You might suppose that novelists reach the end of a new work like mountaineers finally attaining a lofty summit. Craig Silvey says that’s not necessarily the case.

“When you finish a manuscript people often expect that it’s a moment of great celebration and fulfilment, but actually, it’s a sombre moment. You feel profoundly empty. You feel hollowed out.”

Silvey has been writing for more than 20 years, with novels such as Jasper Jones earning him a beloved position that bridges generational divides. His 2022 novel Runt collected a swag of awards and was adapted into a feature film. None of that diminishes the sense of vacancy that attends publication, though: “It’s so emotionally demanding, and you’ve journeyed with this thing, and it’s worked its way through you, and it’s left you re

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