This year, Writers’ HQ is bringing back its famous procrastination-busting writing retreats following a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic.
The WHQ retreats will return to Brighton, Birmingham, and Edinburgh this August, with Cambridge, Manchester, and Glasgow following soon.
Before 2020, Writers’ HQ hosted 16 retreats every month across 14 locations across the UK, helping hundreds of writers to focus on their writing.
In March 2020, the pandemic forced WHQ to move all of their events online, and they now run over 200 free online writing retreats via Zoom.
But now, the writing community, which motivates members to “stop f***ing about and start writing”, is finally returning to its roots with in-person events.
Writers’ HQ offers a one-day writing retreat for writers who cannot attend lengthier, more expensive residential events. Writers are encouraged to set a target for the day, turn off the internet, and write in sprints, earning gold stars as the go while being fed pastries and tea.
Writers’ HQ co-founder Sarah Lewis says: “everyone adapted so quickly to online retreats, and we’ve had such amazing successes, but it’s definitely time to start gathering again in person. It’s where our community started and where we’ve made friends for life, so we can’t wait to see people in real life again.”
Co-founder Jo Gatford says: “there’s something really motivating about being in a room full of writers, all quietly tapping away at their work. The retreats are definitely not competitive in any way, but the environment naturally brings out everyone’s productive side. Maybe it’s the bottomless caffeine and biscuits…?”
Attendees of Writers’ HQ writers retreats include Sarah Smith, author of Hear No Evil (Shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize 2022), Elizabeth Haynes, who finished writing The Murder of Harriet Monckton at the Cambridge retreats, and Mallika Narayanan, whose suspense novel No 5. Shore Drive is due for publication in 2023.
If like me, procrastination is your fallback, then the Writers’ HQ might help you finish or get started on that book you’ve been meaning to write.
Find out more and get your tickets here.
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