oliver yeh

The Oxford Literary Festival erased my festival virginity. And I have to say, I couldn’t get enough. I had no expectations and could only fit in two events during this short visit to England. The two talks I attended were presented by Sarah Hall, a novelist from Cumbria (where my better half was born), and Ian Rankin the well-known crime novelist and creator of the beloved character, Rebus.

Still hurting from jet-lag I had to fight the thick atmosphere of breath and nuances of perspiration in the small room that cradled Sarah’s talk. Unassuming, a delight to listen to, she immediately whisked me away into her readings. I was inspired listening to her explain her craft and it was evident her writing demanded the reader draw deep from the well of his reading abilities.

Ian’s talk couldn’t have been more different. A larger crowd, and he was the ringmaster. In many ways it was more entertainment rather than a session of deep insight. He did give some background to his start (some of it quite humorous) and he read from his latest WIP to the delight of his avid following.

If there’s one reason for an unpublished writer to attend a literary festival, it’s to understand the range of literature. The world holds all sorts of readers. And you soon realize there is no type of literature better than the other. One writer’s fans are no more engrossed than another’s.

But even more advantageous is the hearing, seeing, and talking with other writers that help you understand you are not alone — the same issues, problems, and struggles exist for those who are unpublished beginners to those who are legends and will be forever immortalized in history.

I could not have been so fortuitous in my haste in choosing these two authors given the schedule: I experienced the dichotomy between the literary and the commercial. And it cleared my mind, and gave me new strength.

Had to prevent myself from purchasing too many books. I had enough on my mind to carry on as it was.