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ISN'T IT TIME YOU
VISITED GREECE?
A recent study found that the testosterone of American men has been dropping for 20 years……’ Maureen Dowd of the NY Times. One reason why you find many American and British women, of a certain age, make the journey to Greece for their summer holiday. Each summer the God Dionysios rules the Greek islands, and what happens on Skiathos stays on Skiathos.
Greece Writing Retreats 2006
REFECLTION ON SKIATHOS 06 ‘EROTIC WRITING WORKSHOP’
BY ZOE ARTEMIS
The art of flirtation is alive and well in Greece. In spite of a very strong emphasis on family, Greece remains a very sensual country and sex is always lingering in the air. Greeks don’t work as hard as Americans….they enjoy their free time, lounging in plush out door cafes, reparteeing and flirting. The art of flirtation is a high art form in Greece, where serious flirting is a delicious past time. In America we seem to swing between pornography and puritanism. You won’t find that ethos in Greece, which is why it was the perfect place for an Erotic Writing Workshop.
Once you hit the nude beaches on Skiathos, you realize how much sexier people look with their clothes on! Back at the port, I find myself eyeing the laborers, the men who earn their muscles by fishing, building houses, making furniture or building roads. These ‘working class’ guys, as we would call them in America, possess a grace and elegance in spite of their machismo……they know how to romance a woman and to enjoy our company, if only for a few days or a few weeks! Greek men appreciate women of all sizes and ages. For a woman of a certain age this is a perfect scenario.
Mitzi Szereto who led the Erotica writing workshop gave us many writing exercises, such as: When do you feel most sexy? Write a steamy love letter that is personal, write a steamy love letter pretending you are the opposite gender, write a sex scene without mentioning body parts. My favorite writing exercise was when we were asked to write about our sexual fantasy, throw the piece of paper in a basket, we would each pick one and write about some else’s fantasy in the first person and read it aloud!
Check out some very fabulous Skiathos photos, take by one of the writing participants, Porter Anderson, Senior Producer with CNN in Atlanta. Go to Porter Andersons photos
Sept 9th - 15th 2006
SMOLDERING WORDS:
Erotic literature has changed dramatically in recent years. No longer banished to the top shelves of bookshops, it instead holds court on the front tables. Approaching the subject from a literary perspective, internationally known erotic-fiction author, anthology editor, and erotic-writing workshop pioneer Mitzi Szereto will pull back the blanket on the field of erotic writing, offering her own perspective on the craft. The course will consist of lectures, group discussions, writing exercises, collaborative efforts, and workshopping of material for peer/tutor feedback. For those considering publication: the pitfalls, techniques, and essentials of erotic writing will be covered, along with a comprehensive overview of the marketplace. Participants will be encouraged to seek inspiration by incorporating elements from their surroundings. The course is designed for those looking to write erotica for professional or personal exploration, or for those looking to incorporate the erotic into another body of work. If possible, bring along good and bad examples of erotic writing for class discussion. Workshop is open to all levels of writers.
Mitzi Szereto
BIO
Enjoy the following poem written by Maggie, one of the Skiathos writing participants, a Social Worker and budding poet from Scotland.
Miles Between
I am realising now that my view of erotic
Is somewhat obscure an uncomfortable topic
So on leaving the session with homework abound
I walked down the stairs and then about turned
A man dressed in blue with a case in his arm
His eyes twinkled green – he’s no stranger to charm
I made some excuse about leaving my sun cream
I ran back up the stairs my senses all keen
But the man in blue was nowhere to be seen
As I stood there panicking which way do I go?
I heard Miles Davis in the distance, the sound to follow
At the top of the stairs playing out to the night
Stood the man in blue, brass instrument held tight
His lips red with exertion, his eyes tightly closed
The silhouette of his body bent backwards exposed
Unaware of his audience he plays free to the wind
But me, as I watch him, I feel I have sinned.
Erotic Writing & Fiction by
Mitzi Szereto of the UK
American born Mitzi Szereto has more than a dozen books to her credit, including the critically acclaimed 'Erotic Fairy Tales: A Romp Through the Classics'; 'The World’s Best Sex Writing 2005' (non-fiction); 'Dying For It: Tales of Sex & Death'; 'Wicked: Sexy Tales of Legendary Lovers'; and the 'Erotic Travel Tales' anthology series. She’s also penned several best-selling erotic novels under the name M. S. Valentine. Mitzi is the pioneer of the erotic writing workshop in the UK and Europe, teaching them from the prestigious Cheltenham Festival of Literature to the Greek islands. She’s been featured in publications ranging from the Sunday Telegraph (London), Independent (London), Family Circle, Writing Magazine, and Forum to Bravo UK Television, Telecinco TV 5 (Madrid), and BBC Radio. Her work as an anthology editor has earned her the American Society of Authors and Writers’ Meritorious Achievement Award. Originally from the USA, she now lives in England.
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