![]() |
![]() |
![]() ![]() |
IN
YOUR WORDS ' There really isn't a way to thank you enough for the creativity you helped release in me ' Read Feedback |
The orientation dinners are on Sunday evenings at 20.00. The Courses & Retreats run from Monday mornings to Friday lunchtimes |
Reservations – Course places may now be reserved Deposits - subject to the gov.uk global travel review, deposits may be placed from April 12 |
|
Should a course become fully subscribed, confirmed flight bookings may be necessary |
Writers have always come to Loutro - situated within the inspiring natural resource of South |
'I can't write anywhere in the world like I write here' (poet - 2018) |
|
|
|
June
19/20 - June 26/27, 2021 Meet for Dinner - Sun June 20 - 8pm |
|
||
|
|
|
mimikhalvati.co.uk |
![]() |
Writing Course | with Lesley Glaister | Course Fee - £335 |
|
Getting in the Zone - When you’re in the zone, writing can be |
![]() |
|
Lesley Glaister |
Sept
11/12 - Sept 18/19 2021 Meet for Dinner - Sun Sept 12 - 8pm |
The Sound Of A Poem - What do we hear when we put some distance between ourselves and the busy world? What falls into the space on the page when we’re listening out for a poem as we try to write it? Using informal guided writing experiments we’ll explore together how to take the initial impulse for a poem and push it towards discovery in our mind’s eye and in our ear, opening up doors onto even richer associations, finding the poem that you know is there! A week of exploration and discovery, reading and writing and listening together, led by an award-winning poet and highly popular tutor. |
||
|
|
|
Jane Draycott |
![]() |
Writing Course | with David Swann | Course Fee - £335 |
Combined with Writing Retreat - £595 |
‘Carry the Fire’ – Though recent global events have tested the resilience of our creative spirits, after a summer of recovery and reflection, for many the imagination will be engaged with a world emerging from the abyss. On this course, with our thoughts reverberating in the Cretan mountains, we'll explore ways to harness the pressing issues of the day, to ignite the creative alchemy that summons light from darkness. There’ll be much writing produced on the course for presentation and feedback within the group. Those with writing projects under way, in mind or on the page, may continue on to the Writing Retreat the following week, for Review of work in progress in one-to-one tutorials. |
|
![]() |
|
' I now know the last 30,000 words of my novel, and I'm going home to bash them out……. .......I'm pleased to report the Loutro effect has not worn off and I'm writing away like crazy. ' ( writer-2018 ) |
Sept
18/19 - Sept 25/26 2021 Meet for Dinner - Sun Sept 19 - 8pm |
The writing of books is a complex process, and much thought is often expended before words take form on a page. Though solid work in progress is the norm for Review, first drafts may also be submitted for checking out the architecture of a project. See Tutored Retreats. |
||
|
Christopher Wakling - his seven novels include ESCAPE AND EVASION and WHAT I DID. He’s also co-written adventure stories for younger readers with Wilbur Smith, and is a longstanding tutor of creative writing for The Arvon Foundation and Curtis Brown Creative. He writes travel journalism as well. |
|
There are two components in this week's poetry schedule - regular 3 hour morning course sessions with Kathryn Maris (D-Vices), and pm appointments with Maurice Riordan for the high level professional reviewing of ten of your poems. It's intense and costs more - but it's worth it. And there will still be plenty of time to relax and enjoy. D-Vices : Have you ever felt, or been told, that you are writing poems the ‘wrong’ way? That you are using words that are too poetic, or you are overly attached to rhyme, or you aren’t concise enough, or you sound like you’re writing ‘chopped up prose’? Perhaps there is some truth to these criticisms, and perhaps you’ve been steered—with good intentions—towards different modes of writing. But could there be a way to make our vices into devices? Might we exploit our weaknesses as well as our strengths? Is it possible for weaknesses to become strengths? This course will encourage you to take stock of your poetic ‘vices’ and help you channel them towards an authentic, original voice. We will read and analyse classic and contemporary poems, engage in daily writing exercises and share poems in a ‘workshop’ format. |
||
|
Kathryn Maris
(Course) is an American-British poet and critic who has |
|
kathrynmaris.com |
|
![]() |
|
Maurice Riordan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Course Arrangements Course + Room (7nts) + Food (7days) = £725 - £850 per wk ( There may be minor increases to room and food costs when Loutro 2021 reopens ) |
Course Reservation : Please check availability by making contact at :
espiritaorguk@aol.com Flights should not be booked until your Course or Retreat availability has been confirmed Upon application, a £25 / $40 deposit ( non refundable ) per person is placed by various means - bank transfer, card or cheque. Writers arrive from their flights on Saturdays and Sundays and there is an orientation dinner on the Sunday evening. The writing courses run from Monday mornings to Friday afternoons, with ample free time outside the schedule. The writers eat together again during the week and then on the Friday evening - an invariably joyous occasion following a boat trip to a nearby bay for readings of course work, food, wine, moon, stars etc… The writers head for their return flights from the following Saturday morning onwards, the room changeover days being Saturdays and Sundays. |
Please click through to the Travel page for detailed travel information.
(to be updated for 2021)
|
Accommodation - We Reserve/You Pay - Rooms : E30-E40 (budget) / E40-E50 (standard) per nt. For personal privacy and individual creative space, all the writers are spread around the village in different houses, in separate ‘Greek Island style rooms’, simply appointed with sea view balconies, en suite bathrooms, towels &bedding provided. Upon Course reservation, we reserve a room for you, changeable on site by arrangement, which you pay for and manage on an independent traveller basis. Espirita does not offer the sharing of rooms by clients that do not know each other beforehand. Food - E20 - E30 per day - The various tavernas offer an extremely good level of cuisine with many vegetarian options, all at reasonable prices. The good food of Loutro begins with a rather popular gratis 'vegetarian feast' on the Sunday evening dinner of each week. |
*** |
Young Writer Discounts : Under 25yrs of age : £50 / 26yrs-29yrs : £25 A Fortnight’s Writing - The course dates and contents offer maximum flexibility for those staying for two weeks. You can choose between Poetry & Poetry, Writing & Writing, Poetry & Writing or Writing & Poetry. For those booking two consecutive courses, there is a £25 discount. With just one unscheduled day during the week, a one week Writing Course can be quite intense. But with 3-4 free days in a fortnight, attending two consecutive Courses feels more relaxed. Local Fees - final invoices add £12 for Local Fees which Espirita pays on your behalf - for the Writing Terrace fee and for the boat transfers to and from the Readings Dinner on Friday evenings Etc - Loutro still operates largely on a cash basis and clients should arrive with sufficient cash for the whole week . Those on a tight budget should bring a travelling kettle and basic utensils for drinks and light meals, but allow for eating out in the evenings: (E12-E15). A gift shop and some well stocked minimarkets provide fresh food, beach wear, basic commodities etc. Three or four stylish bars with laid back music offer a mellow starlit nightlife... Regrettably, the steep inclines and steps around the village are not appropriate for wheelchair use. Wifi works in the tavernas and cafes and there is a small Internet facility. Mobile phones cover most of Loutro most of the time, and are integral to on site communications. The crystal clear water and the sheltered bay of Loutro offer some of the best sea swimming conditions of anywhere in the world. Climate - Apart from an occasional windy cool day, there is a 90-95% chance of perfect weather with highs of 27-33°C in June. Evenings and nights can be cooler in early June, for which jackets, sweaters and scarves might be appropriate. |
' a very well executed week again……. I am deeply appreciative of what has been created for us. ' ( writer 2018 ) |
Espirita is an independent not for profit organisation |
|
|
|
For general viewing, for viewing whilst in Crete……… |