AustLit

‘In 1964 Australian expatriate writer Alan Moorehead gave the opening address at Adelaide Writers' Week and disconcerted everybody by announcing that he didn't believe in writers' conferences. Writing was a lonely job, he said, and he advised his colleagues to avoid publishers' parties, television appearances and meeting other authors. Fortunately for Writers' Week and all the similar festivals that have sprung up in its wake, his advice has been consistently ignored. During its 45-year history, virtually every Australian writer of consequence has appeared at Adelaide Writers' Week and, particularly in the last thirty years, they have been joined by significant international names. It is also a week when the national literary media gather in Adelaide.The combined benefits for everyone are obvious. In fact, the high profile that Australian writers now enjoy is attributable in no small part to the network of literary festivals around the country.’ (Introduction 156)