In Conversation with John Marsden @ Abbotsford Convent

What a breath of fresh air to hear John Marsden speak at a small gathering in the cosy surrounds of Bishop’s Parlour at historic Abbotsford Convent last night. During this unique event hosted by the Australian Society of Authors, John shared stories, both sad and humorous, from his own childhood and early career that helped form the writer he has become. His refreshing casualness added to the sense of familial conversation. Inspiring to hear this celebrated author and teacher speak as an educator about a vision that recognizes the importance of the rules of English grammar and expression as guiding principles, but refuses to be harnessed by them. A vision that removes some of the academic shackles our education system sometimes imposes on kids that limits imagination and creativity, rather than liberating it so that they can truly realise their potential, unfettered by arbitrary rules - rules about how we must use language, and how we must not use it, what is a word and what is not a word, how we must structure our writing and how we must not structure it – rules that stifle expression and incentive instead of giving it wings!