Writers at the MAC

This morning Pat, Fionnuala, Mairi, Rhonda, Jo & I met up at the Canteen at the MAC and enjoyed lovely coffee and pastries while we shared our stories. Well, they weren't actual 'stories', rather what we've all been up to since we last met up -  and while we haven't done much writing, we still have been busy.
Afterwards we had a look at the 'Northern Ireland - 30 years of photography exhibition'. Not exactly stunning views of the Mournes or the causeway coast - some stark, gruesome photos. The camera never lies.
Then we made a wonderful discovery! - the Writers' Room at the MAC! Its a space set aside for writers. We made a few inquiries and discovered its free to use, so guess where we'll be going!

Creative Writing workshop at the MAC with Lucy Caldwell

I spent yesterday afternoon with Fionnuala at Lucy Caldwell's creative writing workshop last the MAC in Belfast. Very encouraging and motivating. Some motivational quotes I liked were Calvin Coolidge's 'Nothing can take the place of persistence' and Samuel Beckett's 'Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.'
We did some writing exercises as well as thinking about where we get writing ideas, tense, point of view, finding your voice.
Outside in St. Anne's Square the Festival of Fools was getting underway, to the sound of brass bands playing. As we were contemplating why we need stories, 'Somewhere over the rainbow' wafted in the windows.
All in all an inspiring, motivating workshop. Now to get back to my writing......