The Writers in Residence program has been running at RMIT University since 2009, and this year sees Christos Tsiolkas contributing his knowledge and insight to university life. The initiative is supported by the Copyright Agency Limited (CAL)’s Cultural Fund, which provides for cultural projects and creators’ professional development.
Tsiolkas is the second Greek Australian to take part in RMIT’s Writers in Residence program, following award winning writer/director Ana Kokkinos, maintaining cultural links between the Hellenic community and one of Australia’s most reputable tertiary writing institutions.
RMIT is very fortunate to receive Tsiolkas at a good time in the author’s creative process while he waits for the final edit on his highly anticipated new novel Barracuda, due in October this year. His infectious enthusiasm for the craft of writing is unhindered by distractions, making him a particularly lucid and generous mentor for aspiring writers at the city campus.
Tsiolkas explains his approach: “I’ve been prefacing everything I do here with the phrase ‘use me’ and I mean that quite genuinely, I think I was really lucky to have very good mentors in my life, so I feel if there is an opportunity for those with a vocation to be a writer to be able to talk to me – to bounce ideas, get involved in arguments and discussions – I’m really happy to do that.”
During a lecture given to second year students in the Creative Writing degree, the author of Dead Europe and The Slap drew a connection between undertaking opportunities such as the Writers in Residence program and the nature of keeping writing fresh and alive.
“I spoke about the real danger of stagnation. The last thing I want to become is a grumpy old man and set in my ways, so really, the residence will also push me, to see what the culture of the academy is like in 2013.”
During Tsiokas’ time at RMIT he is directly involved with student learning, providing mentorship on the technicalities of craft, the enigma of what makes writing both an irresistible and cruel devotion, and also the many practical elements that require discipline in order to realise work beyond the isolation of the writer’s desk.
Tsiolkas attributes his writing success to his parents’ emphasis and support of his education. For Tsiolkas’ mother and father, like many immigrant parents, an education beyond primary school couldn’t be assumed.
“There’s a real consciousness of how fortunate I’ve been and how much of that fortune has come from the work and sacrifice of my parents.”
The RMIT Writers in Residence program offers Tsiolkas a space to give personal time and knowledge in an environment of specific learning, an occasion to reciprocate the encouragement he received during his upbringing and journey towards becoming one of Australia’s most respected writers.
Join RMIT University Writer in Residence, Christos Tsiolkas, as he discusses his forthcoming novel Barracuda and the challenge of “going to the difficult places” in his writing practice with journalist Sian Prior. State Library of Victoria Conference Centre, Village Roadshow Theatrette, Entry 3, 179 La Trobe Street on Thursday 11 April at 6:30 pm. Bookings essential: (03) 8664 7099. inquiries@slv.vic.gov.au