VISIT HOLLAND FOR THE MYWRITERS CIRCLE CONFERENCE-October Book NowUpdate 20 Aug

[Orangutansaver]

WRITERS CONFERENCE SUMMARY

COSTS, TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS AND ITINERARY

With a form to download (See below)

The purpose of the week end is to see a part of Holland you may never have visited before, meet with your fellow mywriterscircle members and get to know them and learn more about writing.  We also ask you to bring your notebook so that you can write down all the important and interesting details about your week end.  There are projects for you to write, both before you arrive and during your stay.

The earlier you book the more chance you will have of a place at the hotel. You may use your bank card with a pin number either at the hotel or at any local bank.

Date 12 – 16 October

Closing Date 15 September

I have planned this Conference so that everyone is paying individually.   In this respect, no money is paid to me personally and everyone handles their own travel arrangements.   My job here is to ensure you have a good time and ferry you about in the bus.!  The itinerary is great!!

Arrival – Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam) meeting point before 12 noon. Please give chance to pick up your luggage and meet at 12 o’clock.  An early morning flight is desirable.  I will be at the meeting point from 11am.  You will see the signs in the airport for the meeting point when you come through the arrivals door after the baggage belt pick up.

Ferry available through DFDS or North Sea Ferries
You may bring your own car
I haven't booked a bus yet as I don’t know how many of you are coming.   You will be informed nearer the time and extra costs for the bus will be advised.

A summary of costs is supplied with attached booking form and general information

You are requested to write a 1000 word article for a magazine before arriving – details attached

The hotel tariff is included – please book the hotel first before the flight/ferry this is important.   The hotel would like you to book as soon as possible as it helps them to collate the numbers attending and keep the bookings open for the conference. 
The hotel is great!   There is a special dining room for the members only and conference room which we may not have to pay for!!   Also there is a swimming pool for your use.

Please arrange to return home on a flight after 3pm on 16 October   You will leave the hotel about  noon.  Ferry users can leave later for the 6pm ferry arriving Wednesday morning in Newcastle upon Tyne.  Please remember that no matter which ferry you get you still have to travel North either in the UK or Holland.  My experience is that the Newcastle ferry is best to reach your destination.   Or if you live in the extreme south of England leave from Harwich and drive up less than 2 hours.


I have tried to think of everything, but each person I know will have a query, so please don’t send me e-mails, put your questions on the forum and I will answer each one so that all the members can benefit from FAQ’s 

Please ensure you have adequate travel insurance to cover the cost of illness and cancellation by you.

You may send me a personal message if you wish in the form of a PM on the forum.

PLEASE NOW DOWNLOAD the booking form and itinerary

[Orangutansaver]

Just adding on an update regarding travel insurance.  Please ask further questions here.  Im on holiday on 20th July for three weeks, so any questions will have to wait  for an answer until I get back.   Hope to see you all here soon.

Lin
Moderator

[Talisman]

I would have loved to have gone, but unfortunately my publisher has a get together that weekend to celebrate 10 years in business, and since I have never met him or any of his staff (it is all done by phone and email), and everyone will be there, including his staff and a lot of his other authors, it is a wonderful opportunity that I would not want to miss. A good excuse for Coran and I to have a weekend away together as well, since partners are invited. Maybe next year then ....

June

 

[Orangutansaver]

Oh yes its important you go to that.   Its nice to say MY PUBLISHER!!!LOL  I wish I had one!!

Any more questions Ill be happy to answer

All the best June.

Lin

[Orangutansaver]

Is ANYONE interested in coming to this conference.   I would like to hear some interest please.

Lin x

[lledod]

Hi Lin

I hope you are getting some response for this trip. I have just been reading the schedule and it sounds great. I would not have minded joining you and see some of the places I didn't see while I lived there, but work commitments are against me. I will be in Koln (Cologne) on the Friday and have to be in Eindhoven Monday-Wednesday so in effect I can't go to Holland because I will already be there. During the weekend I will probably be "at home" in Amsterdam.

For people who are in two minds on going I would say GO. Enkhuizen and the surrounding fishing villages are great and have some fine local dishes. Last time I was there it was like being in Chocolate box Holland. If you can get to Texel you may not want to leave. It is so quiet and restful, no cars allowed on the island.

The canal cruises in Amsterdam are fascinating; but if you understand more than one of the usual four languages spoken focus your mind on just one or you will get very confused.

So contact Lin, who has put a lot of effort into this, book your hotel and travel and enjoy one of the most laid back, relaxing and friendliest countries in Europe.

Prettige vakantie

Dave

[jachko]

I hope you're getting lots of people interested.  For me, it seems geared largely towards people who want to write for magazines and that isn't me.  However, that would not keep me away.  I would love to have this opportunity to network and meet some other writing people.  None of my friends seem to have that one book in them.

I've always wanted to attend a writing weekend thing and find out what happens there and at least this one would be relatively local (I could drive to it) and it would be in my language.  However, I can't attend because these dates coincide almost completely with the Frankfurt Buch Messe which is an excellent opportunity to meet publishers.  I went last year and really benefitted from it.

Anyway, I live in Germany, so if there are any others out there who live in Germany and would like to arrange some sort of writing workshop weekend in ENGLISH, PLEASE let me know.

Have a wonderful time and let us all know how it went afterwards!

[Orangutansaver]

Im going to close the applications tomorrow because as far as I know no-one wants to come to to Holland.  That's fine by me, I just need to check the hotel and ensure that no-one has actually booked without sending me their application form.

In the beginning lots of people were interested and its been on MWC for almost  year, but I think I have to be realistic and close it down.  I will unsticky the topic tomorrow and let it ride.

Perhaps if anyone is doing a conference in the UK I can come over for that instead.

I dont mind, its a busy time of year anyway, catching up after the holidays so Ill find something else to do, it was a nice idea, but I didnt really expect hoards of people.


I need a month to complete the arrangements so I had to close it on 15th September.  I have put quite a few updates and reminders on the boards, but nothing serious came up so the date is now closing.

So all the best to you and thanks to those who wrote kind messages of support.  Maybe another time eh?  Please don't forget to contact me if you want a guided tour of North Holland.


Lin x

[jachko]

I'm really sorry to hear that.
I was really excited about the idea when i first heard, but, like I say, I can't miss the Frankfurt buch messe.
Thanks for arranging it all and going to the trouble you went to.
Hopes for next year...
Jackie

[upturnedloobrush]

Hey Lin,

You never know about these things unless you try. Well done for making the attempt and I am sorry it did not work out.  Many years ago I was Founder and Editor of a local Cricket magazine in Somerset aimed at local cricket clubs. I arranged for a very famous International cricketer to give a talk one evening and the response was fantastic, a full house seemed assured.  The hotel conference room was booked. On the night it was just me and him !!!!!!!!!!!   Maybe the egg on my face that night was the start of my 30 years allergy to eggs !
Ken

[Orangutansaver]

Thanks Ken,

Im now in the middle of arranging a slide show about the plight of the orangutan.  Ive got top people such as Land Rover and Toyota and The Body Shop interested in helping to support the project.  So this time I hope our "rent a crowd " will be there.

Lin x