In October 2023, six LASALLE MA Creative Writing students travelled with Programme Leader Dr Rosslyn Prosser to the world-renowned Ubud Writers & Readers Festival in Bali, Indonesia. Over a packed but fulfilling weekend, they attended talks and readings, met with fellow writers from around the region, and had the opportunity to hear from literary luminaries such as Booker Prize winners Bernadine Evaristo and Shehan Karunatilaka.
In this article, The Straits Times takes a look at how the Ubud festival compares with Singapore's own Singapore Writers Festival (SWF), which takes place annually in November. LASALLE MA Creative Writing students Vanessa Chng and Francis Lau share their views on where SWF could learn from Ubud, as well as where it succeeds.
