Mariel Hacking of the Limnisa Centre describes the wonder of writing to the sound of the sea
The Limnisa Centre
In the sixth feature in our series on writing courses overseas, we talk to Mariel Hacking who runs the Limnisa Centre on the Greek island of Methana with her partner Philip Wooderson. Philip is a published author of more than two dozen books for children plus two historical novels for older children, The Plague and Trouble at the Mill, both published by Macmillan. The centre hosts writing courses and retreats.
What made you decide to run creative writing holidays abroad?
I wanted to open a centre where people have space to reflect and develop their latent talents. To do this it’s helpful to be somewhere totally different, preferably somewhere beautiful without all the usual distractions!
Have you ever run a similar kind of thing before?
I had never done anything like this before, though Philip had been involved running a holiday centre in Italy, without retreats or courses.
Both of us had spent many years living away from our home countries, with experience of Spain, France and Italy. But compared to all those countries, Greece has something different.
It’s closer to Bulgaria, North Africa and the Middle East than it is to the rest of the EU. The culture is far more relaxed, and for both writers and artists there is the extra attraction of the ancient world and Byzantine past evident all around.
What made you choose your particular location?
Methana itself is ideal for our sort of centre because it is so unspoilt and largely undeveloped.
Its mountainous, volcanic landscape gives it a deep brooding quality that fits with the serious mood of people who want to concentrate and not be afraid to go deep. And all around there’s blue sea, so it’s all very elemental.
Limnisa itself is right on the edge of the shore, in an otherwise empty cove, with the most incredible views out across the Saronic Gulf. From here you can see four islands, and the mountains of the Peloponnese.
Yet the other great thing about Methana is that it’s so easy to reach - only two hours by ferry from Athen’s port of Piraeus. Guests can go on from here to Epidavros and Mycenae, or the islands of Poros and Aegina.
Tell us about your writing courses
Philip runs the writing courses. He puts on Creative Writing Days in schools and tutors new writers on-line.
On his courses at Limnisa he uses the powerful feeling of place and time you get on Methana to inspire the imagination, though he also likes to concentrate on the more practical skills you need to write and polish your story. What could be better than to write to the sound of the sea?
What do you find most fulfilling about running the course?
What I find most rewarding is seeing the difference in people between when they arrive and when they leave at the end of their visit. Nearly everyone has been touched by the beauty and calmness of Limnisa and most say they’d like to return.
For further information, please visit www.limnisa.com
Other writing courses and retreats interviewed in this series include 7daywonder, and The Watermill at Posara, Llano de la Luz, Kairos Holidays and In the Write Light
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- Tove Fasting of Kairos Holidays discusses how creative writing courses can inspire your writing - In the fourth of our interviews with the people behind...
- Jacqueline Crooks of Llano de la Luz describes how stepping outside your world benefits your writing - In the third of our interviews with the people behind...
- Kerry Eielson of La Muse Inn cites the value of clearing your mental desktop by getting away - Former magazine and broadcast journalists Kerry Eielson and John Fanning...
- Lee Pennington of 7daywonder, explains how being abroad can help your writing flourish - In the first part of a new series of interviews...
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I’ve been to Limnisa, it’s an absolutely beautiful place.
Highly recommended.