Suzanne McCaig
There’s something quietly magical about gathering to write with other teachers and creative individuals. Perhaps it’s the shared understanding of busy weeks, overflowing minds, and the constant juggling act of school life. Or perhaps it’s simply the joy of sitting together, pen in hand, with permission to slow down and let language lead.
Our most recent writing group meeting took place in the beautiful refectory at Norwich Cathedral — a setting that feels both peaceful and inspiring. The stone walls and historic atmosphere offered the perfect backdrop for creativity, while our table told a different story entirely: scattered crumbs from delicious baked pastries, mugs of hot and warming beverages, and the unmistakable comfort of a group settling into the moment.
“Writing begins with place…”
Suzanne McCaig muses on the effects of using even the simplest stimuli for writing.
Writing Begins with Place
We started our session with maps — a deceptively simple prompt that quickly opened up a world of possibilities. Together, we began writing lists of places: familiar locations, dream destinations, remembered streets, and imagined landscapes. With each name that appeared on the page, a doorway seemed to open.
Maps, we discovered, are more than navigation tools. They are invitations. They hold memories, mystery, and meaning. A single place name can summon a childhood holiday, a long walk taken in silence, or a journey still waiting to happen.
Zooming In and Panning Out
From there, our writing took an exciting turn. We explored the idea of zooming in on a subject — narrowing our focus to the tiniest details: a doorway, a shadow on a pavement, the smell of rain on stone, the texture of a warm cup held between our hands.
Then we experimented with panning out, widening the lens and allowing the writing to stretch into bigger scenes and broader perspectives. It was fascinating to notice how a story changes depending on the distance from which you tell it. A single moment can become vast. A whole landscape can become intimate.
This exercise sparked rich conversation and thoughtful reflection. It reminded us that writing isn’t just about what we choose to describe, but how we choose to look.
Zoom in, pan out
No matter where or how you start your writing, changing your perspective can have the greatest impact.
Travelling Without Moving
Perhaps the most wonderful realisation of the morning was this: we were travelling.
While we remained seated in the cathedral refectory — surrounded by crumbs, coffee, and quiet laughter — our minds wandered far beyond the walls. Through writing, we visited countless amazing places. Sarajevo, farms in Norfolk and Lands end near Penzance. Some were real, some remembered and all of them felt vivid and alive.
To experience that kind of movement while still staying rooted to the spot felt like a privilege. A reminder that imagination is not only powerful, but generous. It allows us to escape, explore, reflect, and return — all in the space of a few sentences.
A Space to Think, Write, and Breathe
Our teachers’ writing group continues to be a much-needed pocket of calm and creativity. In a profession that demands so much of us, this time feels like a gift: a chance to write not for assessment or outcome, but simply for the joy of noticing and expressing.
We left the refectory that morning feeling inspired, energised, and quietly grateful — not just for the pastries, but for the shared experience of writing together.
Because sometimes, all you need is a warm drink, a welcoming space, and a map to remind you that stories are everywhere.
With grateful thanks for the group!
