Comments for Château Ventenac http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog a place to escape to Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:47:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on ‘Fiction for the Fearful’ with Patrick Gale, Nov 6th to 12th 2010 by Wendy Wise http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/fiction-for-the-fearful-with-patrick-gale-nov-6th-to-12th-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-5932 Wendy Wise Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:47:00 +0000 http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/?p=105#comment-5932 What an excellent opportunity at a bargain price and...in an amazing location! What an excellent opportunity at a bargain price and…in an amazing location!

]]> Comment on Sean O’Brien, poetry course, ‘About Time”, May 10th to 16th 2011 by James Flynn http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/sean-obrien-poetry-course-about-time-may-10th-to-16th-2011/comment-page-1/#comment-2439 James Flynn Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:56:42 +0000 http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/?p=225#comment-2439 A very stimulating week in the company of a diverse but highly talented group of poets . It's not our fault if the sun shone all week! A very stimulating week in the company of a diverse but highly talented group of poets . It’s not our fault if the sun shone all week!

]]> Comment on Sean O’Brien, poetry course, ‘About Time”, May 10th to 16th 2011 by Andrew Sclater http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/sean-obrien-poetry-course-about-time-may-10th-to-16th-2011/comment-page-1/#comment-2372 Andrew Sclater Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:58:52 +0000 http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/?p=225#comment-2372 Is it the height of the house above the plain that gives the freedom to write what we wouldn't write elsewhere, or the distance of the Pyrenees or the canal that has untied seas or the fire of ruined vines that will not grow again Ventenac is a dynamic and vital place to write - there is clarity and vantage in its position. I love it. Thanks to Sean particularly but also to every member of the talented company. Best to all. Is it the height
of the house above the plain
that gives the freedom to write what we wouldn’t write
elsewhere, or the distance of the Pyrenees
or the canal that has untied seas
or the fire of ruined vines that will not grow again

Ventenac is a dynamic and vital place to write – there is clarity and vantage in its position. I love it. Thanks to Sean particularly but also to every member of the talented company. Best to all.

]]> Comment on Creative Writing with Patrick Gale at Chateau Ventenac by Ali Jesson http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/creative-writing-with-patrick-gale-at-chateau-ventenac/comment-page-1/#comment-603 Ali Jesson Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:24:30 +0000 http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/?p=132#comment-603 I really enjoyed Patrick's course. Although not new to writing I found it really helpful to do many of the exercises that we did in the morning workshops. I liked the structure of each day looking at character, voice, plot and dialogue. Each day we had a small homework assignment to build on the morning's discussions. I also enjoyed the small novellas we read and discussed. What was especially useful to me was being able to have an hour long tutorial on my own with Patrick, who very kindly read 30 pages of a novel I am trying to write. He gave me constructive criticism and lots of encouragement. The whole atmosphere of the course was delightful, and the food was delicious, washed down with lots of local wine! I can thoroughly recommend the courses that Julia runs at her beautiful chateau. I really enjoyed Patrick’s course. Although not new to writing I found it really helpful to do many of the exercises that we did in the morning workshops. I liked the structure of each day looking at character, voice, plot and dialogue. Each day we had a small homework assignment to build on the morning’s discussions. I also enjoyed the small novellas we read and discussed. What was especially useful to me was being able to have an hour long tutorial on my own with Patrick, who very kindly read 30 pages of a novel I am trying to write. He gave me constructive criticism and lots of encouragement. The whole atmosphere of the course was delightful, and the food was delicious, washed down with lots of local wine! I can thoroughly recommend the courses that Julia runs at her beautiful chateau.

]]> Comment on Pascale Petit’s Poetry Course “Freeing the Imagination” by Andrew Proudfoot http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/pascale-petits-poetry-course-freeing-the-imagination/comment-page-1/#comment-225 Andrew Proudfoot Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:25:49 +0000 http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/?p=69#comment-225 Wonderful video. Can't wait to see ours! ;-) Wonderful video. Can’t wait to see ours! ;-)

]]> Comment on Pascale Petit’s Poetry Course “Freeing the Imagination” by Julia http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/pascale-petits-poetry-course-freeing-the-imagination/comment-page-1/#comment-58 Julia Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:08:11 +0000 http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/?p=69#comment-58 I have just posted a video for the course participants of Pascale's course in May. I'm going to be in London at the very end of August if anyone fancies joining me for a drink before I go back to France?? I have just posted a video for the course participants of Pascale’s course in May.
I’m going to be in London at the very end of August if anyone fancies joining me for a drink before I go back to France??

]]> Comment on Vegetarian Cookery Course by Julia http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/vegetarian-cookery-course/comment-page-1/#comment-56 Julia Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:37:33 +0000 http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/?p=49#comment-56 I've just had time to read Monica's posting earlier this month on the 'Crazy Sexy life ' blog and thought you might like to see it. http://crazysexylife.com/2010/slowing-down-in-southern-france/ what a great piece!! Thanks Monica I’ve just had time to read Monica’s posting earlier this month on the ‘Crazy Sexy life ‘ blog and thought you might like to see it.
http://crazysexylife.com/2010/slowing-down-in-southern-france/
what a great piece!! Thanks Monica

]]> Comment on Pascale Petit’s Poetry Course “Freeing the Imagination” by Cath Kane http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/pascale-petits-poetry-course-freeing-the-imagination/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Cath Kane Sun, 13 Jun 2010 14:19:45 +0000 http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/?p=69#comment-38 Looking forward to seeing fellow poets at the forthcoming launch of Pascale's Latest collection 'What the Water Gave me' on Thursday 17th June reviewed this weekend in the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/12/what-water-gave-me-petit Looking forward to seeing fellow poets at the forthcoming launch of Pascale’s Latest collection ‘What the Water Gave me’ on Thursday 17th June reviewed this weekend in the Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/12/what-water-gave-me-petit

]]> Comment on Pascale Petit’s Poetry Course “Freeing the Imagination” by Seraphima http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/pascale-petits-poetry-course-freeing-the-imagination/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Seraphima Sun, 30 May 2010 11:06:36 +0000 http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/?p=69#comment-29 We travelled continents at altitude, giggled our way through joyous starlit evenings, slipped into the magic of poetry - all made possible by Pascale's dedicated teaching and Julia's exceptional skills as host (not to mention Lucy and Danielle's gourmet three course dinners). Thank you for a wonderful week. We travelled continents at altitude, giggled our way through joyous starlit evenings, slipped into the magic of poetry – all made possible by Pascale’s dedicated teaching and Julia’s exceptional skills as host (not to mention Lucy and Danielle’s gourmet three course dinners). Thank you for a wonderful week.

]]> Comment on Pascale Petit’s Poetry Course “Freeing the Imagination” by Paul http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/pascale-petits-poetry-course-freeing-the-imagination/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Paul Wed, 26 May 2010 10:41:35 +0000 http://www.chateauventenac.com/blog/?p=69#comment-26 This is a special place and will sit strongly in life's book of memories. That was the week when...we had a view to the snowy mountains, watched swifts and swallows sweep and dive, made new poetry friends, heard new voices, shared laughs and had the chance to spend time with a great and giving poet; Pascale Petit. Thank you Julia for being the catalyst. Paul. This is a special place and will sit strongly in life’s book of memories. That was the week when…we had a view to the snowy mountains, watched swifts and swallows sweep and dive, made new poetry friends, heard new voices, shared laughs and had the chance to spend time with a great and giving poet; Pascale Petit. Thank you Julia for being the catalyst.

Paul.

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