On Saturday, the Litfest really seemed to speed up, and it became tricky to balance attending events with eating, sleeping, etc.

In the morning, AL Kennedy spent three hours teaching us about writing prose, but this was just one of the workshops I attended this weekend where it felt like a whole day could have been filled.  The emphasis was on the mechanics of writing - how to make it work and make sure that it is doing what we want it to do.  Clearly passionate about the subject, ALK sped through a multitude of topics and I came away with plenty of things to consider about my own work.

The queue to get in to see Will Self snaked around the Town Church and there was a real sense of anticipation as we awaited his arrival.  He reads an extract from his latest novel Shark, bringing it to life with great expression and a range of voices, before inviting and (answering) questions on everything from politics to pubs.

Later in the afternoon, David Hine and Mark Stafford talked us through their careers in the comic and graphic novel industry.  With the assistance of slides that showcased examples of their work, they demonstrated how they had both taken very different routes.  They also talked us through how they came to collaborate on the creation of The Man Who Laughs, a brilliant adaptation of the Victor Hugo novel.

Up the road to the Fermain Tavern where Neil Innes got proceedings under way with a set of songs from his solo career as well as his time playing in the Rutles and the Bonzo Dog Band.  Showing impeccable comic timing and great musicianship, Neil had the audience laughing and singing along.

Local band Buffalo Huddleston ramped things up and got the crowd dancing, before making way for Bristol band Ushti Baba. The nine members of the band exploded across the stage, stomping, whirling and bouncing across the stage, shaking out the cramp of having been stuck in a van all day, manic with the relief of having reached Guernsey just hours before they were due to play.  The crowd responded in kind, and by the time we all went home it was much too late to read books or try to put newly-acquired workshop skills in to practice.

RC