Can you tell us what Spineless Wonders have cooked up for their audience?
The Spineless Wonders team have been working behind the scenes to produce Writers on Writers, three parts online mini festival running across October. The events bring two Australian authors together in conversation to explore new works that push the boundaries of form and theme. The series kicks off with Rose Michael and Bonny Cassidy discussing Else, continues with Kathleen Miriam Bleakly and Peter Frankis on Toupie, and concludes with Olivia De Zilva and Patrick Lenton unpacking Eggshell.
What can the audience expect from attending?
Audiences can expect thought-provoking conversations from authors, deep dives into their creative/writing process as we celebrate Australian literature together. Audiences will be privileged with behind the scenes insights into the authors’ craft, influences, and their new publication, followed by an audience Q&A. The festival offers attendees a chance to connect with a community of writers and readers who are passionate about literature. And to keep it light and fun, there will be games, giveaways and prizes during each event.
When and where is this happening?
This is happening online through Spineless Wonders:
Else – Thursday, 16th October at 7:30pm
Toupie – Thursday, 23rd October at 7:30pm
Eggshell – Thursday, 30th October at 7:30pm
All events are after hours AND free, so there’s no excuse to miss out! 😛
Can you go into more detail about the Bonanza pack?
I sure can. Here’s how it works: during the first two sessions, a secret code will pop up somewhere on the screen (so keep your eyes peeled!). If you catch both codes and bring them along to the final event, then when the host gives the signal, you’ll be in the running for our Bonanza prize pack. What’s inside, I hear you ask? All three featured books from the festival plus some extra surprises from the authors themselves. Think of it as a small thank you from the Spineless Wonders team for committing to the full experience.
What was the process behind the events – more specifically, what work is needed to make sure festivals like these run successfully?
More communication than people realise. And organisation. Both are the cornerstones for running a successful festival. Ideas are shooting everywhere, everyone’s schedules are completely different, and I have to find a happy medium in between all of that. We need to make sure authors are aware of what is happening in their run sheets and are satisfied with the contents of it. Some authors give us plenty of details while others’ leave it up to spontaneity (two fun, different types of energy), so we need to make sure we set the right atmosphere for each event while adhering to the event’s run time. Then there’s the collaborative aspect, and ensuring ideas are run by Big Boss Bron for approval, as well as liaising with the other interns and stakeholders to ensure event related assets, whether visual or the written word, align with the events’ vision.
Organisation, the other pillar. It sounds simple, but it is so easy to fall behind. Keeping notes, drafts, and approvals categorised and up to date is vital. Disorganised notes can pile up quickly, and across a 12-week internship, overseeing two main events and liaising most of the team, the chaos and overwhelm can quickly pile up. I learned by week 4 that keeping track of every idea, update, and approval makes the whole process much smoother.
What has been the most interesting task so far?
Initially, I put my hand up to do a pre-recorded extract for Eggshell, one of the featured books. I have a four-octave vocal range and a background in singing, but unfortunately my tone didn’t match the gritty, grungy mood of the project. I felt too polished and… well, pompous, so I stepped aside.
The tasks I have found most engaging are the written promotional assets for Eventbrite, as well as brainstorming run sheet ideas with fellow interns, Harley (Else) and Luka (Toupie). I find the brainstorming of ideas electrifying. Coming up with things spontaneously then refining them is such a pleasure for me.
What is the most difficult aspect/part of your role?
The tasks themselves are manageable, but I would say, balancing my endurance has been a challenge for me. I’m studying full time, completing this internship, and participating in a neuroscience research program, so managing my workload and learning to pace myself is essential. I ended up taking about two weeks off from this project to recover from burn out, which Bron was very understanding of (bless her).
What have you learned about the publishing and events industry through this internship?
The meticulous process and the unseen labour from the hard working interns that makes the events seamless. We’ve got a strong, self-driven team that requires minimal direction and I am grateful to be trusted and valued.
Get your FREE tickets to each of these fantastic events here!
Cicco is studying a double degree – Neuroscience and Creative Writing at Swinburne University, and is the festival coordinator intern, working closely on Else and Toupie. Recently, Cicco has gravitated toward social realist fiction that tackles difficult contemporary themes, using forms at the level of the sentence and narratorial scaffolding to accentuate a protagonist’s internal experience. Their recent work includes short stories on drink spiking, abuse within institutional settings, and the complexities of identity and extremism. If you’d like to read their work, get in touch via Instagram @thebogfather_