So I've talked about the courses I run for Writers' Holidays - but perhaps Fishguard in Pembrokeshire isn't easy for you to get to. I love being there and the courses are such fun - but there are others at different times of the year and different venues - also perhaps a different approach might suit you.
So for those courses, there'
s Relax and Write - short courses ( covering a weekend) with again lots of fun - and lots of learning!
MARCH 2015
For Relax and Write I run a different sort of event - a
Writing Retreat. I just started this approach for the first time last year and it was so popular I've been asked to run another one soon. I was happy to say yes as I enjoyed the first retreat experience I had. So here's the first one - possibly the first of two for this year.
Focus on Writing Romantic Fiction — a Retreat with Kate Walker
- Date: 13 - 15 March 2015
- Course & Venue: A Retreat at Weetwood Hall Leeds.
- Cost: £240 all in
This is for people who are already embarked on writing a romantic novel and would like a weekend of concentrated focus, writing, discussions and one to one advice.
Focus on Writing Romantic Fiction is a guided writing retreat for people who have been on a course before or who need to do exactly as it says on the tin –
Focus on their writing. Where you’ll have time and space away from the real world to write and reflect on your novel. You’ll also have the opportunity to work with me to discuss the novel, work through problems, brainstorm new ideas, and get it ready for submission. There will be some relaxed group sessions designed to make you think deeply about your writing, and during the weekend there will be scheduled for one-to-one time where you can ask all the questions that have been bothering you. This retreat is designed for people who have already started work on a novel and who want time to focus on that - and not have to worry about anything else.
On a Focus retreat, all rooms booked are single rooms which gives you comfort and privacy and the time to yourself, with all food provided. To get away from family and home chores – to concentrate on writing – and have professional advice/input/discussion. Meeting like-minded people who love writing/popular fiction/romantic novels is always something my students say they value. So there will be plenty of opportunity to do that.
Places on this retreat are strictly limited – and many are already booked up – so if you’d like a place or further information contact:
Email:
Lois Bird-Maddox, ‘Relax & Write’ Course Organiser
Website: http://www.malagaworkshops.co.uk/
Also on this weekend:
- 'Write the Past' with Stephen Wade
- 'Write a Mini-Memoir in a Weekend' with Alison Chisholm
- 'How to Self-Publish Your Writing' with Malcolm Chisholm
JUNE 2015
In June there's a new course in a new venue. I haven't actually been to this venue, but it looks lovely and I can't wait to enjoy a weekend there.
The course in June will be :
Beginning, Middle and End — Planning your Novel
Beginning Middle and End – How to plan your novel for success.
Was your New Year resolution to ‘write that novel’? Did you start out hopefully, wanting to write the story that was burning in your head. . . only to find that now you’ve slowed down, lost the plot, lost your way, become bogged down in a ‘sagging middle’ Could you do with a route map – some guidelines to help you find your way?
This course will teach you how to plan out your novel so that you have a much better idea of where you’re going and how to create the best read possible. It will show you how to:
- Start well
- Use opening hooks
- Use a synopsis to keep yourself - and your characters - on track
- Avoid the ‘sagging middle’
- Maintain pace to keep the reader turning pages
- Create a satisfying end – making the reader want more from you
Also available on this weekend:
Getting into Print - for all Writers. Working Towards Success as a Freelance Writer with Stephen Wade (
http://www.stephen-wade.com/)
For further information Contact
Lois Bird-Maddox ‘Relax & Write’ Course Organizer at
http://www.malagaworkshops.co.uk/
There will also be another course one weekend in October 2015 - details to be finalized. At the moment, the suggestion is that I run another retreat at the beautiful
Gladstone's Library near Chester.
As soon as I have the full details I'll let you know. I'm so looking forward to these great weekends - I get a lot out of them and I've made so many friends among my students. I always come home buzzing and looking forward to writing myself. It's also been wonderful to see so many of my students go on to be published authors. The latest of course was Rachael Thomas who has her 2nd book Claimed By The Sheikh coming in February.
To book any course, or for or more details check out the web sites
Writers’ Holiday and
Relax and Write and of course the details on the
Events page on my web site.
PS And don't forget that if you can't make it to any of my courses so I can meet you in person - there is always
Kate Walker's 12 Point Guide to Writing Romance which is on sale on Kindle for just $4.38 - or
£2,86
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Everyone has an Uncle Albert somewhere in their family tree and he's usually the one having a quick smoke around the back while trying to think up a new get-rich-quick scheme that doesn't actually involve work. The sort of uncle who is wonderful to talk about unless he actually turns up on your doorstep carrying a still-moving sack and wearing a furtive look.
