Thank you for adding that, Linda, an important point, and we all learn in different ways, too. I find that the use of sensory cues or prompts for each person to apply the ideas being explored, does allow writers to work with them in their own way. Basing practical ‘exercises’on participants’ own work rather than pre-structured tasks also allows writers to follow their own approach. As you say, it’s a matter of finding the learning environment that inspires you.

Then I found some workshops by organic writers, and I was astounded by the difference. These actually felt like me! And I also realized that the problems I had gone to the other workshops for were all these pieces of knowledge that I’d taken from the outlining classes. They just didn’t fit me, in spite of what the writing world says.

Thank you for such insightful comments, Ruth. And I agree, these methods have wider application beyond creative writing. Perhaps reaching and sharing deeper feeling that leads to more effective learning is something writers can contribute to their communities – experience that could enrich them also. If there are writers who already do this, it would be wonderful to learn about it here.

Any writing workshop, even when it gets a bit faffy, has been a delight after some of those! But finding out about my own processes has been a tortuous, individual adventure, discovering what works for me and what doesn’t.