WestWords/Varuna Fellowship 2020 follow up

Varuna the National Writers’ House, formerly Eleanor Dark’s residence

Last week I participated in a writing residency at the Varuna, the National Writers’ House, thanks to a fellowship with WestWords and Varuna. Over six delightful days I talked, walked, ate, and bonded with Nicole Cadelina, a scriptwriter, Samara Lo, a middle-grade fantasy writer, and Libby Hyett, a young adult writer, as well as our mentor, young adult novelist Wai Chim.

It really was a wonderful time, with each of us learning many things from each other, including industry tid-bits, the differences between the American and Australian literary scenes, the similarities and differences between the diasporic Asian experiences, how to eat the famed Sheila’s delicious salmon frittatas while keeping room for dessert, how not to chop wood with an axe, and most importantly, how to build a fire from scratch.

I personally also spent some time walking and gaining inspiration for NAT/JESSIE/JIMMY, the project for which I was awarded the fellowship, but also for THE RED DUST, which is a project I’m working on for Marian Street Theatre for Young People, both of which are partially set in the Blue Mountains. The clear mountain air and cool temperatures meant that the gardens were still filled with the bright mouths of azaleas, whose colours I captured in the scribblings of a poem.

Many thanks again to James Roy and Chris Donahue at WestWords for the support throughout the week, as well as the Eleanor Dark foundation, Veechi, Amy, Vera, and of course, Sheila for making such a generous and hospitable space! I hope to be back again for some solitude and soup soon.