This course is suitable for writers of all levels and will be helpful whether you arrive at Garsdale with a blank page or with a project on which you have already started work.
Stimulating exercises will help you keep your writing muscle flexed and writing prompts each day will show you how to develop scene, character and plot. There will be opportunity to share work in progress as well as one-to-one advice about how to develop your material.
By the end of the week you will be equipped with skills and techniques to help you take your writing further and you will have the support of fellow writers to encourage you on your writing journey.
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Tutor: Hannah Vincent – Novelist/Playwright Hannah Vincent is a novelist, short story writer and playwright. Her first novel, Alarm Girl was published in 2014 and her second, The Weaning in 2018. Her 2020 short story collection, She-Clown and Other Stories was shortlisted for the Edge Hill Prize. Several of her stories have been broadcast as afternoon readings on Radio 4. Her stage plays have been produced by among others, The Royal Court Theatre and The Royal National Theatre Studio. Her radio play Come to Grief won the 2015 BBC Audio award for Best Adaptation. Hannah teaches Creative Writing on The Open University’s MA programme and on The Creative Writing Programme in Brighton. She holds a PhD in Creative and Critical writing from The University of Sussex. She is a Royal Literary Fund Fellow and a mentor for We Are Numbers, supporting young writers in Gaza. |
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Thursday Evening Guest Reader: Katy Massey – writer Katy Massey was a journalist for many years before studying for an MA and PhD in Creative Writing and now writes creatively, edits and teaches full time. Her memoir ‘Are we home yet?’ was published in 2020 and shortlisted for the Jhalak and Portico prizes. Her first novel, All Us Sinners, won the ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger in 2025. It features Maureen, a brothel-keeper in 1970s Leeds and Mick, her unexpected police ally who are drawn into investigating the killing of a friend’s son against the backdrop of the Yorkshire Ripper’s murders. Her new novel, The Burning Fears, was published in July 2025 and continues Maureen and Mick’s story. |
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| PRICES |
Fee includes all day and evening tutored workshop sessions, individual tutorials, tutor and guest readings, accommodation, inc. sheets and towels and all meals (not including alcohol). Single – En-suite room £1,205 |
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| TO BOOK |
£250 deposit payable on booking by bank transfer, PayPal, credit card or cheque, to secure place. Balance due six weeks before the start of the course. Please see Terms and Conditions. |
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| STRUCTURE OF THE WEEK | See Structure of the Week (tab above) | |||||
| WHAT TO BRING |
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| START TIME |
Please arrive between 3:00pm and 4:00pm on Monday 14th June 2027 Tea, cake and housekeeping information 4.30pm Introductory Workshop 5.30 – 6.30pm |
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| END TIME |
After breakfast, 10:00am on Saturday 19th June 2027 |
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| LOCATION | The Garsdale Retreat, Clough View, Garsdale Head, Sedbergh, Cumbria LA10 5PW Nearest railway station: Garsdale, on the Leeds – Carlisle line. For directions, see Find Us section on the Contact page. |
All courses start on Monday afternoon.
3.00 – 4.00pm: Arrival time
4.30pm: Housekeeping/Course information with tea and cake
5.30 – 6.30pm: Introductory workshop
7.00pm: Dinner
All courses end after breakfast on Saturday (10.00am).
Course Structure Tuesday – Friday
8.00 – 9.00am: Breakfast
9.30 – 11.00am: First workshop – Participants explore particular aspects of fiction writing and take part in writing exercises to further their understanding and expertise. All participants have opportunities to share their work with the tutor and fellow writers in a safe, supportive and nurturing environment in which individual work is respected and confidence developed.
11.00 – 11.30am: Coffee break
11.30am – 1.00pm: Second workshop
1.00pm Lunch.
After lunch, participants are free to do whatever they like, such as: relax, go for walks, read or work on individual writing projects.
4.30pm: Tea and cake
5.30 – 6.30pm: Third workshop
7.00pm: Dinner
All participants on a course have one individual tutorial of 30 minutes with the tutor during the week. These will take place in the afternoons.
Each evening, at 8.30pm – c.9.30pm, there is an after-dinner event:
Tuesday – the tutor will read from their work.
Wednesday – poetry/music performance from Hamish and Rebecca.
Thursday – reading from a guest writer.
Friday – a shared reading of ‘work-in-progress’ produced during the week.
