Writing Can Be... by Wendy H. Jones

Firstly, the operator would like to extend her apologies for the late arrival of today's blog, which was scheduled to arrive at 00.30. This was due to the fact I am currently at Scargill House. Yes, I know that shouldn't make a difference but last night I was too busy having - I'm going to whisper this next bit - fun. Yes, you heard me right - Fun. You know when you are at a weekend run by Adrian and Bridget Plass, that you are going to have a boatload of fun. When Nick Page joins in, the laughter levels escalate into the stratosphere. My favourite quote was from Adrian in his letter to the Australians - "You should have thought of that before you started with all the begetting." My sides are aching this morning after laughing so hard last night. 

It was also lovely to meet up with old friends and start to make new ones. Scargill is a place where you can relax and be yourself. Everyone is equal and everyone's writing is valued not matter where they are on the journey. Everyone's opinion is valued and people truly listen. It's a place where every person who walks through the door is genuinely pleased to see you. Arriving at Scargill is like arriving home. The views are stunning, the atmosphere conducive to writing and the workshops fire up the old grey cells. 

There is also time for contemplation. We started last nights session with this quote. 

The heart of human identity is the capacity and desire for birthing.

To be is to become creative and bring forth the beautiful.

John O'Donoghue

Scargill is certainly a place where this can happen. Large and sprawling, it has nooks and crannies where you can meet with friends or spend time alone and write. It even has a library. Now we're talking. Any retreat that has a library is perfect in my book. Pun intended.

One of the highlights is the bookshop with books from ACW members. Again it has a stunning view. I have to admit I have given in and bought a few already. Why not, they are all such good writers. 

I could wax lyrical about Scargill for several more paragraphs but I've a workshop to attend and I don't want to miss it. I will finish where I started - Scargill is so much fun. For those of you who are here, what was your favourite quote from last night. Let's share the laughter. 

About the Author

Wendy H Jones is the Amazon Number 1 best-selling author of the award winning DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries. Her Young Adult Mystery, The Dagger’s Curse was a finalist in the Woman Alive Readers Choice Award. She is also The President of the Scottish Association of Writers, an international public speaker, and runs conferences and workshops on writing, motivation and marketing. Wendy is the founder of Crime at the Castle, Scotland’s newest Crime Festival. She is the editor of a Lent Book, published by the Association of Christian Writers and also the editor of the forthcoming Christmas Anthology form the same publisher. Her first children's book, Bertie the Buffalo, was released in December 2018. Motivation Matters: Revolutionise Your Writing One Creative Step at a Time, will be released in May 2019.

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