The dreaming spires

I recently made a visit to Oxford and was captivated by the 'city of dreaming spires', a phrase coined by the poet Mathew Arnold.

There is such an incredible atmosphere there and creativity seems to wash over you wherever you walk. I popped into a tiny newsagent to buy a couple of postcards. The young lad serving was writing music on a scrap of notepaper while he tended the shop. Wonderful!

It was fascinting to hear conversations of the students as they came out of the colleges bursting with inspiration and talking of poetry.

The picture above is the Eagle and Child and is one of the most inspiring pubs I have ever been to. This is where CS Lewis and Tolkien would sit with other writers and discuss their work.

The plaque below is on the wall of the pub, just in the back room where they would sit by the fire discussing their writing.



I felt that I wanted to sit there and let all that creativity seep into my body. I felt the instant urge to write something myself so whipped out my trusty notebook and pen to start scribbling something down.

I started thinking about my own writing group ( Wrekin Writers) and how great it is to be part of a circle of like minded people in a group where you never feel foolish when discussing future projects.

It is so important to be able to talk to other writers, I have gained so much advice and inspiration from them over the years of being a member.

I found it amazing how places can really inspire me as well as people. Maybe one day there will be a plaque on a wall for Wrekin Writers . We have certainly left so much of our creative energy on the retreats that we have visited over the years!