Fernando Gros
@fernandogros.com
Writer
Granta Memoir Workshop alumni
Shortlisted for The Deep Creek Residency Fellowship
Lived in 🇨🇱🇦🇺🇬🇧🇮🇳🇭🇰🇸🇬🇯🇵
Worked in academia and music
TCK
https://fernandogros.com/blog/
Made in Chile, grown in Australia, polished in Japan
Granta Memoir Workshop alumni
Shortlisted for The Deep Creek Residency Fellowship
Lived in 🇨🇱🇦🇺🇬🇧🇮🇳🇭🇰🇸🇬🇯🇵
Worked in academia and music
TCK
https://fernandogros.com/blog/
Made in Chile, grown in Australia, polished in Japan
Not sure I can contribute much at the moment. Thank you though.
January 11, 2026 at 11:04 PM
Not sure I can contribute much at the moment. Thank you though.
It was like eating raw oats straight from the Uncle Tobys box.
January 11, 2026 at 11:02 PM
It was like eating raw oats straight from the Uncle Tobys box.
Crescendo doesn't mean climax.
Also harmony doesn't mean consonance. Tone doesn't mean timbre. Out of tune doesn't mean out of key.
Also harmony doesn't mean consonance. Tone doesn't mean timbre. Out of tune doesn't mean out of key.
January 11, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Crescendo doesn't mean climax.
Also harmony doesn't mean consonance. Tone doesn't mean timbre. Out of tune doesn't mean out of key.
Also harmony doesn't mean consonance. Tone doesn't mean timbre. Out of tune doesn't mean out of key.
Did you see this? I thought it was satire at first.
www.adelaidenow.com.au
January 11, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Did you see this? I thought it was satire at first.
Alchohol consumption has been steadily falling for decades in most developed countries. And falling more sharply amongst the young. So it's fair to be surprised if it hasn't fallen in Japan. Especially given how health conscious a lot of people are.
January 11, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Alchohol consumption has been steadily falling for decades in most developed countries. And falling more sharply amongst the young. So it's fair to be surprised if it hasn't fallen in Japan. Especially given how health conscious a lot of people are.
It's hard not to feel like the cultural vandalism is the point.
I mean, for people who don't believe in multiculturalism, a vibrant arts scene, and informed public debate, this whole affair must feel like a win.
I mean, for people who don't believe in multiculturalism, a vibrant arts scene, and informed public debate, this whole affair must feel like a win.
January 11, 2026 at 11:03 AM
It's hard not to feel like the cultural vandalism is the point.
I mean, for people who don't believe in multiculturalism, a vibrant arts scene, and informed public debate, this whole affair must feel like a win.
I mean, for people who don't believe in multiculturalism, a vibrant arts scene, and informed public debate, this whole affair must feel like a win.
This is awesome to hear. I hope new things emerge and I look forward to supporting them in whatever way I can.
January 11, 2026 at 10:53 AM
This is awesome to hear. I hope new things emerge and I look forward to supporting them in whatever way I can.
I want something new to emerge from this. Something that reflects the richness of Australia's literary landscape. That fights against the dim insider dialectic and milquetoast discourse that passes for cultural criticism now. Something sharp, smart, and fun.
January 11, 2026 at 8:41 AM
I want something new to emerge from this. Something that reflects the richness of Australia's literary landscape. That fights against the dim insider dialectic and milquetoast discourse that passes for cultural criticism now. Something sharp, smart, and fun.
Of course I support the backlash against the decisions of the Adelaide Writer's Week and the board of the Adelaide Festival. The cancellation of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah was a blatant act of racist censorship. And a grim day for arts in Australia.
January 11, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Of course I support the backlash against the decisions of the Adelaide Writer's Week and the board of the Adelaide Festival. The cancellation of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah was a blatant act of racist censorship. And a grim day for arts in Australia.
The personal irony is that despite all the time I've spent in Adelaide over the past 20 years I've never been in town during the Adelaide Writer's Week. Now I live here I was anticipating making the most of this year's event.
Which won't happen now.
Which won't happen now.
January 11, 2026 at 8:41 AM
The personal irony is that despite all the time I've spent in Adelaide over the past 20 years I've never been in town during the Adelaide Writer's Week. Now I live here I was anticipating making the most of this year's event.
Which won't happen now.
Which won't happen now.
Thankfully I realised while still quite young that I don't like long boat trips, package holidays, or large resorts. Cruises are a blend of all three.
January 11, 2026 at 8:24 AM
Thankfully I realised while still quite young that I don't like long boat trips, package holidays, or large resorts. Cruises are a blend of all three.
Thank you. I enjoyed reading this. Several people I know have picked themes related to the idea of being "real."
For 2026 I chose "catharsis" and wrote about it here -
For 2026 I chose "catharsis" and wrote about it here -
Catharsis - Yearly Theme 2026 - Fernando Gros
A yearly theme is a one-word expression of your hopes and intentions for the coming year. For 2026, my yearly theme is catharsis.
fernandogros.com
January 11, 2026 at 5:55 AM
Thank you. I enjoyed reading this. Several people I know have picked themes related to the idea of being "real."
For 2026 I chose "catharsis" and wrote about it here -
For 2026 I chose "catharsis" and wrote about it here -
Cool. I get the role pitching has with a lot of magazine work. But for the kind of things I'm trying to write now it just feels like an alienating process.
My biggest struggle is deciding what to send out versus publish on my blog. That keeps me up at night.
My biggest struggle is deciding what to send out versus publish on my blog. That keeps me up at night.
January 10, 2026 at 11:49 AM
Cool. I get the role pitching has with a lot of magazine work. But for the kind of things I'm trying to write now it just feels like an alienating process.
My biggest struggle is deciding what to send out versus publish on my blog. That keeps me up at night.
My biggest struggle is deciding what to send out versus publish on my blog. That keeps me up at night.
It’s fascinating the way background noise and the presence of others can help us focus
Does Coffee Make You More Creative? - Fernando Gros
Coffee is central to creative culture and we often assume drinking coffee makes us more creative. But, what does coffee do to us and does it really boost our creativity?
fernandogros.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:34 AM
It’s fascinating the way background noise and the presence of others can help us focus
I have given up pitching. At least for now. And I'm mainly trying for literary journals and they typically want a full piece for submission, not a pitch.
January 10, 2026 at 12:29 AM
I have given up pitching. At least for now. And I'm mainly trying for literary journals and they typically want a full piece for submission, not a pitch.
Coffee shops are social spaces for me. I like to write in anti-social spaces.
January 10, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Coffee shops are social spaces for me. I like to write in anti-social spaces.
I don’t like the direction this is going. Even in countries that are not being as overt about surveillance.
January 9, 2026 at 7:21 AM
I don’t like the direction this is going. Even in countries that are not being as overt about surveillance.