Melbourne writers festival 2013: 10 ways to revel in a literary celebration

With the inclusion of writers such as Tavi Gevinson and Tao Lin, a keynote speech by Boris Johnson, as well as writers and editors from the London Review of Books and the Edinburgh World Writers’ Conference, this year’s Melbourne writers festival program is an interesting and eclectic mix. New for this year are curated packages on politics and women’s writing by George Megalogenis and Claudia Karvan, in addition to a number of passes and more free events than ever.

As the festival kicks off on Thursday and runs until 1 September, here’s my own curated guide of things to do and see at the annual literature celebration:

1. Late-night performance events

If the thought of a writers festival brings to mind polite daytime events, listening to authors talk about their craft, performance events are the way to go. There are several happening this year – The Moth Mainstage, Liner Notes, Queer Literary Salon, Friday Night Live and Scottish Stories are the places for unscripted insights into writers who earlier in the day are on stage being well behaved and serious.

2. Morning Reads

A literary festival wouldn’t be a literary festival without blockbuster names, and MWF is showcasing some wonderful international writers this year: Laurent Binet, Tavi, Lin, MJ Hyland, Colm Tóibín et al. But the pleasure of writers festivals is hearing new authors, and the Morning Reads events are part of a great series held every morning at the Festival Hub. Free, never too packed, and offering four guests each day, from debut to established.

3. Boris

The selection of conservative politician and London mayor Boris Johnson to deliver this year’s opening keynote address is a provocative choice. But Johnson is an accomplished writer – novelist, scholar, journalist, former editor of the Spectator – and his opening address will reportedly explore his literary influences, the craft of writing and "belief in the power of literature to transform and inspire”. In what has been a deeply uninspiring election year domestically, it will be interesting to hear from a politician who is renowned as a skilled orator.

4. New News

MWF always does politics and journalism events brilliantly and the New News series was one of my highlights last year. The conference takes place over two days – Friday 30 and Saturday 31 August – with editors, digital publishers, journalists and cartoonists all discussing the future of news.

5. London Review of Books

For anyone interested in literary criticism, the London Review of Books is the standout series of the festival. One of the most respected literary journals in the world, MWF has brought out editor Mary-Kay Wilmers, publisher Nicholas Spice, and many of the regular contributors. Particular highlights include Inside the London Review of Books, and masterclasses on the art of essay writing and fiction with Andrew O'Hagan and Tóibín.

6. Edinburgh World Writers’ Conference

MWF is hosting the final chapter of the Edinburgh World Writers’ Conference — a series of events with world renowned authors, which began in Edinburgh in 2012 and has since travelled to 15 countries. The EWWC events run on Friday, 23 July and engage in global conversations about contemporary writing with international speakers as well as Australian writers such as Tony Birch, Margo Lanagan and Larissa Behrendt.

7. Bookwallah

Bookwallah is an interesting project that began last year when Asialink sent five writers and an Indigenous travelling library across India by train. This year MWF reverses the journey by bringing writers from India's contemporary literary and publishing culture to Melbourne. The State Library will hold a collection of more than 160 Indian titles for readers to browse, and MWF hosts a series of Bookwallah events on Indian literature and culture.

8. The Lifted Brow

If you want to get a feel for what’s new and interesting in the literature of a city, read its literary journals. Throughout the festival, various journals and magazines are holding launches – from The Big Issue Fiction Edition to university publications such as Above Water. The most ambitious and exciting project happening throughout the festival is The Lifted Brow, which is attempting to create a journal from scratch in the 10 days, onsite and entirely crowdfunded. You can join them at the Toff on the final night for (what they hope is) the launch of the Brow's latest issue.

9. Regional events – Ballarat

For those who can’t make it to Melbourne, MWF is hosting a great series of regional events in Ballarat (many of which will be live-streamed on the big screen at Federation Square as well). Particularly interesting is their M.A.D.E series, with events on journalism, writing, blogging and reading.

10. Walks

This year’s program has a particularly vibrant series of walks around the city’s laneways and buildings. Lorelei Vashti and Sofija Stefanovic – who run the brilliant Paper Trail Tours – are part of the festival, offering two walks on Melbourne as Muse, as well as the Bike Snob from NY.

And, finally

I can’t write my festival picks without noting Tavi – who lit up social media in Melbourne when her name was announced early as a guest. All her events are sold out, including the brilliant under-20s-only Rookie Day. Keep an eye out on the festival website for videos of the sold-out events after the festival, and catch up with MWF's Missed out on Tavi? guide.