A WRITERS’ group in Mordialloc has celebrated 20 years battling the dreaded blank page and has released an anthology about the City of Kingston to commemorate the triumph of the pen over the page.
The Mordialloc Writers’ Group founder Mairi Neil said the new book, called Kingston My City, aptly features 20 stories by 20 stories about how people feel about the city, “an amalgamation of suburbs”, they live in.
Looking back at the group’s beginnings in 1995, Ms Neil said it was her late husband John who encouraged her to pursue her dream of writing when the couple moved to Mordialloc.
“I’ve always been a writer and I love reading. I was brought up reading Robert Louis Stevenson and Enid Blyton, all of those books, and I’ve always liked writing stories,” she said.
“I was very involved in the women’s movement and worked for the second woman’s refuge in Victoria at Maroondah Halfway House and wrote a few articles for my mother’s church magazine to get money and also explain why these women had left home.”
Writers have come and gone to group meetings over the years but the 62-year-old says several long-term members have found a get-together with fellow storytellers to be beneficial.
“You are mixing with people who have a similar love of writing as you so there’s support and understanding there.
“You can learn a lot. You meet people who are writing in different genres and at different stages and you get positive feedback to help you on your writing journey.”
Ms Neil likes to write poetry and short stories and writers in the group cover everything from humorous travel writing to slam poetry.
One of the goals of the Mordialloc Writers’ Group is giving everyone who joins the chance to be a published writer as evidenced by the eight anthologies of short stories the group has previously published.
“Traditional publishing is only for the elite now. Everything is marketing,” Ms Neil said.
Feedback from readers who have bought the group’s books has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Most writers want to see their name in print. It’s not an ego thing but it’s really nice to have a finished product,” Ms Neil said.
As for the writing future, new Mordialloc Writers’ Group members are always welcome and Ms Neil has a couple of projects on the go.
“I’ve got a novel begging to be finished and a novel based on family history I’m halfway through.”
- The Mordialloc Writers’ Group meets at Mordialloc Neighbourhood House, 457 Main St, Mordialloc. Tuesday workshops, 8pm.
See mordiwriters.wordpress.com or call Mairi Neil on 0403 900 585 for further information.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 25 November 2015
