I just wanted to send you a big big thank you for your wonderful workshop today.

Perhaps you would pass on my thanks to Noelle and Sarah too...they were absolutely fantastic, as was your introduction. It's so wonderful and a real privilege to have people like you to learn from. In just one day, I have come home armed with enough practical tools to get me started and more importantly, I have learnt a lot about myself, both good and bad! Hopefully some day I will have the confidence to lose the stage fright!

Thanks again and I am already looking forward to another workshop...in the meantime, I'd better get scribbling!
 
Best,
Suzanne, participant in Start Writing Workshop  

Little did I know just what a Pandora's Box of opportunities and enjoyment I was opening! 3 months later, I am blogging on my own blog site regularly (www.serenityspace-barbara.blogspot.com) - which I see as a great hobby and way of experimenting with my writing! And I am now also blogging for the Hello Magazine Website - check out www.hellomagazine.com, click 'celebrities' on the menu bar on top of page and go to the blog entitled 'A View from the 'Burbs'.

So thank you Beth and Inkwell Writers. I am having a ball!

Barbara, participant in Writing for the Web Workshop

I just wanted to say thanks again for another wonderful day yesterday. I got so much out of it despite feeling somewhat under the weather! Eilis was really fantastic......her comments were really constructive and I don't think I would ever tire of listening to her sound advice. I started and am close to finishing another short story today - I'll have a collection soon at this rate.

All the best and hope to see you again soon.

Rosemary, participant Short Stories Workshop

I would really like to thank you for the workshop on Saturday. It was a really well organised event delivered well. I was incredibly nervous going there and dreaded having to actually write anything for others to hear but I honestly enjoyed it. I will be trying my hand at this now and will definitely book for another course!

Warm regards
Anne Marie :-)

Just wanted to thank you again for the course today. It was fantastic and I really enjoyed it. I was amazed by the levels of the participants, some of them were really impressive. Both of your speakers were great too and I particularly enjoyed Marita's sessions. Her input, encouraging comments and great attitude were most appreciated.

Likewise, Maeve's session was enjoyable. While I found the exercises tougher they were challenging and very useful. A big thanks to you too for your presentation, hard work in arranging it and all the handouts.

Karen, participant in Writing For Children Workshop

Two months later and I've finally managed to get back to you Re Mills & Boon Workshop.

Where to start?

First off, I really did get off on an excellent start by staying in the fabulous hotel the night before. It was pure luxury, a world that is normally so far removed from my usual one.

I have never met such a warm group as I did that day, everybody was genuinely delighted to meet everyone else. I couldn't help but think as the day progressed that even though we were all there to learn how to write for Mills & Boon and that technically we were all competition for each other, it couldn't have been more the opposite. Everybody I spoke with offered advice, tips that work for them and general talk about their writings.

I made some wonderful friends, two of whom I email regularly. We have even begun offering critiques on our writing.

Not to mention Trish & Daisy. Wow, so so so nice and encouraging and helpful. They were fantastic and I truly believe I learned loads. My writing has seriously improved due to the simple advice that was on offer. Jenny was wonderful too, such wisdom for such a young girl.

And I know its totally not the reason we were there but the food alone would have me going back again. The desserts? Well, lets just say like a kiss that is forbidden, the taste still lingers.....

Thank you so much, you were fantastic to arrange the workshop and an absolute pleasure to meet in person.

Aideen, participant in Mills and Boon Romance

Just thought I'd drop you a line to let you know that, as per Alex Barclay's advice, I eventually sent off some of my novel, to Darley Anderson's literary agency and got a reply back just a few days ago. Unfortunately they weren't able to take it (or me!) on but it an extremely positive rejection letter; highly complimentary and they let me know that if I was prepared to rework it some more, they'd be more than willing to take another look.

So I'm not able to give up the day job just yet, but I working furiously on the sample chapters and I hope to send them off an amended draft within 3-4 weeks. Just wanted to let you know how things are going and thank you again for what was a very helpful and enjoyable weekend in Kippure. Please also pass on my thanks to Alex. Without her encouragement I'd still be tapping away but I definitely wouldn't have sent anything off yet.

Johnny, participant in Pure Fiction weekend

I went along with a fellow writer to this one day course with my pencil sharpened and my notebook ready. We started the morning with lots of inspiration from Martina (Devlin), who drew our attention to some outstanding writing, before throwing the challenge out to the audience at large, the exercises. Its amazing what you come up with when given a sentence and then asked to write a short story in five minutes, it certainly gets the creativity going!

Follow that up with that most useful of writing aids, feedback from fellow authors, as we all read our work out and dissected it, and you're in for a creativity sparking time. I think it is the writer's lot to be insecure, to take everything too seriously, and Grace's approach during the afternoon, pleading with us all to lighten up and write was a breath of fresh air. In trying to improve my writing, I know I am in danger of over analysing and being over critical.

When it comes right down to it, the reason we all write is because we love it, and the Inkwell Short Story Course, as well as providing tons of advice, emphasised that, and allowed us all to flaunt our individuality and unique writing voices.

Sally, participant in Short Stories Workshop

Like so many good things in life it was by sheer chance that I became acquainted with INKWELL and did a course last April on Women's Fiction.

I found the facilitator, Vanessa O'Loughlin warm and efficient and welcoming and an excellent organiser. She creates a very friendly atmosphere and I would strongly recommend anyone who is thinking of attending a writer's workshop to consider Inkwell

The line up of authors - Sarah Webb, Claudia Carroll and Tracy Culleton - were good, gave useful tips and honest insights into the working life of successful writers. The other participants were friendly - some were extremely humorous - and I thought the level of writing overall to be of a high (but not intimidating) standard.

I enjoyed the course, had a good day and a good laugh but the most important thing I took away was that spirit of motivation essential to keep on writing. As they say the only way to write is to write. INKWELL helps one to do just that.

Mary, participant in Women's Fiction Workshop

 Looking forward to next year!
Ann

I really enjoyed the workshop, the writers were so helpful and accessible and the group was lovely. Thanks a million for organising it. Can't wait for the retreat and the next workshops.

Christina, participant in Crime Pays workshop

It was an excellent course. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was great to be mentored by published writers and then able to share their experiences over a cup of tea and a wonderful meal at the interval. The course really improved my writing ability and provided me with the foundations required to finally write that elusive novel.

John