News from the Writers' Lab by Jess Mortimer

Just to let you know that I am at Skyros Centre doing Writers' Lab with Jennie Rooney, who wrote the novel Inside the Whale. There are nine of us, from different countries and at different levels of experience. Some members have been published; two are intending to be writers full time and are working to get their first novels planned. Others have written for the commercial press and now want a voice of their own.

I am retired from social services management and seeking to write novels and memoires rather than committee reports. In the first week we have explored aspects of novel writing. We have done different exercises each day. These include writing story lines in which the character’s flaw brought about an occurrence. Mine was Monica who liked being the centre of attention and therefore she volunteer for roles she could not possibly carry out. The catastrophes that ensued meant that she got fired.

On other occasions we wrote about arguments, birth and death. We read our contributions to the group members who gave great suggestions to support the story line or make the argument more authentic. We worked on most occasions out in the Greek sunshine, shaded by bamboo matting, some of us with our electronic notebooks others with pen and paper. In the last week we have continued with exercises and personal projects with tutorial support from Jenny so that each person is nearer to the publication of their novel by the time they leave. This course has completely lived up to the blurb in the Skyros brochure.

Saturday we had a short downpour of rain, probably the last real rain of the season, which soon ran in torrents down the cobble streets and then became a rapid stream in which we sought stepping stones as we jumped in sandals from one cobble to the next. We soon dried out in the sunshine. We had two optional trips this week, including reading poetry at Rupert Brookes grave, talking with a wood carver who aged 11 decided that this was the skill he wanted to learn. He still makes Skyrian Chairs which are low but as we found very comfortable to sit on.

Also optional were sessions of Shiatsu and massage by Susie. I have enjoyed co-listening with my partner who is in Dina’s group, doing Life Choices. My co-listener is seeking a job where she can experience success and hopes to go home with a better idea of her direction in life. I hope to continue seeking my natural writing mode now that I no longer have to write formal reports for work. The group are encouraging me to look at developing novels where there is a sense of humour as they have found some of my written work funny.

We have participated in village life. On Sunday a TV crew came to Skyros village. The villagers turned out in force in costume to dance in the square and others having cooked and baked the delicacies of the area, arranged the goodies on long tables. Most interesting for me were the old ladies dressed in black dresses with black jackets, leaning on their sticks chatting in groups each with their black grey hair put up in a bun behind. Old men with sticks chatting, or sitting drinking Ouzo. One preferred to use a walking frame to negotiate the cobbled streets whilst holding his walking stick for use on the flat. As an Occupational Therapist I can see that this village on a hill has limited access for cars and its cobbled streets and steps up to houses would pose difficulties for wheel chair users.

Last week we had two sessions of Greek Dancing and two of Salsa. This week Hazel is offering optional sessions of singing, drama and dance. We have just completed a ‘whisper to song session’ which started with us lying on our backs breathing and eventually sighing and then signing a note before getting up and singing songs such as ‘swing low sweet chariot’ and ‘when the Saints come Marching in’. Then dividing into 3 groups to take a song each and sing it to the same rhythm as we intermingled.

The vegetarian food provided by the Greek cook is great and the tavernas all have their specialities. If one does not want to go into the village there is a tavern by the sea where the sun sets as one eats so it is helpful to have a friend who has a torch when returning.

I first came to Atsitsa in 1985 and have been on this holiday six times in all - four at the Skyros Centre. The atmosphere is great here and has been every time I have come. I am never disappointed.

Signing off now as I am about to develop a belly dance act for the last evening soiree tomorrow.

Jess Mortimer

PS Athens posed no problems the Acropolis still looked great from the roof of the Titiania hotel lit up at night. The bus to Skyros took us past a group of communists who had red flags and were peacefully eating breakfast at a street side cafe. For anyone who does not not want to go into Athens, there are direct flights from Athens airport to Skyros costing £50 single.

If you'd like to join one of the Writers' Lab holidays this summer, call 01983 865566, email office@skyros.com or book online at www.skyros.com.