creative writing workshops

2008
 
     
 

The experience of having had novels, short stories, essays and travel books published as well as numerous articles for newspapers and magazines, has convinced me that, apart from talent, writing requires a good deal of self-discipline and concentration. I’m sure many others have reached this same conclusion before me.

 

I can only assume that the image of the author scribing away on the deck of a ship as the wind rustles the blank sheets of paper before them, came into being to feed the myth that needs to cloak every artist, but it is a long way from the truth. And as for those writers who declare, all full of hot air, that their last novel was written as the balloon they were travelling in was over Kenya, I’d say they lacked the seriousness, the innerness and the lightness of touch required if we are to engage in the adventure that is writing.

 

Despite rumours to the contrary, I don’t think this adventure is open to everyone. Entrance, of course, is free, but then so is the fall at the end if we haven’t peeped through the keyhole before entering the game. The keyhole is accessible to all and through it we can take in the game at our leisure as often as we want, even if we don’t really intend to join in ever - though we should save such pleas for elsewhere: let there be honour, please, among scribes.		  
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
creative writing workshops

for newcomers
 
     
 

After an entirely realistic dérive - literary drift - along a route selected by the workshop, 5 printouts of digitally-snapped images that caught our gaze and fired our thoughts will become the canvas on which each of us ultimately narrates a tale.  Autobiography is forgiven, playing hide and seek is encouraged, lying lauded.  Did you know the most marvellous narrative can be written with a noun, a verb, an article, a pronoun, an adverb, an adjective and a name?

 

A On Serifos + The first week of every month except January, July and August + Six days, five nights + Sunday – Friday

B In Athens + Two hours a week + Once a week + For 12 weeks + Mornings & afternoons		  
     
 
 
 
creative writing workshops

for initiates
 
     
 

Surrealist games and Situationist experiments will form the core of our inspiration as, the course nearing its end, we embark upon the writing of a short story. Monstrosities of the one-story-written-by-us-all sort will have their place in the fun and games, as we leaven discipline and concentration with letting off steam.

 

A On Serifos + The second week of every month except July and August + Six days, five nights + Sunday – Friday

B In Athens + Two hours a week + Once a week + For 12 weeks + Mornings & afternoons		  
     
 
 
 
creative writing workshops

for postdoctorals
 
     
 

Comparative readings of literary and critical works selected by the workshop will give us the thrust we require to renew our contracts of eternal literary faith or a tranquil deconstruction of givens. In either case, the next step will be sought out and implemented there and then, within the workshop time-frame: an article? a literary review? a full-length book presentation? Everyone who involves themselves in the adventure of putting pen to paper is a writer.

 

A On Serifos + The third week in every month except July and August + Six days, five  nights+ Sunday – Friday

B In Athens + Two hours a week + Once a week + For 12 weeks + Mornings & afternoons		  
     
 
 
 
creative writing workshops

for latecomers
 
     
 

Our biological clock as a chart helping us navigate the daemon-infested waters that is writing, along with collective readings of literary works selected by the workshop, are the twin threads drawing us into the fairytale. SINCE  once upon a time IT WILL BE ROUND-TABLE DECIDED THAT THE FAIRYTALES THEY TOLD US  and they all lived happily ever after WEREN”T ALL WRITTEN BY THE HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSENS, THERE AND THEN WE WILL WRITE OUR OWN and we will all live happily after all.

 

A On Serifos + The fourth week of every month except July, August and December + Six days, five nights + Sunday – Friday

B In Athens + Two hours a week + Once a week + For 12 weeks + Mornings & afternoons		  
     
     
     
 
creative writing workshops

2008
 
     
 

T E R M S    O F    P A R T I C I P A T I O N

 

subversive spirit [ essential ]
improvisational abilities [ essential ]
taste for experimentation [ essential ]
team spirit [ not essential ]
individuality, persistence, suspicion and mistrustfulness [ on aggregate ]
contrariness [ essential ]
culinary talent [ not essential 1]
pairs of single sheets, pillowcases, towels      [ essential 1]
digital camera or mobile phone [ essential 2]
walking boots [ not essential 1]
 
     
 

U S E F U L    I N F O R M A T I O N

  • The workshops are open to men and women of all ages.

  • A single workshop may include a wide range of ages. We like creatively filling the gaps.

  • A single workshop may include both men and women. It will be hard, but we’ll survive.

  • A single workshop may include smokers and non-smokers around the same table.

  • A single workshop may include people from Greece and elsewhere, as long as all participants share a common language.

  • A single workshop may include over 5 [ five ] people.

  • Vegetarians, boozers et al. would declare themselves so provisions can be made.1

  • Instrumentalists, gamblers et al. would come equipped.1

  
     
  1For the SERIFOS workshops ONLY
 2For the NEWCOMERS and INITIATES workshops ONLY		  
     
 

C O S T   O F   P A R T I C I P A T I O N

 

A On Serifos

650 euro*

 

 

a] 18 workshop hours

b] five nights in communal five-star accommodation

c] breakfast [coffee + cookies] and one meal [ per day ]

d] transfers to/from the accommodation/workshop from/to the harbour and to/from eating locations.

 

* The return ferry fare Piraeus-Serifos-Piraeus is not included [30 Euro]

 

NO MORE THAN 5 [FIVE] PEOPLE COULD PARTICIPATE IN EACH WORKSHOP

 

 

B In Athens

290 euro

 

 

24 workshops hours

 

NO MORE THAN 7 [SEVEN] PEOPLE COULD PARTICIPATE IN EACH WORKSHOP
 
     
     
  for more information click HERE.