A stimulating week in Scotland...

By Maite Vermeulen - Young Writers Award 2005 winner

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Hidden away in the woods near Loch Ness, high up in the hills of Scotland, lies the Moniack Mhor Writer's Centre. Spending a week here, writing with the help of two professonials and in the company of 12 other students, was the best prize I could have ever imagined.

Every morning started with a workshop of about two hours in which a certain aspect of writing was taught. Then the rest of the afternoon was for ourselves to read, nap, walk, run, chat, but mostly: to write! Every night you would read material you'd written that day to the group and get feedback on it. This was extremely useful and very stimulating. It gave me such a rush when everybody was full of praise about something I'd written.

The surroundings were absolutely beautiful. Green hills all around. I don't think I have ever been so isolated before in my life. The nearest neighbours' houses are about half a mile away. This isolation made that you could totally focus on the writing.

The group was great as well. I was by far the youngest of them (after me, the youngest student was 29), which gave me sort of a special status. Everybody tried their best to make me feel as comfortable as possible. And I did feel comfortable. As cliché as it may sound, I felt like we became a big family during the week.

I was sorry to be leaving, but also exhausted from a very crazy week. I met so many interesting people, learned so much about writing and about myself. I will never forget this experience. Thank you!

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