Last places available!
We are delighted to announce another retreat from one of our sellout tutors, prolific author and excellent mentor, Janet Gover. Places are already selling quickly – please get in touch as soon as you can.
Tue 7 July 2026 (4 nights)
£809
‘Polish your novel’ course with one of our top novel tutors, Janet Gover
The End is just the beginning: finishing your novel and finding your readers
This course is aimed at new writers who have finished (or almost finished) a book and want to get it out into the world and at published writers who wish to give their writing career a lift, or take it in a new direction.
Submit work for appraisal and each attendee will have one to one time with Janet, to help you find the heart of your story and prepare it for readers.
Plus there’ll be plenty of writing time, and a chance to talk about books and writing with the only other people who truly understand – other writers.
Tuesday: Arrive 2 pm, in time for afternoon tea. After meeting everyone, there’s time to settle in before the welcome dinner and a getting to know each other chat around the fire.
Wednesday: Morning Session: 9:30-11:00: Finding the best words – that final polish. Using themes and imagery.
Afternoon Session: 2:00-3:30: The first 100 words sell this book. The last 100 words sell the next book. These are the last words you’ll write – then STOP.
Outside the sessions, work on your novel or spend one to one time with Janet.
Evening discussion of all things writerly – let Janet know if you have specific topics you want to talk about.
Thursday: Morning Session: 9.30-11:00: Working with an editor – the dreaded revision letter and publisher edits. When to change the book and when to say no.
Afternoon Session: 2:00-3:30: Working with agents and publishers. What to expect from them and what they will expect from you.
Evening discussion of all things writerly.
Friday: Morning Session: 9:30-11:00: Finding readers – publicity, social media and personal appearances.
Afternoon Session: 9:30-11:00: Staring the difficult 2nd (or 3rd or 10th ) novel. Handling rejection, success and deadlines. Writing as a job rather than just for enjoyment.
Evening discussion of all things writerly.
Saturday: Depart late morning, and follow-up with Janet as appropriate.
A message from Janet:
Hi everyone,
This is just a quick note to say thank you for your enthusiasm and hard work and good company during the writing retreat. I had a great time working with you all, and I hope you took a lot of useful information home with you.
This is a sneaky heads-up for next year… I am going to be doing a follow-up course in July – Tuesday 7th to Saturday 11th 2026.
This course is designed for people who have finished, or nearly finished a book and are ready to get that final polish done and send it out into the world. The topics will include :
- The all important first 100 words
- The first 500 words are the last you’ll write
- Finding the best words – dialogue and narrative, themes and imagery and when to stop
- Working with an agent, editor and publisher
- Writing a blurb and other selling ideas
- Finding readers – publicity, social media and personal appearances
- Handling rejection and success
- Starting the difficult next novel
Plus of course everyone will have a one-to-one session with me again.
Debbie and I are still putting the finishing touches on it, but if you are interested in reserving a space, particularly if you want a particular room, drop Debbie a message now and she can pencil you in before we make the course public.
In the meantime – happy writing!
Janet Gover
Your stay at Retreats for You
You will arrive on Tuesday early afternoon and have workshops every day, plus a one-to-one – itinerary to follow. Leave Saturday morning, OR SPECIAL OFFER: ask Debbie about a self catering price to stay on on the Saturday night and make a weekend of it – your partner may be welcome to join you at that stage. Just enquire!
Your retreat includes four full nights in your own cozy room, with comfortable beds, tea and coffee making facilities, dressing gown, fluffy towels, shared bathroom unless you go for the one of the two ensuite bedrooms – they always go first (supplement). All meals included, afternoon tea/coffee/cake, wine with two course supper. Great broadband, mini home gym, wonderful countryside walks, and that dash of magic that only retreats for you can bring! This is Janet’s first summertime retreat so hopefully you’ll get some time to spend in our lovely courtyard or our enclosed wall back garden which has a little summer house. Any other queries please email Debbie or WhatsApp her on the usual number (please see elsewhere on the website).
Any other queries for Janet please check out her website as well.
www.janetgover.com
www.fictiontutors.co.uk
Follow Janet Gover here:
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More about Janet
Janet Gover is an international award-winning and best-selling author of 18 women’s fiction and romantic novels. A former television Journalist and producer, she grew up in rural Australia, surrounded by wide open spaces, horses and many, many books.
Her novel “The Library at Wagtail Ridge” won the Romance Writers of Australia Romantic Book of the Year. Another of her books, “Little Girl Lost” won the Epic Romantic Novel of the Year Award presented by the Romantic Novelists’ Association in the UK. Her small-town novels have also won or been shortlisted for multiple awards in the USA.
As Juliet Bell, in collaboration with Alison May, she rewrites misunderstood classic fiction, with an emphasis on heroes who are not so heroic.
Janet spent four years as coordinator of the highly regarded RNA New Writers Scheme. She is also a founder member of Fiction Tutors, which offers a range of tutoring and mentoring services to writers. Janet has always been a teacher, from pony clubs to universities to helping a friend learn to knit.
Janet lives in London with her husband and a very fluffy cat. She spends too much of her spare time playing silly computer games, and knitting in front of the latest thriller movies.
Janet’s latest book is available from 30th December 2025:
