The 2014 Sydney Writers’ Festival kicks off tonight! The good news is that those of us not in Sydney can still follow along at home. Bronte Coates shows you how.

Step 1: Become acquainted with Andrew Solomon’s online persona.

Andrew Solomon’s Far from the Tree is one of the few books I’d ever feel justified describing as ‘life-changing’. Here are stories of families living with exceptional and out-of-the-ordinary children with each new chapter focusing on a particular issue, taking us from deafness to dwarfism, from children who are prodigies to those who are born from rape. This book is astonishing and deeply moving and I’m currently reading my way through another one of his books now - The Noonday Demon. I’m again overwhelmed by his capacity for empathy and understanding. While it’s a shame to miss him speak in person, we’re lucky that Solomon has an active, engaged online persona to rival the very best. Some options to start with include - visiting his personal website to read some of his writing, browsing the stories on the Far from the Tree website, or watching his Ted talk on depression.

Step 2: Listen to A.M. Homes read and discuss ‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson on the New Yorker fiction podcast.

A.M. Homes’s Women’s Prize-winning novel May We Be Forgiven featured on our list for Best Fiction of 2012. This is a funny, gripping, dark, immersive read which has a surprisingly (for Homes) heart-warming end. Much of her other writing is best described as twisted; in one story that comes to mind a boy starts dating, then date-raping, his sister’s barbie doll while in the controversial novel, The End of Alice, Homes writes from the perspective of a paedophile. If you haven’t read her yet, you obviously should but in the meantime this New Yorker fiction podcast is a wonderful way to feel like you’re at an event. Homes reads the story and then discusses it with New Yorker fiction editor Deborah Treisman.

Step 3: Read one of Ceridwen Dovey’s stories from Only the Animals

In Only the Animals the souls of ten animals, each killed in a human conflict, tell the story of their deaths in turn, while paying homage to a particular writer. Smart, thoughtful and playful, literary readers - as most festival goers are - will delight in discovering Dovey’s literary references as she adopts the tone and style (sometimes direct quotes) from the writers. You can watch the gorgeous animated book trailer for the collection here.

Step 4: Be challenged by Alice Walker and Alexis Wright.

I definitely wish I could attend this event in person as I think both these writers tackle important ideas in their fiction, making for challenging reads - and I love hearing and talking about challenging books. Instead I may just have to listen to them discuss their work separately. You can hear Alexis Wright talk about The Swan Book here and watch Alice Walker on a panel here.

Step 5: Watch Eleanor Catton’s conversation with Louise Swinn.

New Zealand author Eleanor Catton is the youngest ever recipient of the Man Booker Prize for her epic second novel, The Luminaries. Described as a ‘Kiwi Twin Peaks’, this book is an astrological mystery set in 1866 Hokitika. And Catton also happens to be an amazing speaker. This video from her event at the Wheeler Centre earlier this year is a real pleasure to watch, especially if you’re a writer yourself.

Step 6: Attend one of the SWF guests spin-off events in your home city.

To name just a few - Irvine Welsh and Gary Shteyngart are both appearing the Wheeler Centre, Emma Donoghue and Amy Tan are visiting us here at Readings and the terrific-looking #Three Jerks show will be part of the Emerging Writers’ Festival this year. (That last one is my pick!)

Step 7: Cook a recipe from Stefano Manfredi’s Italian Food

While my version of a Stefano Manfredi recipe may not be quite as good as the three-course menu inspired by Andrew Wigan’s wine choices planned in Sydney, I still have faith it will be at the very least edible. At the moment I’m feeling torn between ‘Braised artichokes with onions, olives and capers’ and ‘Chestnut crepes filled with sweet ricotta’ but it’s likely I’ll opt for a simple vegetable soup.

Step 8: Watch the first episode of season one Breaking Bad

While I eat my (potentially) delicious concoction I think I’ll also treat myself to Vince Gilligan’s amazing drama series, Breaking Bad given he was one of the big names in Sydney this year. I still remember how wowed I was after that first episode at the show’s pacing and am interested to see how I’ll feel on a re-watch.

Bronte Coates