Creative Writing Retreat

Y12 Creative Writing Retreat

Day 1 - 27 June

Students embarked from Paddington at 11:00am this morning, alighted at Taunton station, and took a winding bus journey through country lanes to the charming Exmoor House. Taking advantage of the pleasant weather, students lolled on the lawns, turned their hands at table tennis, and kicked about a football. 

A barbecue was enjoyed by all, before students settled down for their inaugural writing workshop this evening, in which they established their writerly ‘brand’, and shared the writing which they will seek to emulate this week.

Day 2 - 28 June

On their first full day of writing, students discussed the poetry of Hart Crane and wrote flash fiction. After a meatball and lemon posset supper, we took a rainy walk to the local village of Dulverton. 

Day 3 - 29 June

Students spent the morning writing defamiliarised literature, and the afternoon finding readings for the evening session from the libraries of Northmoor House.

Day 4 - 30 June

On their last full day at Northmoor, students worked diligently, across the rooms of the house, on their final pieces of work. In the evening, they performed their work after a curry dinner, and enjoyed an evening of celebrations.