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    Writing courses, free resources and webinars, and developmental editing Writing courses, free resources and webinars, and developmental editing
    • Home
    • Courses
      • Creative Writing Course
    • Mentoring
    • Retreats
      • Venice Writing Retreat
      • Stow-on-the-Wold Writing Weekend
      • Karoo Writing Retreat | Memoir & Fiction Getaway in South Africa
    • Shop
    • Resources
      • Free offerings for writers
      • Downloadable writing resources
      • Blog
    • About
      • About
      • Facilitators
      • Testimonials
      • Contact
      • How to enrol

    Archives

    Tag Archives for: "writing mentoring program"
     2023 in review: How a writing community became a lifeline
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    By Jo-Anne Richards
    In Jo-Anne Richard's blog, Newsletters
    Posted December 21, 2023

    2023 in review: How a writing community became a lifeline

    How did we get to December? Surely it was only last week that the other Joanne (Hichens) and I were swimming at sunrise beneath the towering cliffs of the Tradouw […]

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     Monday Writing Motivation: The virtues of a limited palette
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    By Richard Beynon
    In Monday Motivation, Richard Beynon's blog, Tips for Writers
    Posted December 11, 2023

    Monday Writing Motivation: The virtues of a limited palette

    A theme that has turned up time and again in these little essays is the virtues of restraint and limitation. I’m not sure whether this is not something that applies […]

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     The best life is a creative life
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    By Jo-Anne Richards
    In Newsletters, Tips for Writers, Writing Competitions
    Posted February 9, 2018

    The best life is a creative life

    Our reason for being – to make the world a more creative place We exist to animate your creative life. We see it as our purpose in life, so we’re […]

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     Q&A with Tracy Todd, author of Brave Lotus Flower Rides the Dragon
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    By All About Writing
    In Author Q&A
    Posted February 21, 2017

    Q&A with Tracy Todd, author of Brave Lotus Flower Rides the Dragon

    Tracy Todd, a past mentoring participant launches her memoir, Brave Lotus Flower Rides the Dragon, on February 23 at the Riverside Mall, in Mbombela (Nelspruit). More than anything, this is […]

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     Q&A with Tracy Todd, author of Brave Lotus Flower Rides the Dragon
    By All About Writing
    In Author Q&A
    Posted February 14, 2017

    Q&A with Tracy Todd, author of Brave Lotus Flower Rides the Dragon

    Tracy Todd, a past mentoring participant published her memoir, Brave Lotus Flower Rides the Dragon,  More than anything, this is a love story – a tale of courage and transcendence, […]

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     Writing a novel – A mentee’s experience
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    By All About Writing
    In News
    Posted November 1, 2016

    Writing a novel – A mentee’s experience

    By Clive Goodchild-Brown Eight or so months ago I thought to myself somewhat naively that I wanted to try and write a novel. I am passionate about writing and had […]

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    Happy Writing Year from opposite ends of the world Happy Writing Year from opposite ends of the world!

Here I am in sunny Simon's Town, about to plunge into the Atlantic (my daily practice for curbing chronic anxiety and staying creative). Meanwhile, Richard is bundled up beside the frozen River Great Ouse in Bedford, snow falling around his house boat.
Different hemispheres. Different seasons. Same intention: to make 2026 a writing year.

That's the thing about writing intentions – they adapt to wherever you are, whatever your season looks like, literal or metaphorical. They're not rigid New Year's resolutions that demand we all wake at 5am and write 2000 words before breakfast. They're gentle guides that work with our real lives.

My writing intentions for 2026? To make the necessary changes to my manuscript; to listen to my editor without defensiveness and work hard to make it as good as it can be.

Richard's? To maintain his morning routine, to finish the novel he's been working on, and to make space for the messy, imperfect reality of creative life.

What are yours?

Join us for our free "Start the Year Writing" webinar on 19 January where we'll help you clarify your writing intentions for 2026 through an interactive conversation. No pressure, no finger-wagging. Just honest reflection about what you really want from your writing life this year.

We'll work through questions together, you'll hear what fellow writers are planning, and by the end you'll have clarity on your writing year ahead.

Free webinar | Monday 19 January | Link in bio

Let's make this a year of intention, creativity, and sustainable writing practice – whether you're swimming in summer or walking through snow.

Wishing you a happy writing year,
Jo-Anne (and Richard)

#WritingIntentions #WritingGoals2026 #HappyNewYear #WritersOfInstagram #WritingCommunity #SimonsTown #Bedford #CreativeWriting #WritingLife #AmWriting #WritingWebinar #SouthAfrica #UK #WritingFromAnywhere
    The targets that seem extravagant—writing in a n The targets that seem extravagant—writing in a new genre, creating unfamiliar characters, attempting bold structures—aren’t really extravagant at all. They’re just unfamiliar. And we mistake the unfamiliar for the impossible.

For years, I approached writing with pre-emptive diffidence, already conceding that real imagination belonged to other people—the naturally talented, the real writers.

Then I discovered something: I can write anything. Not because I suddenly became more talented, but because I stopped telling myself I couldn’t.

The diffident writer asks permission. The ambitious writer is already working.

Whether you’re fifteen or seventy-five, the only thing standing between you and the work you dream of creating is the decision to stop asking for permission and start.

Read more on the blog - link in bio.

#WritingAmbition #WritersOfInstagram #AmWriting #WritingCommunity #WritingAdvice #CreativeConfidence #WritingLife #AuthorsOfInstagram
    We’ve midwifed stories as diverse as paranormal We’ve midwifed stories as diverse as paranormal romance and historical literary fiction, seeing our participants feel their way into a new story or make headway on a longstanding project. We have felt their creative excitement and sense of achievement. What could be more exhilarating. Nice work if you can get it. #venicewritingretreat #amwriting #ponteaccademia
    #amwriting #Venice #amwriting #Venice
    #venicewritingretreat #amwriting #venicewritingretreat #amwriting
    #venicewritingretreat #amwriting #venicewritingretreat #amwriting
    Is there a code of conduct for writers? One of th Is there a code of conduct for writers?

One of the writers at our Venice Writing Retreat posed this question, and it got me thinking.

It seemed to me that there are three fundamental duties we have as writers.

To yourself as a writer: Become the best writer you can be by staying curious about craft, taking creative risks, and remaining true to your vision.

To your characters: Honour their internal logic and authenticity, allowing them to be themselves rather than convenient plot devices or mouthpieces for your ideology.

To your readers: Deliver clarity, coherence, and your best effort while respecting their intelligence – and when writing in a genre, honour the contract you've made with them.

I've written about this in detail here: https://allaboutwritingcourses.com/2025/10/10/code-of-conduct-for-writers/

What duty do you find most challenging to honour?
    #venicewritingretreat #venicewritingretreat
    #venicewritingretreat #venicewritingretreat
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    NEWS & TIPS
    • Start the Year Writing: A Free Interactive Webinar
      Start the Year Writing: A Free Interactive Webinar
    • Writing Tips to Accelerate Your Development: Expert Advice
      Writing Tips to Accelerate Your Development: Expert Advice
    • Venice Writing Retreat: Creative Immersion and Expert Mentoring
      Venice Writing Retreat: Creative Immersion and Expert Mentoring
    • Writing Ambition: Stop Asking Permission and Start Writing
      Writing Ambition: Stop Asking Permission and Start Writing
    • A Code of Conduct for Writers
      A Code of Conduct for Writers
    • Character vs Story: What Should Come First?
      Character vs Story: What Should Come First?
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