Notes from Doolin

Last month, during the last week of February, I had the opportunity to return to Doolin, Ireland. My first time was in November of 2018 and after that I went back in December of 2019 (if you aren’t familiar with those two posts, I recommend starting with 2019). If you would like to learn more, presented more succinctly and specifically about ULWS, I recommend reading Anne O’Leary’s posts from 2018 and 2019.

In between 2018 and 2019 I wrote 60,000 words of my novel—some rubbish, some still take my breath away—by writing 300 words most days. This means I didn’t write every day, but I learned a lot about writing, myself, the novel, the characters, the story, and the story behind the story. And just as I was about to make a plan for the next draft, March 2020 happened. And since then, it seems like the aftermath of 2020 continues and continues. I mean, 2019…was five years ago. 5 more years and a decade will come to a close, 2029. Does anyone else also have to ask what year we are in? Or something doesn’t quite register when someone replies ‘2024’? Concept of time has not been the same for anyone I know since 2020. It’s like the world is going through a collective leap year birthday where four years count and also don’t count and we aren’t really sure if there will be a birth-day.

As I write this post, I am skipping to writing regularly again beginning December of 2023 and I am skipping a lot that has happened in between.

So, when this opportunity showed up in my inbox, I had to take it.

This retreat was for those who had already attended a University of Limerick Winter School (ULWS) residency in 2018, or 2019, or thereafter. This wouldn’t have the same workshops as the “school” and it had more writing time. It was designed as protected time and space for focusing on a single project (short story, poem, collection, or section of a novel etc.) with long lasting output. The fact that it was open only to those who had previously attended a UL Winter School residency meant being surrounded by a supportive and caring community of other writers who understood and respected the investment in time, money, planning, and energy it took to be there. Sarah Moore Fitzgerald and her team designed the week for optimum breakthroughs and insights during and after our time together. 

Similar to the school, there was time for writing/ typing together quietly in one room, although everyone was welcome to certainly on their own elsewhere. Sometimes, it’s encouraging to see everyone writing/typing away and other times it can be a distraction. In addition to the carved out time for writing each day, there were incredible discussion slots and salons.  Finally, another magical aspect of this coming together is that while discussing the moody weather or state of the world or delicious food or someone’s debut, connections happen that lead to spontaneous peer review of one’s work and voilà, the fog made of overthinking dissipates.

We arrived Monday and after the excitement of seeing old friends and new faces, we began. Yes, that very day. We began with setting goals and settling into what this time would and could represent for our writing. We had time to write. Then we had meditation and yoga (or rest on your own). These sessions were offered by Justine Carbery who is a prolific literary reviewer, talented writer, and certified wellness facilitator. She is simply amazing.

During the evening salon we discussed our favorite writers and works. This list was compiled and shared with us thanks to the brilliant Sheila Killian. You can learn more about her as an associate professor at University of Limerick here, and check out her author website here. Her novel, Something Bigger, is absolutely terrific and I have such a distinct memory of reading it in 2021; it had a huge impact on me. I mention this list because one of my favorite parts of ULWS is the diversity of genres, both being written and those being read by the writers. Look at these incredible books by those who have attended and facilitated ULWS!

On Tuesday, we had a fascinating discussion about our personalities and creativity based on a personality test we had taken beforehand. It was illuminating because our personalities aren’t fixed, especially when it comes to our writing journey. For me, it was interesting how I could feel one particular way, then another, based on where I was with a writing project or story.

Then, there was more time for writing.

The evening salon consisted of hearing Dan Mooney discuss his writing process. Dan Mooney is a novelist, actor, screenwriter, rugby commentator and air traffic controller from Limerick and one of the most generous and kindest people all around.

He is a big believer in outlining, so much so that even his chapters are outlined within the larger outline. He says that’s how he is able to write so many words a day (I can’t recall–I think he said 3,000 to 4,000!): he already knows what to write when he sits to write. He is a firm believer that this doesn’t take away from the spontaneity or surprise from developing the plot; in the end, characters are who they are.

Here is fellow Dooligan, writer and dear friend, Amy Gaffney (also known as the author Rosie Hannigan) raving about his outlining method. Speaking of Amy, I really enjoyed and highly recommend her novel The Moonlight Gardening Club and I am currently reading The Sunrise Swimming Society. Here is a terrific Q&A with her at Anne O’Leary’s blog, a quintessential blog for any writer.

And a huge pile of gratitude is to be heaped upon @danielmoonbags – it was his brilliant talk at @SMooreFitz magical UL Spring Writing Retreat that led me down this twisty road!

There’s NO STOPPING ME NOW MES AMIES
Mmmmmmuahahahahahahahah! https://t.co/4RWDc8FZ2G

— Amy Gaffney aka Rosie Hannigan🌸🌙🪷 (@gaffneyamy) March 20, 2024

Back to the ULWS Spring Retreat where we had had delicious food–a whole essay can be written about that–courtesy of Hotel Doolin.

As if Tuesday wasn’t intense enough, Wednesday was even more so!

We had the chance to hear author Niall Williams and his wife Christine Breen on characters and characterizations. Niall Williams began by expressing that when it comes to his writing career, he knew with certainty that there was nothing more he wanted to do but write better. He shared that faith is knowing this is what he is supposed to be doing; doubt is wondering is it any good? And that’s just how it goes. Every time he sits to write.

He reminded us that the only thing any of us could try to do is offer that which only we can offer… “to be marked ‘present’ in the community–massive, invisible, extraordinary community–that is literature.” He wanted to remind us that plot is there to bring the character forward. He quoted and paraphrased, Irish Murdoch: “the beautiful and the sublime”…fiction is about others. And in Anton Chekov’s words, give the people, people, real people, when it comes to characters and the way they are.

He shared examples of dynamic and habitual details of characters. Habitual detail, he described as, 60 year-old-man. And dynamic is just enough so the reader creates the character. A great example of this is found, again and again, in the works of Charles Dickens. Specifically, we looked at excerpts of Great Expectations. He quoted author Joseph O’Connor: above all, the aim of fiction is to make the reader see.

When it comes to my own work, this is what I needed to hear: “…the story is already seated in the character.”

I know.

And that was only midday.

The evening’s salon was with Professor Eoin Devereux about how and why he writes. It was marvelous and necessary and alchemical to hear him share his words and experiences. All that he has accomplished: Start here and there is more here!

And then after dinner we had an open mic hosted by Amy Gaffney. THE AMOUNT OF TALENT WAS AND IS ASTOUNDING! I left honored and inspired to be in such brilliant company.

Thursday, the last day,

we wrapped up with a final session by Sheila Killian on perspective and point of view which provided a range of illuminating examples, including her thinking while writing her own book.

The final gift from Sarah Moore Fitzgerald:

Words can’t do justice to the person, teacher, friend, woman, human being that is Sarah Moore Fitzgerald. She is a writer’s talisman, a high priestess for anyone navigating their writing journey, a generous human being who is also otherworldly gifted as a writer. Most recently, her short story, ‘Matamoros, July 1846’ won the prestigious The London Magazine Short Story Prize in 2022. She also has a terrific sense of humor. She continues to inspire so many with her unique approach to teaching creative writing. She can see the big picture and the present moment. She is a tireless champion of so many and I can’t wait to read her next book.

She shared (and I scribbled as quickly as I could) these thoughts right before we left:

• – It’s okay to not be perfect.
• – Don’t be too serious about yourself; narcissism is not what’s helping you move forward.
• – It’s okay if you feel doubt: it makes you committed.
• – Shame, shyness/timidity (or anything that stops you from doing this work) is not going to serve you.
  • – The hazard of “creative mortification” is real.
    • – “Yes, I am making something up and I am not ashamed of that.”
• – There is no end point.
• – In Morrissey’s words, to finally create, ‘In the future where all is well is a myth.”
  • – It’s not fine anywhere, but we can still create magic.
  • – Embrace courage of the doomed! Show up with cheerfulness at the face of despair!
  • – We are going to create anyway. We are going to stand at the edge of the existential abyss and create anyway.

There is so much more to share.

I “swam” (barely a dip!) into the alien-cold and ethereal-wild Irish sea. THAT was an experience. I was able to spend time with my friend Aisling and her family and also see my friend Anne and her family. I was able to spend time with Declan, Pat, and Sam, Lesley, Justine, Honoria…. I made new friends!

There are friends I wasn’t able to visit due to the short nature of the trip and I really hope I can see them soon. I miss them so much. I am truly very blessed to have found such friends at a later stage in my life! What chance!

I left with a trajectory for getting to the final draft.