Paul Henry – Tutor
Tutor
Mona Arshi – Guest Reader
Guest Reader
26th April – 1st May 2021
Course Date

This course aims to help you develop your poetry by exploring how new poems can emerge from existing ones. Daily writing workshops will interpret “afterness” in its broadest sense, from encouraging you to write acknowledged, recognisable  ‘versions’ of poems, to simply writing out of a single image, form, metre or theme. In addition to morning workshops, individual tutorials will offer technical guidance in redrafting your work.

We’ll write from a wide range of source poems, sharing new reading and reflecting on how writing “after” can enrich and lend authority to our art.

Poems ‘after’ Poems welcomes both new and experienced poets to develop their craft within a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Please bring along some of your favourite poems.

Paul Henry - The Garsdale Retreat

Tutor: Paul Henry – Poet/Songwriter

Paul Henry came to poetry through songwriting and is the author of eleven books. A popular Creative Writing tutor, his latest collection is ‘The Glass Aisle’.

Described by U.A. Fanthorpe as “a poet’s poet” who combines “a sense of the music of words with an endlessly inventive imagination”, he has read and performed his work at festivals in Europe , the USA and Asia. His previous collection, ‘Boy Running’, was shortlisted for Wales Book of the Year. Songs from his collaboration with Stornoway’s Brian Briggs were recently played on Radios 2, 4 and 6. Paul has also presented programmes for BBC Radio Wales, Radio 3 and Radio 4.   www.paulhenrypoet.co.uk     @theglassaisle

“One of the most important Welsh poets now writing.” – Carol Ann Duffy

“His poetry deepens our perception of the world.” – Hugo Williams

Photo: Zed Nelson

Mona Arshi - The Garsdale Retreat

Guest, Wednesday evening: Mona Arshi – Poet

Mona Arshi was born in West London to Punjabi parents. She worked as a Human rights lawyer at Liberty before she started writing poetry.

Her debut collection Small Hands won the Forward Prize for Best First Collection in 2015. Her second collection Dear Big Gods was published in April 2019 (both books published by  Liverpool University Press’s Pavilion Poetry list). Her poems and interviews have been published in The Times, The Guardian, Granta and The Times of India as well as on the London Underground. She has judged both the Forward Prize and The TS Eliot prizes for poetry. She has recently been appointed Honorary Professor at the University of Liverpool.

Mona is currently poet in resident at the RSPB in Cley Marshes, Norfolk. Her debut novel ‘Somebody Loves You’  is due to be published in 2021 by And Other Stories.

Photo: Svetlana Cernenko

PRICES Fee includes all day and evening tutored workshop sessions, readings, accommodation and full board (not including alcohol).

Single – En-suite room £845

Single – Shared bathroom £795

Shared Room (2 Beds) £745pp

Non-residential (inc. lunch and evening meal) £605

TO BOOK £150 deposit payable on booking by bank transfer, PayPal or cheque, to secure place. Balance due four weeks before the start of the course/tutored retreat/untutored retreat.
Please see Terms and Conditions.
INCLUDED
Accommodation Professional tutor and mid-week guest
All Meals Sheets & Towels
WHAT TO BRING
Boots/outdoor shoes/trainers suitable for walking on rough/wet paths.
A waterproof jacket or coat.
Torch
Warm Clothes
Toiletries – we do have one hair dryer available
Writing materials: your personal writing preference – laptop, paper, pens etc.
USB memory stick: for printing your work. (We do have air printing so may not be necessary)
Cash: for books on sale (written by tutors, guest readers etc.), alcohol, sundries. The nearest cash machine is in Hawes, six miles away!
START TIME

Please arrive between 3:00pm and 5:00pm on Monday 26th April 2021

Tea and cake 4.30pm

Introductory workshop 5.45 – 6.45pm

END TIME

After breakfast, 10:00am on Saturday 1st May 2021

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.

Courses

The Garsdale Retreat provides an inspiring place to develop as a writer. Our courses offer opportunities for new, emerging and experienced writers. The tutors, all professional writers, lead workshops and also give one-to-one tutorials to help the individual student. In the remote and beautiful setting of The Yorkshire Dales, The Garsdale Retreat gives a wonderful opportunity to escape from the daily stresses of life and to draw inspiration from fellow students, tutors and the landscape itself.

All courses start on Monday afternoon, arrival time 3.00 – 5.00pm. On this first day, tea and cake are at 4.30pm followed by an introductory/ice-breaking workshop 5.45 – 6.45pm. Dinner is at 7.00pm. All courses end after breakfast on Saturday (10.00am).

Course Structure

Although there will be slight variations, according to the type of course (see below), students can generally expect the following outline:

8.00 – 9.00am: Breakfast

9.30 – 11.00am: First workshop – Students explore particular aspects of the chosen genre and take part in writing exercises to further their understanding and expertise. All students 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

After lunch, participants are free to do whatever they like, such as: relax, go for walks, enjoy The Dales, draw, paint, read or work on individual writing projects.

4.30pm: Tea and cake

5.30 – 6.30pm: Third workshop

7.00pm: Dinner

All students have one individual tutorial of 30 minutes with the tutor in the course of the week which usually takes place at a mutually agreed time, usually in the afternoon.

Each evening, at about 8.30pm, there is an after-dinner event. The precise nature of this varies according to the type of course but participants can typically expect a tutor reading on Tuesday followed by a reading from a guest writer on the Wednesday evening. There is an informal activity on Thursday such as a word/literary game. On Friday, there is a reading of work produced during the week.

Poetry Course Anthology

An integral part of poetry courses is the production of an anthology of writing produced in the week. It is, of course, accepted that the writing is essentially work-in-progress. However, the aim of the anthology is to reflect a flavour of the work accomplished on the course and to provide participants with an attractive record of their time at Garsdale. The Retreat stores copies of anthologies in the library, providing pleasure and inspiration for future students.

Tutored Retreats

These follow the same basic structure as above except there is only one workshop in the morning and participants will have a daily tutorial, four per week.

Untutored Retreats

The only formal structure of the week is determined by meal-times (see above), allowing participants to concentrate totally on their own writing. After dinner, participants in conjunction with the course director sometimes organise evening read-rounds of their work /open mics/music /word games. However, participation in such events is entirely voluntary and people are free to continue with their writing in the evenings if they prefer.

Poetry- Poems ‘after’ Poems