Small Biz Spotlight: Left Write Hook
About Left Write Hook
Left Write Hook is an evidence-based 8-week boxing and writing workshop for adult survivors of child sexual abuse and trauma. The program is designed to empower survivors to take back their power through the physical and creative expressive processes of boxing and writing.
About Donna Lyon
Donna’s background is in the arts, filmmaking and education and after an average stint in amateur fighting, she decided to combine her passion of boxing with creative writing to help other survivors like her regain a sense of agency over their body and trauma.
Since getting her life together, Donna has run two half and two full marathons, hobbled through a 55km trail run, fought five times, won once, produced an independent feature film ‘Disclosure’ (check it out on Stan), co-edited a book and set up Left Write Hook.
What inspired Left Write Hook?
I came to boxing in my mid 30s. I wanted to find a sport or physical activity to let out, you know, everything from my child sexual abuse history. I catapulted into this two year fighting journey, which probably wasn’t what I needed, but it was a fun experience.
But after I clocked more losses than wins, I realised a champion fighter career wasn’t meant for me. But I found that I really did love boxing and training. I went back to why I was doing it - processing my child sexual abuse in a healthy and useful way.
How did the program begin?
I set up this small, grass-roots operation. It was in my local boxing gym in Ferntree Gully. I put an ad in the local newspaper, and I had about 8 women turn up. Then I decided to turn this into a research-based program with The University of Melbourne.
That turned into a journey of working with a group of participants making a documentary feature film, completing the 8 week program, and publishing their writing into a book.
And actually, the film is premiering at the Melbourne International Film Festival next year.
Wow, that’s amazing! Congratulations. When you started the grass-roots operation, did you know that it would turn into a research-based project and a documentary?
No way. All I knew was that I wanted to keep it really low cost and low risk [for the participants].
I knew it would make a great documentary, because of my film background, but I didn’t necessarily have a plan. I mentioned the project to filmmaker and director friend Shannon Owen. She said, “I’m in,” and it went from there.
Shannon and I became focused on creating this documentary that really captures the essence of participatory filmmaking. We wanted to work collaboratively with the project participants to make something special. We were able to get development funding from VicScreen and to partner with Sweetshop & Green to help us develop and market the film.
Thanks to these partnerships, we were then able to secure production funding from a bunch of different sources like Screen Australia, VicScreen, the University of Melbourne, the Melbourne International Film Festival Premiere Fund, and even distribution from Bonsai Films.
I can tell you’re so passionate about this. Is it hard to hold space for these people in both a personal and professional way?
It is personal. Every single week I write my own piece and share with the group, I’m very involved.
But I wouldn’t say it’s hard. Being involved and holding space is a privilege. And it isn’t therapy, so holding space isn’t about fixing anyone’s problems. Seeing the strength and development is really inspiring, and in a way it’s actually helped me with my own journey, too.
Was it difficult for you to speak openly about being a survivor yourself?
Yeah, it was. It definitely did take time, but I think it was really beneficial for my own recovery. I wanted to be in a space that would add context to my own experience and relieve any shame. Because it’s not my shame. That belongs to someone else.
You know, I don’t go into detail about my personal child sexual abuse story. But just saying it is so powerful. You don’t need to give all the specifics about what happened, for me it’s just talking about the general feelings and being in a space where others can validate or relate. I find that very healing.
You’ve run the program a number of times now. Is every group different?
Completely different. The group currently in the program [at the time of interview] have their own unique strengths and connections, and every group before has amazed me in a different way.
It’s actually fascinating, because when they come to the group and take off their masks, they feel they’re allowed to be their true selves. Even the messy parts. I just love that.
Now, I know you’ve found success from print promotions, which I think is a great reminder that traditional advertising channels still work.
Yes, definitely. But I specifically go for community newspapers. Whenever I’m starting a new program, I always reach out to a community newspaper to see if they’ll put a piece in leading up to a workshop. At the start I thought, “I probably won’t get anyone. But stuff it, let’s do it.” And it’s really paid off.
How do you approach pricing the programs?
There’s a sliding scale. I know the prices that similar programs charge, and if I go too low I’d be underselling their programs. I don’t want to do that.
The program’s accessibility is really important to me. And actually, we just got registered as a charity last week [at the time of interviewing], which, looking forward will allow me to further subsidize that cost for survivors.
Congratulations on your new charity status! Did officially becoming a charity change much for you in the back end?
A huge amount. There’s a lot of compliance that comes with being a charity. I think the biggest thing is that I’m now accountable to a Board. It was a big learning curve for me, but I always have my focus on nurturing the trust and respect in our relationship, and making sure we’re all aligned.
Now I need to run things by them for approval, which is a change I’m still getting used to. I’m used to moving quite quickly but this has taught me to slow down, which isn’t a bad thing at all.
Thanks so much for chatting today, Donna. Just before you go Can you tell us when your next programs will take place?
Upcoming programs:
Left Write Hook Bentleigh 2023
Saturday 15 July - Saturday 2 Sep
2:00pm - 4:30pm
Left Write Hook Footscray 2023
Sunday 16 July - Sunday 3 Sep
2:00pm - 4:30pm
Click here for more information about the program, documentary or any other exciting stuff Left Write Hook has going on.