[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][dt_media_gallery_carousel resized_image_dimensions=”3×2″ image_border_radius=”0px” slides_on_wide_desk=”4″ slides_on_desk=”4″ slides_on_lapt=”3″ slides_on_h_tabs=”2″ slides_on_v_tabs=”2″ speed=”500″ autoplay=”y” autoplay_speed=”5000″ show_zoom=”n” arrows=”n” include=”36254,3950,36241,6813,5998,4306″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”62px”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row”][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1616421281484{border-radius: 2px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Away Day for Novel Writers” main_heading_color=”#2c3b81″ alignment=”left” spacer=”line_only” spacer_position=”middle” line_height=”2″ line_color=”#2c3b81″ main_heading_font_family=”font_family:|font_call:” main_heading_font_size=”desktop:30px;” line_width=”380″][/ultimate_heading][vc_empty_space height=”60px”][vc_column_text]

October 16, 10am – 6pm

Private House, Kintbury, West Berkshire

Cost: £180 early bird rate, £240 late entry

Please get in touch to join the waitlist or to register your interest in future events.

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Full Day Structure & Storytelling Workshop with Emma Darwin

Q&A and Afternoon Tea with Literary Agent Eve White

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The Away Day will have limited numbers of like-minded writers at a similar stage in their writing journey. The event is in a beautiful country house in a garden setting. Costs include lunch and afternoon tea.

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Structure and Storytelling Workshop

Storytelling is how humans make sense of the world, and we all know when we’re hooked by a great storyteller. But what does that mean for you and your writing? Is it plot, story or structure that keeps the reader turning the pages late into the night – and remembering your novel for months after they read it?

In this day-long workshop we will have time and space to unpack how storytelling works, and how your story can be shaped and told to draw the reader in and keep them gripped. We will look first at what makes a story, and what we mean by narrative drive, and then dig in to how that plays out as plot. We’ll get our hands on the clay with some exercises, and explore how storytelling uses not only action and events but voice, prose, point-of-view and psychic distance to create and enrich the reader’s immersion in your world. There will be the opportunity to share some of the writing, and ask plenty of questions along the way.

By the end of the day you will have developed your understanding of how structure and story interrelate, explored what that means for the stories you want to tell, and got to grips with ways to tackle these crucial issues. You may even leave with some ideas for new stories!

Literary Agent Q&A

Over afternoon tea former Kintbury resident and leading literary agent Eve White will talk about what she is looking for in debuts and will go through the submission process commenting on cover letters and synopses with tips for what to include and what to avoid. She will share her thoughts on industry trends and the commercial side of the business. In an increasingly competitive market, it’s more important than ever to be well informed and prepared when seeking representation.

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Emma Darwin

Emma’s memoir, This is Not a Book About Charles Darwin, was published in 2019. Her widely-read blog This Itch of Writing gave rise to Get Started in Writing Historical Fiction which publisher Scott Pack describes as ‘essential reading’. She has taught for the Open University and is a regular guest lecturer and workshop leader.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”40805″ img_size=”200×200″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_outline_circle_2″ border_color=”blue”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” bg_type=”bg_color” bg_color_value=”#e5e5e5″ css=”.vc_custom_1608009853442{padding-top: 50px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_separator border_width=”3″][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1607511230466{background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”39835″ img_size=”200×200″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_outline_circle_2″ border_color=”blue”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][ultimate_spacer height=”40″][vc_column_text]

Eve White

Eve started EVE WHITE LITERARY AGENCY in 2003. Her company has grown to represent everything from prize-winning literary fiction to bestselling picture books worldwide while maintaining the caring, family feel of a boutique agency. Eve’s goal from the start was for massive success for each of a small stable of authors. Her clients include Ruth Ware, Jane Shemilt, Andy Stanton, Damian Le Bas, Abie Longstaff, and Saskia Sarginson. Eve was shortlisted for The British Book Awards Literary Agent of the Year in 2015 and 2017.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][ultimate_spacer height=”60″][vc_separator border_width=”3″][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1607511230466{background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][ultimate_spacer height=”40″][vc_column_text]

Emma Haynes

Emma is responsible for BPA’s bespoke programme of literary events and retreats as well as managing the First Novel Award and Pitch Prize competitions. With a background in communications and special events she has an eye for detail and a desire to give writers the best possible experience in an imaginative programme involving creative writing tutors, best selling authors and leading literary agents as guest tutors.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”4135″ img_size=”200×200″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_outline_circle_2″ border_color=”blue”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][ultimate_spacer height=”60″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” equal_height=”yes” bg_type=”image” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_image_new=”id^45672|url^https://bluepencilagency.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/background-pattern-wavify.png|caption^null|alt^null|title^background-pattern-wavify|description^null” bg_image_size=”initial” css=”.vc_custom_1608132715542{padding-top: 100px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” gap=”15″][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1549083018374{margin: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;border: 0px initial !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616141316423{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]

Blue Pencil Tutorials

Here’s what past clients have said

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Frequently Asked Questions

[/vc_column_text][ultimate_spacer height=”30″ height_on_tabs=”30″ height_on_tabs_portrait=”30″ height_on_mob_landscape=”10″ height_on_mob=”10″][vc_accordion active_tab=”false” title_size=”h5″ style=”2″][vc_accordion_tab title=”Give me the details”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616062760998{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]The BPA Away Day for Novelists will be our first in-person event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, taking place at a private home in Kintbury, West Berkshire.

A full day workshop on Structure and Storytelling with writing tutor Emma Darwin will be followed by an informal Q&A with literary agent Eve White.

Book soon to avoid disappointment. Limited number of early bird prices available.[/vc_column_text][/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=”Can I stay overnight?”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616141458093{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]

Overnight accommodation – supper, bed and breakfast available for 5 -7 writers, COVID-19 protocols permitting.

Additional cost: £120 for single occupancy with own bathroom and £90 for double occupancy or bedroom with a shared bathroom.

There are limited spaces on site but there are some lovely pubs and guest houses in Kintbury and Inkpen. Contact us for details[/vc_column_text][/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=”What do I need to have to hand?”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1594037162254{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]We will let you know nearer the time what you need to prepare but in general it might be helpful to have some of your own work printed out. Then just a pen and paper if you want to make notes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=”What’s included in the cost?”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1616141528456{padding-top: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]The full day workshop, literary agent Q&A, lunch and afternoon tea. Overnight accommodation – supper, bed and breakfast is an additional charge.[/vc_column_text][/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=”Will the sessions be recorded?”][vc_column_text]The sessions will not be recorded.[/vc_column_text][/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=”Cancellation due to COVID Protocols”][vc_column_text]If we can’t go ahead with the event in person we may reschedule online at a reduced cost. In the event of cancellation full refunds will be given.[/vc_column_text][/vc_accordion_tab][vc_accordion_tab title=””][/vc_accordion_tab][/vc_accordion][/vc_column][vc_column offset=”vc_col-lg-4 vc_col-md-4 vc_col-xs-12″ css=”.vc_custom_1474210785130{margin-bottom: 50px !important;padding-right: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;}”][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1474210891220{padding-right: 25px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;}”][vc_column_inner css=”.vc_custom_1549112014884{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: #f4f4f4 !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1549112275260{margin-bottom: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”]

Need more information?

If you have any other questions about our retreats please fill out the form

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Overnight accommodation – supper, bed and breakfast – COVID-19 protocols permitting.

Cost £100- £120 per person. Limited numbers so please get in touch to book a room

Kintbury village has a train station with hourly trains from London Paddington and Reading. It’s conveniently located off the M4 between junctions 13 & 14.

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