First of all we will look at the large scale shape of a story – the macro view, and how to plan a piece of work that does not just dry up after 20 pages. We will explore the engineering of what agents and publishers call traction – that is, the feeling that a story is pulling you through it.

We will arrive at an understanding of how feelings are evoked in a story – how writers conjure emotion to sustain and gratify readers with a vicarious experience of life, which at its best is just as powerful as the original.

Throughout, we will keep an eye on the different motivations for writing. We all write for different reasons, and we need to define accurately what it is we want to get out of writing, what we want to give. This motivation, after all, is the mainspring of our energy, and if it’s in good shape it will give us the impetus to start and to complete the work, and finish it to a high standard.

The course weekend begins with arrival from 4pm on the Friday evening and optional dinner at 7.30pm. After dinner there is a welcoming get-together and an introduction to the course.

Courses run for two hours from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday, 5pm to 7pm on Saturday afternoon and from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Sunday.

£72.00 for Island Residents.