Jan Kennedy, who leads monthly creative writing meetings but has recently taken a hiatus for health reasons, said her involvement in the local writing scene began when a man she knew invited her to join a group.
“I get to McDonald’s, and it was only him and me,” she said.
Shortly after, the Seymour and District University of the Third Age’s Writers’ Group began.
“Next thing I know, I’m leading the group,” Ms Kennedy said.
“It’s been an experience — a wonderful experience.”
The group members now hold monthly meetings where attendees share their work, receive homework and bolster each other’s confidence.
Lola Puddy, who has temporarily taken the helm while Ms Kennedy recovers, said she enjoyed forming connections with group members.
“I took on the course when it first started in 2024 and I’ve dabbled into a little bit of writing previously,” Ms Puddy said.
“I just like the different characters here — you always know what to expect from the different people.”
During each meeting, Ms Puddy said the group would usually receive a subject matter from Ms Kennedy to unpack.
Ms Kennedy, who has 38 years of educating under her belt, said she didn’t fancy herself as a teacher of the group.
“I felt I was more of a mentor than a teacher or a leader because I thought, ‘how could I teach these people how to write? They’re here because they want to write,’” she said.
To celebrate U3A’s 20th anniversary last year, the writers had their 2024 works compiled into a booklet, showcasing the talent the region has to offer.
In the introduction, Ms Kennedy wrote about the pride she had in the group.
“The aim of this group has been to make their writing a priority rather than a simple adjunct to a life dedicated to others — parents, children, partner, employer,” she wrote.
“I am very proud of our progress in these few short months.”
The group meets on the third Tuesday of each month at the Seymour Customer and Library Service Centre between 1.30pm and 3pm.
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