Travel with fellow artists, family & friends! In addition to Non-participating guest options, did you know that other workshops are offered this same week! Enjoy the experience together while immersed in different topics! View calendar for details!
View Dingle the photo galery
Enroll as a Group* and save! Enroll 3 or more people in this workshops and save $100.00 per person! *Group discount applies to 3 or more people enrolling together in the same workshop program. New enrollment only.
Writing to the Beat of a Different Drummer with author/instructor Linda Oatman High Dingle, Ireland August 7-14, 2010
Join renowned author Linda Oatman High on Ireland's Dingle Peninsula for"Writing to the Beat of a Different Drummer:Sparking Creativity in Ireland." The Dingle Peninsula is rich with beauty, history, and spirituality. Surrounded by an enchanting landscape, Dingle is a genuine harbortown along the southwest coast. It's one of Ireland's most magical locations, and the perfect place for writers to connect with their muses and re-connect with themselves. Instructor Linda Oatman High provides a workshop as warm and nurturing as the famous Irish wool sweaters, yet at times as festive as a wine-and chocolate-tasting party. For all ages and levels of experience -novice writers to published authors to part-time poets to those who've always wished to put bits and pieces of themselves and their lives on paper - the classes will inspire and motivate, satisfy and educate. By the end of the week, attendees will each have a piece of polished writing ready to submit for publication, if so desired. Linda Oatman High, an author/poet/songwriter/journalist/playwright/teacher of writing, uses her eclectic talents to guide students through the entire process of ideas to published works. Students for whom publication is not a goal will find that the workshop is good for the soul. Attendees will each work in an Inspiration Journal, which will assist the writers throughout the week, and Linda will be available for individual critique and consultation.
Workshop topics will include: Within These Old Streets: Writing From Real Life and Turning Memories Into Memoirs and Fiction From Hip To Historical: How to Create Cool Books for Today's Kids, Or For The Child Inside of You
Poetry In The Irish Mist & Sunshine: Creating Poems That Dance
Celtic Writing: Finding Your Celtic Muse Within The Ruins
Writing by the Light of the Irish Moon: A Magical Writing Session
Keeping Ireland In Your Heart and Creativity in Your Mind: A Vacation That Never Ends Come free your angels in a summertime dream of creativity and magic, amidst the ancient charm of Cortona. Join Linda Oatman High in "Writing to the Beat of a Different Drummer!"
Picture Yourself...
among the sights and sounds of beautiful and romantic Ireland: Grassy-covered mountins, grazing sheep by the ocean's edge, centuries-old buildings, winding streets, texture and vibrant sunlight.
Feel Yourself...
in the warm ambiance of Dingle, port of the fisherman of the north Atlantic, irristibly charming, almost unchanged for centuries, one of Ireland's jewels.
Experience...
the joy of writing in a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere with the expert instruction of a nationally know instructor and the camaraderie of a small group of learners.
Enjoy...
regional food, delightful Irish brews, new friends, breath-taking vistas, history and the hospitality of the people of Dingle.
About "Writing to the Beat of a Different Drummer" Day 1: Writing From Real Life: Turning Memories Into Memoirs and Fiction Linda Oatman High will present her 45-minute slide show, illustrating how the author has gleaned writing ideas from her real life and childhood memories. Linda will then lead students through soul-searching prompts, excavating long-ago emotions and sensory details to be used in writing. Exercises will include "The Baby I Was and the Babies I've Loved," "Love of my Life," and "What I'll Leave Behind." By the end of Day 1, students will have lists of ideas and images in an Inspiration Journal to be used in the week ahead. Day 2: From Hip To Historical: How to Create Cool Books for Today's Kids, Or For The Child Inside of You The author of 15 books for children will instruct the class in writing picture books, middle-grade novels, and young adult novels, gearing the session to the interests of the majority. Using her own books as examples, Linda will lead writing prompts to produce writing that sparkles. Even those not interested in writing for children as a career will find joy in finding their inner child in order to create. Day 3: Poetry of the Irish Mist & Sun: Creating Poems That Move Using her poetry books "A Humble Life: Plain Poems" and "Sister Slam and the Poetic Motormouth Road Trip," Linda will guide students in producing poetry that sings. Those interested in performing their poems will participate in an informal poetry slam. Day 4: Celtic Writing: Finding Your Celtic Muse Within The Ruins Linda Oatman High, dressed in Celtic garb and using a background of Dingle's ancient architecture and music, will lead students in a session of Celtic-themed writing in which they will create a character from the Celtic days. Day 5: Writing by the Light of the Irish Moon: A Magical Writing Session A nighttime session, in which the author uses music to reawaken the muse in writing prompts such as "Vacation on the Moon," "Firefly Flight Through the Irish Countryside," and "Star Song." Glow-in-the-dark novelties will be used in this workshop. Day 6: Keeping Ireland In Your Heart and Creativity in Your Mind: A Vacation That Never Ends A session in which Linda Oatman High will discuss retaining inspiration and motivation for writing upon the students' farewell to Ireland. Including "Refreshing and Nurturing the Writing Spirit," "A Space to Write," and "Making Priorities in Real Life," the author will instruct the students with ideas about how to continue creating at home, while keeping the memories and emotions of their time in Dingle alive. Celtic & Irish music will be used in this session
Dingle harbor
Slea Head
Special Hotel Benners Plans for Workshop Participants: Shared room/bath, full Irish breakfast & 3 dinners*** ...$2999.00 per person! Private room/bath, full Irish breakfast & 3 dinners*** ...$3399.00 per person Non-participating guests... ...Shared room/bath, full Irish breakfast & 3 dinners*** ...$2499.00 per person! ...Private room/bath, full Irish breakfast & 3 dinners*** ...$2899.00 per person ***(includes three dinners served at Hotel Benners Restaurant)
Above enrollment plans include: Instruction on location Seven nights three-star accomodations in historic Dingle** Local museums and events Full Irish breakfast daily & three dinners Painting in Dingle and points along the Dingle Pennisular Day trip to Skellig Islands A farewell dinner All day-trip transfers
**Included with "Hotel" plans only, see details *All-inclusive plans are Hotel plans A, C, E, G, I & K only. Air travel, lunches and dinners are the responsibility of each participant. Cork and Shannon are the suggested arrival and departure airports in Ireland. Flights from Boston and other US cities via Aer Lingus. All participants are responsible for their own travel to and from Dingle.
Hotel Benners proud partner of Toscana Americana Workshops
Visit Dingle Hotel Benners online
Itinerary
Saturday: Arrival in Dingle -Arrival and Check-in in Dingle at Hotel Benners -7:00p Welcome to Ireland reception at Mrs Benner's Bar. -8:00p Dinner at Hotel Benners Sunday: Dingle town -9:00a-1:00p Morning Workshop -1:00p Indepandent lunch -3:00-6:00p Afternoon Workshop -7:00p Irish stout hour
-8:00p Independent dinner
Monday: Dingle Penninsula - the Slea Head -9:00-1:00p Morning Workshop-1:00p Indepandent lunch -3:00-6:00p Afternoon Demonstration -7:00p Irish stout hour
-8:00p Independent dinner
Tuesday: Dingle Penninsula -Day trip -1:00p Indepandent lunch -7:00p Irish stout hour -8:00p Dinner at Hotel Benners Wednesday: Dingle town -9:00-1:00p Morning Workshop
Thursday: Blasket Islands -Day trip to Blasket Islands by boat -1:00p Indepandent lunch -7:00p Irish stout hour-8:00p Independent dinner Friday: Dingle area -9:00-1:00p Morning Workshop -1:00p Indepandent lunch -3:00-6:00p Afternoon Workshop -7:30p Irish stout hour -8:30p Farewell Dinner at Hotel Benners Saturday: Departure - Morning Check-out & departure Note: Toscana Americana reserves the right to alter this itinerary. All times are approximate.
Patrick Mahoney (Miami University BA'80, MA'82) lives in Cortona where he continues a thirty-year career in the field of Arts & Entertainment producing events, workshops and tours and providing opportunities to share the Italy experience with travelers, artists and people who share his interests for foods, wine, art, culture. Patrick's passion is to conceive and realize various ways in which the human spirit can express and demonstrate its capacity to create. His ability to fearlessly think, conceive, and work "out of the box" has earned him the attention of artists & musicians, colleges & universities, public & private organizations, and business and industry. Patrick brings integrity and a unique vision to Toscana Americana and he is committed to realizing the opportunity for participants to create in an atmosphere of peace, joy, respect and mutual support. As a "slow traveler" and a supporter of "slow food" Mr. Mahoney rides trains, walks, lingers over lunch, dinner or a cup of espresso, stops to smell the roses and savors the sensory feast wherever he is!
