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The Reading Room is a space for writers in the pretty market-town of Ulverston, South Lakeland. Writers’ Weekends are a  treat for anyone who enjoys a good story and loves words. Suitable for all writers – those just starting out and having fun and those committed to their craft. This is about creativity and exploration, discovering your voice while developing your craft.

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Progressing your writing requires a large dose of confidence in yourself and the story you want to tell. When you're working in isolation this can become overwhelming and it's very easy to have a wobble and give in to self-doubt. My Writers' Weekends at The Reading Room have been designed to tackle that. Over the years we have nurtured a supportive community of writers where people can dip in and out as feels right for them. Many of our writers have gone on to professional success and publication.

 

The Reading Room provides the opportunity to spend time with other creative-minded people and word-lovers in a cosy environment of books and stories. Places are limited to 8 to allow comfortable round-the-table discussion. There will be plenty of reading and viewing recommendations, some word games and book swaps, good food, excellent coffee, tea and cakes. I guarantee you will be warmly welcomed and leave inspired and emboldened with a new network of creative friends.

 

Weekends are developed in response to demand, but the backbone are 4 seasonal weekends in October, January, March/April and July.  Promise  is currently booking for spring and Linger will be available shortly for summer. I look forward to meeting you and sharing stories.

 

For each weekend, Saturday is designed as a springboard for new ideas and projects or it could simply be a one-off experience of itself. Sunday is for more in-depth discussion of your work, either the ideas you developed the previous day or a project you have in progress which is submitted in advance.

 

Reading Room weekends are always productive and fun and the feedback on work-in-progress will help you get to grips with the structure and key elements of your story while learning the tools to develop it further.  You can book for one or both days any month.

 

The weekends are very reasonably priced at £175 for the full weekend or £100 for either Saturday or Sunday. There is also a genuine Pay What You Can Scheme for anyone for whom this price may be prohibitive.

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To reserve a place please go to Booking Information.

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Now Booking!

 

PROMISE    29th/30th March 2025
Spring Writing Weekend

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“The trees are coming into leaf

Like something almost being said." Phillip Larkin

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Saturday

Spring is a time for the next chapter, a new project, fresh ideas. We will be looking at openings - for novels, stories and scripts – those crucial first pages that grab a reader’s attention. That elusive hook! We will also share methods for developing our ideas into stories and explore techniques that encourage us to take a new approach. This workshop is all about new beginnings, promise and possibility. There will be a series of writing prompts to get you going, time to write and share your work  and nourish each other’s creativity.

 

Sunday

Writers are invited to submit work in advance. Up to 2000 words. (4 sides of A4.)

This could be an extract from a current project, or a piece of work you believe in but have struggled to make work in the past. All work will be circulated to the group a week before we meet, along with any specific questions you would like considered. Feedback is constructive, supportive and carefully managed with a view to helping the writer realise their intention.

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To reserve a place please go to Booking Information.

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"Zosia Wand has a forensic ability to guide new and established writers through the structure of a plot. Her workshops are all about the story and she is as generous with her feedback and advice as she is with the refreshments!  The workshops take place in the gorgeous Reading Room and manage to be relaxed yet deeply thought provoking. I highly recommend!"

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