BALI     FIJI    BURMA   MOROCCO   LAOS   VIETNAM

 Moroccan Caravan. Jan 9-22, 2014 – Fez, Tissardmine, Erg Chebbi, Marrakech – a 12 day desert journey.

Temple Writing In Burma Feb 11-23 – 2014  inc. Irrawaddy Literary Festival.

 Breakthrough Writing in Fiji March 8-15, 2014 – Eat, Snorkle, Write, in Fiji’s hidden paradise.

 Indochine Journey, Vietnam  Aug 15-31, 2014– following the footsteps of Marguerite Duras.

IN SYDNEY

Summer Writers Lab, Nov 24 – Jan 27, Petersham, Sydney or Online.

Mapping The Memoir, Dec 7 -8, NSW Writers Centre.

Talking About Writing,  Meet Ups in Newtown. Next – Dec 5, 6.30-8.30 pm.

Writers Journey Blog

The Silly Season is upon us and summer is a comin’ in, and it seems more than ever there is just no time to write. The holiday period (especially here in the southern hemisphere) can be the best time of year to finish what you started earlier in the year.

You may be thinking you just want a break from everything, to lie on a beach and read for a week or two, but while you are reading, spare a thought for the writer who spent at least part of every day, putting those words on the page.

For that’s what it takes – no holidays for writers I’m afraid – however you don’t have to get yourself in a tiz , you don’t have to deny yourself a holiday, just use some of your holiday for your own writing.

Set yourself an exercise each day based on your holiday reading. Write down three things you notice about your holiday author’s voice, three paragraphs you love, three types of descriptive detail, three things about the structure, characters, plot points, underlying themes. Apply the same tasks to your own work. Each day in your hour or more of holiday writing time bring one of those things into your writing. More importantly set some goals for the end of summer. Make a pact to finish something – a story, a chapter, a clutch of poems or songs, halfa  a script, a draft.

We will be doing the same at Summer Writers Lab, just so you know you won’t be alone. Or get in touch with me to set up your Summer Mentoring Program right now!