Tuesday 29 July 2008

STRANDHILL AFTERS




Well, my friend and I had a great time at the Summerfest in Strandhill, County Sligo over the week-end, particularly enjoying the wisdom and knowledge of the very fine teachers Ted Deppe and Annie Deppe. (If you get a chance to do a workshop with both or either of these two, grab it.) There was a lot of talk about writing, a lot of writing on-the-spot, and plenty of socialising at the BBQ and pub.

Much of the writing was done from prompts, an approach that yields mixed results, but Órfhlaith and I were both happy and surprised to find that we came home with pieces that will grow into ‘real’ writing. I was amazed at what some writers can produce on the spur of the moment; clever people!

The atmosphere was encouraging and positive and you can’t argue with that. Strandhill was awash with surfers enjoying the weather and the waves, and with writers, buzzing about their own and each other’s work. All in all, a very worthy and welcome week-end of writing and new friendships.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

It's always heartening to hang out with other writers, mainly because it's so rare to talk to people that are on that wavelength with you. I think that's why I enjoyed the MA year in Belfast so much. I nearly cried at the end of it, in June :(

Group 8 said...

Yes, it's so heartening. We never stopped talking all week-end. Over 30 people, buzzing around Strandhill, full of writer chat. It was great!