The Christopher Hope Writers' Workshop

Friday 18 - Sunday 20 May 2012

Renowned author, Christopher Hope, will be running a workshop in the idyllic village of Greyton, set at the foot of the Sonderend Mountains in the Overberg. It has been planned to co-incide with the Franschhoek Literary Festival. Christopher has given workshops in Ireland, Greece, Switzerland and at the writing school at UCT, Cape Town

Over the four days, the workshop will comprise of morning and afternoon sessions and will include the craft of putting words on paper, a close look at aspects of the writer’s craft: story telling; the way the novel works; how and why short stories entrance and fascinate.

Christopher has given workshops in Ireland, Greece, Switzerland and at the writing school at UCT, Cape Town

"Best workshop of any sort I have ever attended"


The Writers’ Workshop will be an intense but friendly and very concentrated look at what it takes to be a writer: what it means to shape, fashion words, sentences and paragraphs. How do stories work, and why? What makes for a distinctive style?

Says Christopher: "All aspects of the writers’ trade interest me, the very hard choices that face a writer are very real to me, and I’d like to try to pass on something of what I’ve learnt. And the best way of doing that. I believe, is in a peaceful place, among like-minded colleagues, far, far away from the madding crowd.”

"four wonderful days with some of the most textured
and interesting people I have met in a long time."


The Writers’ Workshop will take place, in Greyton – an ideal haven for those who want a good quiet place to meet, talk and think about writing. It will last four days and will be made up of morning and afternoon sessions and it is open to anyone who has written and published, or wants to do either. It is for anyone who shares Christopher’s delight in the power of words , the patterns of stories and the genius of good writing in novels, short stories and essays .

“Over four days we will talk about the craft of putting words on paper, and take a close look at aspects of the writer’s craft: story telling; the way the novel works; how and why short stories entrance and fascinate. We will also consider the practical sides of a writing life: getting work ready for submission; the way publishers operate; what agents want; how editors see their books; and what to do about reviews and rejections,” says Christopher.

Places at the Workshop will be limited

Places at the Writer’s Worskshop will be limited to give everyone a chance to show their work, and see that of others, in a collegial fashion.

We have endeavoured to keep the costs low, by negotiating a very favourable package. This will include your accommodation from Sunday night through to Wednesday night. The workshop will be held on three days – from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 May 2012, arriving on Thursday afternoon 17 May, and departure on Sunday afternoon (if necessary!) or Monday morning. Allow yourself some leeway - no-one wants to leave Greyton on a Sunday afternoon!

Christopher Hope:

Born in Johannesburg, he holds degrees from the Universities of Natal and Witwatersrand. His has written in various forms: novels, stories, poems, and essays, as well as reviews for the Guardian, stories for BBC radio, travel essays, and television documentaries for BBC TV.

His novels include: Serenity House, shortlisted for the the Booker Prize, Kruger's Alp, winner of the Whitbread Prize and, most recently, My Mother's Lovers
(2006). He founded the Franschhoek Literary Festival in 2007, and he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He lives in France.

Testimonials from previous workshops...

The price of R2 200 includes the workshop, materials, lunches and morning and afternoon teas.

If you would like to include accommodation in your own luxurious room the price will be an additional R2 450

To make a booking please contact Leoné Rouillard at

082 3800 640
or
028 254 9882
or
email leoner@mweb.co.za

For more information on Greyton click here.