A WORD FROM LANNA… – Creative Writes

Lanna Ford, our first volunteer!

My Volunteer Experience with Creative Writes by Lanna Ford

I have just completed a two-month volunteer placement with Creative Writes, which included attending all the workshops as a participant during that period. I came across this opportunity when I was looking for writing workshops to attend and I was happy to find some in my local area that sounded right for me. I liked the idea of focusing on free flow writing with no critique. Nichola, who founded Creative Writes in 2009, studied with Natalie Goldberg, a US writer and teacher whose book “Writing Down the Bones” I had read a couple of years earlier.

When I saw that Nichola was looking for a volunteer I felt it would be interesting to get involved with something like this in my local community. I had recently started my own small holistic therapy business and I knew what was required behind the scenes but at the same time I was still learning and feeling quite isolated being self-employed. I liked the idea of helping someone out who had been running a small business for five years, gaining experience and of course attending all the workshops! I had a lovely first meeting with Nichola, her warm and colourful character left me with no doubts about my placement.

Over the next two months I helped with the Creative Writes accounts, website and publicity, tasks that are often hard to tackle when you’re on your own and out and about a lot but which seemed much easier when working along side someone. It motivated me to get on with my own too! It’s nice to have a quick tea and chat with someone in between admin tasks and we even spent some time working together with two of Nichola’s self-employed friends.

The workshops I attended were the two themed workshops “Myriad of Objects” and “Colourful Writes”, the Summer Surgery and the three consecutive Tuesdays. I have always loved writing but like a lot of people I wasn’t giving myself the time to write, I was always feeling like there was something more important I should be doing. As a result I was feeling quite blocked so I was surprised at how easily the words flowed during the first workshop and how much easier it became with each workshop I attended. The exercises that Nichola uses & her teaching style enabled me to get the words down on paper without it being a painful process. In fact, I really enjoyed each workshop and I very quickly went from dreading reading out my writing to finding it no big deal. I also met some lovely, talented people and enjoyed listening to their writing.

I am now writing more and finding it easier & more natural to write everyday. There’s a great community feel with these workshops. Like running a small business, writing can be quite isolating so it feels good to connect with other writers and feel supported. Thank you Nichola for this amazing experience!

Thanks Lanna, it has been an absolute pleasure and a real learning experience for me. I so appreciate all of your hard work and it has been a treat having you around. I would highly recommend this arrangement for anybody running their own business.

– Nichola

NEW CREATIVE WRITES AUTUMN/WINTER 2014-2015 WORKSHOP DATES!
Our new programme of workshops is now on the Bookings & Info page here:
https://www.creativewrites.co.uk/p/bookings-workshop-info-how-to-book.html

The programme includes two blocks of three Wednesday evenings, the return of our monthly Themed Workshops (with some new themes added!), Motivational Writing Surgery and the continuation of our one to one Skype and Masterclasses. Our Masterclasses have been re-launched – take a look at the Bookings page to find out more. The group workshops run again from 8 October 2014 with a block of three Wednesdays.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Bye for now.