Artyness columnist writer Barbara Henderson's shares watershed moments at Moniack Mhor writing centre
What is that you say? My column is due?
Well, I guess I’ll have to prise myself away from the TV screen and the Olympic drama, whether triumph or despair. Dual nationality doubles who I can cheer for – it’s a win-win! I can’t help it – I am utterly fascinated by the Olympics, and so impressed by what these remarkable athletes are achieving under such global pressure. Presumably they are only human, but it doesn’t seem like that to us, does it?
I bet there was a moment, somewhere in their past, where something clicked into place. A moment when they realised: I am actually good at this. A moment when the balance shifted, when a little voice seemed to say: ‘You have potential; you have a gift. There! Now you know. It’s up to you what to do with it.’
I am no athlete, nor am I world-class at anything at all – but as a writer (and this will apply to most creative endeavours), I do have memories of watershed moments. One took place around eight years ago, during a HighlandLIT weekend at Moniack Mhor, tutored by the writer Keith Gray.
In the raffle, I had won a one-to-one with Keith, an actual published writer! To me, that in itself lifted him to another level altogether, admired by us unpublished wannabes from a respectful distance. I will never forget it: I walked into the room where he sat poring over my opening chapter. I approached with considerable trepidation – he was there to critique my writing and to share helpful feedback. His opening sentence all but floored me. ‘Well, Barbara, you clearly CAN write! You are so, so close! There is no reason why this shouldn’t be published.’
That encounter was formative. I remember little of the specifics of the sessions, but that weekend, I wrote and wrote and wrote. The best chapters of Wilderness Wars were written in those days – because of an important encounter and a resultant self-belief.
I wonder how many others would cite Moniack Mhor as a place where things changed for them.
The good news is that activity at Scotland’s Creative Writing Centre has resumed, with the first residential course already under way this week. Moniack Mhor pride themselves on attracting highly respected tutors. To give you a flavour, the next available course focuses on Non-fiction with Laura Barton, Horatio Clare and guest Robert Davidson of Sandstone Press (Monday, August 9-Saturday, August 14). The rest of the year’s programme includes courses on writing for young adults, playwriting, memoir, fiction, poetry and some untutored retreats. And bursaries are available.
We may not all become Olympians, but we can all be inspired to get more active. In the same way, we may not all become Booker Prize winners. But why not have a go at the written word yourself?
I can wholeheartedly recommend Moniack Mhor as the perfect training ground: moniackmhor.org.uk
