What is that supposed to be? A certain degree of uncertainty is palpable when more and more people hang their name tags on ribbons in the HP 8 on Saturday morning. Dorothee Lossin from the adult education center (MVHS) is also happy to be “at a loss” in her introductory words. She was asked in advance what a bar camp was: “Does that have anything to do with tents? Do we all get drunk?”
Good questions. This first Munich “Barcamp Literature” has been planned by the writer Angela Eßer together with the MVHS and the city library for three years – and has been postponed again and again for known reasons. The fact that we have finally managed to implement the idea with the support of the cultural department and the Free State would actually be a reason to toast – especially since the entire day for the more than 90 registered, of whom not all of them got up to camp on this rainy day, completely is free.
But no, of course this form of encounter, first tested in California in 2005, is not a tent camp. Rather, as Elke Pistor explains as co-director, it is an open, a “non-conference” – unlike normal conferences, the participants themselves determine the points about which they want to exchange ideas. Giving a talk about a book blog? Giving each other literature tips? “Everything is possible,” says Pistor, “everything is possible.”
One is looking for new talent for his self-publishing company, the other calls herself a “failed writer”
When everyone is asked to present their interests in three keywords or hashtags in a short round of introductions, it quickly becomes clear where the literary journey of the day could go. One is looking for new talent for his self-publishing company, the other calls herself a “failed writer”. Pupils have come as well as seniors, the crime thriller association Syndikat is well represented, some have had reading circle experience, brought their debut novel or simply the hashtag #justmake with them.
You can all offer topics in a further round or formulate requests for rounds of talks. It is clear that this grassroots democratic process will take a while. In the end, however, five groups spread out in parallel across the floors and rooms, which will change every hour. Some want to learn more about literature radio, others about the Bavarian literature portal, in another niche, someone who works in hospice work gives reading tips on the subject of death – the spectrum is wide. The proposal “genders in novels” is of particular interest to many listeners, as are a number of contributions on the subject of self-publishing – after all, not all writers want to call themselves “prevented” permanently.
Not only initiator Angela Eßer is happy that so many want to get involved here: “I think it’s great to develop something together.” The fact that 15-year-olds and 80-year-olds were able to exchange ideas about a wide variety of book topics in a relaxed atmosphere was also rated as inspiring in the final round. The fact that some of the lectures were a bit pre-organized in advance, and that some industry professionals were at work from “Plotting according to Snyder” to “History of Crime Fiction”, helped to give the day depth. Which is why this first experiment to network professionals with laypeople can be interpreted as promising. And hope for a repeat – true to the hashtag #easy.