‘When we allow our stories to emerge and our true voice to be heard, we feel more powerful, more effective and more able to contribute our unique talent to the world we live in.’ Jan Cornall

Jan Cornall is a writer, performer and teacher based in Sydney, who leads creative writing workshops and retreats in Australia and the Asia Pacific. She has written fifteen produced plays, musicals, a feature film, a novel and three CDs of songs. Jan has taught creative writing since 1998 at writer’s centres, community colleges, universities (UTS, UWS) and writer’s festivals in Australia and Indonesia. Using a technique she has developed called Meditative Writing, Jan takes writers deep into their creative source. Dedicated to nurturing the unique attributes of each writer, her workshops produce startling results.

Every year a number of Jan’s first time writers go on to publish with major publishing houses. They include: Marguerite Van Geldermalsen, Married To A Bedouin (Virago); Margaret Wilcox, Gone (Penguin); Catherine Therese, The Weight Of Silence (Hachette Livre); Walter Mason, Destination Saigon (Allen & Unwin); Yvonne Louis, Brush with Mondrian (Murdoch) and Public Life Private Grief, Mary Delahunty (Hardie Grant). Established writers like Margo Lanagan and AD Scott also receive support from Jan’s workshops. Margo’s most recent fantasy novels, Tender Morsels and Sea Hearts, are published by Allen & Unwin in Australia, Knopf – USA, David Fickling Books, UK. AD Scott’s murder mysteries: A Small Death in the Great Glen and Tales From The Highland Gazette are published by Simon and Schuster in the US. See more here.

What does Writers Journey offer?

Jan’s mentoring, workshops and retreats  offer essential tools, methods and ongoing support for beginners and experienced,  published  and unpublished writers of all genres. Painters, photographers, performance artists, song writers, zinesters and artists in all modalities also find Jan’s methods helpful in supporting and clarifying their creative process.

What’s so special about Writers Journey?

The Meditative Methods Jan uses allow you to access the deep subconscious pool of image and sense memory you need to create powerful writing. Getting conscious mind out of the way means the process can become effortless and joyful, free from the struggle and overwhelm that often accompanies long distance writing.  Jan has meditations for every aspect of craft and process including: creating the world of your story, finding your narrator voice, creating original characters, discovering compelling plots, ensuring the impact of your story and dealing with your negative inner critic.

How can Writers Journey cater to my specific writing needs?

Another unique aspect of Writers Journey is you can join any time it suits you . There are no beginning, intermediate or advanced classes. Individual attention is given to the craft and process needed to bring your current writing project to completion, whatever stage you are at. Writers may choose to dip in and out or work with Jan over a period of years. Some even follow Jan around the globe.  In 2011 Chris Richards  broke the record and attended the Fiji , Bali and Luang Prabang retreats. The pay off – he is poised to complete the 120,000 word manuscript of his next book.

Chris discussing a mapping exercise with fellow writer Diana Plater

Chris says:“Every now and again in this world of spin, hype, over promise and under deliver, we get a surprise. Our expectations are exceeded. My experience of Jan Cornall’s Writers Workshop at Daku Resort, Fiji was just one of those rare times.

Here I was sixty thousand words into a novel and totally stalled. I am an experienced writer, I know all the gimmicks but still “the very urgent but not important subsumed the very important but not urgent,” in my life. The casualty was my demon, my novel. What I needed was some isolation, immersion and the company of like minded writers to resurrect my demon. Daku Resort (a jewel ) and Jan Cornall provided just that.

Jan is a more than a competent facilitator and an excellent writer. She is non invasive but nevertheless resolute on our purpose for being there. She coaches and pushes….just enough. Her workshop was one of the best things I have done in the past twenty years.” Chris Richards, academic, author, Canberra.

You can get started today with the easy steps outlined in Jan’s ebook:

WOW Workbook – Write Your Book On A Weekend

and digital  Meditations for Writers, available separately or together in the WOW Combo Package.