Want to write in a French chateau in June?
In June, I will be giving a week-long creative-writing course. We'll be in a chateau in Burgundy with a group of 8 people max. Private chef, outing to Beaune, all inclusive. Très chic, but relaxed.
The course will be aimed at freeing up your creativity. It's based on my belief that we all have a personal, unique voice, and finding this will allow you to express yourself freely.
So bring along a project on the go, or start afresh, and let's get writing.
Contact the organiser, Lucy Hawkes, for more info : lucy@chateaudemissery.com
Here's the course description I wrote for the brochure:
“I don’t believe in writer’s block. There’s nothing mystical about writing. Inspiration doesn’t descend on us by magic. Words don’t get stuck somewhere between the brain and the fingertips: they appear as soon as we really want them.
Writing is fun, like a sport or a dance. And we can all do it. We all have things to say, and all we need is the freedom and self-confidence to say them. That’s what this course aims to give you.
We’ll play word games, do writing exercises: the keyword is freedom. Let’s say, for instance, that the subject of the day is the colour green, inspired by the Burgundy countryside. You can write about literally anything green. Your first-ever gooseberry, watching Ireland play rugby, the Northern Lights, a hedge you have known, or colour blindness. Anything or anyone green-related.
You can write it as part of a memoir, a novel, a play, a poem, a blog or just a Tweet or whatever we call them these days. In any style you choose.
We, the rest of the group, will tell you what we liked about your writing. Rule one of writing club is no negative feedback. You’ll get a bit of technical comment from me, but that’s all. Because the important thing about your writing is you.
Only you can develop your style, your voice. And the best way to do this is
to let yourself go in the direction you want to go. We, the group, are here to help everyone gain the confidence to do this. Writing should be enjoyable, enriching, satisfying.”
