Gosh, it’s ages since I wrote a blog, and I have been meaning to tell you about the Dunford Novelists for a while.
This is my all time favourite writing conference. Two reasons: one, it’s at the end of January – and looking forward to it livens up that flat ‘after Christmas’ feeling no end – and two, it’s a working writer’s conference. Moi? workaholic? Well, of course!
I was first introduced to Dunford about 12 or so years ago. It runs from Friday tea time to Sunday just after lunch and it’s one of the most intensive things I’ve ever done. Basically it’s all about getting the first chapter – and indeed the first page – of your novel as spectacular as possible. Because if you don’t do this, the rest of it might never be read.
You take along your first chapter – four copies of it to be precise – and throughout the weekend you get written feedback from the other delegates, a mix of published and yet to be published novelists. You also read your first chapter aloud to your group (6 people) and get comprehensive verbal feedback. You also read your first page aloud to the entire assembly (36 people) and get verbal feedback.
It’s scary. Very, very scary. But it doesn’t half focus your attention on your first chapter. And your first page. I love it, love it, love it!
Dunford is chaired by best selling novelist, Catherine King.
It is however, invitation only, but I happen to know that there are one or two places left for this year’s conference because of last minute cancellations.
It costs £201 for the weekend, and is in Bournemouth on 25-27 January.
If you fancy subjecting your first chapter to intense scrutiny and having a rather fine time socialising too, then get in touch with me and I’ll see if I can wrangle you an invite 🙂
It’s invitation only,
If I wasn’t already going, I’d say, yes please invite me! This will be my second year and I agree, it’s a great weekend for writers. Am very much looking forward to it again.
I’m really looking forward to to it too 🙂