A tonic of a treat

I've just returned from a tonic of a treat - time spent in good company in an amazing location with good food and good craic and with the added bonus that I also managed to write! Our annual writing retreat usually re-energises us and sets us up for writing into the winter.  This year's retreat was excellent as always. 

Top grade writing fuel is always essential and we couldn't complain about any of the food - we feasted like kings the entire weekend. Everyone contributed delicious home made delights.

Often we are blessed with fabulous weather  - this year it was a bit more changeable but that didn't stop us getting out on to the beach to relax in between focusing on working on various writing projects, reading and sharing our work and giving and receiving feedback.

Prior to the retreat I'd made a plan of what I wanted to work on and I'm pleased that most of my planned work was completed. We also started planning ahead for the coming months.

While it felt like a hurricane was making landfall when we were leaving, we came away with full stomachs, our heads buzzing from being together and energised to keep working on our various projects as we head into autumn and winter.

Creative Energy

After a break it's good to get back to routines again. Last weekend our SCBWI Ireland Belfast group met up. Due to the holiday period our numbers were depleted but we still had plenty to chat about. And it gave me a chance to use our new desktop sign our Illustrator Co-ordinator, Debora designed.

Spurred on by the creative energy that develops when writers get together I've been making writing plans during the week.

I also finally got round to recording the sound files for some of my poems on The Dirigible Balloon. You can listen to them here:

https://dirigibleballoon.org/writer/mornasullivan

And I've made the most of the good weather this weekend, getting outside to write when I can in betweencatchingup with family and friends. Yesterday morning I took advantage of some amazing weather to enjoy a coffee in the garden while I wrote a first draft of a new short story.

Fingers crossed summer has finally arrived!

Scots inspiration

I picked up my battered copy of Robert Burns' poetry at a jumble sale many years ago, when still at school and contemplating studying English literature. Ironically I studied and learned more of Burns' work at home and at primary school - his work wasn't included on the syllabus at grammar school and at university there weren't any modules as part of my English language and literature degree then covering his work.

On a recent road trip to Scotland, I took a welcome break from traffic disruption to stop off at the Robert Burns museum in Alloway, Ayrshire. I've popped in before for a quick bite to eat in the cafe and a hasty look around the shop, but this time I had a bit more time, so I was able to visit the museum exhibits.

Seeing the actual desk at which Robert Burns sat down to write and his writing set, along with some actual manuscripts was awe-inspiring. 

The museum displays have been carefully curated so that those who are not so familiar with Scots can understand fully what is being conveyed in Burns' writing.

The visit was a good start to a welcome break in Scotland and inspired me to get my own notebook and pen out to write while I was there.