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One day novel writing retreat
with lucy and claire fuller
Thursday 13th November 2025
Do you have a novel in you? Are you already writing? Confused? Stuck? Unsure? Bogged down? Or just in need of time and headspace?
Join two bestselling authors for an exclusive, expert-led one-day Novel Writing Retreat in Oxford.
This autumn, for the first time ever, Oxford University Creative Writing tutor and author, Lucy Atkins, and Costa Prize Winning author and creative writing teacher, Claire Fuller are coming together to teach an exclusive one-day novel writing masterclass.
What makes this Novel Writing Retreat so unique?
Creative writing courses can be, at best, underwhelming – at worst, downright misleading. This one-day retreat is different. Lucy and Claire not only have extensive experience teaching Creative Writing at the very highest level, they have a proven track record as published authors of bestselling, critically-acclaimed, award-winning works of both fiction and non-fiction.
In short, they know what makes a good book – and they know how to teach you!
With ten novels between them, they also understand how lonely, complex and difficult writing can be. This retreat, which takes place in Summertown, North Oxford, offers a safe and reassuring space in which to nurture your writing and tap into your deep creative mind. For this reason, places are strictly limited
Have you always dreamed of writing fiction, but don’t know where to start? Have you written a whole first draft but don’t know what to do next? Or maybe you’ve got the first chapter down but you’ve stalled. Whatever stage you’re at, however experienced you are, this day is for you, and will move your novel forward.
You will learn to:
Tap deeply into your creativity
Construct a brilliant plot
Get the most from your settings
Create compelling characters
Master the all-important skill of self-editing
You’ll leave inspired and energised with a toolbox of practical tips, strategies and ideas that you can apply to your own work, and a clear idea of your next steps.
About Lucy Lucy teaches on the Creative Writing Masters degree at the University of Oxford. She is the author of five novels, including the bestselling Magpie Lane, and most recently Windmill Hill, a summer book pick for both the Guardian and the Observer. Find Lucy’s ‘Talking About Writing’ sessions with Claire and other well-known authors on Instagram. Follow Lucy on Instagram @lucyatkinswriter.
About Claire Claire is the author of five novels including the Costa Novel Prize-winning and Women’s Prize-shortlisted novel, Unsettled Ground. She has taught creative writing for many years for various organisations including The Women’s Prize, literary festivals and creative writing academies. Her teaching is said to be fun but also very practical, so that students leave with concrete methods for improving their own writing.
What writing students say about Lucy and Claire
“In almost a decade of literary study, no professor has put more care and effort into helping me shape my work and cultivate my own, personal voice. The effort and sincerity Lucy gives her students is unparalleled — combined with a vast knowledge of literature and a clear editorial eye, any writer would benefit from working with her to improve their craft.” Travis Schuhardt, Lucy’s former graduate student, University of Oxford Creative Writing Masters degree.
“I have never attended a course before that has delivered so strongly on its stated aims. Talk about giving people the tools to do the job!”Michael Doherty on a novel writing course taught by Claire
Places are extremely limited!
Further information
‘Writing is a lonely job. Having someone who believes in you makes a lot of difference’ Stephen King
Exactly how will the day work?
This intensive day is structured around fun writing exercises and mini workshops with personal advice from both Claire and Lucy, and built-in time for discussion, feedback, and reflection. There will be opportunities to put your questions to both tutors, and breaks for nourishing food. (After all, as Virginia Woolf put it, ‘One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well’.)
You will leave with more confidence, and a toolbox of practical tips, strategies and ideas that you can apply to your own work. Perhaps most importantly, you’ll gain renewed enthusiasm, energy and a sense of creative direction.
SCHEDULE
9.30am Arrival, coffee & croissants and hellos.
10.00am – 10.20am Introductions & a Writerly Warm-up Exercise.
10.20am – 11.15am Inspiration, Creativity and Ideas. How to tap into your true creative impulses, and find where, in you, real inspiration lives.
11.15am – 11.30am Coffee, tea, cake and a few deep breaths!
11.30am – 12.30pm Plotting: What the best plots include and how they work. How to make yours drive your story.
1.30pm – 1.45pm Wake up! A writing exercise to refocus.
1.45pm – 2.45pm ‘Place opens a story’ [Eudora Welty]. Why settings matter, and how to make them achieve the most in your novel.
2.35pm – 3.45pm ‘Action is character’ [Scot Fitzgerald] Creating real people, not fictional characters.
3.45pm – 4.00pm Tea and cake
4.00pm – 5.00pm ‘I’m all for the scissors’ [Truman Capote]. How to edit your writing to make it shine.
5.00pm – 5.30pm Onwards! Where next for you and your writing.
Your Novel, Your Day
‘Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else’
Gloria Steinem.
We all know it’s the ‘something else’ that gets in the way! In our busy lives it can be hard to find space and time to really focus on our writing. This, then, is YOUR DAY – your chance to focus on your creativity, learn new skills and carve out space for your writing, with expert guidance, feedback and support.
Lucy atkins 