Great news Rashmii. Impact of MWTE will be measured also with enduring respect, and wideningly.

Reactive 'discourse' via social media ought not deter writers. Such expression at Twitter (and more) is (in this era) exploratory, no less an interruption of affected persons as was the intrusion by miners, mercenaries and more to an unassuming population of isles of New Guinea (exogenous name).

Experimentation at causing others to respond is in fact what also MWTE is achieving. Be it by book or by soliloquy ether-cast, communication is accomplishment and more if detected as intelligent.

I am incredibly proud of MWTE and the project which brought together a range of stories. Stories and history is what makes us who we are and also has the power to shape the future.

With every project there will be cynics who question every step. However it is important to look at intent and purpose and the project intent is to make a positive contribution to a beautiful and bright PNG.

The tall poppy syndrome is alive and well and it's challenging at times when you want to give up. But, you can't give up or stop writing. These projects need to continue to happen.

I always think, it's easy to sit back and hate. That's the easy path, but to take action - day by day and keep moving forward shows resilience and belief in a brighter future.

People who hate can continue to do so, that is their choice but it shouldn't impact the rest of the people who want to make a positive contribution.

As for gender equality in PNG it absolutely is not equal. The election results show that but there is still so much positive action and change going on in the communities.

On the ground, at a grass roots level, women are strong leaders and making waves. We can't just shrug our shoulders.

Each person has the capacity to make positive choices and change at a local and personal level. We need to look every day and find those stories and shine a light on these men and women who are making a great impact at a local level and support them.

Change is happening, albeit slowly, but it's happening and it's not lost. I believe in a bright and beautiful PNG.

Everything Keith just said. This is not about women needing to develop "thick skin" in the public arena.

For published writers who want their book to have a wider reach, marketing is the key. Personally, I know I have worked smarter than any other publication under Pukpuk Publications and hence, have received a wider reach and ultimately sales.

To be verbally attacked with racist and sexist comments from other PNG writers because of my willingness to do my homework - that is unacceptable.

The adage 'The dogs may bark, but the caravan moves along' came to mind as I read the comments in response to Phil's as always, thoughtful contribution. There are bound to be critics, dissenters and naysayers on the sidelines of any project (and MWTE is no exception). Some may be worthy of a (thoughtful) response. Others, like dogs barking at passing camel caravans, should not be dignified by any response. They should just be ignored.

They, the critics, don't, and won't go away. The choice for the project/caravan participants if they truly believe in the worth of their journey, is simple: engage with the critics and waste valuable time and energy, or apply that time and energy to ensuring that the project succeeds - and the caravan reaches its destination.

The conversation around the reservation of seats for women in PNG and gender equality more broadly has been a most dispiriting one.

Men and equally disappointingly, women have been vehement in their opposition to the proposed reservation of seats, instead calling for election on merit. Meritorious election presumes an equal playing field. It is glaringly obvious that the playing field is not equal in PNG, both in parliament and outside it.

Even more disappointing is this prevailing view espoused by Jordan Dean et al that women "don't need equality - they need self-recognition." Unpacking such statements is almost a waste of our time and effort however, at best, it is a vacuous throwaway line and at worst, a subliminal statement of misogyny. For as long as men and women like Jordan Dean continue to victim-blame women who have suffered GBV without holding the male perpetrators to account and judge women for the choices they make, we must continue to push for a re-orientation of our systems of government to recognise the importance of the representation of those who make up the other half of our population.
I for one don't "scream for equality"Jordan, but I don't suffer fools who are stupid enough to think basic biology has given them any form of superiority.

In many ways, a publication like MWTE has done what we hoped it would - opened and generated a conversation on the absolute necessity for PNG to work towards gender equality and on that score, Philip Fitzpatrick has correctly highlighted the importance of reserved seats for women.
The business case for reserved seats is simple. Quotas lead to action on gender equality by requiring institutions and entities to implement gender inclusion in clear practical terms. Norway is an outstanding example of the pro-active steps taken to engender gender equality across politics and industry.

Papua New Guinea's collective failure to grasp the utility of this mechanism is breath-taking.

And before I am reminded that this concept is antithetical to Papua New Guinean "culture and tradition", we should all perhaps have recourse to our Constitution and the directive issue by the Constitutional Planning Committee calling for "a fundamental re-orientation of our attitudes and the institutions of government...towards Papua New Guinean forms of participation, consultation and consensus, and a continuous renewal of the responsiveness of these institutions to the needs and attitudes of the people."

It is astounding that in 2017 we fail to grasp this basic direction to change given to us by people of half our collective education and exposure.

In the interim however, let's hope the continued development of indigenous Papua New Guinean women's literature does what literature is designed to do - challenge the status quo and illuminate the way forward.

An example of the the racism I refer to is the intentional divisive actions and attitudes of PNGns living in-country against those of PNGns of the diaspora community. It sickens me to my core and quite frankly, am disgusted by PNGns who perpetuate this.

Jordan - as you know, we don't always agree and again, this is the case. But, thank you for your comment. On your point about including more writers in occasions to promote MWTE, I will ask the writers to convey just how I have handled this. But I will say this - ALL MWTE writers were asked and encouraged to promote their individual writing and the anthology within their own networks and whatever occasion, event they could co-ordinate.

Over a month ago, I had asked the Port Moresby based MWTE writers to co-ordinate a discussion panel/ workshop event. A few individuals responded to formalising arrangements and to date, I believe an event will take place in early September to coincide with MWTEs presentation at BWF17. Could one of the organisers please confirm?

My decision to choose only Brisbane-based writers for literary festival appearances has been due to the absence of funding, sponsors etc. No sponsors means no funding for plane tickets, hotel accomodation..

A final note - Published PNG writers must understand that in the absence of PR and marketing agents, writers themselves must shoulder the task of promoting their work, through every avenue possible. Being able to recognise and adapt early on, I know, has influenced the success MWTE has had.

I know Rashmii initiated the move to publish MWTE as a result of us, Francis Nii, Martyn Namorong and myself attending the Brisbane Writers festival last year.

The idea came up during our panel discussion after a superb presentation by Francis Nii on the work of the Simbu Writers Association in his province.

I have also written a new book 'Survivor: Alive in Mum's Loving Arms' after my visit to Australia. A photo of us in front of the Queensland State Library and others are on the back cover of the book – as a permanent reminder.

If it had been published on time and if there was no election violence here in the highlands, I would have been joining Rashmii, Phil and other contributors of MWTE on the Sunshine Coast.

I also wanted to meet another writer and former ABC correspondent, Sean Dorney who had quoted me in one of his earlier books.

And like Jordan Dean, I am helping to write two of my friend's books. We hope to attend the International Readers and Writers Festival on the Sunshine Coast or the Brisbane Writers Festival next year.

My advice to Rashmii is to continue on with promoting women in your country. Publish that second Anthology and work with people you are comfortable with.

By reviving literature in PNG, Keith and Phil have shown us the way. There is Oxford University Press, UPNG Press, Creatspace and Amazon and others.

PNG writers who wish to see their work published, go to Jordan Dean, Francis Nii or come to me.

"We don't need 'women' in parliament. We need leaders. Women need to stop trying to hold Parliament at ransom on account of their gender as a sense of entitlement".

Sally Tadabe posted on her Facebook wall some months ago. To me, she is absolutely right. Sally is a lawyer and an intelligent one.

There's a dichotomy I see in the views of women in PNG. Women don't need equality. What women need is self-recognition. Because these arguments place emphasis on the wrong things.

Women are not the 'weaker sex' nor unequal. Women should rethink how they interact with patriarchal structures and rethink their measures of success.

A woman who no longer feels she has to prove who she is and what she does feels valuable. She feels appreciated, free and equal. She knows this is her birthright. The only way women will begin to feel valued is when they begin to value themselves.

From observation, while some PNG women scream for equality, others run after men with money, date or marry jerks.

And I know a lot of who make a lot of noise in the media about GBV but are victims themselves almost every week. I find it pathetic when they can't dump the idiot and find someone better.

Rather than screaming inequality, we should focus on showing role models of women who have a healthy self-worth and who has no need to compete with the masculine.

My mum is one such role model. Dad retired in 2007. Mum became the bread winner and still is to date. She paid my fees at UPNG. So as my siblings. We lived under her roof per se. Dad had no issues with it. He does odd jobs to support mum. She doesn't need to attend a 'women empowerment' meeting, rally or movement to prove her worth because we (including dad) love and respect her.

The only thing that is real is how you feel about yourself and how you choose to show up in your own life every glorious day. You will show yourself that you are worthy of respect and develop a greater self-acceptance.

It's time for women to change their collective feminine story.

Re: MWTE. I personally encouraged several women to publish their writing and contribute to the anthology. Even forced others to contribute. I also published two books for Julie Mota. I am currently working on another book (poetry) by another PNG woman to be published soon.

Did it free of charge for the love of seeing PNG literature grow. Someone give me a Queen's award already (just kidding)

I look forward to the day when we can judge someone based on merits and not gender.

Rashmi - Keep writing. Let them talk. It would be fair (equality right?) if some of the writers/contributors of MWTE other than the same ones accompany you in some of the MWTE invitations. Just a suggestion.

An important and considered piece. I hope several contributor writers of MWTE will respond.

Is PNG stuffed? I can confidently say that attempts to encourage and develop more PNG writers and its' literature is at present, stuffed. By none other than the writers themselves

A handful of PNG women are doing a terrific job at aiding PNG men to remain entrenched in their misogyny, and dare I say, racism. A lesson that I've learnt, dished out cruelly on numerous occasions, throughout the near-twelve months of the MWTE project.

Would I participate in another PNG writers anthology publication project? Not likely.

Definitely not, if the attitudes and values of those within the current PNG literary circle toward PNG women, doesn't change.