Cuba and the Craft of Fiction with Romesh Gunesekera

As summer ends and the temperature drops, you sense change in the air. You open the newspaper and find Cuba splashed across the page. You wonder what it would be like to see a place on the brink of change. You wonder what it would be like to change yourself and discover new ways of seeing, of expressing yourself creatively.

You have been wanting to put your thoughts down in words, to get in touch with the stories in your head, to write, but there has never been the time to do it. You don’t know where to begin, and what to do next. What shall I write about? Who can I show it to? How do I write the next bit? Is it any good?

Trying to write unleashes a load of questions and not much progress and you forget that writing should be a joy.

You want to spend some time away to play with your imagination and explore a new world. You want to write more and better. You want to discover how to start that book you always wanted to write.

Cuba is the place. In our Havana writing workshop we will examine the craft of fiction and do short exercises to get back in touch with the pleasures of writing. We read out our stories and share tips. We will find inspiration from the place and from each other and have the time to write what we want.

In the Atsitsa workshop in Greece I led two years ago, the 8 participants ranged from those who had never tried writing fiction to those already embarked on a project. We had a fantastic time. A week of discovery, and already one published novel.

Cuba promises to be even better.

Romesh Gunesekera

Romesh Gunesekera, internationally acclaimed writer whose first Novel, Reef, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and his second one, Sandglass, was awarded the BBC Asia award. His most recent novel The Match was described by the Spectator as 'effortlessly accomplished', and the Irish Times as a book that 'shows why fiction is written - and read'.

Romesh will be running his course 'Fiction Writing' from 14 - 24 November 2010. Call Skyros on 01983 865566 to book or book online at www.skyros.com.

Skyros Centre - Hill To The Sea

Butterfly hillside
High
Diving hawks
spiralling down in loose formation

Dawn till dark

White horse on the hill, so still
So still.
Hibiscus descending,
a red scented waterfall,
White butterflies, red ones,
from flower to flower

White horse on the hill,
My beauty,
So still.
Alone on the hillside
In sunlight and tethered
Alone in the tall grass
the flowers around you.

Sea birds ride the wind
Rising hot from the meadow,
their shadows
a pattern
on the hillside below,
Their shrill cries
Songs of freedom
crisscrossed and free
On their run to the sea.

Marti Mirkin
Skyros, 5th September 2010

Marti Mirkin attended a writing holiday this summer at the Skyros Centre in Greece with Skyros Holidays. See www.skyros.com for more information. The holiday included yoga, writing, music and arts as well as the many delights of island village life.

Siesta on Skyros by Kevan Manwaring

Sshhh,
the village is asleep –
curled into the folds of the hills,
sugar cube houses,
white against the dusty olive groves,
the pungent sage, sparse grass, fennel bushes.
Cats lay withering, scrawny,
all eyes and claws,
in hammocks of shadow.
Dogs pant, old men hawk.
Yah yahs sit on plastic thrones,
exiled monarchs,
eyes moist with lost kingdoms
coups and treasons,
traitorous hearts,
the splendour of the past,
memories brought out like jewels
Burnished with time.
Washing hangs like streaks of paint
suspended in the air.
Scooters, pick-ups
are parked on improbable precipices.
Television sets are gagged –
the soap opera will have to wait,
paused – as the village grapevine.
Even the Gods hold their breath,
take time out
from the eternal squabbling –
the sea respects the sky,
the wind and the mountain war not.
the earth is silent –
no tantrum tremors disturb
the monastery perched on the peak,
nest for black bearded birds.
The rooster no longer mocks the sun,
Even the braying donkey bites her tongue,
mute in her daily indignation.
It is siesta,
and all good Skyrians
are as stubborn as the ass.
The glistering shops are shuttered,
trading ceased in the market place.
Even the water washed down the steps,
seems to slow, melting glass.
Everything settles into itself,
stops for a while trying
to be something else.
The velocity of the world
slows.
Each moment
dilates –
a knob of butter slowly melting in a pan.
The riches of night,
the hoard of dreams,
erupt into day,
as the window eyelids droop,
villas nod upon sloping shoulder.
and Skyros succumbs
to Morpheus
for the masses.

Kevan Manwaring
Skyros, 14th September 2010

Kevan recently ran a two week course in Greece which consisted of Writing Poetry and Life Fiction. Kevan is a writer of fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction who lives in Bath, Somerset. Holder of an MA in the Teaching and Practice in Creative Writing from Cardiff University, he teaches creative writing for the Open University. See Kevan's website www.kevanmanwaring.co.uk

To find out more about the acclaimed Writers' Lab on Skyros Island, Greece, described by The Guardian as 'number one of the world's five best writing holidays', see www.skyros.com or call 01983 865566 for your Skyros brochure.

The Writers' Lab by Monique Roffey

Just back from the Writer's Lab, Skyros. The group arrived on 15th August, which is a big holiday in Greece, one which celebrates the ascent of the Holy Virgin into heaven. A very important event in the Greek orthodox calendar.

We arrived to a very lively island, festivities in full flow - and 42 degrees heat. Funny thing, the weather and Greece and the British. We spent the first week discussing the extreme heat - and the second week discussing the high winds. If it had been perfectly still and evenly warm throughout - I'm sure we would have discussed that too.


For the two weeks at the end of August, the Skyros Centre was turned into an exclusive Writer's Lab. Seventeen writers and me, just us. We ate drank, slept and talked writing all through the days and nights.


I can truly say that I have not had such a strong and talented group, either at Skyros or anywhere else. Half the group were easily well on their way to publication. In the first week, I taught the craft of fiction; we talked about how to make stories work on the page, how to make credible characters and how to make the world of the novel live.

I had my students, walking the streets touching, smelling, listening to and tasting parts of the town they had never thought to taste. Week Two I steered the group into the broad umbrella that is 'life writing'. This is slightly edgier writing and it worked well that this was left for the second half of the holiday, when the group had bonded, gelled and relaxed - and trusted each other to share their life stories.

On the final night there was a soiree type salon and the students sang songs and read their work. I have heard from several of the group since leaving Skyros, some of who are now applying to do an MA, others looking to form a small writing group in London. It was a holistic holiday - yoga, massage, Vasso's Kitchen, writing, writing writing, which is the right kind of work and quite a bit else thrown in. Wonderful chemistry.

Thank you Skyros for inviting me again. I learnt a new word: idiotica, which is Greek for wanting to be alone.

Monique Roffey,
author, idiotica

Monique Roffey ran her writing course at the Skyros Writers' Lab in Greece, named by The Guardian as No 1 of the World's 5 Best Writing Holidays. Monique's latest novel is The White Woman on the Green Bicycle. She is an ex Arvon Centre Director and Royal Literary Fund Fellow. She teaches Creative Writing for English PEN, Arvon and is a guest tutor on the Goldsmiths MA in Creative Writing.

Monique has just been short-listed for the prestigious Orange Prize for Fiction award that is awarded to a female author of any nationality for the best original full-length novel written in English, and published in the United Kingdom in the preceding year. The Orange Prize forms part of the "trinity" of UK literary prizes, along with the Man Booker Prize and the Costa Book Awards.

Interview with Ari Badaines at the Skyros Centre

Ari Badaines trained as a clinical psychologist in the USA. For twelve years he lived in Britain where he had a private practice and led numerous groups and training courses. He now lives in Sydney, Australia where he maintains a consulting practice. In August 2010, Amanda Smyth (teaching at the Writers' Lab) met Ari at the Skyros Centre, where he is running personal development courses.

How long have you been coming to Skyros? This is my twenty ninth consecutive summer.

What brought you here? Airplane and boat! Actually, I was invited by Dina, one of the founders, to run a personal development group. Back then there were three intensive personal development groups of around 13 people in each group, running simultaneously.

Are the problems people brought to the groups similar now to what they were? Yes, essentially the issues are mainly around relationships, so pretty much the same now as they were back then: career choices, childhood experiences, relationship to self, relationship to others; these are the typical kinds of issues that reoccur.

Does change happen quickly here at Skyros? Sometimes change does occur more quickly; this is partly because of the intensity of the course. The course runs every day, rather than once a week, as in typical ongoing therapy. And although frequency doesn’t guarantee change, there is an added intensity, plus there’s tremendous support and opportunity for experimentation, for being different, and trying out better ways of being and relating.

At Skyros, everyone is in the same boat, so people are more compassionate, understanding and supportive. It doesn’t matter if you’re part of the writing lab or taking the self-development course – people at Skyros are encouraged to experiment, challenge and take risks. If they’re going to develop, this is a good space in which to do it.

I was struck by the atmosphere here in Skryos, not just at the centre but in the town, too. It feels like a very special island. We can project anything into an environment; there is the beauty of this island, the sun, the sea and being so close to nature in such a beautiful village. This can make you feel differently about things. It can feel very good and supportive. But changing our environment - from what we’re used to - can also be challenging. It’s how we perceive what’s here, and that depends on where you are in your individual process.

How are you received by locals? There are a few locals that seem to remember me from year to year, and give me a warm hello. But, of course, I am limited by my Greek language skills.

There are one or two people that I try to see regularly who speak very good English, who I have quite a strong relationship with. That is, I would feel disappointed if I didn’t see them. Yorgo, for instance. Many years ago, as I wandered around Skyros town on my own, I would go into his shop and see his plates, which are exquisite works of art. And gradually, we started to talk, to get to know one another; a relationship built up. Ten years ago he moved into the countryside where I now visit him, and he welcomes me like a member of the family. We laugh and tell stories. He is so artistically creative, I have a lot of respect for what he does, his abilities, his humor.

What is the focus of your work here? To help people become aware of where they get stuck in their life, to help them become aware of the choices they make to keep themselves there. My work offers the opportunity to confront those issues, and the things that keep them stuck. With the support of the group behind them, they are free to take risks and experiment with a new way of being and doing.

Some believe a leopard never changes its spots, they simply move around? Do you think there is any truth in this? I’m helping people, not to change, but to become more of who they are.

I do believe that people can make quite dramatic changes. Like the woman who does too much to please others because she doesn’t value herself, and when she begins to take ownership of her own good ‘enough-ness,’ she makes huge and dramatic changes. It’s exciting to see.

It is each person’s responsibility to carry on with the work they have started here, and when they don’t practice this work, when they forget, it’s like muscles - they weaken. This environment supports change, and unfortunately, the environment they return to doesn’t always encourage change. Systemically, whether at work or in relationship, there will be pressure to return things to the way they were formerly - to homeostasis. It is something we talk about here at Skryos.

Sometimes support from friends who have been there will help. Also continuing with group therapy or individual therapy. Many stay in touch with people from the course and get support beyond it. The process of change can generate excitement; this new found excitement can help to propel participants and to keep the change going. Positive change brings positive results.

You have said that this is one of your favourite places to work. Why do you return to Skyros? It’s a place that I can most be myself. So many aspects of me can be expressed here. And I think that people similarly discover this for themselves when they come. It’s about how we are.

What is it about Skyros that allows you to be yourself here? It’s not a competitive society; the typical influence of class, status and gender, outward trappings of success aren’t important here. Everyone wears shorts and t shirts – it’s very relaxed. There’s no exclusive restaurant that you can go to. I think most people find that they can be accepted into the community and be a part of it.

What about the villagers? I have noticed how friendly they are, the women sitting on their steps in their black dresses, always with a smile, a greeting, a wave? There is a warmth in the people and an appreciation of us. In the early years, what’s now a dress shop used to be a restaurant. Yesterday, I saw the woman who once ran that restaurant, and I told her I’d been coming here many years; that she made the best calamari I had ever tasted. She tapped her heart, and I could see that she was moved. I was moved, too. It’s the simplicity of that contact, a moment in history, of 25 years ago, and us meeting now conveying that experience. Skyros is relatively still untouched by tourists. In some of the other islands, the culture has almost been taken over by tourism.

What is your favourite local delicacy? BOUGATSA. There is a particular shop where I buy bougatsas that are unique to Skyros. It is a filling that most people think is apple pie; the combination of filo pastry and cinnamon is absolutely delicious. There are many other favourite foods – souvlaki, the fresh fish, the calamari...

What kind of holidaymaker does Skyros attract? People who are looking for more than a beach holiday, even though all those elements can be found here. In addition, people who want to learn or develop, to experience and immerse themselves more deeply into the warmth of the Greek culture in a lovely Greek town, surrounded by sea and beauty, and be part of the Skyros Centre as well.

I was struck by Skyros's beauty. From almost every spot, there is something for the eyes to feast on. What is your favourite view? On the beach looking back up onto the village in the moonlight: you have the sea and the mountain and the village in one frame.

To find out more about personal development courses at the Skyros Centre, Greece, see www.skyros.com or call 01983 865566 for your Skyros brochure.

A Skyrian Feat by Helen Brown

By the light of the warmth of the love,
Bouncing off the beautiful balcony,
She felt the glow of rekindled hope.
This is only given to the one who needs.

By the light of the peace of the love,
Calling from the common cobbled path,
She welcomed the calm in her soul.
This is only given to the one who awakes.

By the light of the wonder of the love,
Surfacing with the sparkle of the sea,
She exhilarated in budding confidence.
This is only given to the one who believes.

By the light of the strength of the love,
Flowing from the new made fervent friendships,
She experienced the kindling of desires.
This is only given to the one who asks.

By the light of the beauty of the love,
Releasing out of the rambunctious rocks,
She explored her inner awareness.
This is only given to the one who seeks.

By the light of the wholeness of the love,
Steadily seeping out the Skyrian sentience,
She braved, she swam the Herculean swim.
This is only given to the one who accepts.

By the light of the purity of the love,
Sweetly singing in the soft sand,
She inspired others to connect.
This is only given to the one who achieves.

Helen Brown

Helen visited the Skyros Centre, Greece, for a holiday in June this summer. Find out more about Skyros holidays at www.skyros.com or call 01983 865566 for your Skyros brochure.

A tribe of acute awareness by Richard Layzell

We're moving very slowly and silently up the hill from the Skyros Centre. It's late afternoon and the last day of the art/landscape workshop. This is a quiet climax. I know where we're heading, but the others don't. Is it possible to experience this amazing physical and historical environment differently, even when I think I know it so well?

Murray and David are exploring the architecture, as we ascend, and how it changes. Claire is looking for beauty. Lynn is noting down every sound she hears. Her list is getting longer by the minute. We are all helping each other, pointing out views, clusters of bougainvillea, historical details above doorways, the sound of a family chatting. We communicate freely but never speak. People pass us, noticing our silence, our stillness or how we are intently gazing in different directions. We are a tribe of acute awareness.

When we reach our destination, the terrace of the Faltaits Museum, we slowly and gradually begin to speak again. I have never before experienced Skyros Town as a communal design project. For the first time I realise that the residents of individual houses consider the viewpoints of their neighbours' properties, to make the most of every view, every corner. This is a collective artwork in progress. And Murray mentions that the architect Le Corbusier was influenced by Skyros.

The light is fading now on the terrace as we chat, draw, make notes and enjoy the mountain tea and coffee served by Manos, who'd answered our questions about Skyros a few evenings before. He apologises for the amount of tea served. I apologise for the number of coffees ordered. The museum is as intriguing as ever, inhabiting its own architectural triumph. How fortunate are we? Speechless again.

Richard Layzell

Richard Layzell facilitated his course in Outdoor Art at the Skyros Centre in Greece this summer. Richard is an award-winning artist, writer and teacher. His current exhibition, The Manifestation, (with Tania Koswycz) is touring the UK, and their dialogues, Cream Pages, is due to be published this year. Find out more about Skyros holidays at www.skyros.com. Richard teaches at both the Skyros Centre in the village and at the Atsitsa Bay Centre.

Emerge from your chrysalis with Joyce Dunbar

Friday 30th July....the last day of the Writers' Lab on Skyros island, Greece.

I am sitting at a table at Thomas's sea front taverna, with grass shades above and the sea just below. With me at the table is the writing group. We have met to round off the 10 day course with a few practicalities about publishing, and to read out our collective story - which will be a surprise to all of us - since none of us knows what it will be. Also for a long and lovely lunch.

I look at the faces around me. Ten days ago they were just a blur of strangers. Now each is etched with character and personality. Not only that, ten distinct voices have emerged, clear, funny, serious, poetic, idiosyncratic, resonant, unique. That's why groups are so good. We realise our own singularity by recognizing that of others. This group had it in spades. Some already accomplished writers, three psychotherapists, Ali from Saudi Arabia who spent 14 of his 28 years as a nomad and whose father was the poet of his tribe. They challenged me at every turn, but guided and inspired me.

In Skyros, people emerge from their chrysalis. Self doubt is dispelled. The women are like butterflies, spreading their bright colours, writing songs and stories, painting, singing, doing yoga. Here, we get to wear our fantasy wardrobe. We dress up every night. A great treat for the men - who respond with an almost troubadourian sense of chivalry (and goodness knows what else).

Sunday 1st August. I am sitting at my desk now at home, cool, rested, restored. I know that this will fortify me for weeks ahead - and that over the years Skyros - the place, the people, the permanent staff who take the everyday domestic hassle onto their own shoulders, the support of the other facilitators and directors, have helped me to become more truly myself. I trust that this is so for all of you, and that for a while at least, we can keep the humdrum at bay. Love and thanks. Sto kalo

Joyce Dunbar

Joyce was teaching at the Skyros Centre's Writers' Lab in Greece.

At the age of 21 Joyce Dunbar decided she was a writer, but she didn't know what sort. For the next 15 years she wrote poetry, fiction, journalism, and radio talks on a range of subjects, with limited success, while teaching literature to adults.

It wasn't until she was 35 that she wrote her first children's book, inspired by an illustration. Since then she has published 80 more. She also teaches creative writing, is a former writing fellow at UEA, and at present her 12 step guide to writing can be found on the BOOKTRUST website in BOOKBITE. She is also writing a memoir.

To find out more about the Skyros Writers' Lab, described by The Guardian as No. 1 of the World's 5 Best Writing Holidays, see www.skyros.com or call 01983 865566 for your Skyros brochure.

Emma Darwin & The Mathematics of Love

My debut novel, The Mathematics of Love, was born on Skyros. I’d been writing fiction for a while, and got some mildly encouraging rejections, but I’d gone as far as I could on my own. I also badly needed a holiday. Someone said, ‘Skyros’ to me, and I discovered heaven.

It wasn’t just glorious Greece, or sitting writing under the trees on the Skyros Centre terrace, or the sea, sun, sand, or the gorgeous food. The course that Mary Flanagan ran gave my writing a bigger step up than almost anything else has. It gave me ways and words to think about writing. It gave me confidence that I could write a story that critical readers liked reading. It taught me how to dip into the world, and into myself, to find what I wanted to say. No writer ever stops needing more inspiration, technique or confidence, but they’re the keys to good writing which I was first handed on Skyros.

So what about my novel? At the time it was just one of many exercises; Mary asked us to spend twenty minutes writing a story entitled ‘Watch’. As she spoke I looked out across the terracotta and dark-green of the valley and saw a soldier in a red coat, on a watch-tower. It was Wellington’s Spain, I knew, but the soldier wasn’t watching the road from Extremadura, he was watching a local girl bathing in the river. I revised it, then put it away with all the others.

I went home, and wrote the first novel I wouldn’t be ashamed to show you. But my soldier wouldn’t go away; I embarked on an MPhil in Writing, and Stephen Fairhurst could tell his own story at last. That novel became The Mathematics of Love, and it got me the degree and an agent. I signed a two-book deal with Headline Review, then Harper Collins in the US, and translations followed. When I came back to Atsitsa with my teenage children I had the copy-edited manuscript in my bag to work on, under the trees of a different terrace.

The Mathematics of Love was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers’ and Goss First Novel awards, among others. My second novel, A Secret Alchemy, hit the bestseller lists before it got me a PhD in Creative Writing. My third is nearly finished. Since then I’ve appeared at literary festivals from Hay to New Zealand, I teach for the Open University and elsewhere, I judge competitions and write editorial reports, and I blog about writing at This Itch of Writing. And it all started on Skyros.

Emma Darwin

Emma Darwin attended a holiday at the acclaimed Writers' Lab at the Skyros Centre, named by The Guardian as No 1 of the 5 Best Writing Holidays. To find out more about Skyros Writers' Lab holidays, see www.skyros.com/writers_lab.htm or call 01983 865566.

Read more about Emma and her new literary career at www.emmadarwin.com and read Emma's blog 'This Itch of Writing'.

Sophie King's memories of Skyros

Skyros is the most extraordinary place. I sensed this from the minute we got onto the ferry to reach this amazing island. It is very spiritual but at the same time practical in that it lifts up your spirits and gives you a purpose in life as well as ideas for the future.

I was bowled over by some of the students and staff whom I met there, many of whom had led incredible lives and wanted to share them. In fact, I still correspond with some of them. I also had some lovely feedback from students who said that I had inspired them to keep writing.

As I sit here in England writing this, I cannot wait to get back onto the terrace where we all share breakfast and lunch/ dinner. The terrace overlooks a wonderful stretch of fields right down to the sea. In the morning, I would open my French windows and step out onto the patio to join the early morning yoga class. This year, my husband will be coming with me and I am looking forward to him sharing the Skyros experience.

Sophie King

Sophie King, author of THE WEDDING PARTY which was shortlisted for LOVE STORY OF THE YEAR 2010, ran her course at the acclaimed Writers' Lab on Skyros Island Greece. The Writers' Lab was named by The Guardian as No 1 of the World's 5 Best Writing Holidays. For more information about Sophie and her work visit www.sophieking.info. To find out more about the Skyros Writers' Lab, visit www.skyros.com/writers_lab.htm or call 01983 867644.