Word house

Word House is two-time PM's-Literary-Award winner Cath Crowley (Words in Deep Blue, Take Three Girls) and editor and writer Alison Arnold. Together we run retreats about creative wellbeing and occasional workshops.

'I did your workshop at a crucial stage in rewriting All That Impossible Space – many of the techniques I still use all the time. Thank you again for sharing your wisdom.' Anna Morgan

We say goodbye to the Lake House and hello to Carrington House

Our third retreat is finished! Walks around a misty lake, the Lake House as venue for a (fictional) Agatha-Christie-style murder mystery, nine ace women at all different stages of their writing lives, a glorious guided meditation in which we all nearly fell asleep, so many laughs, discussions about writing and creativity. Hats and pipes.

Next retreat: Carrington House, Daylesford, May 2020

Day pass
$1400

Inclusions:

  • Three half-day sessions with Cath and Ali
    Day 1, afternoon
    Day 2, morning
    Day 3, morning

  • All tuition and materials

  • A solo conversation with Ali and Cath about your project, writing, creative life.

  • The lovely Pavilion Room to write in on the afternoon of Day 2 and Day 3.

  • The Lake House grounds: six acres of garden sloping down to the lake—gorgeous.

  • Food
    Day 1: lunch, afternoon tea

    Day 2: morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea to take away with you

    Day 3: morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea to take away with you

  • All coffee and tea while working, homemade biscuits and juice

  • A massage or facial at the award-winning Salus Spa

  • A creative care package


    Exclusions: accommodation, breakfast, dinner

Previous workshop series

Workshops
find your way

A day with award-winning author Cath Crowley and The Rosie Project editor Alison Arnold. We will help you find your way (or find your way back) to your writing project through a series of
writing exercises and conversations about creativity, getting unstuck, and the writer’s life.

• Connect with other writers (published and emerging)
• Hone your craft through exercises that compel you to think and write differently
• Eat a delicious morning and afternoon tea
• Access the different working styles and knowledge bases of two practitioners.

BUNINYONG AND MORNINGTON FEEDBACK

'Special thanks to Alison Arnold and Cath Crowley for a fabulous writing workshop yesterday.'

'I went away VERY inspired and have already put some of your tips into practice.'

'I highly recommend it. It was a great and inspiring day. Left with with some writing games and tricks to help me along with nanowrmo.'

‘Very friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Nice flowers. Dual hosting for opinions, expertise and what works.’

‘Great value. Well done—
you were both fantastic.’

'I highly recommend it.
I had a great time.'

‘Pitched to ‘serious’ writers, a higher level than what is offered at
Writers Vic.’

‘Thank you so much for organising. This has been just what I needed to get back into writing.’

‘Amazing! Thanks for the nurturing!’

‘Some great writing activities for getting out of the rut and moving away from cliches. Very inspiring.
Loved it all.’ 


BALLARAT WRITERS FESTIVAL WORKSHOP

A set of exercises that built a larger piece over a fast two hours. Talented writers, as we keep finding. And a lot of fun. Forgot to take photos.

Loved this workshop. I take a long time to reflect on things. I thought I would not be able to write anything because I wouldn’t have enough time. You are both so clever! I managed to write. Thanks. It was liberating, creative, informative and instructional. I go home with so much. P.S. Ballarat Writers Festival was wonderful.—AB

Thank you…Much good information and also chatty/friendly.—KS

Excellent, thank you for a great afternoon. Loved the vertical/lateral thinking.—KQ

Very inspiring. A good mix of both practical and creative techniques.—BV 

Great tips and activities. I loved hearing from an author and an editor. I would have loved to have heard more about how you structure an entire story in the planning phase. Thank you.

I loved the hands-on approach of actually having to write, mixed with advice of how to write it. I am feeling more confident about character. Also loved the initial activity of making time…important to remember!—NK

Thank you so much. I thoroughly enjoyed this workshop and it has given me some very useful tools to help improve my writing. Wish it could have been longer!—LG

I found it a great ‘crash course’ on finding inspiration—hopefully the starting point I need to get back into my writing. Makes me keen to do a whole day course. The character development and asking ‘Why is the character there?’ in your work was the most valuable part to me. I’ve never seriously questioned it, but it’s so important!’—A

This was my very first writers workshop (usually an avid writers festival goer) and I had never written anything since high school or thought of plot/character development. Today was about dipping my toe in to see if I could get the confidence to write. Thank you for the tips and useful advice. Thank you for a very informative session for a complete beginner.—VL

Cath Crowley, far left, Buninyong workshop

 

One of my favourite lines of all time. 'The wind is a live, starving thing.' Maggie Stiefvater

Me, far right, with three talented writers from the Mornington Peninsula