On writers

Thought I'd post a zippy summary of the SWF, seeing as I previously deemed myself too busy to do so after my break up with Stuart.

Cruisiest shift: Opening Night
Shepherding people from the opening address at the Sydney Theatre to Simmer on the Bay on Pier 4/5 Walsh Bay (about 100m away). Most people knew where they were going. We also got to mingle, free drink in hand, afterwards.

Busiest shift: Green Room, Thursday
First official day of sessions. Writers coming in to collect their per diems and speaker fee cheques - someone forgot to print and bring my master list so I was basically giving money to every and any guest who asked for it.

Easiest shift: Kids Night Out, Riverside Parramatta
Leading a class-sized group of children and parents around to various authors and illustrators. And giving away free stuff.

Hardest shift: Usher, Saturday
Muscling it with the plebs on the busiest day of the festival in the biggest unticketed venue. Some people got nasty in response to policies regarding room capacity and lining up. Eviction ensued. The "grey panthers" were the worst bunch.

Acquaintances spotted: Gail MacCallum, Tessa Needham, Yae Morton

Writers who recognised me: Ashley Hay, Catherine Jinks, Jaclyn Moriarty

Best session attended: Neil Gaiman (Macquarie Uni)

Session I most wanted to see but didn't: Writing for Young People #1

Funniest writer to visit the Green Room: Andy Borowitz

Most genial writer to visit the Green Room: Kevin Chong. Runners-up: Canadians Jan Zwicky, Aislinn and Glenn Hunter, Joseph Boyden, Sherman Alexie and family

Most attractive writer to visit the Green Room: Markus Zusak. Runner-up: Uzo Iweala

Writer I most wanted to meet but didn't: Garth Nix

Biggest gaffe: mistaking Camilla Gibb for Carmen Callil via the letter C

And an anecdote, 'When writers meet other writers'...
There was about 15 minutes until the 'First Nations Reading' session featuring Sherman Alexie, Joseph Boyden, Tara June Winch, Larissa Behrendt and Alootook Ipellie. Sherman and Joseph were in the Green Room, while the others had opted to head to the venue (Bangarra Theatre - the furthest away from the Green Room) separately.

Sherman and Joe were talking about their brief meeting the previous day, when they passed each other walking on the Harbour Bridge. Joe had mistakenly said "Hi Alexis" and Sherman's son had later asked, "daddy, why did that man call you Alexis?".

They were laughing about it when Uzo Iweala walks in to collect his cheque. Sherman spots him and introduces himself saying "I loved your book, your writing is - I'm scared." A bit of back patting ensues and Sherman asks his wife to take a photo of him and Uzo. Joe then follows with "what am I? Chicken meat?" so they have a photo taken together too (with a sign in between them reading 'toilet upstairs').

Meanwhile, I'm getting calls over the radio from the Bangarra Theatre asking where the writers are so I have to interrupt the love-in and chase them out of the room. And that's what happens when writers meet other writers.

New job starts tomorrow and then writers' group on Wednesday, followed by SWF vollie drinks on Thursday. Will probably see Stuart on Friday to reclaim some things I forgot I lent him and talk about stuff he wants to talk about. Then more house hunting.