This is not a tutored course. It is an opportunity to make progress with your own writing without distraction, in idyllic surroundings and in the company of other writers. Places will be allocated on a first-come first served basis and all guests will be offered single occupancy. (However, if you wish to bring a friend or partner we can offer a discount for shared occupancy) Your hosts, Dave and Diane, will be on hand for informal chats and will also offer a one-off tutoring session if required and requested in advance. There is no set pattern to the week, come and go as you please and treat the place as a home from home. Fee (Including airport transfers, accommodation, and help-yourself breakfast and lunch) £250. See above. NB. BOOK A TWO WEEK RETREAT AND ENJOY A 15% DISCOUNT! Course Tutor: Stella Duffy Stella Duffy has written ten novels, two short plays, three solo shows, and more than thirty short stories, including the CWA award winning "Martha Grace". Her novel "State of Happiness" was long listed for the Orange prize in 2004, and she is currently writing the screenplay for the film adaptation. Stella came to writing through theatre and improvisation, and for over fifteen years she has taught writing, using both traditional and improvisation techniques, to a wide variety of new and experienced writers from Arvon courses to advertising copywriters to young offenders. Her course aims to inspire and enervate whether you are a brand new writer, an old stuck one, or just looking for a way to get started. Course fee: (including airport transfers, accommodation, breakfast, lunch, two evening meals and drinks on the terrace at the end of each day ) £495. Course Tutor: Paul Abbott Paul is currently the UK’s most successful television writer with a string of awards including several BAFTAs. His hugely successful series include Shameless, State of Play, Clocking Off and Linda Green. If you want to learn how Paul translates ideas into script then onto screen, how he creates good, strong characters and consistently fascinating and dramatic storylines, come and find out. You will be expected to start writing a single TV play or a first episode for a TV series or work on an existing idea. The course is suitable for both experienced writers who want to learn how to create and write series drama but also for non-experienced writers who simply want to learn the craft of writing for television. Course fee: (including airport transfers, accommodation, breakfast, lunch, two evening meals and drinks on the terrace at the end of each day) £495. Course Tutors: Al Hunter Ashton, Dave Simpson & Diane Whitley Al Hunter Ashton writes for Eastenders, Holby City, Doctors. He has also written single dramas including the award-winning, The Firm and the BAFTA-winning, SAFE. Al, who is also an actor, produced and directed on Holby City. Al will run the television tutorials. Dave has had in excess of 30 radio plays broadcast, the last of which, Nightmares, has been adapted into a feature-length film. He has also had in excess of 15 stage productions including the hugely successful Girls’ Night Out. He has also written for Emmerdale and Coronation Street. Diane has written for radio and television, including Grange Hill, The Worst Witch, and three series that she worked on as Producer and co-writer, Big Meg Little Meg, 24/7, and Girls’ in Love. Her other credits as a TV Producer include the Bafta-nominated, Children’s Ward. Diane and Dave will run the radio and theatre tutorials. This is a course for dramatists who have either never written before or who have scripts they have been unable to sell. This is a unique course. It will be intensive, one-to-one with a probable ratio of three to four students per tutor. No other writing course anywhere in the world will give such close, personal one-to-one feedback from three very experienced writer/producer tutors. Course fee: (including airport transfers, accommodation, breakfast, lunch, two evening meals and drinks on the terrace at the end of each day) £495.

© Dave Simpson & Diane Whitley 2005