Writing Trips
Learn
or improve how to put words together and make them sing on the page while discovering
the beauty of rural France. 6 people only! All level welcome.
| Clive
Matson (MFA Columbia University) will be your teacher. He teaches creative
writing with his text Let the Crazy Child Write! (1998), a how-to book honoring
the creative unconscious. He has taught more than 3,000 workshops nationwide. He’s
published poems and stories since 1964; Mainline to the Heart (1966) will be re-issued
in 2008. His seventh volume, Squish Boots (2002), was placed, amazingly, in the
coffin of his mentor, John Wieners. His current enthusiasm is Chalcedony’s
First Ten Songs (2007), by a character in a story. Matson co-edited, along
with the late Alan Cohen, the anthology An Eye for An Eye Makes the Whole World
Blind – Poets on 9/11 (Regent Press, 2002), which won the 2003 PEN Oakland
Josephine Miles National Literary Award.
| |  |
Matson writes mainly from an itch in his body. He says that women
have been his most important teachers. Click
here to visit Clive's web site.
Tours and Writing Excursions
Day
1: Welcome Champagne Reception
We will pick you up at the Lyon airport,
early in the afternoon. Upon your arrival at our fully restored 19th-century French
country home, you will relax and enjoy a champagne reception with authentic local
finger foods and drinks. In the evening, a traditional sumptuous buffet will be
prepared especially for you. | |  |
Photo Credits: Office du Tourisme, Lyon
| |
Day 2: Historical Lyon
This day will be dedicated to the discovery
of magical Lyon, a World Heritage city known as the Capital of Gourmet Cuisine.
The Fourviere Basilica, with its breathtaking view of the city, will be our first
stop. |
You will also explore the superb Roman Theater
built in 43 AD, and then on to the Renaissance quarter, the second biggest renaissance
quarter in the world, listed World Heritage by UNESCO. | |  |
Day 3: Picturesque Virieu village
On that day, we will take our time to visit the nearby village of Virieu. This
quaint village is a hidden treasure.
You can also decide to write by the
extraordinary Virieu castle, built over eight centuries.
| |  |
Silk Making Demonstration
Late afternnon, we will visit the
silk museum featuring the history of silk weaving, the hard working life of the
silk weavers and their children, demonstration of weaving on looms from the 18th
to the 20th century,…and then, of course, you will have a chance to buy wonderful
silk scarves.
 | |
Day 4: Annecy or 'The Little Venice of the Alps'
Annecy is the French
show-piece of lakes-and-mountain beauty. The Canal crossing Annecy brings Venice
to mind as you stroll along its banks. Stroll the medieval narrow streets to admire
the renaissance houses along the canal as well as the famous old prison, one of
the most photographed monuments in France! This medieval town is a jewel for painters
and photograph. It will also be yours. |
Enjoy Annecy Lake, the cleanest lake in Europe, surrounded
by majestic mountains. This lake is of incredible beauty. When you are
done with you writing, why not rent a motor or paddle boat? If you prefer, there
are beautiful trails by the lake. | |  |
Day 5: Writing in the garden
Today is dedicated at your writing: you can decide to stay in the garden, take
a gentle hike though the picturesque fields and woods surrounding the guesthouse.
The
village is also walking distance from the house. | |  |
 | |
After the picnic at the guesthouse, you can take a nap in the garden or have a
drink in the village café. |
Day 6: Romantic flowery village of
Chanaz
We will drive east along the Rhone River, through beautiful
vineyards and picturesque villages to the lovely village of Chanaz. | |  |
 | |
Walnut Oil Tasting
We will attend a walnut
oil making demonstration in a 19th-century mill. This is an unique opportunity
that can't be missed since this mill is the only one left in France listed historical
monument. You will of course have a chance to taste the delicious and organic
walnut, hazelnut and almond oils as well as the homemade jams.
After the
vist, the whole day wil be dedicated to your writng. The village of Chanaz is
called the flowery village: flowers, river, mountains, Savoie houses will inspire
you. | | | | |
Day 7: Pastoral La Cote St Andre
| This day is designed to give you an
authentic flavor of the French countryside and village life. Valerie will open
her own house for you. Be her guest and feel at home. We will experience
the local market day and buy fresh food at La Halle, a 13th-century covered market
where the locals meet. For your writing, why not stop at one of the cafes
to savor the local ambiance, or stroll in this authentic medieval and Renaissance
town. | |  | | |
| You can also visit the home of the famous
French composer, Hector Berlioz, which is now a museum dedicated to his work.
You will have plenty of time for your wirting. Late afternoon, we will visit
a chocolate exhibit, the "Paradis du Chocolat". Tasting the delicious
cakes made by Pierre Jouvenal, the famous chocolate maker of the Dauphine region
will delight your palate.
| |  |
Day 8: Magnificent Pre-Alps Cliffs
and Caves
We will be heading towards the breathtaking mountainous region
of Vercors, bordered by 300 Km of cliffs on the very edge of the Alps.
You will have the unique opportunity to take a memorable trip into the heart of
the earth when we'll explore the famous Choranche cave, with its thousands of
impressive tubular stalactites and its lake of emerald green.
| | 
Photo Credit: Grotte de Choranche |
 | |
After lunch, sitting by the river in front of th e16th century hanging houses,
you'll have free time to let your inspiration flows. You can also stroll
though the maze of narrow streets or walk along the river. |
Day 9: Departure
After
our last breakfast together, we'll drive you to the Lyon airport in plenty of
time to catch your flight home. | |  |
Writing Excursions
We'll establish
a warm and inviting atmosphere where even the rawest and shyest of writers can
flourish and feel proud of what they accomplish.This workshop will help you
get started on creative writing of any sort - poems, stories, personal essays,
plays, novels. The history and underpinnings of what we do is spelled out in Let
the Crazy Child Write! (New World Library, 1998) or, briefly, in "Preface"
and "Chapter One" at http://www.matsonpoet.com.
We recognize
three voices in the writer's psyche: "Editor," "Writer," and
"Crazy Child" - or creative unconscious. The Editor is the "should
" voice, as in you should write everything perfectly the first time, you
should make money with your writing. The Writer organizes your writing life, makes
time to sit at the computer or go to a coffeehouse with your notebook.
| |  |
The Crazy Child is the urge to write, that itch in your psyche or body
that wants to get out into the world. We'll tell the Editor and Writer to take
a walk and let your Crazy Child write whatever it wants.
Our Writers and Editors may be fine at their jobs, but they often
get involved too early in our writing. By letting the Crazy Child write whatever
it wants, we'll produce energetic and enlightening rough drafts. These drafts
will display our strengths, our passion and our most deeply held beliefs, and
they are usually strongly stated. When we repeat your most vivid lines back to
you, you'll discover that you are doing at least one or two things very well.
You'll find your Crazy Child is smarter and far better organized than the Editor
and Writer might think.
Clive looks forward to writing with you!
Dates
June 3-11, 2009
Rate
$2,690 per person (land cost)
Includes
- Lyon airport pick up and drop
off
- A champagne and hors-d'oeuvres reception
- All nights
- All
meals (including over 20 types of fine French wine and cheeses for dinner)
- Transportation
in a comfortable van
- A personal bilingual chauffeur/guide throughout the
week
- All writing sessions
- Entrance fees to all sites on the tour
- A
free Paris planner for a self guided visit in Paris: suggestions of hotels, restaurants
and places to visit
Excludes
- Flights to and from France
- Personal
expenses and tipping
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