Château Ventenac

Posts Tagged ‘Patrick Gale’

What a great week!

The beginning of November saw eight writers gather at Chateau Ventenac to work with the novelist Patrick Gale. Patrick Gale has written fourteen novels, the thirteenth of which, Notes from an Exhibition, was the Independent Booksellers’ Association Adult Book of 2008 and a Richard and Judy Book Club selection. His latest publication is Gentleman’s Relish, his second collection of short stories. He’s a book reviewer for the Independent and guest critic on BBC Radio 4’s weekly arts magazine, Saturday Review and regularly teaches for the Arvon Foundation.

The title of this week was “Fiction for the Fearful and it was a course aimed at  writers who were just starting out with their writing or those who had  become a bit stuck. Some had always wanted to write a novel but didn’t know where to start? Others had loved writing stories at school but somehow lost the confidence to continue? One or two were experienced writers who felt their work needed new direction.

Using a mixture of writing exercises and reading groups Patrick Gale  helped them to reconnect with their imagination and find the courage to take up their pens again. The mornings were spent working as a group but every student had the opportunity to take one afternoon tutorial alone with Patrick. Patrick was extremely generous with his time and everyone felt they had benefitted from his incisive view.

After dinner the evenings were spent on more group exercises, games and readings. On the last night every student read a short story that they had written during the week and most impressive they all were! Thank you all for allowing me and the helpers to join you – we were  honoured to be included and thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

Mid way through the week we all took a trip to the Medeival City of Carcassonne…a chance to stimulate the imagination…and to eat out  and sample such local delights as Cassoulet or Duck and frites!!

After the course Patrick Gale wrote ” I had such a stimulating week, even though I was the one meant to be doing the stimulating, and with my enthusiasm for writing refreshed. The students were a really interesting group of people – far more international that a typical Arvon group. The chateau is the perfect setting for writing courses – with plenty of attractive corners around both house and garden in which students can squirrel themselves away and the setting is beautiful without being distractingly so. The food was so delicious, I’m sure I put on weight.”

Patrick will be busy writing his next novel next year but has promised to come back to Ventenac in 2012. Reserve your place  soon by emailing Julia!!