Secrets from the Green Room
In each episode of the Secrets from the Green Room podcast hosts Irma Gold and Karen Viggers chat with a writer about their experience of the writing and publishing process in honest green room-style, uncovering some of the plain and simple truths, as well as some of the secrets – whether they be mundane or salubrious – and having a lot of fun in the process.
Secrets from the Green Room
Season 5: Episode 46: Beejay Silcox
Irma and Karen reveal exciting new partnerships with Ubud Writers and Readers Festival and Writers Victoria.
Then Karen chats with Beejay Silcox about literary criticism in Australia – what good critics endeavour to do, the blowback from a tough review, what is lacking in Australian criticism, the impact of shrinking page space, the inability to make a sustainable career out of criticism, and her deep regret over one particular review. And then on judging the Stella Prize – how the process works, the role of chair and how the panel is selected, how a shortlist and then a winner is decided, and the alchemy of a strong process.
About Beejay
Beejay Silcox is an Australian writer and literary critic. She is the Artistic Director of Canberra Writers Festival, and was chair of the 2024 Stella Prize judging panel. Her literary criticism regularly appears in national and international arts publications, and her award-winning short fiction has been published in several literary magazines. She also teaches creative writing.