I try to avoid 'the
>scene' as much as possible these days. It only does your head in, as they
>say in the classics. I'd rather write.
>
>Cheers,
>Jill
The Perth scene is small but tight. There are a band of happy minstrels
that read at the drop of a hat (and other venues :->), and there are the
writing students of various unis, but unfortunately the unis and writing
centres and such tend to breed li'l ghettoes of their own. I don't know
whether there is too much activity between individual poets any more, or
whether we just grow out of it as we grow into relationships and work and
other time-consuming passions. Much in all as poetry is an oral art,
basically, I tend to avoid clusters of poets, and particularly
poets-with-a-message, those who will carry their obssession through what is
no more than verse and inflict it on the public.
Once upon a time ... but then my band of poetry-mates were as young and
carefree as I was. Today I am always behind in what I want to read, behind
in my studies, often behind in my marking (up to date now, thank Someone),
the result of which is that I don't frequent obscure venues to bitch about
other people's poetry, or even praise it. I run workshops and love 'em
becoz we are writing together - getting on with the job. To do the scene
only 'does your head in' as Jill quoted. A certain public face is sometimes
seen to be necessary to get published - but there are many exceptions to
this rule, and you'll find they are writers of quality (in the main).
'Don't get around much anymore ...' But I claim your indulgence for a li'l
anecdote. Outside of Perth, in the hills, there is a small writing group
loosely aligned with the Fellowship of Australian Writers. I visited them
at their request about a year ago, and judged their poetry competition. One
of their members spoke quietly about their place in the 'scheme of things'.
He said, "We are not champions - We are like Sunday players at your local
tennis club." What charming humility lies in that assessment.
I'll stop rambling now and go to bed to wake up early for the next day of
the First Test between Australian and the West Indies ... my obsession.
Andrew
----------------------------------------
Andrew Burke Copywriting
[log in to unmask] Creative Writing
http://www.bam.com.au/andrew/ Editing
----------------------------------------
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|