The purpose of the writer.

Objectively, the writer's duty is to ensnare the (often willing) stranger within their grip and suffocate them with a tale, until this metaphorical lack of air leaves them submissive and deliriously agreeable. This is in subconscious of every writer, perhaps unaware, but still craving the triumphant moment when the reader is undoubtedly moved, and utterly in love with their creation. If the reader is correctly snuffed, they will obediently serve the author by endeavouring to purchase their following works and produce the most accomplishable propaganda of this modern time; spreading praise within 'word of mouth' assisted by social media.
The writer is then viral. Another triumph.

The difficult position of the reader is maintain dominance in this situation. In any sense, to read and disagree, or to read and analyse literature has become the ideal form hosted by academic notions and the media. You are demanded to question. You are commanded to revolt against those words that flow from the authors hand. You are rewarded for escaping the verbal assault, with outstanding gratification  as a student in university results or as a journalist by the employer.
This is the progression of the reader. This is the death of the Author.
The reader be comes the one who is accomplished.
The writer's triumph becomes a failure, or their original failure is revisited and re-evaluated as success.
There is no stability or consistency.

In attendance of the Bendigo Writers Festival and meeting the accomplished who have successfully wandered within the two roles, I have been stuck on this same question,
Can the progressive reader ever omit to being a writer if they know that their duty and efforts are possibly futile?

The composition of a Writers Festival

A Writers Festival is a combination of people and place. It is both simple and complex. The place isn't as important (as long as it has the ability to accommodate the necessary numbers in a building) as the people who participate in the festivals activities.The composition of people however does rely on the place's ability to maintain diversity.

At the Bendigo Writer's festival, the attendance of people floated from a range of socio-economic backgrounds. What bound them together was an interest in writing, or perhaps an interest in what Writers achieve and how. The tourism created from the event was beneficial to the city of Bendigo, but I can not help but believe that those who travelled were the majority of people in attendance.

I reflect back on the travel I endeavoured, and the countless times I spoke to taxi drivers, bus drivers and neighbouring café and bar employees who knew little, if anything about the event that was running in the heart of the city centre even though the advertisements were scattered everywhere.

Could it be that the common denominator of those who attend Writer's Festivals are not just due to an interest in writing, but an interest in the experience of a festival. With those I spoke with, they all seemed intrigued by the notion of the festival and it's activities, but showed minimal intent of buying a pass.
Is it the select few who desire the crowd of new people, the sounds and scenarios that come along with events such as this who take the plunge of purchasing a pass. Are we more alike then just an interest in literature, and share something a little more magnificent that we just are not consciously aware of?

And so I ponder whether the composition of the Bendigo Writer's Festival holds the key to something about human nature that we are yet to understand.