Anthony’s write stuff

Karen Hart
WRITER Anthony Lynch has always loved the English language.
“I remember at school telling my teacher I wanted to be novelist,” the 44-year-old says.
“It wasn’t until I left school that I realised you can’t just stay at home and write without money.”
The acclaimed Newtown poet and short story writer, whose first book of short stories is due to be published next year, is a central figure in Geelong’s writing scene.
A long-term member of the Geelong Writers Group, Anthony has also established his own printing press at home in a bid to publish and promote local talent.
“Whitmore Press has published limited edition small books by very talented Geelong poets, which have pretty much sold out now, which is fantastic,” he says.
“I, along with my colleague, David McCooey, also publish a literary journal once a year called Space: New Writing, which is heavily supported by City of Greater Geelong and Deakin University. The journal features poetry, short stories, essays and art work has been positively received by the literary community around the country.”
Anthony embarked on an editing career after graduating from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Arts with honours. He now works as an editor for the institution in Geelong and Melbourne.
Anthony also holds a Master of Arts.
“I didn’t intentionally set out to work editing education material, my dream was to write full-time, but now I’m in the profession it has worked out well for me because I still have time to write and operate Whitmore Press,” he says.
Anthony, who says his work mainly centres on “dark themes and relationships”, finds inspiration in Geelong’s waterfront.
“I like to go down to the waterfront and just sit,” he says.
“It’s a wonderful place to just lose yourself and clear the mind and write.
“Geelong is a great place for a writer to be and there’s so much talent here that I find it an inspirational place to be.”
The unassuming talent hopes to publish a book of poetry in the near future. A novel is a long-term goal.
“It’s very hard as a writer to get published but it’s so rewarding to see your work in print,” he says.
“Writing is so often an unrewarded profession in terms of financial rewards but that’s not why I write, it’s just something I’m compelled to do.
“There’ so much talent in Geelong that goes unrecognised and I hope in the future that does change.
“That’s one reason I set up Whitmore Press: to help young writers get their work published and to help them establish a career in the industry.”