Michael Pryor on the AWW challenge

Michael Pryor on the AWW challenge

Michael Pryor is a best-selling author of fantasy for teenagers. He has published over thirty novels and more than 50 short stories. He has been shortlisted for the Aurealis Award six times, and five of his books have been CBCA Notable books. His website is here.  Michael responds to issues around the AWW challenge.

 Hello Nalini

Thanks for asking me to be involved with this. I’m ambivalent about the whole issue and I’d probably say that my views aren’t entirely formed.

I’m not participating in the AWWC for the simple reason that I don’t like to limit my reading choices. My reading is too precious to me to circumscribe it in any way.

How do I think the AWWC has impacted on the reading and writing communities in Australia? It’s hard to say, but it means that – potentially – my books are being read less. Naturally, I don’t think that’s a good thing!

I also worry that the debate that has spawned the AWWC tends to focus on lit fic, and ignores the different landscape in other areas of writing/reading. In YA fiction, where I write, the situation is most likely quite different.

Best wishes
Michael
13 March 2012