How to Navigate the 2024 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival

Since its debut in 2003, the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) has grown phenomenally.  Now in its 21st year, the festival has become very prodigious, with near-Olympian dimensions and a stunning line-up of authors, artists and events. The coming October 2024 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival magically transforms a full-to-the-brim program of 4 days and nights into a tremendous literary moveable feast, featuring some 250 authors and speakers from 23 countries, numerous panel discussions, workshops, special events, film screenings, and book launches.

UWRF is now routinely ranked among the world’s most prestigious literary gatherings. Learn more about UWRF 2024

Invited participants come from all over the world. The caliber of guest authors has been high from the very beginning: literary legends, award winning authors and poets, Pulitzer and Booker Prize winners, Nobel laureates, historians, political and social-cultural commentators and activists, – with due attention to voices from the fringes – sometimes polarizing and controversial, always wildly entertaining.

This year’s lineup of the 2024 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival

This year’s lineup includes, among others, writers Amitav Ghosh, William Dalrymple, and Soesilo Toer, younger brother of legendary writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer; journalists Andreas Harsono and Patrick Winn, human rights activist Ma Thida, Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, and many more notable authors and speakers.

The 2024 Ubud Writers Festival also provides a platform for established and emerging literary voices from within the Indonesian archipelago, giving them an audience to introduce their work, a chance to launch their books and an opportunity to participate in panel discussions with the international and local literary elite of authors and publishers.

Janet De Neefe, founder and director of UWRF, has modeled the Ubud event on famous and successful writer festivals.  The UWRF program is similar in structure and content, albeit more heavily weighted in terms of current events.

It also provides a more intimate setting, bringing readers and writers in close contact with each other and making the authors more approachable.

The pace of activities and events is quick to keep things moving and to maintain momentum, energy, interest and focus.

Considering the impressive number of guest authors and the short time available to showcase their work, ideas and philosophies, it becomes very clear that the 4-day program schedule, with daytime discussions and night time events, is consciously designed to be very intense.

Simultaneous activities and events are occurring day and into evening

It makes the 2024 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival lit fest very dynamic and keeps participants engaged to the hilt with a full schedule to exhaust the intellectual senses.  Keeping participants on their toes and overwhelmed by choices at all times preens the senses and forces them to make judicious selections. Like life, the 2024 UWRF presents a lot of choices, options and paths in all directions.

It is all about making carefully curated selections so that, when you walk away after four days, you will be in a state of awe.

Many guest authors, sessions and activities to choose from – Each year the festival revolves around a unique Balinese or Indonesian theme which unites the whole program and showcases the diversity of international and Indonesian writers.

Speak the Truth, Practice Kindness

This year’s theme, ‘Satyam Vada Dharmam Chara: Speak the Truth, Practice Kindness,’ pays homage to these values and the authors who sometimes take considerable or life-threatening risks to honor or defend them.

In the words of Indonesian Program Manager Gustra Adnyana, “we selected authors and programs that truly embody these values. We aimed for a mix of perspectives and created content that’s both engaging and impactful.

We focused on issues that matter both globally and locally, including the social, political, and environmental challenges faced by Indonesia.

We also teamed up with organisations, communities, and individuals in Indonesia who are passionate about truth and kindness. Our goal is to craft a festival that not only celebrates literature but also helps people understand and practise these principles in their daily lives.”

Culturally diverse

The festival celebrates the art of words, of great writing in whatever format it is found: in books, on screen, in journalism, podcasts, storytelling, songs or on stage. It is culturally diverse in artistic expressions, and not restricted to the written word, nor afraid of pushing literary boundaries.

The 2024 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival showcases Indonesian writers on an international stage and is focusing awareness on some of the intellectual currents going on throughout Indonesia.

In addition, bringing Indonesian and Asian writers, readers and thinkers – particularly young intellectuals, artists and performers – into direct contact with their Western counterparts, promotes the exchange of information and ideas which increases cross-cultural understanding and dispels a lot of cultural stereotypes on both sides.

The challenge of navigating the festival and picking the best

At first glance, the schedule of simultaneous activities and events is overwhelming. This year’s program lists a great diversity of events and most of those run simultaneously, all day, all night, from 9 am to late in the evenings.

Panel discussions

Inspiring and dynamic conversations with authors dominate the main program. They run concurrently all day at 3 main venues all located within a short walking distance from each other. The panel sessions are of an astonishing depth as the authors engage the audience in thought-provoking discussions.

They present a treasure-trove of insights, good advice, great tips and techniques; and a look into the author’s inner psyche – what makes them tick as writers and thinkers, what are their challenges, blocks, restraints; what inspires and motivates them.

Workshops or Masterclasses

A number of fee-based workshops are offered by professional writers, scholars, editors and publishers. Topics range from skills development and technical instructions on the art and craft of writing: how to structure plots and dialogue; build compelling characters; deal with writer’s block and bad writing habits.

Workshops cover fiction and non-fiction, memoirs, poetry, fantasy, blogging, podcasts, graphic novels, stage and screen, travel writing and photography; writing for children and young adults.

Literary Lunches and Special Events

These are paid events around key authors in one of Ubud’s elegant hotels or restaurants. These events, deliberately kept small, provide readers with the chance to listen to and mingle with their favorite writers and they are prized for their intimacy and ambience.

Book launches

New book launches are a daily event, and a great way to discover new authors and topics. They feature recent publications by local and international authors in various settings around Ubud. This year, some 30 books launches are scheduled over 4 days.

The film program

Their film program screens Indonesian films and documentaries late afternoon or evening.

Tips on getting the most out of the festival

Warning up front: immersion and surrender are the only options.  Therefore your foray into the maze of the festival needs plotting like a pro.  First, subscribe to the festival newsletter on the UWRF website.

Next, it is essential to check out the website program early on and take some quality time to peruse the offerings.

Decide how much time you can devote to the festival. Then start mapping your plan of action on a big calendar and note all the workshops, sessions and events that spark your interest. Review the main program and circle the sessions of your choice. Yes, that is when hard choices have to be made.

You can break up your daily schedule into day-time, late afternoon and night-time activities. Free and paid events are clearly marked. Check ticket prices and booking details for festival passes, special events and workshops on the UWRF website.

Research the featured authors, perhaps read some of their work or their bios ahead of time so you have more of an opportunity to fine-tune your choices.

If you are going to invest in a one- or four-day festival pass, really target whom and what you want to include. Sign up for masterclasses and special events early; most sell out by the opening of the festival.

Free events are priceless

The Festival is a combination of ticketed and free events. As a community service, the festival allocates part of the proceeds from ticket sales to cover free public events, and to subsidize attendance for local residents who could not otherwise afford to participate.

If funds are tight, you can still get a rich cultural education just by attending the free sessions and events and capture some of the essence of the festival. Book launches are precious opportunities to get in firsthand with the author as there is plenty of time to ask questions and engage the author in conversation and debate.

The same goes for the film nights, storytelling events, poetry slams and the closing night party on the grounds of the Antonio Blanco Museum with wild music and fire dances.

The Festival Club at Casa Luna is a late night hangout where you can rub shoulders with the literati.  Bar Luna hosts nightly offbeat programs with music, dance, and performances.

The 2024 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is a feast for the intellectual senses and the endless variety of options provides a delightful smorgasbord.  The choice is yours!