Ravenshoe Writers Group

Introduction

In 1994, several people with the will to write gathered as a group in Ravenshoe. With a broad range of interests and origins, levels of education and ambitions, the core of RWG was formed and continues in strength and diversity to this day.

Group members meet weekly to share their writing, their skills and their ideas. With these abilities ranging across the writing genres (poetry, short stories, novels, non-fiction) and beyond (editing and publishing), the multiplicity of RWG’s output is supported by members’ and group successes notched up over the years.

RWG has been instrumental in producing several publications, including travel guides (local roads and walking tracks), historical works and anthologies. While the earliest of these were simple productions, later publications have been professionally produced and have reflected extremely positively on the group’s collective abilities.

As well, members have a long list of individual successes, from State and National writing competition prizes (poetry, short fiction and plays) to the publication of their own work: autobiography, biography, non-fiction and poetry.

For several years, RWG honoured the memory of a local unpublished poet through an annual writing competition (poetry and short stories), with the particular aim of encouraging young people. In 2009, RWG collaborated with the local Torimba Festival Committee in conducting a similar competition.

To stimulate interest in the craft of writing, RWG has conducted workshops with invited experts on a number of occasions over the years. These are open to all who are interested, experienced or otherwise, including other writing groups.

Ravenshoe’s response to visiting writers promoting their work has increased greatly, with substantial and generous support (numbers and purchases). The group’s promotion of these visits, in collaboration with others, has resulted in a deserved reputation for Ravenshoe as a place for authors to visit.