Our Fabulous Seven Day Residential Writing Course.
30 January - 6 February 2022
Places sell out typically a year in advance. Reserve yours today.
The Writing Course.
Inspired afternoon tutored sessions. Lovely private rooms, log fires, personal writing space, great food, beautiful scenery, lively chat and rural peace and quiet. (No traffic noise.) Includes breakfast and evening meals. Perfectly suited to those with a novel they'd like to progress fast.
Seven days of heaven. Arrival from 3pm on Sunday. Departure from 10am Sunday.
Peace and Plenty.
The Manor is set in 13 acres of garden and woodland for total peace and stunning scenery in the tranquil and rural Marshwood Vale in Dorset close to the Jurassic coastline at West Bay. All tutored sessions are optional, but you'll find them highly motivational and practical.
Enjoy the like-minded company of other writers as you wish over home-cooked dinners, and cake at tea time.
The cottage kitchens are all stocked with tea, coffee, sugar, milk, butter, a sourdough loaf, full fruit bowls and Dorset cereals. Cake will be available at tea-time. Supper is served each night on the long table in the Milking Parlour dining hall so guests can come together at the end of the day.
If you love our online creative writing courses, you'll love The Full English Course.
Beautiful Private Rooms.
Luxurious bedding and soft pillows for serious slumber in private rooms. Writers enjoy writing space in their king size, double and twin private rooms in beautiful cottages. Toiletries, luxury bedding, all towels and high-speed wifi are available in all cottages. The cottages have large, communal sitting rooms with log-burners and tv's. Each cottage has a utility room with washer and dryer. Make use of the log fires and soft blankets and gaze out of the window at fields and sheep. The dark clear nights are wonderful for star gazing.
The Perfect Writing Day.
Start the day your way! The cottage kitchens are all stocked with tea, coffee, sugar, milk, butter, a sourdough loaf, full fruit bowls and Dorset cereals.
2 - 4pm. Tutored session Monday - Friday.
4 - 4.30pm. Tea and cake.
7pm. Meet for drinks at the bar (The Milking Parlour).
7.30pm. Dinner is served in The Haybarn. You can purchase any additional drinks from the bar.
9.00pm. After dinner readings in the Milking Parlour. Come and read your first chapter, for encouraging feedback.
Your Stay. Your Way.
You can keep your own hours, writing, sleeping, walking as you wish. All meals and activities are optional. Dress informal - slippers, cardigans, sweatpants, and wellington boots for outside walks. Use the kitchen freely to cook for yourself. Relax and make yourself at home. In style.
Comfort and Joy.
All meals are home cooked using local ingredients. Please advise us in advance if you are vegan, vegetarian, coeliac or have any allergy that results in anaphylaxis. The cottages are stocked on arrival with tea, coffee, milk, fruit teas, full fruit bowl, and biscuit tin.
The Full English 2022.
30 January - 6 February 2022.
The seven-day writing retreat. Peace and plenty and the like-minded company of other writers in cottages situated in a Manor in rural Dorset. Now sold out. Enquire for 2022.
Marshwood Manor is a rural setting and there will be animals on site, dogs and a cat (and a goat)! Please pack appropriately for the countryside including wellington boats, a warm coat and slippers for inside the cottages. Licensed bar on site accepts cash and cards. Private rooms in shared cottages. Some rooms have writing spaces (desk and chair) in the room. For those without, another private designated writing space will be allocated to each writer. Some rooms are twin, some double, some king and will be allocated on receipt on a first-come-first-served basis. Each bathroom is shared by no more than two people.
Neither The Novelry nor Marshwood Manor offer, nor include a charge for holiday cancellation insurance.
We cannot reimburse travel costs or other losses incurred by you in the event of cancellation by us or you. You are strongly advised to take out travel insurance to cover potential loss arising from cancellation or other eventuality affecting your booking, including course fees and travel or other consequential costs. You should check that any policy you purchase meets your needs.
You can find the terms and conditions of your booking here.
Kat Hill
“The Novelry Retreat was absolute bliss. Dedicated time just to focus on my writing project in an inspiring venue and amongst great company - what a treat! The support and advice of Louise and the other attendees was so very generous and just the kick up the backside that I needed.”
Shelly Motz
“I came away restored, with a renewed commitment to my writing practice and a much stronger novel. The tranquil Marshwood Vale, exceptional food and late-night storytelling fuelled productive writing days. Louise has created something truly special. I’d go back in a heartbeat."
Andrew Burns
“This was an intense week. It allowed total focus on writing and the art of writing but allowed for flexibility and personal choice. Spending this time in such a rich environment was incredibly productive and stimulating.
If time and money allowed, I’d attend every retreat in the calendar!”
Alison Fisher
“A wonderful venue in the peaceful, beautiful Dorset countryside. Fantastic accommodation, superb food, peace and quiet to write, and the opportunity for constructive and invaluable input from Louise. A great bunch of talented people, all committed to their writing. I felt I made real progress.”
Gabrielle McLaughlin
“A unique and inspiring experience. Being in the company of such interesting, varied, and accomplished writers meant my own writing developed further than I could have hoped. The peaceful atmosphere is totally conducive to a productive writing week. The food is delicious, the accommodation is luxurious. I can't wait to return.”
Katie Khan
“An idyllic retreat for serious writers looking to tackle their novel-writing head on. The perfect setting with a wonderful host, led by the most brilliant writer and mentor, Louise Dean. I came with a novel-in-progress that wasn't working but I couldn't figure out why. I left with a better story, and the support of the writers on the retreat who cheered me on as I found my way. I will be back – thank you, The Novelry.”
Rest, Roam, Ruminate, Write.
Read, Write, Eat, Talk, Write.
How to find Marshwood Manor.
Put the postcode into Google Directions DT6 5NS if you're driving.
If you're coming via public transport, please head to Crewkerne station. You can book online with MP Taxis here. We also recommend Craig's Taxis and you can call them on 01308 861000.
We will set up a FB Messenger group for journey sharing from airports and other locations.
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