Richard Skinner, novelist, head of the Faber Academy Fiction Programme, and long-time colleague of Retreat West will be hosting the the Plotting workshop, which will take place on the Saturday morning and is made up of one long plotting exercise, in which you’ll be writing automatically, drafting, redrafting, editing & finishing—essentially, the whole writing process in one go. Richard will also be looking at the role of secrets in your piece. The workshop will involve lots of individual writing and reading aloud in pairs as you go.

The second workshop with Retreat West founder, novelist and short story writer, Amanda Saint, will build on the work started with Richard and look at how you can still work creatively within your plot to allow characters to have their freedom. The third one will be an interactive feedback session on work that you have created during the first two workshops so you can ensure you’ve really got to grips with it all.

The retreat starts on Friday (arrival between 4pm and 6pm) and we leave on Tuesday (departure 10.30am). Outside of workshops, the time is yours to read, write, walk and enjoy the area.

For more information and to book your place