Our all-new 6-day Creative Writing course, led by author and professional tutor Dr. Anne Caldwell, starts in July 2023.
This week-long residential course will help kickstart your writing, whether you are just beginning or have been writing for a while. We will focus on generating new ideas, discussing starting points, how to keep going and completing/editing a finished piece of work.
There will be plenty of inspiration – whether you are interested in writing fiction, memoir, poetry or drama. The emphasis will be on building skills and confidence, and sharing work with each other, under the guidance of a professional writer.
A series of workshops during the week will cover topics such as developing a writing practice, storytelling, structuring your work, how to use language imaginatively and character development. The course programme includes daily three-hour workshops, one to ones and an after-dinner feedback/celebration one evening. Participants are encouraged to bring some of their works for constructive advice, or just come with a notebook and an open mind.
Anne offers her long experience as a published author of poetry, plays and short stories to advise on the business side of being a writer, including discussing ambitions, expectations, and the sort of publications people might best target for getting work published.
There will be a free day to explore the beauties of the region, such as the stunning medieval walled City of Carcassonne.
10 – 15 May, 2024 (6 days – 5 nights, starting Friday)
All-inclusive price per person £1050.
£60 supplement for single room occupancy (for single participants wanting their own double bedroom).
Non-participant sharing bedroom with participant: £100 discount.
During this course, the emphasis will be on informality. You may be a beginner or a more seasoned writer; either way, you will not be expected to conform to any particular genre or style.
Whether your chosen form is poetry or prose, fact or fiction, the focus will be on creating character, atmosphere and coherent structures. Discussions will cover topics such as plotting, pacing, dialogue, imagery, point of view, power and economy of language, punctuation and editing.
The course programme includes daily group sessions, one-to-ones and an after-dinner feedback focus one evening. Participants are encouraged to bring with them one or two of their works for one-to-one and group discussions but this isn’t a requirement.
‘Thank you for the support, Anne. I've really enjoyed the course and I'm pleased with the results. I've also found the feedback very helpful.’ – Student attending Anne’s OU course 2022
‘To have the opportunity to concentrate solely on writing for a week without the usual diversions has been wonderful. To be among like-minded souls and encouraging tutors has been great for confidence and self-belief and the workshops and tutorials have been inspiring and helpful. I leave feeling fired up and enthusiastic about pursuing my writing.’ – Arvon Course Participant
Anne Caldwell is a freelance writer, an Open University lecturer in Creative Writing, an editor and an accredited coach.
She has published four collections of poetry and a book of creative non-fiction, edited anthologies and most recently a collection of essays for Routledge Publishers. Her latest book of prose poetry, ‘Alice and the North’ came out with Valley Press in 2020.
A highly experienced tutor and workshop facilitator of all writing genres, Anne is based in West Yorkshire, UK. She is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow at the University of Huddersfield and has a doctorate in creative writing. She specialises in poetry, life writing and short fiction.
Her first book of poetry won an award from Cinnamon Press and she’s been shortlisted in the National Poetry Competition.
For more information about Anne you can visit her website here.
Click here to enquire about availability and for further information about this exciting tutored retreat!
