There’s plenty to write about

DESPITE winning a Nobel Prize for Literature and publishing 16 books, Ernest Hemmingway said, “In writing, we are all beginners”. Whether or not the great man of American letters was right, creative writing classes are enjoying a revival and if you’re looking to unlock your potential two local workshops might hold the key.
The Killaloe Hedge-School of Writing, directed by David Rice, offers weekend courses on 10 different aspects of writing throughout the year. In Ballyvaughan, Paul Clements runs three creative writing weekends during May and June. Between them, David and Paul have over 50 years’ publishing experience.
David has published nine books and is a best-selling novelist. He worked as a journalist and editor, headed the Rathmines School of Journalism and has taught writing skills all over the world.
Paul is a writer, journalist and tutor. He worked for the BBC in Belfast and London for 27 years and has written two travel books about Ireland and is a contributing editor to the Insight and Fodor travel guides. He has given writing workshops around the country.
David and Paul want to dispel the myth that writing is a rare gift possessed by only a select few. Both emphasise that writing is a skill that, like learning to play an instrument or how to paint, you can cultivate. While imagination and a natural flair inevitably help, it’s dedication, not talent, which makes the difference.
“Our classes show you technique but nothing can match determination,” suggests David. “As in all creative endeavours, it’s 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration. You can have all the talent in the world but you have to have application. Talent is like the ingredients of a cake: unless you turn on the oven, nothing is going to happen,” he says.
He gives the example of one of his own books that became a bestseller only after it was rejected by 27 publishers. He likes this quote from former US president Calvin Coolidge, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
Paul echoes David’s philosophy. “Most people are not born naturally gifted writers. It’s a craft to be learnt through practise, rewriting and building your style through creative engagement with the language,” he explains.
“Most don’t realise the research, background reading, revision, rewriting and editing that is such a big part of the whole process,” he continues. “For those who are prepared to dedicate themselves to it with a high level of commitment, the door is open.”
A natural gift for writing might be outside your control but you can develop habits to bolster the content and style of your creative output. Improving your observation skills and reading regularly are two of the key ways in which you can refine your writing. 
“One of the most important skills is to have a lively, enquiring mind and a curiosity about the world around you. The ability to listen well and to ask the right questions is also important,” says Paul.
“Writing is also learnt by initiation, by studying the best books and reading widely with a critical eye: fiction, poetry, popular science, travel, nature – anything that fires your imagination is all part of the mix.”
David is adamant about the role of reading for any aspiring writer and says that its influence is two-fold. “You cannot become a writer without being a reader,” he insists. “Reading gives you two things. One is fluency: what you read rubs off on you; you absorb it. The second is insights: moments where you say ‘Ah, I never realised that before’.
“Wisdom is a collection of insights developed through life. To give you an example: when you stand up to a bully and you see the reaction – that’s an insight. We develop insights from ourselves and from other people. Read to get these insights.”
As anyone who has dabbled in creative writing can attest, confronting a blank page is an intimidating stumbling block. PG Wodehouse’s simple advice to intending writers was to “glue the seat of your trousers to the set of the chair” but there are other, adhesive-free alternatives.
“So much writing is about unravelling possibilities, thinking about what can be done, discussing ideas and making notes,” reflects Paul. “Music and photographs are useful for helping to stimulate writing and giving confidence to fill that blank page with words. All writers need encouragement and support, especially those starting out.”
Again, the importance of reading is underlined as it can help you take the first steps on your creative journey. “It is essential to study the form,” says Paul. “Inhale the perceptions of great writers and understand why they chose certain words and phrases, or adopted a particular technique.”
A creative writing class allows you to take those first steps within a supportive environment. David and Paul stress that their classes attract students of all ages and from diverse professional backgrounds. The oldest student to attend the Killaloe Hedge-School of Writing was 92.
The recession hasn’t dented interest in any of their courses. In fact, both suggest that demand for their classes is increasing because people have more time on their hands and are keen to find a creative outlet for it.
Geography is central to the workshops provided by both and it clearly influences those who attend. “Killaloe is a dream location,” says David. “People who come to my courses gasp at the beauty of the Shannon.”
The title of his school invokes the ‘bootleg’ hedge schools, which took place by the side of the road or in barns in the 18th and 19th centuries and emerged in response to the Penal Laws, which prohibited Catholic education. Killaloe was home to a renowned hedge school and David chose the name because of its connotations.
“I was worried that people would be scared about taking these courses, that they’d expect to meet pompous people who looked down their noses at them,” he explains. “‘Hedge school’ says this is a friendly, unthreatening place.”
The location of Paul’s workshops is intended to stir the imagination. Based in Ballyvaughan. The classes include short visits each day to atmospheric places. He deliberately runs these courses in May and June when the Burren is at its most radiant.
“With its luminous light and magical cloud formations, the Burren is an inspirational place and is fertile for poetry,” he suggests. “We go on short trips to areas such as Gleninagh, Corcomroe, Black Head, Poulnabrone and Carron and people are stimulated by what they see and find out about the landscape. They make ‘nibble’ notes, write up their pieces and turn out astonishing short stories, essays and poetry.”
Both David and Paul say that they find teaching these classes enormously rewarding and that they continuously learn from their students. “I often learn more than I teach,” says David. “Those who come to my course suspect they can write, they’re very bright, they have insights: I’m open to them. I share my knowledge but what they give me is just as valuable.”
For Paul, the classes frequently open new avenues. “Often, someone will mention an author I hadn’t previously heard of and it will send me off in a new direction. So, it can be very useful for discovering new writers. Above all, it’s fascinating to hear people’s stories, to meet new people and to reflect on the ramifications of human nature.”
Joining a creative writing class won’t guarantee you a multi-million euro book deal but it might introduce you to a new hobby, provide an opportunity for creative fulfilment or start you on a new path. “It’s one of the greatest feelings to have written something well and it brings tremendous satisfaction,” says Paul. “The right adverb, adroitly placed, is one of life’s finest pleasures.”
For details on workshops offered by the Killaloe Hedge-School of Writing, see www.killaloe.ie/khs. For details on Paul Clements’ writing workshops, see www.paulclementswriting.com. Paul’s new book, Burren Country: Travels through an Irish Limestone Landscape, will be published by Collins Press in May.