Where we have come from
In 2003 as a South Barwon Community Centre Inc. (SBCC) volunteer I proposed to the then coordinator, Mary Coward, that I begin a writing group. One person had rung to find out if there was a writing group in the area so the timing was right. The first session was held in July 2003. By the end of the year we had approximately 4-7 members.
The aims of the group were two fold, to facilitate people’s creative writing development and bring people together to counter social isolation in an affordable and accessible setting. The name Scribes evolved from group member discussion and decision making process.
Scribes Writers is now a diverse group of enthusiastic writers sharing group management. Each person brings their own lifetime experiences to enhance the membership and activities of the whole. The group aims to provide a creative environment where people can realise their imaginative, artistic writing potential and reach a professional level of confidence and competence.
How we got where we are…
From the beginning we have developed and maintained group strengths through peer support; encouraging leadership skills; sharing decision making, information and resources in weekly structured writing group meetings in a friendly environment.
While most of the successes of Scribes Writers are the direct result of the effort and dedication to the group by every member we value and appreciate the assistance given so generously and willingly by the Committee of Management, the coordinator(s) and volunteers of the SBCC Inc.
What we have achieved…
1 2004 Scribes joined the Victorian Writers’ Centre (VWC). Membership gave the group access to the centre’s workshops, magazine and made us eligible to apply for regional funding for workshops. The first financial outlay for the annual subscription was shared 50:50 from individual members and the SBCC funds. In 2005 SBCC paid the whole subscription but all other years the membership fee has been funded solely by Scribes.
2. Workshops
Funded by Victorian Writers' Centre (VWC)
2004 ─ creative writing workshop ─ facilitated by Christine Davey
2006 ─ marketing and promotion workshop ─ facilitated by Mary Coward
Funded by City of Greater Geelong (CoGG)
2006 ─Arts Grant 2006 “Ideas and Managing Success” workshop ─ facilitated by Christine Davey
2006 ─Arts Grant 2006 “Editing One For D’ Road” workshop ─ facilitated by Christine Davey
2007 ─Geelong Seniors 2 “Life Stories” workshops ─ facilitated by Susan Kruss
Scribes funded - Speakers and workshops
2004 ─Leanne Fagg, writer ─ promotion and self publishing Like Falling off a Cliff
2005 ─Graham Deane ─ computer skills
2005 ─Vivienne Worthington, writer ─ promotion and self-publishing Anastasia – Woman of Eureka
2006 ─Colin James, digitalised publication One For D’ Road
2007 ─Liz Flaherty, Children’s writer
2007 ─Lorraine Phelan ─ family writing and gathering resources
3. Group meeting activities
Over the years members have led group sessions covering a variety of writing topics. Some include – poetry, structuring stories, idea generation, characterisation, figurative/descriptive writing, grammar, editing; markets, formatting, diction, dialogue, style, point of view, research - both for fiction and non-fiction writing, article writing, short stories, genre, critiquing, journalism, children’s writing, self-publishing, submission writing, sourcing funding, internet and computer skills, interviewing techniques, copyright and legal responsibilities.
In 2005 members work was collected into a mini-anthology The Assembly Line, this was later used as a prototype for the 2006 publication, One For D’ Road..
4. One For D’ Road…a 2 year project - 2005-6
CoGG Arts Grant – The purpose was to produce a quality book of 150 pages comprising both fiction and non-fiction, artwork and photography that highlighted and celebrated the social life and history of the Ford Motor Company and Geelong people.
The anthology included short stories, poems, biographies and profiles as well as photography and artwork to complement the written content. The process could broadly be summarised as preparation; permissions; text design, layout and cover design; bibliography; acknowledgements; printing; promotion and marketing and finally the launch and distribution.
Benefits for individual members
Strengths gained – networking and establishing contacts, financial management (especially GST), printing and publishing knowledge, improvement in narrative and other writing skills, confidence as writers and individuals, ability to take on larger writing assignments, skill development and increased opportunities for information dissemination through a power point production, pride in the writers by their contribution to Geelong’s literary heritage.
Through publishing more people know about the SBCC Inc and its services and encouraged a wider membership for the writing group.
5. Community participation
2004 Written submission to the CoGG Arts Forum and oral presentation at the launch of the Creativity arts program.
2004-7 Members attended workshops at VWC
2006 Words at the Gallery – Scribes members read own works
2007 Scribes participated in the Borough of Queenscliffe Arts Festival – Sea of Words
2007 Attendance at the one day Varuna and Regional Writers Festival at Buninyong
6. SBCC Inc AGM
Members have participated by giving readings and reports at the AGM from 2004. to March 2007.
7. Publishing
Scribes Writers has an ongoing opening for articles and stories with the Geelong News.
Members have participated in competitions, published in the Geelong Advertiser, New Idea, Geelong Seniors and Reader’s Digest and read their work on the ABC and local community radio. Some members have also read their work at community functions e.g. Shearer’s Arms.
8. Library - building resources.
With part of the surplus from the sales of the anthology Scribes Writers invested in a reference library - dictionary, thesaurus, marketing manual and other writing books. These books are available as a community resource. These add to Scribes’ existing collection of writing and literary magazines.
9 Logo
Our unique logo identifies the group and signifies our commitment to quality in our writing.
Where do we go in 2008
Refining the quality of our work – through editing, audio-video opportunities -film - more marketing and publishing…family history…fiction and non-fiction .
Writing and self-publishing the Geelong Events Anthology
In whatever involvement the group will continue to
build upon our strengths,
overcome weaknesses and
make stronger connections with each other and in the community.
Eileen Sims
January 2008
