In August, 2024, Gemma Telford joined us for our Writing Historical Fiction week with Natasha Pulley and Susan Stokes-Chapman read on to find out more about the experience…

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Last month, I attended my first ever Creative writing course at Tŷ Newydd in North Wales. It was quite a long way away from home and quite a long way out of my comfort zone!

I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. I’ve often thought about writing fiction, but never even really dared to give it a go, to be honest.

But one of my favourite authors, Natasha Pulley (if you haven’t read any of her work, go and read it all, immediately!), tweeted that she would be one of the course tutors on this course, and about 10 minutes later I was booked on!

I’ve loved all of Natasha’s work. It’s so creative and sometimes a bit bonkers and I’m just in awe of how she comes up with such different scenarios, characters and storylines. Probably reading writers of this calibre is one of the things that has stopped me trying to write because how could I even come close?

But this year was at least the year to try, so I paid my deposit and then waited for the months to pass until the course came around.

In mid-August, full of trepidation I set out on the 5-and-a-half-hour drive to Tŷ Newydd. The section across Eryri national park is definitely not for the faint-hearted and I had to pull over once I was through and take some deep breaths! But once I was…I didn’t know where to look first! It was truly beautiful and event though I’d already been on the road so long, I felt invigorated by the views all around me.

Arriving on Monday evening I was shown to my room where I gratefully collapsed for a little while, before coming down to nervously say hello to other members of the group before dinner.

Everyone else was nervous too! It was SUCH a relief! And there was a huge mix of experience. Some people had been published, albeit not in fiction. Some had manuscripts almost ready to go and a few, like me were really wondering where, and whether to start! Another huge relief! And everyone, without exception was warm, welcoming and lovely.

The food was amazing and I could eat Tony’s fresh biscuits every day and not get bored. Even being part of the kitchen crew for a day was fun.

But the best part was the group critique sessions and the tutors. Natasha was joined by Susan Stokes-Chapman on my course – Writing Historical Fiction – and Susan has written two wonderful books set in the Georgian era. With the group critique sessions, each aspiring writer shared a sample of their work which we read in silence. The first job was then to share some positive feedback which was easy – the writing was amazing! There were lots of different styles and types of writing, but every piece had something to love in it. Then we offered constructive criticism – could something be explained better, could a phrase be polished – if so, how? Then lastly, the author was allowed to speak, to explain or ask for clarification. In every case, although they were dreading ‘their’ session, they were relived and pleased afterwards and found the input from peers and tutors valuable. It was an incredible and inspiring process to be a part of.

There was also the opportunity to have a 1:1 with each of the course tutors, which I was very keen to take up! And in both cases I was offered advice which was thoughtful, constructive and so helpful. I actually started writing on the course and intend to carry on. I’ve got two novel ideas and I loved finding out that I didn’t have to have the storyline all mapped out at the beginning. Natasha suggested that a book wrote itself like moss growing…it starts in one place then expands in one direction, then another. Then pieces join up and at that point it starts to make sense! Susan said something similar – she starts with ideas for scenes and writes from there. It was so helpful hearing from such accomplished writers that I didn’t have to have all my ideas ready to go, and that instead I could just write, and let it evolve a bit on its own. It makes complete sense really. I’ve been going to a weekly art class for the last two years, but I don’t turn up each week expecting to create a masterpiece. I just enjoy the process and sometimes it turns out well. (Other nights it goes straight in the bin!) So, it made sense that of course I could approach writing in the same way. I don’t have to get it right first time or know all the answers. I can just do it and keep trying (sorry Yoda, sometimes there just is a ‘try’).

Would I go back? Definitely. Would I recommend the course? Absolutely. Was Tŷ Newydd amazing? Yes. Is Tony a brilliant cook? Of course he is!

So, if you’re thinking about a creative writing course – whether you’re a practised, or even a published writer, but especially if you’re not I’d say give it a go. There’s only upsides, and who knows…maybe writing will become a habit for you, too.

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