Once again I’m signing up for the Australian Women Writers Challenge! I love this challenge so much and have participated for several years. I have definitely been introduced to books I’d never have read otherwise, authors I’d not have discovered. This challenge has allowed me to read closer to home and appreciate the incredible talent we have here in Australia.
This yearn I’m making up my own challenge again, to read and review 15 books. I’d also like some of these to be from women with diverse backgrounds – queer women, Indigenous women, women who come from various cultural backgrounds. This is an area that in my overall reading I’m trying to improve on, mainly to do with being a white Australian person trying to own my biases and extend my reading outside my comfort zone.
As part of this challenge I’ll also be looking to finish the Journey Through the Twelve Planets project that I’ve been doing with Steph, there are 6 Australian women writer collections that still remain to be read.
If you’ve not come across this challenge before:
The AWW challenge was set up to help overcome gender bias in the reviewing of books by Australian women. The challenge encourages avid readers and book bloggers, male and female, living in or outside Australia, to read and review books by Australian women throughout the year. You don’t have to be a writer to sign up. You can choose to read and review, or read only. (Our guidelines for what makes a good review can be found here.)
Thanks for joining the challenge again, Ju, and great to hear you’re actively aiming to introduce more diversity into your reviewing. (I should do the same.)
It’s an area that I’ve been working on improving at in the past 2-3 years, but it bears acknowledging as an ongoing process and something that really is important. I think that being really clear about things like this and reaching out, raising the profile of other voices is even more important than ever before. I really love this challenge and I’m delighted to participate again. Hopefully also once I’ve finished studying I can join in and help out behind the scenes!
That would be great, Ju. All offers of help gratefully recieved! Good luck with finishing your studies. How long do you have to go?
I have twelve months to go, and then I have a (paid) Graduate Year program (assuming I win a place), but even just moving on from study to Grad Year will make a difference to time and energy. Also having income helps in lots of other background ways too that free up energy.
I have wanted to help out for ages, I’ve just been conscious of the fact that I’ve got major constraints on my time and energy atm. But I do promote the challenge and enjoy participating every year. 🙂
Overcommitment is a recipe for burnout (which is why I periodically have to step back from the challenge to get my own writing done). Far better to know your limitations and look after yourself. When you’re freer, though, it would be great to have you join the team – and thanks for promoting the challenge!
You’re very welcome – and can definitely appreciate the need to step back and concentrate on your own writing too! I am hoping to get to your book I won last year finally as part of my reading for this year 🙂