Creative Writing Courses on Island of Skyros
Experienced Authors Teach Courses at the Skyros Centre in Greece
Jul 23, 2009
The Skyros Centre on the small Aegean island of Skyros was set up in 1979 to run "personal development" holidays. It still does so, but alongside them it now offers creative writing courses (Writers' Lab) run by experienced authors.
Who Goes to Skyros Centre Writers' Lab
The Skyros Centre Writers' Lab writing courses attract people of all ages and jobs, usually about 8-12 at a time. They might include a social worker who constantly comes across interesting human stories and wants to be able to write about them imaginatively rather than just compiling factual reports, or someone who has had an experience they feel would make a novel, or a grandparent who wants to write a vivid diary to pass on to their family. And occasionally there are professional writers who feel they have lost confidence.
The courses operate in the mornings, with perhaps a short homework assignment to do overnight.
Typical Day at Skyros Centre Writers' Lab
A typical day might start with everyone being given a piece of plasticine and told to play with it until it began to take on the shape of a creature.
Then they are told: "Give it a name. Then write down what it thinks of its face and body, how it’s feeling, what it wants from life and, most important, its opinion of you. And don’t be embarrassed. Remember it’s doing the writing, not you"
Observe Someone in Skyros Town Who Looks Interesting
Or they might be told to go out into Skyros town, observe someone who looks interesting, think up all sorts of personal details about them from their background to their love life and then write a short story about them.
The idea is to get everyone’s imagination into overdrive and encourage them to pour words onto the page. Invariably caution, anxiety and inhibitions are soon thrown to the wind.
Writing at the Skyros Wrtiters' Lab
Best of all at the Skyros Writers' Lab, with perhaps just 20 minutes to write a piece, there is no time to worry about individual words, let alone try to better them. Without a word processor, shifting paragraphs or even phrases around is much too laborious and people usually find their results seem none the worse for that.
At first most find having to read their work out loud to the group an excruciating experience, but everyone soon gets used to it and there are always lots of laughs. Indeed most people surprise themselves at what they produce and find the course makes a really stimulating holiday.
Skyros Centre Villa
The Skyros Centre itself is a large modern villa with a wide shaded terrace facing down a hillside to the sea, about half-a mile away. The writing group usually shares it with a group-therapy "life change" course.
Everyone is billeted in Greek family homes or simple purpose-built accommodation, always within a couple of minutes walk from the Centre. Breakfast and lunch (mainly vegetarian) are served on its terrace.
Nude Beach on Skyros
In the afternoons, some people have siestas and others go for walks in the quiet countryside, but most laze on the sandy beaches, one of which is a "clothing optional" nude beach so popular with those who want to swim naked and get an "all-over tan".
Atsitsa Holidays
One day during each course everyone is invited to join a walk across the island (9 miles) to visit Atsitsa, a remote bamboo-hutted centre run by the same company where it provides holidays for "mind, body and spirit".
Another day the Skyros Centre staff organise a boat trip to an isolated beach and its lonely taverna.
Skyros Town
In the evenings, everyone drifts into Skyros town for long leisurely meals in the tavernas along its sloping main street. A cluster of cube-like white houses with wooden balconies that blaze with bougainvillaea and geraniums, the town straggles over a hillside beneath the remains of an old fort.
Most of its flagstone alleys are too narrow and steep for any traffic other than pedestrians and donkeys. So it is certainly an inspiring setting for any would-be writer.
Another Alternative Holiday Centre
Alternative, holistic and personal development courses are also available at the British-run Cortijo Romero centre in southern Spain.offered
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