Dr Darryl Whetter, Programme Leader, MA Creative Writing at LASALLE, reflects on the growth of literary festivals in the region and what they mean to an increasingly discerning and inquisitive readership. Contrary to the long-held idea of reading being a solitary activity, rising attendance in literary festivals indicates that readers are keen to seek a form of community. This year, Ubud, Singapore, and George Town all achieved record attendance.
Darryl shares that his personal Singapore Writers Highlight festival this year was moderating a tri-school panel reading of students from LASALLE, NTU and Yale-NUS, including LASALLE students debut novelist Seema Punwani and Chen Cuifen, who was at the time just two weeks shy of winning the UK's Troubadour International Poetry Prize.
Image credit: Photo courtesy of Singapore Writers Festival
