Writing Retreats & Courses for Low Income Writers
Donation protected
Writers are struggling and it's hard to learn, earn and make a living from writing. Author, Kit de Waal, has been highlighting this and this article reveals more: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/may/07/writing-risk-becoming-elitist-profession-alcs-report-uk-news-kit-de-waal
This is bad news for readers as well as writers as it means that there is less diversity in the writing world and we hear from people from the same kind of backgrounds all the time.
I'm a working, and working class, writer - I am a freelance journalist, a freelance content writer, a novelist and short story writer, and I run a creative writing business and an independent publishers, Retreat West, in which I teach, edit and publish fiction. I have the equivalent of four jobs and my annual income is still below the UK average for people in full-time work. So it's not just a newspaper headline, it's true. I started Retreat West in the first place because I couldn't afford to learn creative writing, so came up with a plan to bring the teachers to me by running writing retreats with workshops and selling tickets to pay for it. I didn't make any money, but I learned how to write fiction.
Now, seven years later, I would like to pass it on and help low-income writers access the teaching I provide at Retreat West. Sadly, I can't afford to donate the places and my time in full, so I'm raising funds to help two writers come on the residential retreats I have planned in Exmoor, UK, and for 20 writers to access the online courses I run.
Retreats
One place will be on the Flash Fiction Retreat in November 2019 and the other on the Plot, People and Place Retreat in January 2020 for novel writers. I will also provide 6 months ongoing mentoring to these writers following on from the retreats to help them develop their work. These retreats are 6 nights long and usually cost £800 each. They include all food, drink and classes, plus I will give £50 to each writer towards travel costs. https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/retreats/
Courses
I'll also give 10 free online Fantastic Flashing courses (usually £95) and 10 free online Start Your Novel courses (usually £99) to low income writers. And they'll all get feedback from me on a flash story they write and their novel ideas and characters. https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/online-writing-courses/
I'll need to raise the funds by August so that I have time to open up for applications for writers to come on the retreats and courses. Hope you can help.
If I don't reach my goal, I will still donate what I can depending on how much is raised. If I exceed it, I will give more courses and if I raise much more, I'll give more retreat spaces too.
This is bad news for readers as well as writers as it means that there is less diversity in the writing world and we hear from people from the same kind of backgrounds all the time.
I'm a working, and working class, writer - I am a freelance journalist, a freelance content writer, a novelist and short story writer, and I run a creative writing business and an independent publishers, Retreat West, in which I teach, edit and publish fiction. I have the equivalent of four jobs and my annual income is still below the UK average for people in full-time work. So it's not just a newspaper headline, it's true. I started Retreat West in the first place because I couldn't afford to learn creative writing, so came up with a plan to bring the teachers to me by running writing retreats with workshops and selling tickets to pay for it. I didn't make any money, but I learned how to write fiction.
Now, seven years later, I would like to pass it on and help low-income writers access the teaching I provide at Retreat West. Sadly, I can't afford to donate the places and my time in full, so I'm raising funds to help two writers come on the residential retreats I have planned in Exmoor, UK, and for 20 writers to access the online courses I run.
Retreats
One place will be on the Flash Fiction Retreat in November 2019 and the other on the Plot, People and Place Retreat in January 2020 for novel writers. I will also provide 6 months ongoing mentoring to these writers following on from the retreats to help them develop their work. These retreats are 6 nights long and usually cost £800 each. They include all food, drink and classes, plus I will give £50 to each writer towards travel costs. https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/retreats/
Courses
I'll also give 10 free online Fantastic Flashing courses (usually £95) and 10 free online Start Your Novel courses (usually £99) to low income writers. And they'll all get feedback from me on a flash story they write and their novel ideas and characters. https://www.retreatwest.co.uk/online-writing-courses/
I'll need to raise the funds by August so that I have time to open up for applications for writers to come on the retreats and courses. Hope you can help.
If I don't reach my goal, I will still donate what I can depending on how much is raised. If I exceed it, I will give more courses and if I raise much more, I'll give more retreat spaces too.
Organizer
Amanda Saint
Organizer
