Year ends are good times for reflection and I have been reflecting on Writescapes. I thought I would share these musings with you.

For many years I wrote for a hobby. I loved writing, but being a people’s person, it was a very insular and lonely activity. I wanted to be able to share my writing with others and have a forum for honest and useful feedback. However I had been to writing circles where there were endless rounds of readings. People read their work - hugely important to them but totally boring for everyone else.

In late 2003 I was having coffee with a friend of mine and we shared our dreams. Hers was to write her newest novel for business people. Mine was to get Writescapes going. We left our afternoon coffee session resolved to put our plans into action by the end of 2004 and we made solid commitments to support each other through that.

That was the birth of a wonderful friendship and also of Writescapes.

 In February 2004 the first Writescapes session was held at the Café Des Artes in Kalk Bay.

Ruth’s book ‘Blackboards Bubbles and Cappuccinos’ (see www.ruthtearle.com ) was published later that year. I proudly attended the launch of her book at Melrose Arch in Gauteng.

Much has happened between then and now the most important of all being the absolute explosion of the Writescapes website. We are affording many first time / amateur writers the opportunity to see their work in print. The Writescapes purpose of ‘Giving writers a voice’ has taken on a completely new dimension. Never in my wildest dreams did I plan this evolution of the Writescapes concept and what a pleasure it is. Once again I am reminded, as I am every time I sit down to write, that the most creative things happen in their time, when we allow things to unfold before us.

Wait till you see all we have planned for 2008. I hope you will find that the site will become your writing home. A place where you know your writing is given a voice and a page and where you can get some good honest feedback and assistance

Please come back often as we will always have something new to exercise your creative mind and get you writing!

May 2007 end peacefully for you with pen in hand

Best wishes

Mandy