Creative Collaborations

The serendipity of finding your writer's tribe

Retreating at home with Clover Stroud

Last night I returned home from yet another magical and very profound ‘memoir writing retreat’ with best selling author Clover Stroud, hosted in her beautiful small holding near Faringdon.

In a world filled with talented and creative women, there is an undeniable magic when brave souls come together to learn about memoir writing practice and harness their collective energy

All courageous and equally vulnerable

Arriving as strangers

Leaving as friends

A writer's paradise

From the moment my guests arrived, there was a deep rooted sense of togetherness, connection and love. An overwhelming aura that these woman were seeking a friendship from other likeminded woman, to not only be seen, but heard and understood.

Each of my retreats offers a safe space where women find a vibrant tapestry of shared stories waiting to be woven.

We listened and listened hard to Clover’s advice, top tips, recommendations and introductions to some of the UK’s best literary agents and publishers. Priceless information all generously given.

By lunchtime, each woman felt brave enough to dive deep and share some of their most darkest secrets. All warrior women in my humble opinion, carrying such remarkable stories, some of which were being told for the very first time.

I remind myself every time I host these retreats, what a privilege it is to be in the presence of such courageous ladies.

Throughout the day the guests explored different narratives, enriching their own writing by absorbing the experience and wisdom from Clover and fellow participants.

Empathy was cultivated.

Horizons broadened.

Boundaries pushed.

I certainly felt a collective energy, which actually became a force to be reckoned with. These day retreats are a testament to the power of creative collaboration, mentorship and shared experiences

Everyone found solace in the company of other writers

Beyond the writing, I hope I have created a platform for creative souls to foster deep connections and hopefully stay connected long after the actual day retreat.

One of the hardest parts for me, as host, is saying goodbye to women I truly believe could be my life long friends. When you find your perfect tribe of warrior women, you know you’ve found a sense of belonging, even with miles and miles of countryside between us all.

I drove home thinking I have created something that is a catalyst for personal and artist growth, which paves the way for women with raw talent. I think each and every one of them will leave an incredible mark on the literature landscape. Leaving a legacy and impacting positive change for our future generation

The world needs to read about these untold stories.

And so the happy hours roll on by, the days become weeks and before I know it I’ll be in the planning stages of the next ease retreat. In July it will be my last ‘memoir writing day retreat’ of the season with Clover, as in August she will embark on a new chapter in America.

All is not lost though, as we have some exciting new events afoot. If you’d like to know more about our plans please let’s connect. I’m on a mission to be the bridge between newbie writers and published authors, as together these unshared stories will no longer be locked away.

Until the next time

Take care and stay safe xx

A safe place to share intimate stories