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.

Poem from the Skyros Centre by Mandy Rymill

We all came to Skyros to set ourselves free
To write and to swim and to just simply be
There’s the writers, the lifers, the tutors, the team
We’re all one big family, or so it must seem
To the villagers who look at us as if we are mad
With our yoga mats and musings and eyes that are sad
But this place has healed us and set us on the way
To a bright future for all, so we say ‘thanks’ for our stay.

To Julian with his clipboard, his Greek and his rules
And John with his calmness and life-coaching tools
There’s Crysse with her ‘lovely’ and her words of advice
And Yoga Suzy with her positions, massage hands so nice
And Sarah-Helena who sorts, does and smiles
And finally Hazel who has made it all so worthwhile.

And what about us?
There’s Helen, the wisest and Scottish of all participants
And Trish with her kindness, her hair and her ants
And Maggie so observant, who wanders afar
And Simon with his ladies and his trip in the car.
There’s Nicky with her dress, her piano and her songs
And Richard with his quirkiness, his jokes but no thong
And Jo with her snorkel, her lie-ins and ouzo
And Jeannie with her lilo and swimming and booze – oh,
And don’t forget Anna with her opera and her wine
And Annette with her skirts and her dresses so fine.
Then there’s Diana with her yoga, her hat and skirt
And Mike with his football club and very nice shirt.
Then there’s Kathy, a vegetarian who doesn’t eat fish
And Musetta with her history, her journal and dish – washing
And let’s not forget Steph with her poems and grace
And, finally, there’s me, with the bump on my face.

So Skyros we say ‘thank you’ for all that you are
And know that we’ll think of you whether near or whether far.

Mandy Rymill

Mandy attended the Writers' Lab holiday at the Skyros Centre in June. To find out more about the Skyros Centre, visit www.skyros.com/village_centre.htm or call 01983 865566 for a brochure.

Home from home by Simon Luscombe

You know, I have grown to appreciate this beautiful island of Skyros and particularly the Skyros Centre.

Even after spending time at the much imagined and, possibly, envied Asitsa Bay, where many new friends had chosen to spend their holiday/course.

When I went to Atsitsa this weekend I thought how wonderful it was; the rural setting, the peacefulness and the relaxed atmosphere. I enjoyed the company I had met on the transfer over to Skyros; the beautiful sunset and of course the incredible singing that we enjoyed with the Asitsa group.

I was fortunate to stay over the night, along with Chrissie, the creative writer facilitator, I must say in some very comfortable huts and not the dreaded dorms that I had expected!

The following day we enjoyed (not endured) the walk across the island, back to Skyros Town. This certainly put me, for one, more in touch with the landscape and nature of the island.

I wasn't prepared though for the feeling of being back home in Skyros Town. I was so happy to be back in civilisation, to be back amongst the white washed walls, the cafés and bars of the high street, busyness of the town and of course the friendly faces of the Greek people in Skyros Town.

Most of all though it was nice to be back at the Skyros Centre, which now feels like home. No small thanks to Julian, Hazel, Sarah-Helena, Susie, Suzie, Chrissie, John and not least the two wonderful cooks who provide us daily with such lovely food, all who have created a home from home atmosphere. This is a very special place and I, for one, am glad that I chose to spend my break here amongst such lovely company.

Simon Luscombe

Simon attended the Life Choices programme at the Skyros Centre, on Skyros island, Greece. See www.skyros.com or call 01983 865566 for a Skyros brochure. At the Skyros Centre, you can choose either the Life Choices or Writers' Lab programme. Holidays at the Skyros Centre also include yoga, massage and music and arts activities and the current season runs until Saturday 2 October.

Dancing with Diana on the Beach by Maggie Sackett

Well I’m dancing, Diana is gently swaying in the hammock. We are happy. We each have a cool glass of yellow wine in hand. There are red-flashed white fluffy clouds in the sky behind a dark Crete-shaped one.

We are on Skyros beach and it is indeed the magical place as billed in the brochure. Nothing disappoints. It is all perfect.

A soundtrack of soft jazz plays. There is no wind to blow out the flags. The mosquitos dance around me, the 50 per cent deet roll on keeping them at bay. There is sand in my fit flops.

A slice of rock juts out enclosing one side of the bay, a man made harbour with a couple of fishing boats on the other. Two arms embracing this semi circle of heaven. Two Greek boys are kicking a football around, the world cup match on the flat screen in the bar driving them here to play out their dreams.

The turquoise and cream umbrellas are tucked up for the night and the sound of the waves coming home fills the silences between the jazz notes. A drop of rain falls from Crete which has somehow joined up with a black cloud the size of Europe. The moment has gone but it was there and I’ll always remember it.

Maggie Sackett

Maggie attended the Writers' Lab at the Skyros Centre on Skyros island, Greece. See www.skyros.com. The Writers' Lab was named by The Guardian as No 1 of the World's 5 Best Writing Holidays. See Press. The current season of holidays at the Skyros Centre runs up to Saturday 2 October. Call 01983 865566 for your Skyros brochure.

Notes from a small island by Jennie Rooney

As a facilitator for the Writers' Lab, I had a wonderful fortnight at the Skyros Centre - great food, inspiring company and lovely afternoons at the beach.

I will miss being awoken by goats and church bells, but more than anything else I'll miss the company of the other writers and their stories, characters and fictional alter-egos!

Jennie Rooney

Jennie Rooney's first novel was published in 2008 and was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award, as well as being featured on Richard and Judy's New Writers Book Club. She lives in London, where she also works for First Story (a school-based writing project) and runs creative writing courses. Her second novel is to be published in June 2010.

Jennie was facilitating the Writers' Lab programme at the Skyros Centre on Skyros island, Greece. See www.skyros.com. The Writers' Lab was named No 1 on the World's 5 Best Writing Holidays by The Guardian. See press.