One Day Writing Retreats
in Leeds
Stop fucking about and start writing
Second Saturday of the month
Sunny Bank Mills, 10am – 4pm
£45 (15% discount for Gold Star Members)
No Distractions. No Excuses. Just Writing.
Getting your story written relies on one thing: you getting your butt in a chair and actually writing it. The Leeds Writers’ Retreat is your reliable source of chair-butt interfacing, accountability, motivation, and writerly joy.
What happens at Leeds Writers’ Retreat?
Writing! More writing! Some more writing! A bucket-load of writing!
At a WHQ creative writing retreat, you’ll spend the day in a room with a bunch of writers, limitless caffeine and a tasty lunch. We’ll help you set your writing goals for the day, celebrate your successes, and break through blocks.
We write together in short sprints – long enough to focus but not so long you burn out – with breaks for leg stretches, drinks, snacks and lunch.
A score board, gold stars, general silliness and supportive competitiveness will help you reach your targets and get your writing moving.
I love Writers’ HQ retreats, which are one of the few times I can really get my head down and write. They feed you, caffeine you up, encourage you and, to top it all, you’re surrounded by amazing inspirational writing folk, sharing your projects and supportuing each other in the breaks.
Jenny R
Who is Leeds Writers’ Retreat for?
- Everyone! New writers! Emerging writers! Aspiring writers! Experienced writers! Not-sure-if-they’re-really-allowed-to-call-themselves-writers! (Hint: if you write, you’re a writer)
- Writers who want to tinker with some ideas or make a start on a brand new project
- Writers with a work-in-progress that’s stalled or been put aside while life takes over
- Writers who just wanna get shit done
- People writing fiction, non-fiction, scripts, academic texts, copy, articles, blogs, poetry, creative non-fiction, genre, high brow, low brow, and anything else that needs an alphabet shuffle
- People who want to drink tea and eat biscuits and write some words in a fun, supportive environment
Had a great day of writing with some incredibly inspiring people. Thank you for helping me find my way through my novel and helping me find the love for it when I’m struggling. These guys are epic, superstars.
Vicky J
Your retreat-o-bot
(Who hosts the Leeds Writers’ Retreat?)
Jem Henderson
Jem Henderson (they/them) is a genderqueer poet from Leeds, winner of a Creative Future award for underrepresented writers. Their work focuses on the body, motherhood, food, queerness and on triumph over trauma, playing with both traditional forms and experimental poetry. They are adept both on page and on stage, performing across the country and regularly publishing new work as well as running creative writing workshops.
an othered mother, their first pamphlet, is out with Nine Pens Press. Their first collaborative project Genderfux came out in 2022 with Nine Pens Press and Motherflux, its sequel in 2024. A collaborative collection with Chris Cambell, small plates, is out now with Broken Sleep Books.
Run with knowledge, integrity, kindness, and humour. An obvious love and insight for the written word. You are in safe hands with Writers HQ. ?
Naomi R
Farquars
Each retreat is £45, or £38.25 if you’re a WHQ Gold Star Member.
You get a place at a one-day creative writing retreat. The facilitator will help you set your goals and guide the day through writing sprints and support. We’ll feed and water you with unlimited tea and coffee, pastries, fruit, snacks, and lunch. You’ll spend the day with a bunch of awesome writers all gunning for your success and you’ll get a whole bunch of words written.
Oh and gold stars. You’ll get gold stars for your work. We love the gold stars.
Sure. And if you do, then great! Keep doing you.
But for lots of us it’s not quite like that. We make Booker Prize winning plans but there’s always just one other thing to do or another cat to look at on the Internet.
Before you know it, it’s gone midnight, you’re sitting in your pants eating Dairy Milk, and you’ve written 25 words. Ugh.
Nope. WHQ creative writing retreats are strictly non-sharing events. We want you to focus on writing your story instead of getting anxious about other people reading it.
There is no workshopping or taught element to the retreats. It’s just about the writing. For taught courses please check out our superduper range of online courses.
If you’re after a beta reader or want to share your work, head over to the forum and check out Flash Face Off or Swipe Write.
Speak to the facilitator or utilise the other amazing writers who’ll be there!
WHQ retreats are super friendly and super supportive. While they’re not set up for intense 1:1 feedback kind of scenarios, you can definitely slump on the desk and say ‘grargh I’m stuck!’ and a whole bunch of people will leap to your aid.
Let us know! We do our best to make sure our venues are accessible and we put accommodations in place where ever you need. Just email help@writershq.co.uk or fill in the little form when you book your place and we’ll leap into action with keenness and speed.
Okay I’m sold. Where? When? I want in!
