During the weekend festivities I met some inspiring people and had my mind blown wide open by others. I listened avidly as Caitlin Doughty spoke of death acceptance and funerary customs across the globe. Admittedly this is a topic that interests me deeply and I was already a huge fan, so I may be a little biased. If you haven't read 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes' then you should...like NOW.
Another stand out was by far the best crime writer of our generation in my opinion, Michael Connelly. Due to timing conflicts, I was only able to get to one of his events however he left a lasting impression. He told the story of how he got into crime writing, through journalism and of a homicide detective he shadowed for a week during his time as a journalist. It was through this story that I had a big light bulb moment in regards to character nuances. I feel as if I've found what is missing in Buried Alive, those little details that show how the character really feels in a situation without telling.
One thing I love about Sydney Writers' Festival is that it's a melting pot of writers. Not just of fiction but any medium in which one writes, From a chef telling the story of food, to a violinist baring his soul through the notes of a tune. There was no type of writing that wasn't represented at the festival.
To top the weekend off, the festival coincided with Vivid Sydney. A large scale light production which lit up from Darling Harbour to Circular Quay with plenty of installations in between. No matter what corner my feet travelled around, there was something new and exciting to see. It was the perfect way to close off each evening at the festival. I'm not sure if the dual events were planned that way, or if it was a co-incidence but I say the festival creators claim it as it was genius.
Mad <3
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