Courses for Writing & Art at

Manorbier Castle

In 1903 Virginia Woolf decided to become a writer – “That vision came to me more clearly at Manorbier, aged 21, walking down to the edge of the sea.”

The castle, built by thirteenth-century hands, And weathered by six hundred years of Wales, Wild, austere, and ocean-chanted, stands Survivor of Time’s galleon-splintering gales. ‘A Ruined Castle’ by Siegfried Sassoon

Courses for Writing & Art at

Manorbier Castle The writing courses at Manorbier are specifically designed to guide writers under the tutelage of a published author. Manorbier with its beach, dramatic cliffs and fertile rolling hills has been an idyllic place for thousands of years where writers can be inspired by the peace and romance of a medieval castle beside the sea. A four-day residential course, each with eight participants led by an author, includes discussions, assignments and one to one sessions that will culminate in a candle-lit supper in the 13th century solar. After supper guests can give readings of their writing if they wish. Guests will be encouraged to continue with work in progress or begin afresh and the emphasis is on writing as a craft rather than on theory. The courses vary according to the genre of writing being taught whether short stories, poetry, essays, food writing or memoir. The courses are led by an author, with workshops in the morning and tutorials in the afternoon. They are intended as informal, fluid courses, not too intensive, with plenty of feedback and interaction, leaving ample time to write and explore the stunning coastal paths. There are study areas in round tower rooms, the old guard room and chapel, while accommodation is in the lodge within the castle walls, which was converted from a 16th century barn in the 19th century. Manorbier is imbued with a powerful spirit of place and has had an enduring influence on writers over the centuries. Giraldus Cambrensis who wrote ‘Journey through Wales’ while raising money for the third Crusade, was born at Manorbier in the 12th century. Virginia Woolf decided to become a writer aged 21 whilst walking along the seashore and George Bernard Shaw often stayed while writing his plays. Siegfried Sassoon penned his poem ‘A Ruined Castle’ in 1924 when he was staying with Walter de la Mare in Skrinkle near by. Similarly many artists including John Piper and Paul Sandby have been drawn to the dramatic beauty of Manorbier.

Practical matters There is no internet or television and it is strongly advised that mobiles should not to be used within the castle walls; besides there is barely any signal, in this way there can be no distractions. Everyone eats together and takes turns to cook supper by rota in pairs with menu cards and ingredients that are supplied by the course directors; while we ask you to help yourself to breakfast and lunch. The drawbridge goes up at 11pm.

Birmingham Fishguard A40

Gloucester

Carmarthen

A477

Swansea Cardiff

Manorbier

Cheltenham

M5 Bristol

Oxford

Swindon

Reading

M4

LONDON

Bath

M5

Ferry Goodwick

A487

Fishguard

0

50

100 km

Greenway

A478

A40

St. Davids Ramsey Island

Solva Llys-y-fran Resr.

Newgale

Clarbeston Road

A487

St. Bride’s Bay

Haverfordwest

Dale

Milford Haven

A47

7

FORD HAVEN MIL

Ferry

Angle

Freshwater West Pembrokeshire National Park

A477

A4075

Kilgetty 77 A4 Carew

Pembroke Dock

Pembroke

Lamphey

Penally

Freshwater Stackpole East

Bosherston

Manorbier B ro

Saundersfoot

Tenby

Castlemartin

Caldey Island

ad Haven

www.manorbiercastle.co.uk Directors: Emily Naper, Beatrice Plunkett, Thomas Lloyd OBE Course Directors: Celia Lyttelton and Stephen McAlinden Siegfried Sassoon Diaries (1923 - 1925) Published by Faber and Faber Ltd. Design | Print Monddi Dimond Press www.monddi.co.uk

St. Clears Whitland

Narberth

Johnston

A4076

Skokholm Island

Key

A4076

Llanddewi Velfrey

A478

Skomer Island

Canaston A40 Bridge

7

32

B4

Clynderwen

✈

Course dates 1st – 5th October 2012 Non Fiction and Memoir; (or how to write real stories). It is a popular misconception that only celebrities can write memoirs while all other writers must make it up. Not true: you can tell your own story. The course will address the essential elements of an increasingly popular but elusive genre, stylistic clarity and what publishers and agents are looking for. Author: Jasper Rees has written two memoirs, both of which have been read on Radio 4’s Book of the Week: ‘I Found My Horn: One Man’s Quest to Conquer the Orchestra’s Most Difficult Instrument’, which he co-adapted for the stage, and his most recent book ‘Bred of Heaven: One Man’s Quest to reclaim his Welsh Roots’. He is also the author of ‘Wenger: The Making of a Legend’ and ‘Blizzard: Race to the Pole’, and writes on the arts for the Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph and theartsdesk.com.

8th – 12th October 2012 Non Fiction and the art of writing essays. The essay is a fine and free literary form, literally meaning ‘attempt’ it is a piece of prose which outlines an idea or ideas. For the reader it is equally satisfying; less daunting than a whole book and better than a newspaper article. In this course we will look at the great essayists past and present; Dr Johnson, Montaigne, Orwell and Clive James among others. We will see how the essay can tower into the sublime, descend into profundity or be merely frivolous. We will write our own essays and celebrate this entertaining and enduring form of communication. A prize will be given from Notting Hill Editions (home of the essay) for the best essay. Author: Tom Hodgkinson is the founding Editor of the Idler Magazine, he has written four books: How to be Idle, How to be Free, The Idle Parent: Why less Means More When raising Kids and Brave Old World A Month by Month Guide to Husbandry, or the Fine Art of Looking After Yourself (2011) and he writes a column in the Independent on Sunday.

9th – 14th November 2012 Fiction: This course takes you through some aspects of novel-writing, such as voice, dialogue and plotting. Author: Esther Freud travelled extensively with her mother as a child, and returned to London at the age of sixteen to train as an actress at The Drama Centre. She has worked in television and theatre as both actress and writer. Her novels include the semiautobiographical Hideous Kinky (1992), which was adapted into a film starring Kate Winslet. She is also the author of Peerless Flats (1993), Gaglow (1997), The Wild (2000), The Sea House (2003), Love Falls (2007) and Lucky Break (2010); She also wrote the foreword for The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. Freud was named as one of the 20 ‘Best of Young British Novelists’ by Granta magazine in 1993. Her novels have been translated into thirteen languages.

16th – 21st November 2012 The art and craft of food writing – making prose edible. Good food writing should be sensual, succinct, and above all illuminating. Whether you are a biographer, travel writer, memoirist, chef, poet or historian, this course will help you add savour to your material, so you can set your reader’s imagination alight. Reinvigorate your powers of observation, be inspired by wide reading, expand your vocabulary and jettison culinary cliché. The rules of recipe writing will be covered but the emphasis will be literary not practical. (Please note this is not a cookery course) Author: Jojo Tulloh has been the food editor of The Week magazine for 11 years, she has coedited The Oxo Book of Food, and her first book East End Paradise is collection of stories and recipes inspired by her allotment in East London. She is currently working on her next book The Modern Peasant - a collection of nonfiction short stories and recipes.

26th – 30th November 2012 Poetry: aimed at both new and experienced poets- whether looking for inspiration, seeking to boost their creative output or broaden their appreciation of poetic craft. Author: Alan Jenkins has worked for the Times Literary Supplement since 1981, first as poetry and fiction editor, and then as deputy editor. He was also a poetry critic for The Observer, and the Sunday Independent from 1985-1990. He edited the “Collected Poems of Ian Hamilton” (Faber & Faber, 2009). He has taught creative writing for the ‘Bread Loaf Writer’s’ Conference, The Arvon Foundation, The Poetry Society, London, and at the American University in Paris. He has won numerous awards including the 1994 Forward Prize, for “Harm”. His other publications include: In the Hot-House, 1988, Greenheart, 1990, Harm, 1994, The Drift, 2000, A Shorter History of Snakes: New and Collected Poems, 2001. The Little Black Book, 2001, A Shorter Life, 2005, Drunken Boats, 2008, The Lost World, 2010, and Blue Days, 2010.

1st – 5th December 2012 Starting to write Fiction: Playful serious and fun, it will explore what writing is and what writers go through to make their writing entertaining and a good read. Author: Tiffany Murray’s novels Diamond Star Halo (Portobello Books 2010) and Happy Accidents (Harper Perennial, 2005) are both set in Wales and have both been shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize. She is a graduate of UEA’s M.A. fiction program and is currently Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at The University of Glamorgan. Tiffany’s short fiction has appeared in New Welsh Review and she conducts writing courses for The Taliesen Trust. Tiffany’s writing has also appeared in the Times, the Independent and the Observer. Directors: Emily Naper, Beatrice Plunkett, Thomas Lloyd OBE Course Directors: Celia Lyttelton and Stephen McAlinden

www.manorbiercastle.co.uk

Booking Form Half Board: £650 single £575 shared Name ................................................................................................................................................................................ Address

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1st – 5th October Non Fiction and Memoir 8th – 12th October Non Fiction 9th – 14th November Fiction 16th – 21st November The art and craft of food writing 26th – 30th November Poetry 1st – 3rd December Starting to write Fiction (please tick your course choice)

Half Board (please tick)

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Booking Administration: Cheques for writing courses at Manorbier Castle payable to Black Island Ltd C/O Owen and Owen, 142 Main Street, Pembroke, Pembrokeshire, SA71 4HN Tel: 01646 621500 For course queries and questions: Please contact Stephen McAlinden: [email protected] We expect half as a deposit and the rest payable a week before the course is due to start. All courses are non refundable. Unless exceptional circumstances such as serious injury or illness. If the course is cancelled by the castle then it will be fully refundable.