Growing up in Brisbane between Argentinian and Hungarian parents, place became a formative interest for Suzanne Hermanoczki. Now as an award-winning writer, creative writing teacher and academic, Suzanne’s work orbits home/land, cultural identity, post/memory, and the immigrant experience.
Her writing has appeared in numerous Australian and international publications including Cha, Going Down Swinging, Meanjin, Overland, Puentes Review, Sobremesa, SWAMP, TEXT, Varnish Literary Journal, Westerly, and HKU and Verge Anthologies. Suzanne is currently co-director of Writing Days, a creative writing society based in Merri-Bek.
Our recent conversation with Suzanne offers a prelude into her workshop Writing Place and Belonging which will inspire new ways to write into and around place.
You have written in many different places, from Hong Kong to Hungary. How does where you are effect what you are writing?
That’s a great question. I am always aware of my positioning when I write. Most of my stories come from place. Whether it’s writing from here in Australia, acknowledging colonialism and my own dual identity, or writing about Australia while living or travelling in other places. Searching for who I am shapes much of my work, and it’s often one of the central questions I pose (and ask) in my writing.
Searching for who I am shapes much of my work, and it’s often one of the central questions I pose (and ask) in my writing – Suzanne Hermanoczki
In your short stories and essays, the reader can feel a visceral sense of place. How do you approach the relationship between people and place?
With openness. With curiosity. With sensitivity. By trying to navigate the places and people (and their history). Noting what you see, feel, hear, but also what you don’t see or know. By listening, being open to stories and encounters with people you didn’t expect, and paying attention to how stories arrive.
Writing about a particular place can often feel like a search. What are you searching for when you write about a place?
True. It is [often like a search]! Often, there are questions I’m asking or seeking. It’s amazing how having time to observe, reflect and meditate while being in other places will allow you to see how a place informs the writing.
Your workshop will explore the practice of immersive observations. What are you most interested in observing lately?
With the recent passing away of Annie Dillard, I’ve been thinking a lot more about this relationship between immersive observation of nature and the writer. How to be still. How to be present. How to notice and truly see. The idea and practice of self-reflectiveness and awareness while writing.
You run creative writing society Writing Days with Lou Smith, which recently led the Coburg Projection Stories. Can you share with us what this experience was like?
Oh, it was AMAZING! Our brief was to go find stories about Coburg. And we did (but there are so many more). We came across so many significant sites, untold stories, almost forgotten people and places. The research and writing took us about two years (on and off) and the final stories for the projections and walk were really moving. What made our experience was the people we met, talked to, interviewed and those who helped us along the way (a BIG shout out to Marilyn from the Coburg Historical Society). We appreciated everyone who opened up and trusted us to help tell their stories.
What multilingual writing would you recommend reading for people looking to practice the style?
Read a lot. Read widely. Read literature of your place, your people, culture, your homeland, and in the language (which is what I do or try to do). Listen to people and how they tell their stories of the place. There is so much literature out there, but it may be inaccessible because of language. I will often start by writing into that experience of using or hearing multiple languages (because of my background) and exploring what I know and don’t know.
Read a lot. Read widely. Read literature of your place, your people, culture, your homeland, and in the language (which is what I do or try to do). – Suzanne Hermanoczki
Feel like your story’s pace needs some where or are not sure Create powerful connections between people and place and create a deep sense of belonging in your writing practice. Join Suzanne for her upcoming workshop Writing Place and Belonging.