About

How it began...

Hi, I’m Niamh Bohane and welcome to Life Notes. 

Life Notes was born after a very difficult period in my own life. After seventeen years practicing medicine, I left my work as a general practitioner in 2019, burnt out, distraught and confused. It took two years to work through what had happened and to understand what had led me to this pivotal moment in my life. Without the tool of exploratory writing, I believe it would have taken me much longer to heal. 

I had always been a writer and journal-keeper, scribbling in notebooks and A4 pads since I was very young: short stories, poems, lyrics, reflections. In 2016, I was lucky to be granted the opportunity to earn an honours master's degree in creative writing at the University of Limerick, under the guidance of wonderful teachers including novelists Joseph O' Connor, Sarah Moore Fitzgerald and Donal Ryan, and the poet Mary O' Malley. 

Following this, I had the great privilege to facilitate writing workshops with Limerick Mental Health Association for a number of years. I also trained and worked as a story exchange facilitator with Narrative 4 Ireland, an organisation that uses story-telling as an empathy-building tool.

Writing and words have supported and guided me through the best and worst of times. The subtle transformative power of exploratory writing exercises never fails to surprise me and I am delighted to be able to share this magic with you. My offerings have been informed and inspired by the work of Gillie Bolton, Rita Charon, David Denborough, James Pennebaker, Brené Brown, Tristine Rainer, Julia Cameron, and Marion Milner, among others. If you are interested in this area, I'd encourage you to seek out their extensive writings and research. 

Beyond the page, I am a mum, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, singer, dancer, gardener: just some of the many roles we all juggle. 

I can't wait to meet you on your journey of discovery with the guidance of your Life Notes. 

 

How I can help

I have created Life Notes as themed exploratory writing practices and exercises for curious, open-minded and playful individuals who want to try a new way of reconnecting to themselves and their stories.

So if this sounds like you and you are:

  • Curious about writing, about life and about yourself
  • Wanting to start a regular writing practice
  • Willing to invest in yourself and the things that bring you joy
  • Open to learning from others and from yourself
  • As interested in questions as you are in answers
  • Considering exploring and documenting your life stories for others

then, join our supportive community of fellow inquisitive writers.

At Life Notes, I strive to create a welcoming, encouraging and joyful space to play with words and story. Even if you find it hard to connect with the playful and joyful parts of yourself right now, know that they are sheltering somewhere and, through the power of exploratory writing, just waiting to be re-discovered. 

Together we will go on a light journey of curiosity and wonder, even if the terrain is sometimes rocky and dark, to uncover insights, solutions, and untapped wisdom within. 

If you are ready to embark on this writing journey with me, I offer a few different ways that we can write together:

4 Ways To Get Started...

Through Life Notes, I’m delighted to share with you the techniques and knowledge that I have learned and developed in my practice. Here’s how:

01.

I send out a regular dispatch

with updates on Life Notes’ happenings, reading recommendations, writing prompts and more.

You can sign up here >

02.

I run exploratory writing workshops 

Join other explorers as we work through techniques and topics together. To find out when the next online workshop is coming up, 

keep in touch here >

03.

I offer self-led courses

on the skills of exploratory writing as well as guided journeys through specific topics such as burnout.

find out more about these here >

04.

Free download

You can get started on your exploratory writing adventure with my free journaling workbook, “Write Now”, which you can download here. 

Download here

Sign up for my regular dispatch

with updates on Life Notes’ happenings, reading recommendations, writing prompts and more.