Take a course – I did!

I’ve been away a while I know. In fact I have been abroad for 3 out of the last six weeks, ill with a lost voice (shame) for one week and playing catch up for two. But now I am back I have much to share. Are you ready?

I have been on a novel writing course, at The Castle of Park in Scotland. It was led by a wonderful novelist called Anita Burgh (pronounce it Burra) who did not begin writing until she was 46 and is now on her 24th novel. There were 11 students and, shut away from the world as we were in a fully-catered castle, miles from anywhere had nothing to do but bond, laugh, bond, write and eat and drink too much. It was heaven on a stick. We are all so inspired, by the view, by our new friends, by writing but mostly by the wonderful Anita.

If your muse has gone AWOL please take my advice and go on a course for a big fat fix of inspiration.

Before Scotland I was in France, and I stayed alone while the rest of our party (friends and family) skied. I’m too much of a wuss to ski, and besides, I wanted to have time to write! Fat chance! Being alone and lonely in a place that is tailormade for skiers and nothing else, 30 minutes up a mountain led me to get self-absorbed and grumpy rather than inspired. So, if you go somewhere planning to write write write – do make sure it is somewhere where you a) have a view (I had that one!) and b) can get the things that inspire you easily. For me, I need conversation, action, walks in nature and lots of energy around me. Stuck in a purpose built ski resort was not good!

Before Scotland it was the Families in Global Transition conference in Houston, and that WAS inspiring. Here I was among the gurus of the expat world, many of whom had written books and could learn from role models, while others could learn from me. The ideal learning experience is when there are those around who know more than you and those who know less. At least that’s how it works for me. So, I met Toni Hargis who has published Rules Britannia and Marian Weston who has written At Home Alone and Jennifer Paterson of When Families Cross Borders – at last a book on finance for expats. But of course I also met those who are old hands at the publishing lark – Robin Pascoe, Ruth van Reken, Anne Copeland and many more.

Then I met those who write and run websites, like Andrea Martins and Jill Lengre of ExpatWomen.com, a wonderful new hub for expats. Here they are below:

So now you know why I have been a bit quiet lately.

Jo