Local writing hero Zena Shapter is an inspiration for living a better life 

Meeting Zena Shapter, author, editor, mentor, founder of Northern Beaches Writers’ Group, mother, wife, friend and I suspect much more, felt like being struck by a bolt of energy, intelligence, kindness and generosity. Zena’s passion for writing and helping others unleash their true potential is her life’s purpose. 

I reviewed Zena’s most recently published book When Dark Roots Hunt last July, struck by the originality of its voice and of the story – it’s speculative fiction in a league of its own and with an appeal to people of all ages. Zena is working on another in the series and it’s due for release next May. I can’t wait.

When speaking about her own writing the pleasure Zena derives is evident, but it is talking about helping aspiring writers that makes her face and voice sparkle. Back in 2009, Zena thought there was something missing in the Northern Beaches – that “something” was a group and opportunities for serious writers 

Today Zena teaches workshops, consults with the council, creates and runs community projects, and her Northern Beaches Writers’ Group is an award-winning writing and critique group. Remarkably and sadly, it receives no funding. 

Zena believes the best writing involves a huge amount of rewriting, workshopping, eliciting and acting on feedback, editing, more thinking, more rewriting, more workshopping. Writing really is a team sport rather than a solitary pursuit and Zena provides invaluable support that helps make that true for local writers of any level or genre. 

Zena also helps many worthy causes through her ‘Art & Words’ Projects and raising $15,000 for The Kids’ Cancer Project’ by publishing five children’s books, each of which won ‘best book’ in the national WABAID awards. She has also founded, led and voluntarily funded over $225,000 worth of community projects, enabling over 300 writers of all ages to celebrate their work and develop their craft. 

This softly spoken, slight young woman is a powerhouse, and happiness exudes from the pores of her skin. She lives by the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai, “a reason to live,” a concept encouraging people to discover what truly matters to them and to live a life filled with purpose and joy. Zena describes it as doing what you love, what you’re good at, what you can be paid for, and what the world needs. 

To understand how this has influenced her consider this, Zena:

• turned her back on a legal career because she didn’t love it, even though she was good at it, and it was more financially rewarding than writing
• writes with a focus on the YA (young adult) audience because she wants more young people to read. She interviewed dozens of young people before writing When Dark Roots Hunt to understand what issues were concerning them and what they wanted to read about, and
• helps writers write because that’s what they want and need to do. 

Unsung heroes like Zena make this world a better place. Our Northern Beaches community is so lucky Zena chose to leave the UK all those years ago and make her home here. She’s an inspiration to us all.

Where to buy

Visit zenashapter.com and go local when buying When Dark Roots Hunt at Harry Hartog or from the usual online booksellers.