Residential Short Course: Writing, Climate, and the Living World

A 5-day residential short course under the stars, in partnership with Black Mountains College in Wales.

This course will ask a central question: what does it mean to be a writer today, in light of the Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE)? How can we approach the vastness of the emergency we are in, with effective creative writing? The course will include discussions sharing our experience of the CEE specifically as writers, and examine the personal, public and literary strategies that enable us as writers rather than freeze us. Both emerging and more established writers will benefit from intensive workshops, one-to-one tutoring and time to write and create ideas, as well as feedback from peers in small-group readings.

During the course you will review the essentials of both fiction and nonfiction – from the use of place to editing techniques, narrative structure to the role played by character – and consider how these might explore and help to communicate the issues around the CEE. But you will also be part of a forum, as this course will build on the camaraderie that is beginning to emerge among writers. By sharing ideas, hopes and experiences, participants will learn from one another and help to advance this vital conversation.

‘Writing, Climate and the Living World’ will seek to inform and inspire, while embracing the landscape around Troed yr Harn. The creative response to the CEE remains in its infancy. The challenge is immense, but so is the imperative to meet that challenge, and so are the potential rewards.

What will I do and learn?

• Be offered an overview of the essentials of creative writing.
• Receive feedback on your writing-in-progress (if any) to gain a new sense of perspective and momentum in your work.
• Discuss as a group the facts of the CEE and what role writing might play in response.
• Build a sense of common purpose and forge new, supportive relationships.
• Explore and develop a close appreciation of the landscape around Troed yr Harn.
• Spend time developing new ideas and refining your writing.

Participants on this course will stay in one of Black Mountains College shared bell tents in Wales, and all food and drink will be provided.

To book a place on this course, please visit Black Mountains College website here. 

Black Mountains College would like their short courses to be as accessible as possible cost-wise, whilst ensuring they are still able to cover material and teaching costs. We, therefore, ask you to pay what you can towards this event based on our tiered system. We have tickets available at £600 (reduced rate), £750 (actual cost), and £1,100 (pay it forward)

Consider contributing more on the scale if you:

• have the ability to comfortably meet all of your basic needs
• have investments, retirement accounts, or inherited money
• travel recreationally
• own the home you live in
• have a relatively high degree of earning power due to level of education (or gender and racial privilege, class background, etc.)

Consider contributing less on the scale if you:

• have difficulty covering basic expenses
• are supporting children or have other dependents
• are an elder with limited financial support
• have unstable housing and/or limited access to reliable transportation

If you select an amount at the higher end of the scale, you will make possible future offerings and support our volunteers who are generously contributing time. Thank you!

Tickets are non-refundable. Depending on the uptake of the course Black Mountains College hold the right to cancel it, in which case you will be refunded.

Please note that spaces on this course are limited. Black Mountains College operate on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Black Mountains College have 1-3 fully-funded spots on this course available to a successful bursary applicant. If you are unable to pay for the course and would like to be considered for a free place, then please complete this form. You will be contacted by a member of the team 2-4 weeks prior to the course starting.

This course is rated as 3 (least accessible) on BMC’s scale of accessibility. Read more about their accessibility policy here.

This Residential Short Course will take place at Troed yr Harn Farm, Talgarth. Participants will stay in one of Black Mountains College shared bell tents in Wales, and all food and drink will be provided.

Tour course fee will cover travel from and to Abergavenny train station, a place in one of our shared bell tents, all meals and course content. Please meet at Talgarth Car Park, LD3 0PQ.

BMC’s campus is a car free site, and we encourage participants to meet at Talgarth carpark to walk up to the campus ready to start the course.