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Writing centre has more online courses in new programme – and more access


By Margaret Chrystall


New online writing courses at Moniack Mhor – which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year – have just been announced.

Online Moniack courses to your laptop. Picture: Nancy MacDonald
Online Moniack courses to your laptop. Picture: Nancy MacDonald

The online programme was piloted by the writing centre in 2020 during lockdown.

This year there will be Moniack In A Month writing courses in poetry, memoir, narrative non-fiction, science fiction, short fiction, writing for and about young people and nature writing.

The centre’s online programme manager Angela Cran, said: “And for those who would like to take a little more time to develop their writing, there are also courses online that run over three or four seasons – a Year Of Writing with Elizabeth Reeder has gone well, and Three Seasons of Poetry with last year’s Highland Book Prize winner Jen Hadfield is now in season two.”

There will also be some shorter two-hour masterclasses for people who might not have time to commit to a longer course but still want to benefit from the skills of a writer on key aspects.

The online programme offers more access to writers who may, for whatever reasons, be unable to travel to or attend in person at Moniack Mhor.

The fees are less expensive as you are not paying for the food and board on a residential course.

The Moniack In A Month courses run over four weeks. Weekly two-hour courses let those taking part fit their own lives around that and join from their own space.

And online participants do not have to miss out on all the pleasures of a residential MoniackMhor experience!

A one-to-one tutorial and a closing ceilidh can still be enjoyed online, with the option to provide your own haggis and drams at home!

Online courses also help to create support networks for writers, one of the benefits of Moniack Mhor. Angela Cran said: "We know of writers who met on our two initial online courses, in fiction (taught by Cynthia Rogerson) and ecopoetics (taught by Jen Hadfield) during lockdown. And they are still meeting monthly to share and give feedback to each other on their writing. People can make writing friends for life at Moniack Mhor, regardless of whether they meet in real life or online!

"We also have scope to engage with more participants from other countries. For example, Cynan Jones’s short fiction daytime Moniack In A Month course last August had a third of the 12 participants from outside the UK – Norway, South Africa, Singapore, New Zealand.

"We also still have lots of interest in our bespoke one-to-one online Made To Measure Mentoring scheme which started during the pandemic as well and supports writers at every stage of writing.

"It is ideal for writers who want more one-to-one focus from professional writers, either on a one-off basis or in a longer mentoring relationship."

The online courses come alongside the usual residential courses and retreats the centre offers – including Stages, a writing, production and performance programme for emerging songwriters.

"We also have awards, residencies – including Here and Now – a British Council-funded collaborative residency and production programme for six mid-career established Scottish and West African writers in partnership with LIPFest – the Lagos International Poetry Festival.

"With legacy funding from Life Changes Trust we’ve also extended our programme with care experienced young people throughout Scotland."

The centre is again also running a youth programme offering writing opportunities to all young people between the ages of five and 25, including a Young Writers’ Café with monthly workshops at Wasps in Inverness.

The bursary scheme helps to offer support where we can to anyone who may find fees a barrier to participation.

Creativity and Care: working in partnership with the Calman Trust, the Abriachan Forest Trust, and the Articulate Cultural Trust, Moniack Mhor will lead the programme, which offers creative and other development opportunities for young care experienced people in Scotland, aged 14 – 30 years old.

The project will consist of an exciting programme of creative activity over the next three years which will also include individual grants for groups and young people to deepen and focus their creative practice.

Angela Cran said: "The programme is led by 'Mhor Creative', our advisory group made up of care experienced young people, who lead on the decision making and direction of the programme."

More: moniackmhor.org.uk/events/categories/online/


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