Oh noes! Starvation looms! (Also, seriously, Melbourne...)

[desperance]

Definitely, I am ill. I forgot to feed the cats! Bizarrely, they forgot to remind me (Mac was sprawling in luxury, on my office comfy chair; Baz was hiding under the desk; they were both at hand. Too weak even to beg, presumably...), but even so. *is shocked at self*

(Inter alia: I've never enquired too deeply into the taste spectrum of their gushyfudz, I just read what it says on the tin and am cynical, and judge solely on the texture [being as how I can't judge by their reaction, because they just inhale anything, uncritically] - but today's is 'lamb with mint', and you take the lid off and whoo, yeah. Smell that mint...)

However: to our muttons. I need your advices, o interwebs. The opportunity has arisen to go on a study tour of both Edinburgh (Unesco's first City of Literature) and Melbourne (which is in the running to be the second). I need to tell these good people why I want to go, how I will benefit and most importantly how my organisation (The Write Fantastic? Phantoms at the Phil?) and the wider literary sector will benefit from my participation.

I can seriously make a case for this, because I'm quite heavily involved in managing literary events these days, under one hat or another - but I want to make a good case, and my head is stuffed with cotton wool tonight. So c'mon. Why should they take a writer on a study trip for literary professionals? How will such a trip feed back into what I do, outside the actual writing? Give me jargon, give me meaning, give me words...

Comments

[autopope.livejournal.com]

I can't give you words, but if you make it to distant, mythical Edinburgh I can give you beer. OK?

[abserdman.livejournal.com]

Because if you come to Edinburgh then I can come and see you?

[durham-rambler.livejournal.com]

The reason they are going to fund this is because in some way it's going to be for the greater good: definitely not for your good, and probably not your organisation. You need to show how altruistic you are being: Your organisations are doing great things but they are falling short in some entirely understandable and non-blameworthy way that can be put right through sending Chaz on a study tour. As a result, you will be better equipped to take both the Write Fantastic and Phantoms at the Phil (aha! a twofer) and who knows, Murder Squad, on to greater and better things. The insights, experiences and contacts will better equip you to improve the service that your organisations provide to your audience who will be larger, more diverse, and more stimulated that hitherto. QED.

[cherylmmorgan.livejournal.com]

Yay, Melbourne! Gotta go!

You need people down there to talk to for info?

[kateelliott.livejournal.com]

I'm no good at such stuff, but wow, sounds cool.

I like durhamrambler's advice.

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

I have passed this enquiry on to gillpolack, of whom I spoke last night. Consider yourselves introduced!

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

Hi - I'm curious what shewhomust said about me (I'm sure it was nice, but I'm still curious ).

I know Melbourne, having been brought up there. I spend 6-8 weeks of any given year there (how long depends on when I get paid work in Canberra and on my mother's tolerance for my tendency to bring home strange ingredients and say "We can have this with dinner").

If you want someone to talk through Melbourne possibilities with and to maybe suggest names, I'm happy to help. I was going to volunteer a bunch of stuff here, but then I realised I don't know what conditions you need to fill, so maybe it's better by email. philologa(at)gmail(dot)com will reach me.