Reflecting on my recent stay at a Rocaberti Writers Retreat, I am so grateful to Rocaberti for the partial Scholarship and to Screen Ireland for the Bursary Award to enable me to attend. 

The retreat began on our first evening with introductions, a short description of our projects and what we hoped to achieve from the experience. Meeting daily with our mentors in small groups of our peers, all amazing people with serious writing and storytelling skills, we workshopped our projects, receiving honest feedback, and also had opportunities to ask questions about anything related to our work and of the business of film and writing.

Over the four days I worked with mentor of choice, Joe Russo, screenwriter, director and producer with years of experience writing successfully produced horror screenplays. Joe, a genuinely lovely guy, was open and honest about the nature of writing horror screenplays; what works, what doesn’t, and he posed some pivotal questions that opened up more possibilities for my main character. Eureka moments!

We had free time in the afternoon to write, go for a walk, take a siesta or chat with fellow mentors and writers. Wined and dined in the beautiful surroundings of the stunning castle, Sant Mori, all of the mentors were generous with their time, knowledge and career experience, with some great, unscheduled conversations throughout the retreat. After dinner each evening, there was a talk and Q&A from a different mentor on a film or TV project they’ve been involved with  – an invaluable insiders perspective!

It was also lovely to immerse in the retreat with a sound group of talented mentees, mostly screenwriters, but also some writers of fiction and non-fiction. Engaging in long conversations, with genuine encouragement of each other, friendships were most definitely formed. 

On the last day of the retreat, we each spoke about what we had hoped to achieve from that first day and if we had accomplished that goal. Resoundingly, the answers were positive. Thank you Rocaberti! 

Check out the Rocaberti Website HERE for information on their retreats.

Check out ScreenIreland HERE for information on their Bursary Awards.