Courses & Retreats
Arvon
Arvon offer a range of writing courses and retreats, allowing you to step away from your normal routine and be supported by experts, as you hone your creative writing skills. Arvon have three writing houses, including Totleigh Barton in Devon. Through Arvon at Home, you can access online masterclasses, writing weeks, live guest readings, and a children & young people programme, or become an Arvon Friend to access the Writer’s Hub for writing tips and exercises.
Quay Words
Exeter Custom House is home to a variety of arts and cultural events, and since 2019 has been the hub for Quay Words, a partnership between Exeter Canal and Quay Trust, and Literature Works.
With a jam-packed season of events, courses, and workshops for 2020-22, community writing initiatives, writer residencies, and a bookable Writer’s Room, Quay Words at Custom House is an integral part of Exeter’s literary scene.
Literature Works
Literature Works is the literature development agency for the South West. As well as offering courses, hosting author events, and running the Quay Words programme at Exeter Custom House, it also makes small seed-funding grants to community-based projects through its Annual Fund.
Kathryn Aalto
Kathryn Aalto is a passionate practitioner and educator of narrative nonfiction with a speciality in writing profiles, nature writing, and the personal essay.
She oversees a professional mentoring practice for emerging to published writers as well as thriving online writing courses and monthly workshops. Kathryn has taught at summer writing schools in England and leads immersive Retreat to the English Countryside each autumn at The Pig Hotel in Devon.
We Are Here to Write
Brought to you by Beyond Face, We are Here to Write is a group for global majority writers from the South West, first established in April 2021 as a community space for early-career and established writers.
Meeting online - fortnightly on Wednesdays - to write, share and develop storytelling skills, it features guest speakers and chances to see your work performed at scratch nights!
The group is expanding in the autumn to welcome new members. If you are interested in joining a welcoming community to develop your writing, contact Corinne Walker, Artist Development producer.
Truth & Dare
Run by poet Ysella Sims, Truth & Dare is a Sandford-based organisation that runs life-writing workshops and retreats, as well as producing frequent live poetry events with established poets and open mic slots.
“truth & dare is all about finding and telling stories through writing, mixed media and performance - about taking risks and making connections.”
Raw Writing
Carla Jenkins runs courses in the novel and memoir from Exeter Phoenix and loves helping people to start writing.
In January, she’ll be running short ‘Pick and Mix’ writing courses for those who are keen to experiment with different types of writing including memoir, the short story and mindful writing.
Carla’s debut novel will be published by Hachette in May 2024 and she also runs free social events for people who love reading and writing as an opportunity to connect.
Do you run workshops or writing courses that would fit here? Get in touch!