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Meet A Local: John Bartlett, Poet/Gardener by Renée Otmar The SurfCoast/Otways region is the natural home of artists and artisans alike, from musicians, painters and sculptors to wood crafters, winemakers and world-class chefs. One of the region’s best-kept secrets is a vibrant literary community of writers and poets.
fiction pieces that were later published in my first book, A Tiny and Brilliant Light. And one thing led to another as I gained confidence. I also completed an undergraduate degree and a Master of Arts at Deakin University, then tutored writing students there for a number of years.
I spoke with John Bartlett about finding solitude and inspiration in our spectacular natural environment.
What about your poetry?
Tell us a little about yourself – what do you do? Do you have a job title? I’ve had many job titles throughout my life, from Catholic priest and kitchen hand to writing tutor and film extra, but now, being semi-retired, the label I’m comfortable with is: ‘Poet/Gardener’. I’d be happy with that on my tombstone. You are so modest! I know you as a writer, poet, radio host, interviewer and tutor. Are you still doing those things? Not so much now that I am focusing on my poetry (and the garden). Still tutoring a bit. I did do a couple of public interviews for the Geelong Word for Word National Non-Fiction Festival late last year.
I had always felt that poetry was too difficult. I couldn’t get my head around it. But about 5 years ago I did a poetry writing course with Writers Victoria in Melbourne, and that got me started. What are the best things about being a writer and poet?
I’ve always worked best being semi-independent and working autonomously. As a freelance writer that’s the perfect situation, working in a casual, undisciplined way – unless of course there are deadlines. I work in fits and starts but being creative means I never really switch off. I’m always thinking about It feels like this is what the most appropriate word or how to I am meant to do. Words move forward in a piece of writing. Some of my best writing comes from have always been my walking on the beach.
passion …
I’ve read somewhere that all the world’s greatest thinkers do poetry – by writing or reading it. Do you think of yourself in that way? I guess I’m an accidental thinker, not setting out to have lofty thoughts but curious about life, about people’s behaviour and always fascinated by the world and people. How did you get started? In 2000, I decided the one thing I’d always wanted to do was to write, and so I enrolled in the Professional Writing & Editing Diploma at the Gordon Institute in Geelong. I started to be published while still a student – with articles in the Age, the Australian, the Canberra Times; all non-
Are there any down sides? The principal down side is never being paid according to the number of hours you work. There’s no money in this sort of work. Also, it can be a bit lonely working in isolation without having colleagues to interact with.
So, why do it? I can’t help it – the satisfaction in the process, I guess. It feels like this is what I am meant to do. Words have always been my passion … how they fit together, the connections, the funny things about language. And poetry brings it all together. The same with gardening – if I didn’t have a garden I would feel anxious. I hear you’re celebrating? Yes, I was recently awarded the Ada Cambridge Poetry Prize. That was a lovely surprise and, even better, a friend of mine, another Geelong poet, was also shortlisted. What are your current projects? My eighth book, Awake at 3am, a full collection of my poetry, will soon be published by Ginninderra Press. In the background I’m writing new poetry, too. I’ve
