October 2022 Essays The ideal reader Lesbia Harford's grave in Kew Cemetery, Melbourne. Photo by Eric Timewell A reflection on poetry, on inspiration and on an imagined audience Nearly 30 years have passed since I took my last class as a teacher of fiction-writing at tertiary level. I was employed as such a teacher for 16 years, and during that time I presided over more than 2000 classes. (I'm trying to avoid reporting that I actually taught fiction-writing. I certainly helped many people to write better fiction, but I doubt whether I taught anyone who had never attempted fiction how to write the stuff that we call by that name.

https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2022/october/gerald-murnane/ideal-reader

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