be so much fun, isn’t it?’’