Getting to the Heart of It

Monday 1st June 2026

“Pay attention to the story and the story pays attention to you.”

Adrian Reynolds - writer and storyteller - 2026

Writer and storyteller Adrian Reynolds

We paid attention. We listened, we shared our ideas and we took them for a walk…. yeah, literally.

Not all of the methods applied to get us to the heart of storytelling were strictly orthodox, but then what about storytelling really is? Sure, you can adopt a familiar structure, employ a tried and tested formula - and that has its place - but ultimately there is nothing predictable about an interesting story.

You might think you know where it’s going when you start writing it, but it is very likely to end up somewhere else entirely!

Our final in-person workshop for May was refreshing, to say the least. Especially the bit where we were challenged to ‘write about place as a person’, and then ‘a person as a place’, which was infinitely harder. In a week where the heat made our brains fill with treacle, Adrian certainly loosened up those sticky cogs and got us back into gear.

Ideas in full flow

“Plump cushions sit atop a shapely chaise longue that teeters on tall legs in the corner near the bar. There’s a cloud of cigarette smoke and the scent of heady perfume, applied far too liberally to be classy. The opulent decor in rich ruby and animal prints is looking tired and tawdry. The chandelier has bits of glass missing on one side, but the glitter is just the same. There’s comfort in the brassiness, a genuine warmth at the heart of it all.”

Workshop participant - 2026

If you guessed that piece was designed to personify a public house as the legendary Bet Lynch then you are surely worthy of a prize - ok, now it’s your turn…

Did you manage it?

A good writing workshop conveys its teaching point well and the participants leave with what they expected. An exceptional one sees them left with more that they could have imagined. And that’s what we are aiming to deliver when we put together our schedule of NWS workshops. We spend time talking to our members and finding out what they really want.

And when you look around the room, at the level of engagement and hear ideas launched out into the arena with confidence, you know what was planned is hitting all the right notes. And that matters. Adrian is someone the studio has worked with before, who has become a friend over the years, and of course we already think he is amazing. It was validating to hear the same from Wednesday’s work-shoppers too!

“It was a really insightful session. One that encouraged you to delve deep into your thoughts and memories, to find new ways to describe and narrate. Adrian is an excellent storyteller and teacher, and his expertise combined with the peaceful, creative atmosphere of the venue provided a nurturing space where thoughts were given voice and words room to grow.”

Heather Ivatt - writer and editor - 2026

Heather sharing her inspired face!

We are always grateful for feedback, as it helps us to refine content and tailor workshops to our members requirements. We are not going to get it right all the time, but we certainly do our best and it’s great when members let us know when we do.

There is also a wealth of expertise within our membership that we would hope to be able to share with others, as this is another way we can support them with their own development, both as workshop facilitators and participants. Bearing in mind that some of our members have published several books, and at least one has run their own publishing company, we certainly feel we can learn from their extensive experience.

Which leads me neatly into our next scheduled workshop on 22nd June. Following the interest sparked by her introduction to publishing, back in February of this year, Teika Marija Smits has put together a follow-on workshop which focuses on the indie market and how to publish successfully in that arena.

We know we have a handful of members who are on the cusp of publishing their first novel, so this might just be the path they choose.

Come and join our creative community!

Deb