Better off Read

Ep 92: Elements 6 – Place. Ann Shelton talks to Pip Adam about her work The Witch, Pennyroyal (Mentha sp.), 2020

In the sixth episode in the Place season of Elements, I talk to Ann Shelton about place and what it is to write it. 

Some of the things we talk about are:

You can see and read about Ann’s work at her website https://annshelton.com/

Including ‘The Witch’ https://annshelton.com/works/a-lovers-herbal

A Lovers’ Herbal can be viewed on the Denny Dimin Gallery website here  —  https://dennydimingallery.com/news/virtual_exhibition/ann-shelton-2/

One important thing to note, because of the nature of Ann’s work is that the plants discussed in these texts, and their uses, can be dangerous, even lethal. These texts are presented here as background research for a body of artworks and should not be interpreted as medical advice. Do not mess with these plants.

Toward the end of the podcast we talk about New York being in lockdown for a year, we just want to acknowledge that New York was in varying degrees of lockdown over this time.

 

Exercise:

Ann talks about starting with a plant and composing around it. I wonder if this could be an interesting way to start a piece of writing. You could find out about the uses of a plant you see every day. Or you could start with a physical condition and find a plant associated with this. Then free write.

Thank you Copyright Licensing New Zealand for funding the Elements series.

Ep 91: Elements 5 - Place. Kerry Donovan Brown talks to Pip Adam about Beatrix Potter's 'The Tale of Samuel Whiskers' or 'The Roly-Poly Pudding'.

In the fifth episode in the Place season of Elements, I talk to Kerry Donovan Brown about place and what it is to write it. 

Kerry's essay 'Queer Debris: A personal essay on queer love and loneliness in response to Sam Duckor-Jones’s People From The Pit Stand Up and Chris Tse’s he’s so MASC.'
https://pantograph-punch.com/posts/queer-debris

Ep 90: Elements 4 – Place. Charlie Pearson, Helen Lehndorf and Marolyn Krasner talk to Pip Adam about the postcodes 4410 to 4412.

In the forth episode in the Place season of Elements, I talk to Charlie Pearson, Helen Lehndorf and Marolyn Krasner about place and what it is to write it. This episode was recording the morning after there incredible show From the 4410 to the 4412.

Snails: Artist run spaces is an amazing place in Palmerston North you can visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/snailsartistrunspace/

Marolyn has an amazing website where you can find out more about her book The Radicals https://www.marolynkrasner.com/

Ep 89: Elements 3 – Place. Rose Lu talks to Pip Adam about a cleaver.

In the third episode in the Place season of Elements, Pip Adam talks to Rose Lu about place and what it is to write it. 

All Who Live on Islands by Rose Lu which is published by VUP https://vup.victoria.ac.nz/all-who-live-on-islands/

The Radio New Zealand adaptation of Rose's book All Who Live on Islands https://www.rnz.co.nz/collections/readings/all-who-live-on-islands-by-rose-lu

The Kāpiti Writers Retreat run by Writers Practice https://writerspractice.nz/

I talk about 'an artist' - that artist is the amazing Julian Oliver. The lecture I am talking about is this one from 2017 "TX/RX: Spectrum and the City" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9UIEnxlw5k&t=429s

Exercise:

What does it feel like to use an object to write about place. Look around, pick up the first you-sized object you see. Now write about place through this object. Perhaps start with the sentence, 'I am in the [object name]...'.

Thank you Copyright Licensing New Zealand for funding the Elements series.

 

Ep 88: Elements 2 – Place. Victor Rodger talks to Pip Adam about Club Paradiso.

Our first season of Elements we talk about Place and what it is to write where.

In this episode Pip Adam talks to Victor Rodger about Club Paradiso.

https://better-read.com/2021/01/20/ep-88-victor-rodger/

Ep 87: Elements 1 – Place. Michaela Keeble talks to Pip Adam about a set of juvenile pāua shell from the beach where she lives.

Our first season of Elements we talk about Place and what it is to write where.

In this episode Pip Adam talks to Michaela Keeble about a set of juvenile pāua shell from the beach where she lives.

https://better-read.com/2021/01/17/ep-87-michaela-keeble/

Announcing the Elements Series

Announcing the Elements series, four seasons throughout the year, each focused on a particular element: Place, Plot, Point and Character. 

https://better-read.com/2021/01/03/announcing-the-elements-series/

Ep 86: Dan Kois talks to Pip Adam about 'Train Dreams' by Denis Johnson

Pip Adam talks to writer, editor and podcaster Dan Kois about Denis Johnson's 2011 novella Train Dreams

 

Find out more on our website:

https://better-read.com/

 

Ep 85: Caitlin Smith talks to Pip Adam about ‘Shoulder Charge’ by Jesca Hoop and ‘Another Goodbye’ by Caitlin Smith

Pip Adam talks to Caitlin Smith about her new album You Have Reached Your Destination by Brave Caitlin Smith's Imaginary Band 

Caitlin choose two songs - Jesca Hoop's 'Shoulder Charge' and Caitlin's song 'Another Goodbye'

You can listen to both songs on the Better off Read website:

https://better-read.com/

 

Ep 84: Renter Writes - Eamonn Marra and Murdoch Stephens talk to Dr Elinor Chisholm at Unity Books Wellington

This is a recording of an event that took place at Unity Books on 14 October 2020. Thanks to Eamonn Marra for the recording.