Writing Retreat, Cape Town November 2020

Fri Sep 18, 15:00 - Fri Sep 18, 16:00

Guinevere Guest Farm

ABOUT




The group is intimate and we are gathering in the most beautiful and magical of landscapes for a five-night retreat in summer in South Africa.  



This retreat is for anyone with a book, or a writing project, in their heart. You may be a new writer, or an experienced writer who simply needs time away to immerse in your writing. Join writing coach and literary agent Sarah Bullen from The Writing Room for a magical, lazy retreat to get your writing project started - or finished.


All the event information is also here


It will guide you through the process of writing a book from start to finish. You need nothing but your ideas in order to attend. 


"I love to get writers away from their lives and into a writing immersion. I have found in my own writing that it is the only way I can dive into a story and make any sort of progress. So, much of the time together will be spent writing!"


Mornings will be a structured class with afternoons free to pour your words onto the page. We gather in the evenings for reading, feedback and storytelling. 


I have writers of many different levels coming on these Retreats. Some are starting a book and need more guidance, others working on the 2nd or 3rd books. Still other writers join to journal or write poetry. Each writer has two personal sessions to focus on your project.


For those who need a push, structured sessions will show you how to write, edit and market your book, find a structure, character, plot, advanced plotting and pace, how to construct scenes, best writing techniques, timelines and schedules, genre and finding your voice, preparing your manuscript, how to approach publishers, how to write your marketing material, new publishing models.


All genre's are welcome - novels, memoir, non-fiction, poetry, children's books. 


FIRST STEP: Sign up for detailed information and how to join HERE

NEXT STEP: You will get an application form - please fill it in and return it

THEN: On acceptance pay your deposit to secure your place


COST 2020


Single room R16,800 (4 single rooms available) Deposit R6,500. Second payment by 10 October 2020

Sharing room R8,900 per person.   Deposit R5,500. Second payment by 10 October 2020


Please note a deposit is required to secure your place. This is non-refundable as per our T&Cs. Please be clear before your book as places fill up fast. We can jump on a quick call to discuss if this is right for you. 


Covid update - we are still planning to go ahead with this retreat as travel continues to open up. Please email me directly





Writing coach and literary agent Sarah Bullen


COST INCLUDES

* 5 nights accommodation at the most beautiful guest farm

* All meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner and all snacks and teas and coffee.

* A guided writing process 

* A one-on-one session 

* Structured feedback on your project 

* Tea and coffee and light snacks during breaks.

* All course fees

* A shared guest kitchen with tea, coffee and a fridge for all your extra snacks or particular food.


COST EXCLUDES

* Flights 

* Transfers to Tulbach from Cape Town. 

* Massages or any additional services


YOU WILL LEARN

* How to Define and Create Your Most Compelling Book

* The Elements of Structure

* Finding Your Book Genre and Sub-Genre

* Creating Plot, Place and Character Outlines for your Genre

* Adding Plot Points and Structure

* Beginnings, Middles and Ends

* Developing Your Main Character

* Developing Your Minor Characters

* Developing Your Voice

* Developing Point of View as a Plotting Technique

* How to Improve your plotting, pace and structure

* How to make your characters unforgettable

* Adding Depth and Layers?

* Sourcing Tips and Techniques

* How to Present Your Book to Publishers


THE VENUE


The retreat is held in a magnificent farmhouse situated just 1.5 hours outside Cape Town. It is on the fringes of the small town of Tulbach. 


The farm itself is out of town, nestled amongst indigenous fynbos. It is the ideal space for rest and relaxation and to let the muse of writing find you. You can immerse yourself in nature and the tranquility of the abundant fynbos and bird life. The farm has a swimming dam, vineyards, olive groves and walking trails through the pristine countryside. 


The is a nurturing space where self-discovery, empowerment and deep healing can be explored.


The newest edition to the farmhouse is a yoga studio. The studio doubles up as a space which can be used for workshops or group healing sessions. With sustainable bamboo flooring, floor to ceiling windows and soft lighting this space will allow for a tranquil and calm environment in which to heal.





Thank you so much for an unforgettable week in Tulbach. The beautiful feminine energy, the gentle, nurturing environment that blended with the physical care taken with the healthy, organic food, yoga sessions and massages all conspired to bringing about a luxurious introspection into spaces that I have allowed to become dusty corners of my imagination. Carin Combrink, Forgotten Waterfall , 2019


I spent this last week with Sarah, Anel and the other writers at the Write your Novel Retreat in the Cape. This was truly the most inspiring and motivating thing I have ever done for myself. Sarah's guidance is invaluable. Working our way through the writing process with Sarah has left me feeling far more equipped to pursue my dream. And her personal insights into my project has taken it to another level. I highly recommend this retreat to anyone, regardless of where you are writing wise. Amazing experience. Hanri Mostert 2017


Sarah and Kate’s writing mentorship is the stick of dynamite you need to stop gazing at your own navel and instead gaze at a finish line that gets steadily closer. If you’ve been struggling to get your ideas out of your head and onto the page, this mentorship will prove invaluable.  – Meg Chronis


This "write a novel" course was the best birthday present I ever gave myself. It was set in a beautiful and peaceful environment, was well paced, was information packed with all the basics of how to really write a book, had surprising acts of art and physical exercise included to move the thinking through the body, was practical and honest about how dedicated one must really be to write, and was delicious to be around such inspiring facilitators who are warm, caring and so professional too. Thank you Sarah and Anel! - Kate 2017 


“Thanks must go to Sarah Bullen who made me put aside the unsellable rubbish I wanted to write and write this (hopefully not unsellable rubbish) instead. 

In 'A Million Miles from Normal', Paige Nick (Penguin 2010)


I spent this last week with Sarah and the other writers at the Retreat in the Cape. This was truly the most inspiring and motivating thing I have ever done for myself. Sarah's guidance is invaluable. Working our way through the writing process with Sarah has left me feeling far more equipped to pursue my dream. And her personal insights into my project has taken it to another level. I highly recommend this retreat to anyone, regardless of where you are writing wise. Amazing experience. - Jill Aslett


“This course is a journey of discovery. I went into places from my past as if I was still living them. I can’t stop writing now,”

Isabelle Hartha, 2014


I found Sarah Bullen's Memoir Writing Workshop to be highly useful and informative, I had been writing memoir for years with books as my guide, but she broadened my awareness of what good memoir writing consists of better than any book I've ever read on the subject. Her teaching style is concise, clear, inspiring, and filled with rich suggestion, I left feeling much more aware of what it takes to write good memoir and would highly recommend this workshop to anyone who is interested in memoir writing.

Jackie Heim (Canada)


Dear Sarah,

That was the best writing course I’ve ever been on. Thank you so much. I learned so much, and I can apply it immediately to my third novel. Helen Brain (Elevation Trilogy)


This "write a novel" course was the best birthday present I ever gave myself. It was set in a beautiful and peaceful environment, was well paced, was information packed with all the basics of how to really write a book, had surprising acts of art and physical exercise included to move the thinking through the body, was practical and honest about how dedicated one must really be to write, and was delicious to be around such inspiring facilitators who are warm, caring and so professional too. Kate Baxter 2017 




 

ABOUT SARAH

Sarah Bullen is a writing coach and literary agent who has been coaching and inspiring writers globally since 2005. She works with writers and publishers all over the world to help them find and tell their best story - in any format.  

Sarah  has written six books including two non-fiction books: ‘Hey Baby: The Hip New Mom’s Guide’ and ‘Romance 101, Can your Relationship Survive your Kids?’ published by Penguin Random House Struik, two children's books, a genre romance and a screenplay. She has ghostwritten a number of books.  

Sarah also does storytelling and she is an international speaker delivering talks on How to Tell a Story. She is a regular guest on talk shows and at writing workshops and does one-on-one writing coaching, journalling journeys and development work through writing. Sarah’s clients are based all over the world and she runs courses and retreats in the UK, US Greece, Ireland and South Africa.
Sarah lives between Cape Town and Greece.

THE VENUE

PAST PARTICIPANTS


I have so many review of my various retreats I run around the world I have a whole page for them read that here 


Thank you so much for an unforgettable week in Tulbach. The beautiful feminine energy, the gentle, nurturing environment that blended with the physical care taken with the healthy, organic food, yoga sessions and massages all conspired to bringing about a luxurious introspection into spaces that I have allowed to become dusty corners of my imagination.  Carin Combrink, 
 Forgotten Waterfall , 2019


This retreat was the best birthday present I ever gave myself. It was set in a beautiful and peaceful environment, was well paced, was information packed with all the basics of how to really write a book, had surprising acts of art and physical exercise included to move the thinking through the body, was practical and honest about how dedicated one must really be to write, and was delicious to be around such inspiring facilitators who are warm, caring and so professional too. Thank you Sarah and Anel! - Kate Baxter 2017 

That was the best writing course I’ve ever been on. Thank you so much. I learned so much, and I can apply it immediately to my third novel.  Helen Brain (Elevation Trilogy) 2018
Dear Sarah,

This "write a novel" course was the best birthday present I ever gave myself. It was set in a beautiful and peaceful environment, was well paced, was information packed with all the basics of how to really write a book, had surprising acts of art and physical exercise included to move the thinking through the body, was practical and honest about how dedicated one must really be to write, and was delicious to be around such inspiring facilitators who are warm, caring and so professional too. Thank you Sarah and Anel! - Kate 2017 


I spent this last week with Sarah and the other writers at the Write your Novel Retreat in the Cape. This was truly the most inspiring and motivating thing I have ever done for myself. Sarah's guidance is invaluable. Working our way through the writing process with Sarah has left me feeling far more equipped to pursue my dream. And her personal insights into my project has taken it to another level. I highly recommend this retreat to anyone, regardless of where you are writing wise. Amazing experience. Hanri Mostert 2017






 

DIRECTIONS

Writing Retreat, Cape Town November 2020
Guinevere Guest Farm
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