ONE Thursday evening each month, the Sebastopol Library becomes the meeting point for an all-inclusive LGBTIQA+ writer\u2019s group for people to share ideas and express their creativity.<\/p>\n
Launched on IDAHOBIT Day in 2017 by queer advocate and writer KL Joy as the planned inaugural Rainbow Writers branch, the group now exists as the Ballarat sQribblers helmed by facilitator Luke Donehue.<\/p>\n
Mx Joy said the idea grew out of a visit from then-gender and sexuality commissioner Ro Allen\u2019s Rainbow Regional Roadshow, which sought to get a better understanding of queer needs in rural communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe filled two whiteboards with what Ballarat already had queer-wise, and I realised there was nothing for people under 25 who didn\u2019t want to go out drinking or to a drag show,\u201d Mx Joy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was missing my writer\u2019s group I had in Melbourne so I took that style and brought it here to create that space where people could share what they\u2019re working on and really develop.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was there to foster connection in regional communities and I intended for Ballarat to be the first branch before creating one in Geelong and Bendigo.\u201d<\/p>\n
The original meetings ran fortnightly at the Ballarat Library with a core of about 12 regular attendees, featuring lesson plans from Mx Joy and guest speakers from writes like Quinn Eades and Nevo Zisin.<\/p>\n
Following Mx Joy\u2019s discontinuation of the events due to health reasons, the group was dormant until early 2022 when Mr Donehue revived it initially through the Ballarat Libraries\u2019 Libraries After Dark program.<\/p>\n
He said the new incarnation of the group\u2019s meetups is less focused on enhancing abilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s more of a relaxed atmosphere and less structured or skillsets-based class. It\u2019s more about having fun writing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a real benefit for some of us. We did a letter-writing session and it got one of our members thinking about the allies in her life.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had sessions where people have been crying and sharing really raw things and others where there\u2019s been uproarious laughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
The group can be found via the Wrainbow Writers – Ballarat sQribblers facebook page.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ONE Thursday evening each month, the Sebastopol Library becomes the meeting point for an all-inclusive LGBTIQA+ writer\u2019s group for people to share ideas and express their creativity. Launched on IDAHOBIT Day in 2017 by queer advocate and writer KL Joy as the planned inaugural Rainbow Writers branch, the group now exists as the Ballarat sQribblers […]<\/p>\n