Remembering Who You Are

Look at some of the language in those last two sentences. A no, a no and a not. Doesn't sound like much fun to me or very good for the soul. As I learned at last year's Charney Writers Retreat, courtesy of the Scattered Authors Society, these events are about much more than an individual's work. They're about nurturing the collective need to support, advise, share, gossip, eat, drink, and gossip some more. For every writer who spends a year working quietly at a solitary desk, there's one week in the summer where they can find a community of like-minded men and women just waiting to smile, chat and help. Not worth the effort? Then you're a braver writer than me.

But it's not all reassurance and hand-holding, wine and puddings. There's a busy programme of events, and this year it was invigorating. Need feedback on your WIP? Bring along an extract to the sample groups. Want advice on the festival circuit? There's a wealth of expertise if you turn up to the Tuesday evening session. My personal favourite was a morning event entitled 'We're so much more than our work'. Led by Cindy Jefferies, this talk was crucial to me. Shock, horror! Authors were allowed to discuss the good times and the bad times. Insecurities, authorial egos, inspiring poems, sensible reminders - these were all part of the debate. So many wise words in one room and lots of food for thought.

I know what you're thinking. Did you get any actual work done, Karen? I did, a bit. Emphasis on the 'bit'. But that's not really the point. Facebook, Twitter, blogs and email have all worked wonders for empowering writers and bringing them together. Seeing each other face to face, sharing laughter and sometimes tears? Now, that's a whole different ball game. Anyone can fake a jovial status update, safely hidden at home. But on a retreat, when life and commitments are pared away... You don't only connect with new friends, you reconnect with yourself. Afterwards, with identity firmly back in place, you can go back to doing what you do best. Or doing what you're pretty good at. Or are struggling with. But you return reinvigorated. There's still not a website in the world that can do that for me.

Thank you, Scattered Authors Society.