If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad...

"If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad"  Jane Austen.

 

With this thought in mind and with almost as many items of luggage as depicted in my Jane Austen mindfulness colouring in page, we set off to Coney Island for our annual writing retreat.

 

Stunning sea views, good food, good company and good weather provided the backdrop for a few days away from everything and space to write. Every year it seems to get even better. During the day it was invigorating to take a walk on the beach and enjoy the beauty on the doorstep.

I had the fortune this year to stay in the perfect writer's spot - check it out on Air b n b here  https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/18648844?source_impression_id=p3_1566248036_KTPb9cl16ZYAIWoL

There's always something new to discover at Coney - whether it be a shell on the beach, seasnail patterns in the sand or stalking giants...

 

There's always something new to learn on our writing journeys. We had the pleasure of welcoming local award winning crime writer, Anthony J Quinn https://www.anthonyjquinnwriter.com/

 to share some of his writing tips with us.

Not surprisingly Anthony was enthralled by the landscape and seascape Coney offers, ever changing but ever constant.

 

We were left in no doubt that writing is not an easy journey and tough decisions have to be made. If it's not tough and we're not frustrated with our writing there's something not right.

 

 

So, to ease the difficult journey ahead, cake was needed - and Fionnuala's carrot cake did not disappoint - it was delicious.

 

One of the tough decisions to be made is about making time to write when we have busy schedules. It's easy to come up with excuses as to why we can't find time. Anthony suggested getting up a bit earlier each day and writing before we do anything else. On the final day at Coney I woke, naturally, around 6am. The thought of getting up and starting writing came into my head, but instead I turned over and fell asleep. I woke up again 45 minutes later. And I knew I couldn't fight it this time. I tried to come up with excuses not to get up and write - I'd left my notebook in the writing room (locked away) the previous night and I wouldn't be able to get it until later. But I carry a large handbag around, which usually will have at least one piece of paper and a pen in it. The early morning sun was streaming in below the curtains, urging me to get up. There was no excuse, a second time. Writing was calling and I couldn't ignore it. So I got up and dressed, rummaged in my bag and found paper and a pen, went outside and began to write....