Simply Writing

“I learned that working with prompts really helps to get me unblocked. It was motivating and interesting to hear about people’s projects, how they cope with obstacles/challenges to writing—and to hear about their strategies for pushing through.

We actually wrote! And we read. And we learned strategies for getting the juices flowing.”

Margaret, March 17, 2015

“The ‘Simply Writing’ workshop confirmed some of my literary preferences. I felt encouraged and led to further explore theme and form. All in all, the class was very supportive and inspiring. We got a lot of hints and examples of how the process works. In the end, I realized it was not just about how to start writing and how to keep going; it was also about how to work with later drafts.”

Elena, March 17, 2015

“I learned that I can write under circumstances other than my prescribed routine. I learned that my writing is forever a work in progress and that’s OK! This class gave me some new ideas for making writing more of a routine in my life.

I HIGHLY recommend the Amsterdam Writing Workshops! Any one of them will provide new ideas for writing, inspiration to write, encouragement to keep writing, and a lasting love for writing.”

Nina, March 17, 2015

“At ‘Simply Writing’ I learned that all it takes for me to write is to just do it. I learned it’s all about work—and not as much about inspiration. How did ‘Simply Writing’ contribute to my development as a writer? It has given me faith.”

Valia, March 17, 2015

“I learned that writing is about overcoming the fear of picking up a pen and filling a page–as much as the fear of what the outcome is.

It’s motivating to see what other writers are working on and how different it may be, compared to your own material.

I learned that, in the end, the more you produce, the more you learn—and the more confident you become.”

Mel, March 17, 2015

“The class definitely made me more productive. There hasn’t been a single day so far that I haven’t written! Thank you for everything.”

D.Y., March 17, 2015

A.O. said:

“I learned three main things at ‘Simply Writing’:

1. to distinguish between the fear of writing on a blank screen from the fear of writing on a blank page.
2. techniques/prompts that will definitely help me with my writing
3. that my descriptions generally work. Listening to my own work always makes me nervous. I feel shy about it. At this particular workshop, however, once the piece is read, I feel OK again. I know I am in a safe place. Feedback is given in a judgment-free, insightful way.”

Every time I attend one of these workshops it helps to improve my self-esteem as a writer. It helps to decrease my self-criticism, need for perfection, and helps me to concentrate on what needs to be done. I get real and stop fantasizing about how I should do the work.”

A.O., March 17, 2015

“I loved every moment of the ‘Simply Writing’ course, although tapping into my subconscious mind did give me a headache! However, I am finding that the first thing I want to do when I get up is write, so that’s down to the course!”

Kym, March 17, 2015