General News
3 May, 2025
Writers’ group release third anthology
Clunes Writers’ Group’s third annual anthology is out, as the group gears up for a fourth, however the project’s success relies on community support.
Although the Clunes Writers’ Group has been meeting for more than 20 years, they’ve only been creating annual anthologies of their work for three.
Grants from the Hepburn Shire and Community Bank got the ball rolling with Unmasked published in 2022, followed by Chequerboard, and now Boundless.
Group member and publicity officer, Ruth Morgan, said the most recent anthology’s title reflects the diverse ideas and genres of the group’s members.
“A friend of mine would call it an Arnott’s Mixed Assortment. If you don’t like one biscuit you can just move onto the next one,” she said.
The group’s 20-odd members are as diverse as their works imply. From poetry to memoirs, professionals to amateurs, the group’s goal is to bring like-minded locals together and encourage them to write.
“We’ve all had vastly different experiences, and we are as a species storytellers,” she said.
“It is just so much a part of who we are.”
It means writing can be for everyone, the group has found, with men and younger people joining the group of historically older women.
The Clunes Writers’ Group recognises how intimidating sharing writing can be so they try to foster an encouraging space.
Longtime member Patsy Skinner said it’s an environment where new members are supported not just by the group, but the meetings format designed to overcome barriers.
“It’s quite daunting to walk into a writers’ group of people you don’t know and share something you’ve written,” she said.
“You feel quite vulnerable.”
It’s that companionship which keeps Ms Skinner coming back. That and because it helps her overcome the challenge of a blank page.
“The meetings usually provide quite a bit of talk and laughter. It keeps you writing. You find if you don’t have a reason to write sometimes you could go for weeks without putting pen to paper,” she said.
Joining a writing group is a part of moving house for Ms Morgan — she’ll find one to join wherever she goes.
“I fly solo so the company is really important — and the ideas. I think you get something out of a writers’ group you can’t necessarily define,” she said.
“It’s such a solitary occupation, you spend so much time in your own head that sometimes it’s nice to get out of that space and share with others.”
The writing group’s anthologies, similarly, bring community members together from photography to printing.
“It becomes a community activity rather than [being] esoteric,” Ms Morgan said.
Boundless is currently available for purchase by contacting harmony4books@gmail.com