This course has now passed, but you can be the first to know about the next one - and other workshops like this - by signing up to our newsletter here.
Are you the kind of writer who’s got a lot of ideas camping out in your brain (and on your phone) but you’re struggling to commit time, energy or space to building out your work? Have you been working for what feels like forever on a project that’s lost its vim? Would you like to gain some perspective, inspiration and sage advice from bestselling and award-winning authors and writing mentors?
In this brand new online writing programme, you will have the unique opportunity to develop your ideas, create your narrative voice, craft authentic characters and discover how you can put all that together to produce a full-length piece of fiction – a retreat designed to help you carve out the time to write, stay accountable and achieve your goals.
Our online summer writers’ retreat presents a unique blend of expert-led masterclasses, guided retreats and a dedicated online channel of support, to give you the tools, time and space to invest in your creative pursuits and actually write.
Over the course of three weeks, you will participate in writing surgeries with Shelley Weiner and Tim Lott, learn about the art of concision with Ross Raisin and Huma Qureshi, discover what makes a multi-million bestseller with Lisa Jewell and Will Brooker – and much, much more.
Plus, this programme has been carefully curated with your lifestyle in mind, meaning you can attend live sessions when it suits you, and catch up on recordings when it doesn’t. Wherever you are in the world, and whatever your schedule, this is your chance to commit to your craft and get things done.
This course is for …
Writers of all levels, at any stage in their creative journey
Writers of all genres and forms (please note that this programme will focus on fiction-writing, but that the skills are transferable to all forms of writing)
Retreat Highlights
Monday 25 July
Writing workout workshop with Natasha Pulley, 8am-8.45am BST
In this first in a series of morning writing workshops with bestselling authors and acclaimed creative writing tutors, the novelist Natasha Pulley digs into techniques for researching your novel without getting bogged down in detail.
Characters on the couch with Ross Raisin, 2pm-4pm BST
A fascinating two-hour Masterclass with the critically acclaimed novelist Ross Raisin, which explores how to create psychologically authentic characters.
Tuesday 26 July
A guided writing retreat with Anita Sethi, 10am-2pm BST
Put simply: this is space for you to carve out writing time with support and accountability from like-minded individuals.
Creating worlds in miniature with Ross Raisin, 3pm-5pm BST
Explore the unique characteristics of the short story, with guided reading, practitioner insights and focused writing exercises from the critically acclaimed novelist Ross Raisin.
Wednesday 27 July
Writing surgery with Shelley Weiner, 1pm-2pm BST
What’s holding your writing back this week, month or even year? Get invaluable advice from the creative writing tutor and mentor Shelley Weiner.
Thursday 28 July
Writing workout with Natasha Pulley, 8am-8.45am BST
How to write a bestseller with Lisa Jewell and Will Brooker, 3pm-5pm BST
Lisa Jewell, the bestselling author of 20 novels, joins forces with the writer and academic Will Brooker, for a deep-dive into the art of writing commercial fiction.
Friday 29 July
The emerging writer’s guide to securing a literary agent with Lorella Belli, 11am-1pm BST
Writing your story: The distance between truth and fiction with Jarred McGinnis, 2pm-4pm BST
What is the role of truth within fiction? Jarred McGinnis, the author of The Coward, leads a thought-provoking masterclass that explores how to incorporate memoir into your fictional works.
Saturday 30 July
A guided writing retreat with Anita Sethi, 10am-4pm BST
Sunday 31 July
Writers’ salon, 6pm-6.45pm BST
Highlights and an informal chat at the end of the first week of our retreat.
Monday 1 August
Writing workout with Amy Lilwall, 8am-8.45am BST
Interactive writing exercises to get your creative brain into gear.
Tuesday 2 August
A guided writing retreat with Anita Sethi, 10am-4pm BST
Wednesday 3 August
Writer’s surgery with Tim Lott, 1pm-2pm BST
The Whitbread award-winning author and writing mentor will be here to solve your writing dilemmas in his own full and frank style.
Thursday 4 August
Writing workout with Amy Lilwall, 8am-8.45 BST
Saturday 6 August
A guided writing retreat with Anita Sethi, 10am-4pm BST
Sunday 7 August
Writers’ Salon, 6pm-6.45pm BST
Highlights and chat at the end of week two.
Monday 8 August
Writing workout, 8am-8.45am BST
Sally Gales joins us for the writing workout this week, where her focus will be on all things fantasy and world-building.
Writing short stories and getting your work seen, 12.30pm-2pm BST
Huma Qureshi, the author of the short story collection Things We Do Not Tell the People We Love and the winner of the 2020 Harper’s Bazaar short story competition, hosts a workshop on the art of the short story and why it’s an ideal route into publication for many emerging writers.
Tuesday 9 August
A guided writing retreat with Anita Sethi, 10am-4pm BST
Wednesday 10 August
Writer’s surgery with Tim Lott, 1pm-2pm BST
Thursday 11 August
Writing workout with Sally Gales, 8am-8.45am BST
Friday 12 August
Plotting and structure with author and creative writing professor, Scarlett Thomas, 2pm-4pm BST
Saturday 13 August
A guided writing retreat with Anita Sethi, 10am-4pm BST
Sunday 14 August
Writer’s Salon: Wrap party, 6pm-7pm BST
On demand recording
Writer and Guardian copywriter Emma Cummins shares a series of pre-recorded mini tutorials, encouraging you to embrace your personal style and improve your writing at the sentence level.
Grab a glass and toast to your achievement. Our live events may end here – but the retreat and your access to the community and recordings continue until Wednesday 31 August. We’ll be offering tips, advice and support for continuing your writing practice beyond the retreat.
Please note that while we will endeavour to feature the masterclass as advertised, due to the volume of classes in this event, we may be required to replace a speaker if necessary.
Details
This course has now passed, but you can be the first to know about the next one - and other workshops like this - by signing up to our newsletter here.
Date: 25 July 2022 – 14 August 2022, with community support and selected recordings available until 31 August 2022
Price: £349 (plus £7.80 booking fee)
Our retreat is available globally. If you are joining us from outside the United Kingdom, please use this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.
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Information on Guardian Masterclasses
To contact us, click here. Terms and conditions can be found here.
By enrolling on this masterclass, you’re helping to support the Guardian, and this allows us to keep our quality reporting open to all.
All Guardian Masterclasses are fully accessible - but please contact us if you have any queries or concerns.
Returns policy
Once a purchase is complete we will not be able to refund you where you do not attend or if you cancel your event booking. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.
