In the gap year of the biennial Blackball Readers and Writers’ Festival the organisers would like to offer a retreat/workshop over the King’s Birthday Weekend (30 May – 1 June).
What will be offered:
• Time to write.
• One to one feedback with a tutor – submit 12 pages of a manuscript beforehand.
• A sprinkling of concise craft workshops: plot, dialogue, imagery, genre.
The tutors: Jeffrey Paparoa Holman, James Norcliffe, Paul Maunder, Paddy Richardson (hopefully), Iona Winter.
Venue: Kōtuku School for Social Change situated at Jack’s Mill School heritage site near Moana.
Accommodation Options: Marae style at Kōtuku (BYO bedding), van, campervan or tent at Kōtuku, or the writers’ cottage at Blackball (4 rooms available but 25km away) – included in Registration Fee. Alternatively, make your own accommodation arrangements in nearby Moana.
Transport: Private car (we can link for car sharing). Shuttle from Christchurch (we can pick you up from Jacksons or Greymouth).
Catering: We’ll provide a vegetarian first lunch and evening meal, and thereafter self catering.
Timetable: May 30th 12pm – Monday June 1st 12pm. If catching the Christchurch shuttle you’ll need to arrive the evening before, leave early Monday morning or wait until Tuesday morning.
Numbers: Limited to 12. We need 9 confirmed registrations before going ahead with the retreat.
Cost: $75 (includes accommodation at Kōtuku or Blackball).



