Creative writing holiday in Portugal

'It was a unique, very personal experience. I am normally a sceptic about these things but it was definitely worth it.'

Alison Wytchwood, Yorkshire Evening Press, July 21, 2007

'Another fab week, just returned from a competition with a first! It has just transformed my life. Thank you so very much.'

Heather Wilkinson, show jumper, Lancashire.

'I have not touched a cigarette since I saw you, and it feels so good to be free of them. I truly believe that I look better, and feel so much fitter. I have really felt a huge difference in that respect.

Thanks so much for what you have done for me.'

Geraldine Williams, York

'Stopping smoking with Sophie's help was so easy compared to all the other ways I'd tried. From the day of the hypnotherapy session, I knew that I no longer wanted to smoke.'

Trevor Holmes, Wakefield

'Thank you for all your help and support. For someone who on that first day believed it would never work, it has been one of the best decisions of my life... What you have given me is the tools to use when things seem to be getting on top of me. I still use the self hypnosis nearly every day.'

David Nevison, York

'I sometimes struggled to just 'sit down and do it' with some aspects of my work. After my first session with Sophie, we managed to get straight to the cause and I could feel the benefits almost instantly!'

David Lawrie, music producer, York

'We've got rid of a major stumbling block, so thank you very much! I'm really, really enjoying it, and on Sunday, my final set I realised as we came back to the dock, I'd just been totally in the zone, which is exactly, above all, what I wanted to achieve.'

Paul Marshall, water skier, York.

Creative writing holiday in Portugal

Last year, I was relaxing on a roof terrace above a beautiful blue pool in the tranquil and unspoilt setting of the Eastern Algarve, Portugal.

I woke early every morning as the sun rose, enjoyed an early morning swim and then sat and let the words flow from my pen.

It was all so easy…

And so I began to ask myself how I could share this experience with some of the people I know who love the things that I love: sitting in the shade under the bougainvillea and writing; swimming in the sea and letting the ideas flow; practising the gentle self-hypnosis techniques that work best when the morning unfolds in front of you with nothing at all to do except to find out what happens when you let go a little; exploring historic towns and markets; walking on the beach; conversations under the stars; a little wine, good fresh food.

And this is what I came up with. A very special holiday in what, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful parts of Europe, in which you will have time to rest and revitalise, time to write, time to learn new writing techniques that will help you to (re)discover or develop your creativity, time to share ideas, to swim in the sea or simply spend time with yourself or with others.

The setting

Quinta Mimosa is a ten acre estate of almond and orange trees, set into the hillside above Amancil, away from the crowds yet easily accessible, at 20 minutes drive from Faro airport and only 7 km from the beautiful coast and beaches.

You can read more about this special venue on Quinta Mimosa’s web site here.

Workshops take place in the air-conditioned studio opening on to peaceful walled gardens, offering the perfect environment for the unique mix of writing, self-hypnosis and personal development that we will be exploring during the week.

The programme
Each morning after breakfast, we’ll meet from 9-11 for a creative writing workshop with a personal development focus in which you’ll learn daily writing, self-hypnosis and personal development techniques for creativity and well-being.

During the afternoons, you’ll be free to chill out in Quinta Mimosa’s gardens, relax by one of the swimming pools or on one of the shaded outdoor terraces or enjoy a massage or bodywork treatment by one of the Quinta’s in-house therapists.

In the afternoons, you may choose to hire a car to explore the beautiful surroundings, including the spectacular nearby beaches in the Ria Formosa Natural Park, historic fishing towns such as Tavira, a local ‘hidden’ waterfall and the laid-back port of Faro.

At some point during the week, you will have a private one-to-one consultation with Sophie that will help you to let go of blocks, embrace your own unique creativity or explore personal themes, using Sophie’s special blend of hypnotherapy, personal development and/or creative writing.

Each evening we’ll gather to share writing done during the day before heading off to a local restaurant or preparing dinner on one of the barbecues. There is a special welcome dinner and a celebratory reading and dinner on the final evening before your departure, all included in the price of your holiday.

The accommodation
The basic price of the holiday is based on sharing with one other person in a twin room with en suite bathroom. Non-participatng partners are very welcome or you may like to come along on the holiday to write and relax with a friend.

There are also some single rooms available for a supplement and some dormitory-style accommodation (groups of 3 or 5) for a reduced price.

The accommodation at Quinta Mimosa is arranged around several spacious houses, each with their own kitchen and dining area, swimming pool, gardens and shaded outdoor terraces.

The date
Saturday 30 May to Saturday 6 June 2009.

The price
The basic price per person for all this based on sharing a twin en suite room is £710 Euros (currently £599). This price includes breakfast, welcome dinner and celebratory final dinner, around 200 hours of tuition in creative writing for personal development and self-hypnosis and a one-to-one consultation with Sophie.

The price does not include flights to Faro airport, expenses, massage and bodtwork treatments, holiday insurance.

How to reserve your place now
To ensure that everyone has a wonderful holiday and the very best of my personal tuition and support during their stay, there will be only limited places available on this holiday.

Please email me at sophie@sophienicholls.com or call me on 0781 260 6350 if you’d like to book your place or find out if this is the right holiday for you.

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'It was a unique, very personal experience. I am normally a sceptic about these things but it was definitely worth it.'

'Another fab week, just returned from a competition with a first! It has just transformed my life. Thank you so very much.'

'I have not touched a cigarette since I saw you, and it feels so good to be free of them. I truly believe that I look better, and feel so much fitter. I have really felt a huge difference in that respect.

Thanks so much for what you have done for me.'

'Stopping smoking with Sophie's help was so easy compared to all the other ways I'd tried. From the day of the hypnotherapy session, I knew that I no longer wanted to smoke.'

'Thank you for all your help and support. For someone who on that first day believed it would never work, it has been one of the best decisions of my life... What you have given me is the tools to use when things seem to be getting on top of me. I still use the self hypnosis nearly every day.'

'I sometimes struggled to just 'sit down and do it' with some aspects of my work. After my first session with Sophie, we managed to get straight to the cause and I could feel the benefits almost instantly!'

'We've got rid of a major stumbling block, so thank you very much! I'm really, really enjoying it, and on Sunday, my final set I realised as we came back to the dock, I'd just been totally in the zone, which is exactly, above all, what I wanted to achieve.'

Creative writing holiday in Portugal

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