Bellingen Writers' Festival - June 11-13

Obviously a mistake has been made.  I've been invited to a writers' festival to be some kind of literary cage-fighter with an impressive group of real writers.

Having never been to one of these things, I'm honestly not sure what to expect other than heavy drinking and arguments.  I imagine it will start out reasonably civilised...

...and then descend into some kind of fierce competitive intellectualism in which the caged writers entertain the bellowing, half-naked crowds with things I'm unfamiliar with, like wit, and bon mots, and incisive insights into la condition humane.  Etc.  As each writer tries to top the others, and put them down in ever-cleverer ways, things are bound to turn nasty.

My strategy will definitely be to get drunk quickly and throw the first punches.  My rationale is that, sufficiently intoxicated, blows I fail to deflect will hurt less, and I'm sure to win audience plaudits and tossed coins by being ready to kick it all off. 

In any event, I've looked at the competition, and I'm pretty sure I can take down John Marsden, Clare Hooper and Bob Brown if I progress to the finals, but first I have sessions with Alex Landragin, Alison Croggon and Nike Sulway, then a 'conversation', presumably in some kind of bear-baiting pit, with Ramona Koval, then finishing the Saturday with an all-in mass-brawl with Koval (if she's still able to fight), Tony Birch, Mirandi Riwowe, and Rebecca Jessen.  I hope to see some of you at the bar afterwards!

Slainte!