A stroll down Podstreet

Usually we think of literature as something to be read?on a page or a screen. Yet the best?literary compositions are intended?for the ear as well as for the eye. In its ancient?beginnings the creative shaping of language?was often recited by a bard, and oral/aural ways of communicating remain fundamental for certain genres, especially poetry. Audiobooks have become a hugely popular vehicle for activating the sound of printed words.

There's a sense in which writing should speak for itself — but we also like to talk about writing, and?hear others do so. Book clubs and reading groups of various sorts are latter-day?equivalents of the traditional literary salon, thriving on discussion of written works. And people throng to literary festivals so that they can hear writers speak — despite the fact that many fine?writers disappoint?us when they open their mouths.

So although reading and writing are essentially solo activities, readers and writers can’t stop gabbing?with other people about their literary experiences. I call this the book-chat paradox.

One of the most common forms of book-chat is an interview with a writer, whether in front of?a live audience or recorded for later transmission. In the hands of a skilled interviewer this kind of semi-formal conversation can be illuminating. WritingWA has been producing "Podstreet," a series of podcasts that feature Western Australian writers and book industry leaders. To most of these podcasts the WritingWA CEO?Will Yeoman brings his extensive experience as an interviewer. I'm glad to have been included. Here's the link to our recent conversation about my latest book,?Breaking the Surface: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2193813/13924185