Q&A with our 2021 Writer-in-Residence

In March, MARION (formerly ACT Writers and UNSW Canberra welcomed award-winning author, Peter Polites, to Canberra as the 2021 Writer-in-Residence. He stayed in The Loft at Gorman Arts Centre, while working on the manuscript of his third book. This was the fifth Writer in Residence program, supported by the Copyright Agency.

When and where do you usually write?
I try to write first thing when I wake up. I stand up with my laptop elevated on the counter. I like working near a window that has a view of red roofs and overlooks the car park of the apartment block that I live in.

Why did you feel ready for a residency?
I didn't feel ready, but that's why it was important to do one.

Did you have strategic aims for a current project, or just a general craving for some space and time to write?
My writing practice is informed by my values. A commitment to anti-racism, being pro-feminist, speaking against homophobia and critically engaging forms of nationalism that tie into toxic notions of masculinity. The aims of my fictional projects are to unpack how all these ideas enact upon characters and people, this was, you could say, part of my strategic aims.

What was the day-to-day like throughout your residency in Canberra?
There were two kinds of days:

One was to wake up, make my own coffee and then take the bus to the UNSW Canberra, then work in the office that the University provided me. As an architecture gay I loved going through Duntroon and looking at the gorgeous architecture! Tut tutting at the gorgeous buildings!

The second was in the studio I slept in. I created a makeshift standing desk with a bedside table and stool sitting on top of this. Then wrote all day.

What advice do you have for a writer starting out on their path?
It’s a craft. Learn how to craft a voice. Start small. Little poems and short stories. Seek a mentor. Listen to them. Don't get upset when they critique your work. Worse things will happen when you get published.

How did you enjoy your time writing in Canberra?
Canberra is the perfect city to write in because it's (on the surface) calm. It feels like the public service culture has infected the broader culture, which made me feel vulgar when I dressed up to go out. I loved all the museums and galleries. They also informed my practice.

What can you tell us about your next project?
My Mama asked me to novelise her experience. It's about coercive control, racism, sexism, disability and mental illness. It's set in multiple eras.

In your view, what's the role and worth of residencies for writers and artists?
It was such a privilege to be able to work for a whole month on my book. I can’t over overstate how lucky I felt. Thanks to all at ACT Writers, particularly Nigel Featherstone. Thanks to all at UNSW Canberra, particularly Professor Moore.

Peter Polites is a is a writer of Greek descent from Western Sydney who has written and performed pieces all over Australia. His novels include The Pillars and Down the Hume, which was shortlisted for a NSW Premier’s Literary Award.