Getting my creative buzz back

Each year the Longford Trust offers its award-holders a travelling scholarship to widen their horizons and polish their skills alongside university so as to improve their career prospects.  This year two scholars got a chance to spend a week at a prestigious writers’ retreat in Umbria. Darren describes how time spent there inspired him to push forward as a screenwriter.

This year has been fortunate for me. After completing a Master’s  in screenwriting at the National Film and Television School with the aid of a Longford Trust scholarship, I have gone on to be selected as part of a writers’ initiative with a renowned production company, as well as other things that have me feel that I may finally have a career.

But, since graduating, I have returned home to dreary Wolverhampton, not the most inspiring of cities the country has to offer. On top of that, I really miss the writers’ room. The film school is a buzzing hive of creatives – communicating with each other on a daily basis, keeping the ideas flowing, with experienced professionals inputting gems of knowledge at every step of the way. I would spend hours in the school’s writers’ room, comforted by the tapping of keys from the numerous laptops, all bringing forth a vision from the mind onto the page.

A haven for stories

I got another chance to experience that sort of environment again last month, this time in the Umbrian hilltop village of Lippiano, at the week-long Villa Pia ‘Haven for Stories’ retreat, courtesy of a travelling scholarship from the Longford Trust. I almost did not made the flight. I realised I had forgotten my passport, the most important piece of luggage, when only thirty minutes away from Stansted Airport. Thank God for my brother-in-law!

When we landed at Perugia, I realised that I had no idea what to expect of the week. Of course, I expected to be writing, but what I’d be writing and who I’d be with, I hadn’t given any thought.

I decided on reacclimatizing my brain and getting some projects I had been putting off out of the way with the help of the three tutors Alice, Toby and Elise, all professional writers. But being as it’s been a long time since I had a real holiday, I hoped there’d be some fun in the sun along the way. There was fun, maybe, but the week was mostly devoid of sun. An astounding amount of rain poured from beginning to end. But hey, perfect weather to stay in and write!

After being picked up from the airport we arrived at the picturesque Villa Pia and were welcomed by lovely owner, Morag, and the (I think) local chihuahua cross Jack Russell called Lampo who frequents there at mealtimes. We retreaters immediately got to know one another.

A group with no barriers

Being a working-class roughneck from the Midlands, I often worry about my presence in the circles I’ve found myself in since embarking on this writing journey. But I can honestly say I felt welcomed and encouraged by the mixture of interesting people in the group. From important members of Olympic committees to ex-dealers trying to save the turtles, to heads of film companies, and current blogging sensations, I met many people on this trip who inspired me one way and another. And we were all there to write. The creative buzz was back.

Led by our established and experienced teachers we started on the Monday with talks and writing exercises to get our creative juices flowing, with an aim that on the Friday night we would all read a piece of our work at the gala. It was easy to see how intelligent and savvy our tutors were when it came to advising on our writing. Over the week I rewrote a treatment for a TV project, numerous drafts of a proof of concept script for another TV project, and the first pages of the pilot episode of a project. That was what I read out to the group at the Friday night gala.

With it being my first time in Italy, I was excited to try some authentic Italian meals and was not disappointed. Throughout the week the wonderful Villa Pia staff provided us with a lunch buffet and four-course dinner daily.  There were moments when I felt guilty, having already completed a Master’s and acquired an agent, because many of the intelligent and accomplished retreaters, much older than myself, were at the beginnings of their writing journey. At least at the beginning of taking it seriously, and had paid from their own pocket and travelled long distances to join in, whilst I was there thanks to the Longford Trust and the generous donor who sponsors the travelling scholarships.

What was really revealed

When people asked how I heard about the retreat, the conversation usually led to the revelation of me being an ex-con. I was worried about judgment from them, but felt none at all. They were intrigued about my story, and respectful of it. I felt reassured that writing was what mattered here.

The same opportunity is going to be offered to two scholars next year, too. For the lucky pair selected, I hope you get the best out of it. God willing that I can afford it. I’ll definitely be making the trip again in 2025.

 

Our thanks to the Henry Oldfield Trust and to Morag Cleland at Villa Pia, and to the writing tutors Tobias Jones, Elise Valmorbida and Alice Vincent for making it possible for our scholars to attend A Haven For Stories under our Travelling Scholarships scheme