Woven 2025: Stories That Changed Us
In October 2025, a group of strangers met at Abbeyglen Castle in Clifden, Ireland — and something extraordinary happened. Beneath the moody Connemara skies, they wrote, cried, laughed, and rediscovered their own stories. What began as a writing retreat became a community, a creative reckoning, and a reminder that courage lives in every one of us.

We’ll return to Ireland in 2026, with a Writer-in-Residence and the first-ever Woven Fellowship for emerging voices. If you’ve ever wondered whether you could do something like this, the answer is simple: yes, you can.

Stories don’t need hours or a perfect setup—they just need thirty seconds of courage. Last week, my youngest Tiny Stories student, Rose, reminded us that kids (and artists) stay open, porous, and ready to begin again. Here’s what she taught me about writing, discovery, and the power of two minutes.

People ask me all the time if Woven is just for novel writers. Heavens, no! This October, join me in a castle by the sea in Ireland for a week of story-finding, creativity, and connection — whether you’re a published author, a beginner, or simply someone ready for a new chapter.

We don’t just need friends who share our lives — we need friends who feed our creative spirit. Here’s why finding them matters, and how community-based creativity makes it easier.

This isn’t about writing a book.
It’s about coming home to the stories that already live in you.
All you need is a little time, a little courage, and a little company.

After losing my mother, I turned to writing—not to share, but to survive. Writing became a path through grief, and later, a tool for healing others. At A Novel Idea, we help people of all ages find their voice and tell the truth. Because stories can save us.

“Aha! Found you, novelist!” Your kid might be writing a novel without even realizing it. Here’s what happens when we catch the spark early.

You don’t need to be a writer to tell your story. Here’s why writing belongs to everyone, and how it can change you at any age.

What began as a novel-writing camp for kids has become a storytelling movement for all ages. Here’s how it started, and why I believe in it even more today.