Index
09 December 2009
Visible Ink makes a splash
A selection of books produced by PWE writers and editors.
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RMIT University’s Professional Writing and Editing (PWE) program has marked its 21st anniversary by hosting a large party at the Victorian Trades Hall and publishing a commemorative anthology, Visible Ink.
This industry-connected vocational course began in 1988 and has contributed enormously to Australian publishing, producing a host of celebrated writers, editors, publishers, designers, illustrators, festival directors and more.
More than 300 people attended the Trades Hall event, including alumni Toni Jordan, Chris Womersley, Carrie Tiffany, Ann James and Sofie Laguna.
Ms Laguna, who was shortlisted for the 2009 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards for her novel One Foot Wrong, officially launched the anthology.
Local publishers were also well represented, including Penguin Publishing Director Bob Sessions, Penguin publishers Ben Ball and Jane Goodwin, Associate Publisher at Text Penny Hueston, Hardie Grant senior editor Emma Schwarcz and Jodie Webster from Allen & Unwin.
PWE graduates Louise Swinn and Zoe Dattner of Sleepers Publishing hosted the evening. Sleepers’ first published novel, Things We Didn’t See Coming, by Steven Amsterdam won the 2009 Age Book of the Year award.
Ms Dattner referred to the debate about whether creative writing can or cannot be taught. “One can certainly inspire someone to write, and this is the key to the Professional Writing and Editing course at RMIT.
“The culture of the place, the energy and enthusiasm of a bunch of people sharing a passion for writing, that is what is so unique to the course, and it is invaluable.”
For a gold-coin donation, partygoers received a commemorative volume, XXI Visible Inks, a selection from the 21 annual anthologies produced by RMIT students.
This special 120-page edition showcases contributors such as MJ Hyland, Judy Horacek, Carole Wilkinson, Myfanwy Jones, Simmone Howell, Jeff Sparrow, Caroline Lee and Sian Prior. The 2009 Visible Ink, Lost and Found, is represented by emerging author Allyson Hose.
Steve Grimwade, Director of the Melbourne Writers Festival, said in his foreword that the PWE program opened his eyes to writing and editing opportunities he was unaware of.
“It helped harness my desire by giving me both skills and networks; it gave me the connections to support my various endeavours and the ability to sustain these links beyond the life of the course.”
XXI Visible Inks was selected and edited by a group of PWE students and typeset and published by Prolog RMIT Union Arts Writing Chapter, a publishing collective formed by PWE students in 2008.
Antoni Jach, who taught in the program for more than 10 years, spoke about its early days, while current PWE Program Manager Clare Renner spoke about its future.
