Testimonials

The Writers Inc experience was excellent from start to finish. From first contact with Jane and Brian to saying farewell after the writers’ weekend, I felt cared for as a writer.

Jane made sure we were well-fed, and the meals we had all together as a group were just right. The whole weekend was relaxed with just the right amount of ‘push’ towards discussion and with time set aside for writing too.

I chose to do the Writers Inc retreat in order to motivate myself to focus more on writing, and I got that in spades.

Being with other writers, talking with other writers, and learning from other writers is absolutely key for me, and I feel like I could not have asked for a better use of my extremely precious time off from my very busy day job.”

 

Docklow Manor is a fabulous place to write, and the fact that it is the hosts’ own home counts for a lot. The room I stayed in was comfortable, welcoming, and entirely conducive to maintaining focus on writing, with its well-stocked bookshelves and a desk well-placed in front of windows which overlooked the expansive grounds of the manor.

Jane’s food was amazing and the family home aspect made the weekend feel intimate and informal. It was nice that the meals provided a structure for the weekend – to encourage everyone to come together to discuss writing

It was a pleasure to be welcomed into Jane and Brian’s home. The weekend provided a perfect mix of peace, space and informal conversation.

It gave me time to think and reflect on the ideas that I have for my writing, and provided some honest and valuable knowledge about an industry I know very little about.

The evenings reminded me of family meals – full of conversation, debate and anecdotes. I felt at ease and able to relax.

The sessions reminded me of university seminars, with loose structure to promote conversation and queries. This suited me and I think was a great way to get your experiences of being authors across.

The tasks set were clear and well thought out – it was nice to be able to have an assignment to share and receive feedback on.

I loved my time at Docklow Manor with Brian and Jane. Firstly, the grounds and accommodation are stunning and the food was fab so it was, qualitatively, a great weekend away.

The informal feel of the retreat meant I felt comfortable sharing ideas and work which was nice: it did not feel harsh or overly critical.

I found Jane’s lived experience of the publishing industry enriched discussions of contemporary literature and I was delighted, though not surprised, with how widely and passionately everyone who attended read.

I absolutely would recommend this retreat to anybody with a draft or an idea looking for some guidance about how to proceed.