A local author has begun a free writing group, which is set to return for its second series on 7 February at the Menzies Creek Hall.
The group has relocated from the Selby Community House for 2026.
Created from a need to carve out space and time for writing, Ashe Davenport began the group Treetypes last year to connect and focus with other writers in the Dandenong Ranges.
“Treetypes was born out of the need for dedicated, focused writing time, and connection with other time-poor writers,” she said.
The group will meet at Menzies Creek Hall for the return of the series this year, after beginning their journey initially at Selby Community House.
“Once a week, we met in the art room at Selby Community House and poured ourselves into our personal writing projects, with a few breaks for tea and chat,” said Ms Davenport.
“So far, it’s been really successful – words flowed, and friendships are forming,” she said.
This year, the relocated Menzeies Creek sessions will involve a brief group writing exercise led by Ms Davenport, and follow with two timed writing sprints to work on individual projects.
“It’s an accountability thing with a bit of added structure, “ said Ms Davenport.
The group settling allows for a bit of “body doubling” to help with focus and motivation, especially for long solo writing projects and all interested writing types are welcome.
The term body doubling stems from the idea that having others present for certain tasks can help aid people with a kind of welcoming and intentional support system that has been popularised in recent times.
“There’s also a social aspect, as we have tea and bikkie breaks throughout,” Ms Davenport said.
A published author herself, Ms Davenport wrote a memoir called “Sad Mum Lady”, which she said details her crash landing into early parenthood.
Now in the midst of writing a second book, the Hills-based author faces the juggle of writing amid her work in disability support work and parenting her two children.
“Writing can be an incredibly lonely and frustrating existence, but doing it around a shared table had the opposite effect – It’s the only way I want to write from now on,” she said.
The 2026 sessions begin Saturday 7 February and are supported by the Yarra Ranges Council.
Term one will be held at the Menzies Creek Hall, at 1 Menzies Road, Menzies Creek.
The sessions are free, but bookings are essential.
The term will run from 31 January until 28 March, excluding the weekend of 7 March, for eight weeks.
