The Full English
7 - 14 February 2021.
Our Fabulous Seven Day Fully Coached Residential Writing Course.
Arrival from 3pm on Sunday.
The coached residential course for writers in a beautiful manor house in rural Dorset, not far from the sea.
All the things you could ever want for your dream writing holiday (inspiring tutor sessions, lovely rooms, log fires, personal writing space, great food, beautiful scenery, lively chat or rural solitude) with the chance to spend time with fellow novelists.
The Vale of Marshwood is a very unique and special place still farmed in much the same way, with its ancient small fields, as it was during the Iron Age. The Vale’s remoteness brings a level of peaceful tranquillity that is hard to find with it, some excellent star-gazing on clear nights.
Just ten minutes from the coast at Seatown or Charmouth and twenty minutes away from three towns of great character and charm; Bridport, Lyme Regis and Crewkerne.
Guests can depart any time from 10 am Sunday morning.
The Perfect Writing Day.
9am: Your breakfast basket will be brought to your cottage kitchen.
2 - 4pm. Your tutor session.
4 - 4.30pm. Tea and cake.
7 - 8pm. Gin and Tonic (on the house) with Miss in the bar (The Milking Parlour) .
8pm. Dinner is served in The Haybarn. There will be a bottle of red or white available and water, and you can purchase any additional drinks from the bar.
9.30pm. After dinner readings in the Milking Parlour. Come and read your first chapter, and enjoy live wine-fuelled enthusiasm!
The Finer Points.
Your Stay, Your Way.
You will have a private room in a shared cottage and a private writing space. Toiletries, luxury bedding, all towels and free wifi are available in all cottages.
Dress informal - slippers, cardigans, sweatpants, and wellington boots for outside walks. Use the kitchen freely to cook for yourself. The cottages have large, communal sitting rooms with log-burners and TV.
The Manor is set in 13 acres of garden and woodland for total peace and quiet and stunning scenery. There are country walks, a beautiful church on a hilltop and pubs close by. Bridport has wonderful cafes and restaurants if you are going to an event at the literary festival. Don’t miss the Golden Cap walk or the Jurassic Coastline.
Comfort and Joy.
All meals are home cooked using local ingredients. The cottages are stocked on arrival with tea, coffee, milk, fruit teas, full fruit bowl, and biscuit tin. Breakfast and supper are taken in the Milking Parlour. Cake will be available at tea-time 4pm.
Supper is served each night so guests can come together at the end of the day. Guests are asked to help clear their table after breakfast and supper. Red and white wine is provided and guests can purchase drinks from the bar. There will be a special Saturday night dinner.
Please advise us in advance if you are vegan, vegetarian, coeliac or have any allergy that results in anaphylaxis.
A Writer’s Environment.
You can keep your own hours, writing, sleeping, walking as you wish. All meals, tutor sessions and activities are optional.
After dinner readings by the fire are cosy and riveting. Come with a first chapter, at second draft, ready to read.
You will have a private one-to-one hour session with Louise Dean to review your work and discuss your onward journey to publication. You'll be asked to send in an outline of your plan for your work in advance, if you wish to do so.
Louise will be available to all writers during the week at all the communal gatherings and meals and happy to chat. Join her for walks and talks!
Packing list.
- slippers
- wellington boots (for walks)
- sweatpants and jeans (for walks)
- a big coat with a hood (for walks)
- Saturday night dinner outfit
- bubble bath and your favourite pyjamas and robe!
- Laptop and charger, notebook and pens.
- Phone and charger. (The UK has a 3 pin plug and you can buy a converter at the airport at Boots or WH Smith on arrival.)
You can book a groceries delivery with Tesco.
Facilities.
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.
Toiletries, luxury bedding, all towels and free wifi are available in all cottages.
Each cottage has a utility room with washer and dryer at guests’ disposal.
Full kitchens with fridge, stove and dishwashers.
Licensed bar on site accepts cash and cards.
The Small Print.
Marshwood Manor is a rural setting and there will be animals on site, dogs and a cat (and a goat!)
Neither The Novelry nor Marshwood Manor offer, or 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.
Pricing Options
We have just 13 places available and sell out well in advance. To avoid disappointment book now! (No refunds will be available after 31st October in the year of the retreat.)
The Cottages and Rooms:
Your room will be in one of the beautiful cottages at Marshwood Manor.
The Grain Store. Sleeps five. A light and airy kitchen with dining area and french windows leading onto the patio with views of Marshwood Vale. Three bedrooms, a double room and a twin room overlooking the courtyard, and a single room with views to the fields and hills.
Hayloft. Sleeps eight. The sitting room has a log burner and French doors to the private rear garden. At the front of the property overlooking the courtyard is a tranquil double and an elegant twin room. To the rear is a pretty double next to a king size room, with stunning rural views.
Old Forge. Sleeps six. One level holiday cottage (with two internal steps), a beamed living room with wood-burner. Three double bedrooms and a twin. Behind the cottage is a private grassed garden.
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.
Book MP Taxis Book Craigs Taxis
Louise Dean, Your Tutor.
Louise Dean will be joined by guest tutors for your sessions during your stay.
‘I remember Louise telling us on the first evening, “this week you’re going to walk the walk: you’re all writers,” and the ripple that went around the room, the collective intake of breath.’
Emylia Hall. (Author of A Heart Bent Out of Shape, The Sea Between Us and The Thousand Lights Hotel.)
Louise Dean’s novels have been published internationally by Penguin, Simon & Schuster and others. Booker Prize longlisted. Winner of The Society of Authors Betty Trask Prize, Winner of Le Prince Maurice Prize. Nominated for The Guardian First Book Prize, the Dublin IMPAC Literary Award and an Oprah Book Club choice.
