Thanks to the writers who joined me on the Winter Writing Retreat. What a productive time we had.
Prolific descriptive nostalgic writing (four complete tales plus a sketch script) from a writer who confessed to arriving with absolutely no idea of what she was going to write! Others who disappeared for hours at a time, emerging only to update us on progress, massage their stiff fingers – and eat.
We loved the story about the determined resolve of a heroine to carve out a healthy future – and live life to the full, and had fun learning digital storytelling from her lively demonstration – involving bears.
We shared precious bundles of Lancashire Love Letters – five years of almost daily letters between teenagers who lived and worked far away from each other during a long engagement. A wonderful personal collection, full of details about daily life in the 1950s and a valuable social history, being enjoyed, preserved and used to write memoir.
We shared adventures in camping and some very scary times hitch-hiking around Scandinavia in the 60s and singing in Durham Cathedral. We loved a ‘work in progress’ romantic novel, taking us into a ‘rags’ to riches’ mystery from UK to South America. We were moved by a short story created from a ‘work in progress’ 1st world war novel, taking us from a UK military hospital to New Zealand, and we passed around the Kleenex as we empathised with the heroine and ‘her soldier’. We smiled and sighed when we shared a charming thoughtful Christmas story with a wonderful happy twist ending, (and marvelled at the speed in which it was written) and loved hearing a New Year short story set on a deserted beach where two women find a connection, and a shared conviction – and a pet terrier behaving badly.
We learned so much from each other – with a pool of knowledge, talent, enthusiasm, generous support, advice, comments, ideas and suggestions we had all the perfect ingredients for a successful Writing Retreat. Thank you for the card, messages and gift, so thoughtful and much appreciated, and thank you to the excellent staff at Denman College for our clean comfortable cosy rooms, and all the delicious food (and drink) which contributed in making this retreat so special.
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Escape to Denman, a beautiful Georgian Mansion set in 17 acres of grounds, it’s the perfect place for an indulgent Winter Writing Retreat. Make 2018 the year you dig out that unfinished writing project languishing in a drawer, OR come and begin something completely new.
Join tutor led inspirational classroom sessions, discuss your writing, receive constructive feedback, and work in ‘one to one’ sessions with W.I. member Chrissie, whose TV scripts, short stories, plays and articles have been broadcast produced and published in UK and abroad.
Retreat to Denman, and write in the elegant drawing-room, the bar, your own comfortable en-suite bedroom, or the hall with its cosy log fire. This course is informal and friendly and we’ll be working on memoirs, life stories, short stories, sketches, plays, articles or novels, no experience of writing is required and beginners are welcome.
Price includes comfortable single ensuite room with tea/coffee making facilities and varied menus offering a selection of delicious meals, including cooked buffet style breakfasts, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon tea, and waiter service three course evening dinner with coffee/tea.
Contact chrissie@lifestorywriting.co.uk or Denman College 01865 391991 for more information and booking
