CREATIVE WRITING COURSES

‘MY LIFE - MY STORY' 10 - 17 MAY 2010

“You have enabled me to shift from diary writer to story-teller, showing me how to engage my readers in ways I’d never considered.” – M O, Oxford

“Just what I needed. Judi listens most intently to every reading – doesn’t miss a thing. She is the best writing tutor I have had to date.” - P P, Henley

We all have a rich treasury of anecdotes, recollections and experiences of life that the storyteller within urges us to share.  But where do we start? How do we shape our story? And how do we write our recollections in a way that’s lively, interesting and engaging? 

Whether you want to write for publication, for children and grandchildren, or simply to understand the magic and meaning of your own life, this course, led by journalist Judi Goodwin, provides a golden opportunity to explore the apparently everyday aspects of life and to discover significance of your own experiences. It will help you to tell your tale in a way that’s lively, interesting and engaging and enable you to write diaries, journals, memories and memoirs, anecdotes and autobiographical material.

The course is suitable for all levels of writing ability and new writers are particularly welcome. It is an ideal follow-on course for anyone who has done ‘Unleash Your Writing Power’ and experienced writers will gain new insights and techniques.

There will be group tuition sessions five mornings a week and also an opportunity for one-to-one sessions. Afternoons will be free, leaving plenty of time either to explore Paxos or simply relax.

Throughout the course enjoyable exercises will help you trigger your memories and focus on places, people and events that will fascinate your friends and family, or perhaps reach an even a wider audience now and in future years to come. You will complete a number of short autobiographical pieces and will have the opportunity to make an action plan and timetable for ongoing writing.

You will learn how to 

• identify your audience and define your project
• get the memories flowing and capture your experiences in a way that engages your readers
• use life’s turning points and choices to create drama and suspense
• write convincing, natural dialogue
• bring experiences to life with descriptive detail
• learn techniques from other writers by reviewing examples of their work
• write faster and more fluently, and abolish writer’s block
• present your story with style
• use images, illustrations and audio to add another dimension
• get your work published using new on-line opportunities

If you are an observer of your own life, if you learn from your experiences and want to share the lessons, if you can see the funny side of even those minor disasters that befall us all, then this course is definitely for you. And it is invaluable to anyone simply wanting to share the stories of their own childhood and grown-up years.

Course Cost: The course costs £545 per person, which includes tuition as described above, accommodation in a shared twin/double room in a villa with private swimming pool near Loggos, one of the three main villages on Paxos, and a breakfast hamper. Transfers between Corfu airport and your accommodation on Paxos can be arranged at additional cost, as can a programme of optional activities including Greek cookery, Greek dancing and walks.

For full details of what is included in the cost of the course and of the accommodation, please see ‘Writing Courses Further Information’.

It is also possible for anyone who has their own accommodation or who wishes to be more independent just to join the group tuition sessions. Please contact us to discuss your requirements. 

To Book: Please read our Booking Conditions and the Important Information section of this website and then complete and submit an On-Line Booking Form. 'My Life - My Story' is open to people of all ages and abilities aged 18 or over. However, Paxos is a relatively hilly island and we therefore do not feel that it is suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.

Minimum number of participants: All our holidays, courses and activities require a minimum number of participants in order for them to operate. The minimum number of participants required for the 'My Life - My Story' course to operate is 6.

Holiday insurance: It is a condition of booking our holidays/courses/activities that you have comprehensive travel insurance that includes cover for the holidays/courses/activities in which you are planning to participate. The cost of insurance is not included in the cost of the Writing courses but we have arranged a policy which you can buy on-line with Travel & General Insurance Company plc. You must, however, ensure that this policy meets all your requirements before you purchase it. We will ask you for details of your insurance policy before you travel to Greece and before you are allowed to take part in any of our holidays, courses or activities.

Second Holiday/Course Discount: We will give you a discount of £40 if you book any two holidays or courses in Summer 2010.

Further Information: Do have a look round our website and, if you would like further information about any of our holidays and courses or about Paxos more generally, then please do not hesitate to Contact Us.

Expanding our Programme: We are always looking to expand the range of holidays and courses that we offer. If you have a special interest or an activity that you would like to pursue whilst on Paxos or elsewhere in Greece, or a holiday or course that you would like to lead, then we would love to hear from you.