One lifetime is not enough, for all my words – Koraly Dimitriadis

Overland master class

July 14, 2009 at 5:29 am (Creative commentary) (overland, overland master class, overland masterclass)

I was a bit thrown when I got an email from Rjurik Davidson, associate editor at Overland, congratulating me on being accepted into the Overland master class for progressive writers. I knew the short story I submitted was progressive, but I guess I didn’t have enough faith that my story would get me a place in the class. After getting over the initial shock of it, I was flattered, excited and nervous at the same time. I was nervous about meeting the other eight writers selected and worried that they would all be intellectual and political and use difficult words that I’ve never heard of. Not only that, but I was terribly nervous about being in the same space as three writers I highly respected: Tony Birch, Cate Kennedy, and Lucy Sussex.

After attending the classes, I have to say, it wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. In fact, it was one of the most inspiring and educational three days of my writing career. The other eight writers, Angela Meyer, Alec Patric, Maxine Beneba Clarke, Ilia Rosli, Daan Spijer, Warwick Sprawson, David Azul, and Simonne Michelle-Wells, provided invaluable feedback on my short story. Rjurik was excellent in the way he conducted the classes, spending time on each of our stories and dissecting structure, plot and character to make our stories the best they could be. Classes were challenging and informative as ideas were bounced around about the best ways of weaving politics into fiction.

The sessions by Tony Birch, Cate Kennedy, and Lucy Sussex were all completely different and special in their own ways. Tony explained how politics can be subtly woven into the narrative without the reader even being aware of it. Cate talked about choosing a slice of time for a short story where change occurs and being aware that the reader is always asking: why are you telling me this? Lucy taught us how political ideas can be explored in speculative fiction.

After the final class was over, although my brain had turned to mush, I was inspired and motivated to re-write my short story and make it the best it can be. I have no doubt that the relationships formed in the class will continue through my writing career and I want to thank Overland for providing me with this opportunity, and especially Rjurik for generously giving his time and knowledge to us.