This is the first ever writing retreat to be held at White House Health & Wellbeing, although Anne-Marie and Helen have years of experience making guests welcome, at a wide range of retreats and workshops including yoga, drumming and wellness weekends.

Author and founder of Heddon Publishing, Katharine E. Smith will be your writer host for the weekend, offering the chance for one-to-one consultations if required.

Katharine says: I was lucky enough to attend a weekend yoga retreat at White House Health & Wellbeing. It got me thinking about an Arvon Foundation writing retreat I went on when I was just seventeen when I realised just how much I could write, given the proper circumstances. It had a profound influence on me, and even now – thirty years later! – I think of it as one of the best weeks I’ve ever spent. I would love to be able to offer other writers this kind of experience. Over the last few months I have been back to the White House a couple of times to discuss some ideas for hosting a writing retreat of my own! I often hear from people who want to write but struggle to find the time, and I have been questioned more than once about how I manage to keep Heddon Publishing going, and write and publish my own books, on top of all the usual responsibilities of family life – and how do I not get distracted by all the other things that need doing at home?

I’ve been giving this a lot of thought. It is partly down to having had previous jobs where I’ve worked at home and learned how to treat all my work as though it is a ‘normal’ job. I cannot, ever, work in my pyjamas – though I do draw the line at having to put on a suit for work like I used to! (In fact I shudder at the very thought of that these days.) I have also developed some strong, effective planning and time management techniques. Again these have been helped by my previous work experience as I used to be a project manager. This may not sound very creative but for me it works!

I thought a fitting theme for my first writing retreat would be Find Your Focus – the retreat being a chance to step away from the day-to-day demands of life, into a beautiful, remote landscape, staying in an old Welsh farmhouse where delicious food, snacks and drinks are all provided.

You can book your space at the retreat here – but read on for an idea of what you can expect from the weekend…

All writers are welcome, writing any genre and at any stage of their writing career. Sometimes we just need some space and time to focus. But this retreat is especially suited to new authors or those who are finding it hard to find the time to write without distraction; equally this is a chance for authors who are lacking confidence to realise how much they can achieve, given the right set of circumstances.

Please bear in mind that while there are a couple of group sessions, you are under no obligation to join them and you can just dive straight into your writing if you prefer.

There are plenty of quiet spaces for solitary writing and a group room if you prefer the company of others while you work. Most bedrooms are shared (the full cost of the weekend is £480 with a shared room) but there is the option for a single-person supplement of £70. There are also a bell tent and yurt available if you’d rather stay under canvas (£480 for the weekend for these options) – you can listen to the owls calling to each other while you drift off to sleep and wake up to the sound of sheep on the nearby hills.

Below is an idea of how the weekend will run…

FRIDAY 27th September

Arrive in time for a lunch and to find your room, look around the beautiful grounds and meet your hosts and fellow writers. After lunch there is the option to join a meditation session to help you begin to find your focus and set your intentions for the weekend, or you are free to find a spot and just get to work.

There will be a group session with Katharine, to discuss problems and ideas relating to writing, time management, planning, etc, followed by free time in which to write, walk, get planning, or even have a little power nap knowing that in the evening a delicious dinner awaits you. Katharine will be on hand for a short one-to-one session if you have any specific topics you would like to discuss.

After dinner there is the chance to socialise but this is by no means expected. A weekend retreat is a chance for you to do as you please, so make the most of it in whichever way you prefer!

SATURDAY 28th September

This will be the main day for writing and there will be a number of 60-90 minute sessions where you will be encouraged to lay aside any distractions (yes that means put your phone away!) and get your head down. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are provided, with hot drinks freely available all day. There will also be the option for a one-to-one session with Katharine if you have writing and planning ideas to discuss or concerns to address.

There will be plenty of downtime too, with breaks between sessions and the chance for walking or just enjoying the White House grounds if the weather is good. In the evening there will be more social time after dinner, if wanted.

SUNDAY 29th SEPTEMBER

Breakfast will be followed by two writing sessions with a break in between and a further chance for a short one-to-one session with Katharine.

Lunch will be provided and followed by a chance to meet as a group once more to discuss the weekend. By this point you will have proved to yourself just how much you can do when you structure your day and set aside pure writing time.

You can head home with renewed energy and good intentions to hold onto which will help you achieve your writing aims, as well as some fantastic memories, and hopefully one or two new, likeminded friends.

You can book your space here or please feel free to email Katharine: katharine@heddonpublishing.com with any questions.