Pennard House in Somerset will again host the annual intimate five-day creative writing retreat from Monday 7th to Friday 11th November 2016. Whether you have a novel or memoir on the go – or just an urge to write and no particular goal in mind – you’ll spend your mornings exploring technical aspects of writing in a small, supportive group.
About the Author
Prize-winning novelist and academic lecturer, Susan Elderkin, has been hosting writing workshops since 2006. Having taught at Goldsmiths, Birkbeck and University of Manchester, Susan will bring her Masters of Arts in creative writing expertise to an intimate group of 10 ambitious authors.
This all-inclusive package comes with daily three-hour workshops with Susan Elderkin, plus a class with a mystery guest speaker mid-week.
Whether its fiction, non-fiction or a little bit of both, this retreat offers the opportunity to relax in a beautiful English country home, enjoy the tranquil peace of the stunning gardens and have the space to develop writing projects to a whole new level. For the full retreat experience, additional yoga classes can also be booked throughout the week.
About the Retreat
Daily workshops allow guests to critically analyse and edit their own work, and learn how to use carefully selected syntax to structure the ever thickening plot. Throughout the week there will be a number of varying events to jog the mind and get those creative juices flowing. Themed evening dinners and brain training exercises are some of the activities to be expected, plus the opportunity to pick the brains of professional authors and the guest speaker.
While the theme of this years winter’s writing retreat is yet to be fixed, last year revolved around Emily Dickinson’s poem Tell the Whole Truth, but Tell it Slant, with guests seeing this theme seep into all of the day’s activities which included yoga and writing trigger sessions in the morning.
Retreat Itinerary
Monday:
12pm – 1pm: Arrive at Pennard House and settle in.
2.30pm – 5.30pm: First of the daily workshops, where guests will be introduced to Susan
7pm: Pre-dinner drinks will be served, before supper which is served at 7.30pm
The rest of the week:
7am – 7.45am: Yoga class (optional)
8am – 8.30am: Understanding writing triggers to get those creative thoughts flowing
8.30am – 9am: Breakfast
9.30am: Workshop begins
1pm: Lunch will be served
Afternoon: A group walk with the family dogs or guests can look for a quiet spot to write, or read a book
4pm – 5pm: One-to-one tutorials with Susan
5.15pm – 6.30pm: Yoga class
7pm: Pre-dinner drinks, then dinner served at 7.30pm
Why go?
The retreat will give guests the chance to develop their craft in a comfortable homely surrounding. Previous guests include William Davidson who won The Puffin Review’s Fairy Tale Contest for his novel The Giant.
Surrounded by cider-producing orchards, Pennard House is the perfect, relaxing setting for a budding author. The 17th century family-owned home has beautiful large bedrooms complete with en-suite bathrooms, and the Dearden family on hand to provide guests with the best possible experience.
Pennard House is a unique place, with lots to do on the 130-acre grounds. Guests are invited to enjoy winter walks around the estate and make themselves at home by curling up by the cosy fireplace to share plot ideas and character developments, with like-minded writers and friends.
Filled with history, the Grade II listed building will transport would-be novelists back to the era of Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde and the Brontë sisters as they learn the essential writing skills from some of the industry’s best writers.
What next?
Prices for the five day retreat are from £750 per person, including daily tuition, accommodation, dinner, bed and breakfast.
For more information please contact Pennard House