Anam Cara Workshop on Narrative

Anam Cara Writers and Artists Retreat in Eyries on the Beara Peninsula has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. Situated overlooking Coulagh Bay and set in a glorious garden of streams and nooks and crannies and wild spaces, it is run by the wonderful Sue Booth-Forbes who has created a rare sanctuary for writers and artists.

I've visited on a number of occasions over the past 13 years, but am very excited to be finally facilitating a workshop there, with my partner, Peter Salisbury. The workshop will take place from 1st to 4th July. Here's more detail:

“Finding the story” is aimed at any writer grappling with the challenge of plot, storyline and narrative. Through a combination of practical creating writing and drama exercises and exploring texts from literature, as well as one to one feedback sessions and clinics, we’ll explore how best to structure our stories to make them compelling and readable. Participants may already be in the process of writing stories, in which case there will be opportunities to workshop and get feedback, with emphasis placed on solving problems that disrupt the narrative flow. But the workshop is also aimed at generating new story ideas and new approaches to generating and structuring our narratives. By the end of the weekend, participants should have a much clearer idea about how to structure their stories to create compelling, credible and intensely readable stories. They should also have lots of ideas for new story lines.

Agenda

Thursday, 1st July, evening: Arrival, introductions and ice-breaker

Friday, 2nd July:

Morning session – What’s the story? Generating story ideas
Afternoon session - How plots work and the best structures
Evening – Trip to be arranged

Saturday, 3rd July:

Morning session – How to generate and manage conflict in story
Afternoon session – Clinic (one to ones) and free writing time
Evening – Plot driven characters or character-driven plot

Sunday 4th July:

Morning session - Losing the plot – stories that write themselves
Early afternoon: Workshop round-up and next steps

You can get more information by emailing Sue at anamcararetreat@gmail.com