“Je veux du soleil.”  One of the songs I played for the four Juliets just a couple of days ago,  but it was true, like the song, I wanted sun or better put, sunlight.  My last day at the CWW retreat began more relaxed and with a bit of sun than others.  Taking advantage of the break of sunlight I shot more exterior shots; the Lili pond, the gardens, a family of geese, and of people writing.  Everyone was working on their script, play, or novel around in the common areas which they were getting ready to present to be critiqued the next day.  A tranquil and calm mode pleasantly hummed throughout the house, only to be interrupted by rain, loud rain, but with the sun shinning.

I have been in my share of sun-showers but nothing so persistent and, well, confusing.  Shadows were cast stubbornly outside while the rain rushed to the earth as if to prove that they both could co-exist.  Rita’s class on character development had everyone listening intently but every so often people’s concentration would be broken by the absolute volume of the downpour.  Hallway doors had to be closed shut so as to reduce the noise, though candles were nostalgically lit in the room.

After a filling dinner, I sat down with our resident actress/singer Gina as she belted out “Wide Awake” by Katy Perry while I played guitar. Jess sang “Anything but Down” by Sheryl Crow and as one of the final sing a longs we all sang “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen.

Leaving the next morning at 7am from the chateau to catch my flight back to NYC I realized that even though I was there to film, I learned a bit on narrative writing myself. Having sat in the workshops and listening to other people’s excerpts of their own writing I gained some new techniques that could be used in my own song-writing. Everyone had read out loud examples of the stories and poems they had written, and each person had their own way to make you sit up and listen to the beautiful stories unfolding from their minds.  I only wish I could write as well as they could.  Our retreat writers invite the listener to stay and want more.  I wish to one day see their scripts in a film, their plays being produced or their novels at the bookstore.  It was a pleasure meeting all of you writers, and I hope to see all your writing projects fulfilled soon.

– Victor Pachas, CWW Multimedia Specialist

Writing life

Day three of the Yoga and Writing Retreat was spent exploring the mystery of the Château de Verderonne and using our finds as fuel for our writing, eating French food, and working out our kinks on the yoga mat. We earned the clinks of “Salut” by the end of the day. (Always make eye contact in your toasts!)

Start the day with journaling and green jasmine tea before morning rejuvenating yoga with Elissa.

Rita’s mystery object from her “Evocative Object Workshop.”

Rita’s  mystery object from her “Evocative Object Workshop” came with a surprise twist: we’re still not sure what it is. Hoof-fork? One of the many charming (and evocative) mysteries of the Château de Verderonne that inspired our poems, stories, songs, essays, and screenplays.

Verderrone, ever-blooming.

A stroll around the gardens helped us choose our own “evocative objects” to write about.

The old horse bath, now teeming with plant life and rustic beauty.

(I chose the old horse bath, now teeming with plant life)

A very productive workshop

We really kicked it.

Elissa demonstrating “water fountain”

Since our morning yoga was energizing and strengthening in the salon, our evening yoga was cooling and relaxing in the garden. After a good day of creating, relaxing yoga was exactly what we needed. After “water fountain” we tried “chasing the moon.”

The gardens

The lilies in the gardens

Yoga made the walk back through the gardens all the sweeter, especially knowing that dinner (and plum tart for dessert!) would soon be on the table.

In fortune teller mode

And for added inspiration, I’m doing some palm and tarot reading sessions on the side for our wonderful group this summer. Why not look life’s mysteries in the eye?

– Jessica Reidy, CWW Fiction Instructor

Making journals

Perfecting headstands

Jessica and Victor

Singing with friends

Today was our first full day!  Most of us have just flown in from the USA, the Philippines, England or Germany.  The jet-lag seems to have more or less subsided.  For me, flying into Europe always seems easier than flying out.

Rita lead a terrific writing workshop: Literary taboo and writing contracts.  It’s a great time to set the bar for our writing for the rest of our time here.  We all decided on a realistic writing goal for ourselves.  The idea is that we can check in with our respective writing partners regularly, and they become a reminder of our progress.

Later in the afternoon, we made accordion style journals by folding icy blue paper.  To finish, the journal is tied with a gorgeous ribbon to complete the package.  We used a beautiful variety of ribbons; some hand dyed silk and lots of French-style ribbons in satin and grosgrain.  We all have different ideas on how we will use this journal; for writing stories, recording thoughts, or for watercolor painting. It’s only the beginning!

Victor, our videographer, is also an amazing musician, by the way!  A few writers here are also professional level singers.  Viktor played whatever tune they requested and they set the stage for the rest if us.  We ended up crowded around the table singing.   It was a wonderful way to end the night.

-Elissa Lewis, CWW Yoga Coordinator

Meghann, Rita and Victor

Exploring the garden

Horse bath on the grounds

Exploring the grounds

Gina in the courtyard!

Getting ready for dinner

The Cambridge Writers’ Workshop kicked off today.  A two week retreat of writing classes and yoga led by talented teachers in the lush, green countryside town of Verderonne, one hour north of Paris.  Published authors, aspiring novelists, and avid writers have come from other countries just to work on their own literary projects and learn new techniques in word-smithery.

As CWW’s videographer my first order of duty was to pick up participants and escort them back to the Chateau of Verderonne.  Once the last of the participants were picked up from Charles de Gaulle Airport and a quick stop for extra yoga mats, we settled in at the chateau for lunch.  Some participants having traveled more than 6 hours from overseas on a plane took a well deserved nap before orientation to the CWW retreat and the Chateau of Verderonne.

In the afternoon, Rita, Elissa, and I presented the participants with the itinerary for the next two weeks, then everyone met M.  Marié, the propriétaire of the estate of the château.  He gave us a tour of the buildings, beautiful gardens, and calming greenery which we would all inhabit and hopefully being inspired to write about.

As the sun began to set we had dinner and everyone made the rounds, introducing themselves at the table and why they had come.  Each writer had a different reason to join the retreat but what everyone had in common was their love for the written word and desire to sharpen their craft…that and their appreciation of wine,  French wine, mmmmmm ;).  Demain, we begin the craft of writing seminars and workshops, and what better way to start the next day with getting the creative muscles flexing than with a yoga class at 8am.  Namaste.

– Victor Pachas, CWW Multimedia Specialist