Josephine Rowe Isn’t Interested In Efficiency

This episode explores the creative process and influences of Australian author Josephine Rowe, focusing on her writing rituals and the genesis of her novel, *Little World*. Against the backdrop of Rowe's solitary writing practice, the conversation reveals how listening to other writers, specifically an episode featuring Gerald Monain, unexpectedly resonated with her own experiences and landscape, inspiring a creative connection. More significantly, the discussion delves into Rowe's non-linear writing style, her use of fragmented notes and longhand drafting, and her embrace of unexpected creative tangents, as exemplified by the surprising inclusion of leprosy colonies and termite mounds in *Little World*. For instance, Rowe describes her writing as a process of "ruthless condensation," where a smaller work encompasses the breadth of a larger one. The interview also touches upon Rowe's influences, including Michael Ondaatje's *Coming Through Slaughter*, and her perspective on the role of emotion, self-belief, and even superstition in her creative journey. Ultimately, Rowe's approach highlights the importance of embracing unexpected inspiration, allowing characters to develop organically, and resisting conventional narrative structures to create a unique and deeply personal literary voice.