Writing Retreats @ Duncton Mill                 

For a rave review of the most recent retreat (June 2007) click on retreat review.htm

Don’t know how to say it…but possibly this has been one of the most memorable weekends I’ve ever had.     Rachel (Dec 1st-3rd, 2006)

What else can I say beyond thank you.  Call myself a poet and can't find the words.

Great retreat, fantastic weekend, unbelievably good facilitator/tutor.

Forbes     (Dec 1st-3rd, 2006)

                     To read more about past retreats,  go to feedback.

                                This year’s retreats

May 9th-11th 2008;

November 28th-30th 2008;

£325 (shared twin room);

£375 (single)

Price includes full board and accommodation (gourmet vegetarian meals); writing and yoga workshops and taxi from Pulborough Station

To download a leaflet with details of this year’s retreats please click here.

Get away from it all and give yourself the time and space to write.

Come and relax in beautiful surroundings. Get your mind and body in shape with early morning meditation, then exercise your imagination in an inspiring writing workshop. Enjoy a delicious chef-prepared vegetarian lunch in an idyllic dining room looking out on peaceful gardens. In the afternoon, sign up for some more writing - or go for a guided walk across the beautiful South Downs. Or take yourself off for a walk or find your own spot to write on your own. In the evening there’s more wonderful food, In the summer there’s an outdoor pool. In winter each cosy cottages has its own log fire.   

Come and be inspired!

About Your Tutor

Tonya Blowers is an innovative, highly qualified and experienced writing teacher with over twenty years’ experience of lecturing and researching in universities, colleges and schools. After teaching English in Italy for four years, Tonya did a Masters in Literature at Marlboro College in the U.S.A. and then a PhD in Literature at the University of Warwick, specialising in autobiography. She was Lecturer in English Studies at Oxford Brookes University for three years before taking time out to raise a young family. In 2004 she set up Wordplay, offering workshops in creative life writing in West London. In 2005 she was Visiting Lecturer at Royal Holloway College, teaching on poet laureate Andrew Motion’s new Masters in Creative Writing. Since January 2006 she has been a tutor in creative writing at the much-loved MaryWard Centre in Bloomsbury, central London.

‘I couldn’t have begun the story - which became my debut novel - without Tonya’s feedback and support. She is thoughtful and inspiring. Whatever story you wish to tell, she will give you the confidence to write.’   Yasmin Crowther, author of The Saffron Kitchen (Little Brown, 2006

Duncton Mill is a hamlet nestling at the foot of the beautiful South Downs in . The centre consists of a large farmhouse, cottages and barns, set around a mill pond on a site of “outstanding natural beauty”. A sense of intimacy and quiet beauty prevails. There is a converted apple loft for workshops, a long barn for contemplative writing, and each cottage has its own lounge and log fire. There is plenty of space to be together and for private time alone. Duncton Mill is surrounded by woods and hills, and there are some wonderful outdoor spaces ( peaceful gardens and a camp fire) for writing, gathering or just being. The group will be no bigger than twenty and we will have the place to ourselves.

   To give you an idea what to expect,  here is last year’s retreat schedule:

Directions

Pulborough Station is just 70 minutes by train direct from London Victoria. A free taxi will pick you up and take you to Duncton Mill (about 15 mins drive).

For directions by car please go to the Duncton Mill website.

To book please fill in and print off the booking form