Creative Writing Weekend with Shane Strachan @ Howe of Torbeg

Take some time out to work on your writing in peaceful surroundings at Howe of Torbeg in the Cairngorms National Park, with author Shane Strachan. 

Across this residential weekend, we’ll take inspiration from the beautiful landscapes at Howe of Torbeg to work on a piece of short fiction alongside other inspiring writing exercises. As well as guided group workshop sessions, you will have the opportunity to share your own fiction in advance of the weekend with Shane and receive feedback on this and/or discuss a new piece you’re working on in a tailored 1-1 session. 

Full schedule details for the weekend can be found below. There are a maximum of 10 places available.

The weekend is fully catered (vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as workshop refreshments), with accommodation in one of our unique and cosy Glamping Pods or our Shepherd’s Hut. Writing workshops will take place in the Wee Studio at Howe of Torbeg, as well as out in the landscape, and in our communal cabin The Snug, beside a roaring fire.

Shane Strachan is a writer and performer based in Aberdeen. He completed a short fiction collection focused on Northeast fishing communities as part of a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Aberdeen; these stories have appeared in Gutter, Stand, The Interpreter’s House, New Writing Scotland and several other national publications. Recent projects include ’The Shelter’, a theatre show inspired by real bus conversations in Aberdeen developed with the National Theatre of Scotland, and multiple projects inspired by Aberdeenshire farm boy turned fashion designer Bill Gibb, for which he was awarded a 2018 Scottish Book Trust Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship.

Full Schedule for the weekend:

Friday 13th December

3pm - Arrive at Howe of Torbeg, get settled

4:30pm - Introductions and readings with Shane by the fire in The Snug, our communal log cabin space

7pm - Dinner in The Wee Studio, with fires outside afterwards if weather allows, or in The Snug if it doesn't!

Saturday 14th December

9am - Glamping Breakfast, either in own accommodation or in The Snug (your choice)

10am-12:30pm - Writing Workshop with Shane Strachan

12:30-1:30pm - Lunch

Afternoon dedicated to writing time, and 1-1 sessions with Shane. 

7pm - Dinner in The Wee Studio, or outside if weather allows

Sunday 15th December

9am - Glamping Breakfast, either in own accommodation or in The Snug (your choice)

10am-12:30pm - Writing Workshop with Shane Strachan

12:30-1:30pm - Lunch

Afternoon either writing time, 1-1's with Shane, or guided walking, depending on group preference

5pm - Depart

*The Snug and The Wee Studio will be available for use throughout the weekend, as well as your accommodation.

**There will be some guided walking in Glen Gairn during the weekend, so please bring some sturdy footwear as well as warm and waterproof clothing, and something you can carry drinking water in, as well of course as a notebook!