Anyone for a creative break by the sea?

a quiet spot to write ...to dream ...

The Writing Muse and I were in serious need of a break … a holiday … an opportunity to re-connect creatively, so we took ourselves off to a writing retreat.  I mean, what harm could it do?  Recently, there had been so many non-productive spells of writing. It seemed to both of us that we really needed to escape from the rat race and go somewhere peaceful and quiet.  

There had been endless conversations between us.

‘Where should we go?’

‘What about Ireland?’

‘Ireland?’ 

‘What about the Ireland Writing Retreat?

‘How do you know about that?’

‘Serendipity … he’s a good friend of mine.’

‘Emm? Where in Ireland?

‘Donegal.  Know it?

‘Know it, I love that place.  Donegal is my heart space!’

‘So we’re going?’

‘Too right we’re going! 

We booked ourselves in for a whole week with the Ireland Writing Retreat in west Donegal.  Teac Jack, Gweedore was the destination, a place off the beaten track towards The Wild Atlantic Way.  We were not disappointed.  Our hosts, Sean and Columbia had woven together a workshop of colourful and creative strands - writing exercises, author visits, storytelling, songwriting and several excursions too. The céili dancing provided great energy bursts for the restless soul and ensured both mind and body were well maintained during the week.  

The Writing Muse and I had great fun and made lots of new writing friends.  We shared stories and writing in class, which often continued over a glass of wine in Jack’s bar later. At times, it was difficult to know if it was the telling of tales or the draining of wine glasses that enhanced the storytelling as the night wore on … whichever, it resulted in some fine stories and writing by the end of the week.