Find Your Writer’s Voice – Creative Writing Workshop

Every writer has an individual, unique voice.
A voice that tells the story only you can tell.
But every writer also needs to find that voice.
How?
Join us for a set of two interconnected workshops at Bookshop Bivar where we will write surrounded by hundreds of books, and let your own unique writer’s voice emerge.
We learn writing from others, from listening, from reading. When we start out, we imitate what we have learned. So it is not surprising that, for many of us, finding our own unique voice is a long, frustrating and sometimes almost impossible mission. This workshop teaches you how to let your writer’s voice emerge to do your writing. (As always, we also aim to take the pain out of the writing experience overall…)

Session 1, 17 July 10AM to 1PM: Find Your Writer’s Voice
Session 2, 19 July 10AM to 1PM: Let the Voice Write!
For more information, please see our website: https://verystoryltd.wixsite.com/writingfireandice
Or find us on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/writingwithfireandice/
Monday 17 July and Wednesday 19 July, 10AM to 1PM
Bookshop Bivar, Rua de Ponta Delgada 34A, 1000-243 Lisbon
€75 for both sessions.
The workshop is limited to 10 participants, so please book early to avoid disappointment!
Book by writing to verystoryltd@gmail.com or by sending us a message through our website.

Writing is a craft on every level. Many workshops teach editing and construction skills, many groups specialise in critiquing each other’s writing. Anette’s workshops teach something very different. Her method starts much earlier in the writing process, the moment all writers fear (and secretly desire), the moment of the empty page. This is a practical workshop, and most of our time will be spent writing, using Anette’s special ‘rough writing’ and ‘superfocus’ methods. Refresh your practice with new, unfamiliar creative experiences. Expect to be surprised by what emerges on your empty page. Learn techniques you can apply every day to cultivate your writer’s voice. For writers of all levels and all genres including non-fiction – all you need is an open mind and a passionate spirit!
Anette Pollner has worked as a professional writing coach for over a decade. She is also a novelist published by HarperCollins UK (under a different name) and a number of other international publishers – and pen names!

Anette writes in a very distinctive, personal style. But this, her unique writer’s voice, is the result of a life long writing practice, of daring to let her voice come out the way it wants to, of breaking the rules and creating new ones.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced author, finding your voice is a life long professional and personal journey. Join us in this two part workshop, to learn new, exciting ways to look for and find your writer’s voice.

Please bring some writing materials (you will write a lot!) and your imagination.
Each workshop starts with one of Anette’s ‘Superfocus’ sessions that free the spirit.. New stories will emerge, the stories that your unconscious mind is telling you every day – and every night.
Fast paced, playful, emotional and guaranteed to make you come up with material that you didn’t even know was there! Every writing practice begins and ends with the creative flow.

About the workshop leader:
Anette Pollner is an award winning writer. Her novels have been published in the UK by HarperCollins and the US under various pseudonyms. Her stories and articles are published in the US and UK by Business Insider, Open Democracy, Cleis Press, Mergersandinquisitions, and MarieClaire UK. Anette has been featured by BBC UK, the Telegraph and the London Guardian. During her 15 years in London she studied and later taught creative writing at the City Lit and City University, as well as at the Arvon Foundation and the Groucho Club and was a regular reader at the London Poetry Society. Since 2010, she has developed and led almost 100 workshops in her ‘Writing with Fire and Ice’ series. Her innovative methods are based on her own writing. In her ‘first life’ Anette was a theatre and opera director.

Quotes from writers who participated in the previous 70 workshops

I want to thank Anette for her amazing workshops that teach us to tap into our creativity in new ways. The story ideas I generated in Bangkok grew into my debut historical romance novel for HarperCollins!
Lenora Bell, best selling romance novelist (‘Disgraceful Dukes’ series), HarperCollins/LittleBrown US
This workshop is cleverly designed to take the fear out of writing and show anyone that they can produce a decent piece of writing in a very short time. The techniques also have benefits beyond writing and also into the field of business. Highly recommended for anyone going through the frustration of writing anything.
Charle Chareonphan, Co-Founder HUBBA Thailand
Inspiration can’t be taught — that’s what we’re told. Not quite true. Anette has developed techniques to bring us to a place of readiness where inspiration can and does strike. This short course has been the single best investment I’ve made in my creative writing. Cait Atherton, writer, Bridport and Fish short story prize winner, UK
“Anette Pollner is one of the most committed writers and talented moderators I have met. Her expertise helped no end in polishing and reworking many of the stories in my debut short story collection. The visual, audio and textual prompts for the writing exercises are innovative and inspiring, as is the group interaction that follows. I would recommend Anette’s writing workshops for all serious writers – whether beginning or experienced – who are looking for a creative springboard. For me, it was a winning formula.”
Tejaswini Apte-Rahm, ‘These Circuses that Sweep through the Landscape’,
Aleph Book Company, India
“This workshop I made with Anette Pollner back in 2013 was one of the most greatest training experiences I have ever had. I remember I could write non-stopping, I was magically connected with my inner self and I was able to discover and put in writing feelings, memories and dreams… Thank you, Anette, for such an inspirational experience!”
Maria Machado Mallard, poet and pianist, Venezuela/US
I feel so much more freedom in my writing thanks to the work I’ve done over the past few months and the encouragement and positive vibes from the workshops. I have made great progress with my novel, and exceeded the expectations I had set for myself.
Jessica Smith, writer, international policy adviser, US
I have an MFA in poetry and recently finished my first novel. Anette’s methods made all the difference. I learned to trust the creative process and the flow that emerges from the unconscious mind.
Mariejoy San Buenaventura MFA, writer and creative writing tutor, Mahidol University
Anette’s workshops are inspiring and give writers many new approaches to draw on. For me, I found her very unique approach to procrastination mind blowing, and it truly addresses the problem. Thanks Anette, for being so generous with what you have learned and making writing fun.
Carol Stephens, journalist and speech writer, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Your workshop has been a tremendous help for me to bring back the joy of writing. It frees up so much doubt and fear whenever I write. And I am trying my best to get out of the start-and-stop method.
Chanon Wongsatayanont, print media editor, Bangkok
I was very impressed with the results of this workshop!
Carlos Medina, writer, Argentina
I have benefited from Anette’s workshops both as a writer and a creative writing tutor. She teaches writing at the point where it originates – the daily practice of the empty page. Highly recommended! Learn from the best…
Morgan Pryce, writer, senior international creative writing tutor,
Ramkhamhaeng University