Retreat West newsletter

With the longlist for the Retreat West Short Story and Flash Fiction Prizes, here is the latest RW newsletter:

Hello How has your writing been going? Hope you've been finding lots of time and inspiration to get words on the page. Louise and I have had some mammoth reading sessions over the past few weeks and we're delighted to have finalised the longlists for the RW Short Story Prize and RW Flash Fiction Prize. You can see which stories have gone through to the next round in this blog announcement. The shortlist will be announced in the New Year. Now that I have launched Retreat West Books I have had a significant number of submissions already, so I've had to have a rethink about how I do things at Retreat West. This means that the free mentoring programme that I've been running for the past two years has morphed into the new Free Read Programme instead. So instead of offering free mentoring for six months to four writers a year I am now offering a free MS review and feedback report to two writers a year. The first deadline to apply for this by is 25th February 2018. The 6 month mentoring programme was open to unlimited numbers but will now be limited to six writers a year. I have two writers booked on already so there are just four places left to work with me through this next year. I do also offer free mentoring through the WoMentoring Project and you can get info on that here. There are two deadlines fast approaching: the final flash comp for 2017 which has a 31st December deadline for white-themed stories. Cash prizes totalling £200 for the winner and two runners-up and stories published on the website. Enter here. Then at the end of January the First Chapter Competition closes, with the entire shortlist getting short feedback on their novel openings from literary agent, Diana Beaumont, and the winner getting detailed feedback on their first 3 chapters, synopsis and covering letter. You can read the interview with her here about what impresses her when submissions land on her desk. Last year's competition also led to a runner-up, Laura Laakso, getting signed by Louise Walters Books after Louise read Laura's work to decide on the long and shortlists. You can read all about that in my interview with them both here.  Finally, Sophie has been busy on the blog with two fascinating indie debut interviews with Sarah Stovell and Helen Matthews, and a piece on how you can write a novel in a month not just in November. Read them all here.  Happy writing, Amanda x The 8 Month Novel Course Get help all the way The 8 Month Novel course is now open for bookings for next year. There are just 6 spaces available to start in 2018. You get online course content, 1-1 mentoring, help, advice and motivation all the way through to get you from idea to short first draft in just 8 months. You also get a full novel review at the end to go away and start the second draft with. ONLY 3 PLACES LEFT FOR 2018.   More Info The Creating Complex Characters Retreat 12-16 March 2018, Devon This 4-night retreat will feature 3 x 3-hour workshops focusing on creating the kinds of characters that make novels stand out from the crowd, plus an hour's 1-1 looking at a piece of work submitted in advance. There's also free time to write and enjoy the lovely Devon countryside. 3 ROOMS SOLD 3 ROOMS AVAILABLE   More Info The Screenwriting Retreat 18-22 June 2018, Devon This 4-night retreat will feature 3 x 3-hour screenwriting workshops with C M Taylor. Learn how to write for the big and small screens both with original ideas and adapting novels and short stories. You get your own room, all food and drink, and plenty of time to write, read, walk and relax as well as learn. 4 ROOMS SOLD 2 ROOMS AVAILABLE   More Info

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