There comes a point when the art of writing simply cannot flourish in the middle of an urban chaos. Especially, if you are waiting to get your hands on completing that book you started but never finished, or connecting pieces of the memoir that aren’t hitting the right spot. Sometimes inspiration just isn’t enough and what can become a death sentence to even the greatest work of literature, is a lack of skill. In such circumstances, an urge to get away for a few days begins to surface; clear the mental fog, prompt creative and well-written lines. So if you are looking to pack up and find yourself a new space to fuel your creativity, you needn’t look too far.
The Bound Writers’ Retreat, a residential writing programme hosted on Divar Island – a quaint islet in North Goa will welcome writers from all walks of life this March. The 5-day retreat will take place at Island House, a 200-year-old Portuguese villa nestled between trees and surrounded by the blue waters of the Mandovi river. While such serenity is sure to recuperate your creative forces, experts will also guide the residents in the art of storytelling. From character creation, narrative building, individual interactions with mentors to group feedback sessions – this retreat aims to forge lifelong connections between passionate writers.
The retreat is the brainchild of writer and editor Tara Khandelwal, who has previously also conceptualised Paper House – a Himalayan writers’ retreat, which featured mentors like Sahitya Akademi award-winner Janice Pariat, novelist and spoken-word artist Priyanka Menon and the co-founder of Terribly Tiny Tales Chintan Ruparel. This year, the experts that will help writers hone their craft are Tashan Mehta, Chandrahas Choudhary and founder Tara Khandelwal. Mehta’s debut novel, The Liar’s Weave, was published in 2017 and has been shortlisted for the Prabha Khaitan’s Woman’s Voice Award, while Choudhury’s books have been critically acclaimed in publications like the National, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times.
With a landscape dotted with old colonial churches, tree-lined cycling trails and gorgeous sunsets, the Bound Writer’s Retreat is where you are likely to rekindle your drooped literary senses. So if you are looking to reconnect with your manuscript or even begin a new one we recommend you send in your application to the retreat soon!
Dates: February 27 to March 3, 2019
For more details on the retreat and to apply click here.
If you liked this article, we suggest you read: