Creative Writing Workshop dates in 2026 to be confirmed:
- Creative Writing Cocktails- Short story and poetry workshop to stir up your creativity.
- Transforming the lives of lesser known fiction writers from Devon into historical fiction.
Talks for 2026:
Monday 13th of July at the Wharf in Tavistock enquiries@tavistockwharf.com Title: More stories about the lives of Tamar Valley and Tavistock and District Miners and their families in the 19th and early 20th century (Revisiting the family histories and anecdotes shared with Jo Selman and Vanni (Myfanwy Cook) when carrying out research for the Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project Report (TVMHP)Phase 1 in 2007/2008 and Phase 2 in 2011/2012 (TV01005560) on behalf of Barry Gamble of the TVMHP).
Workshop details for 2025 – Monday August the 4th at Newton Abbot Museum and Friday September 26th at Tavistock Library.
Examples of feedback on three workshops on this topic:
“This was very informative and have gained by doing this workshop and have had fun putting my brain into writing gear again. (T.R.)
“Very interesting and focused workshop. Inspired to write.”
“Thank you very much for a very stimulating afternoon. I particularly liked the practical exercises and it encouraged me to get writing.” (A.L.)
“This was a great workshop. I learnt a lot about the practical process and really enjoyed the writing exercises. A lttle longer would have been useful! A great jumping off point for a future project I have in mind.” (B.B.)
Contact details for Newton Abbot Museum: Newton Abbot Museum is located at Newton’s Place, Wolborough Street, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 1JQ. You can contact them by phone at 01626 201121 or by email at museum@newtonabbot-tc.gov.uk
Contact details for Tavistock Library: Tavistock Library can be reached by phone at 01822 612218 or by email at tavistock.library@librariesunlimited.org.uk. The library is located at The Quay, Plymouth Road, Tavistock, Devon PL19 8AB.
Evaluations for the workshop on Sabine Baring-Gould at Tavistock Subscription Library
“Very Good. Learnt a lot. Excellent as always.”
“Through, Fascinating, inspiring!”
“This was a very well prepared and stimulating workshop. Thank you. I’ve taken a lot of new ideas away which will be invaluable for the competition as well as creativity writing activity. What a fascinating subject.”
Tavistock Subscription Library will be hosting another opportunity to take part in:
Sabine Baring-Gould’s sash
A short story workshop based on the writing of Sabine Baring-Gould OC177263 following the workshop at Tavistock Library which sold out.
Venue: Tavistock Subscription Library, Court Gate, Tavistock, Devon, PL19 OAE
https://tavistocksublib.slls.online/
Date: Tuesday the 17th of October, 2023.
Time: 10am to 12.30.
Booking is highly recommend as the number of participants is limited to 7, because of he size of the venue.
To find out more email: tavistock.subslib@gmail.com
A short story workshop based on the writing of Sabine Baring-Gould (2-4pm). Friday September the 1st (2023)
Email: <tavistock.library@librariesunlimited.org.uk>
For details please see: <www.facebook.com/tavistock library> or call 01822 612218
Making Memoirs Memorable – Friday the 5th of May, Tavistock Library (Tavistock Festival)
A creative writing workshop. Post workshop evaluation comments:
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Feel re-inspired. Thank you so much. It’s been enlightening afternoon – just like old times! Hope to do many more of these afternoons. Viv
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Very interactive and ‘hands on” on session, investigating the ‘process’ of writing memoirs.
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Thank you, I’ve learnt a lot about writing my memoir. Many good ideas for publishing works. L.J.
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Really enjoyable and educational workshop.
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Great Session. Thank you.
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Excellent workshop. Slightly surprised as not expecting memoirs – but fun and informative.
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Really thought-provoking session by Vanni. Wasn’t advertised as a memoir session in the Moorland Times, but really enjoyable. Thank you! S.B.
Tavistock at War – Writing historical fiction based around Tavistock and those who lived or were stationed in the area during the Second World War, is the theme of a one day workshop at Tavistock Subscription Library. This workshop will be a fund raiser for the Subscription Library. Postponed.
TSL-2022_08-Summer-Newsletter.pdf
https://www.independentlibraries.co.uk/tavistock-subscription-libraryhttps://www.tavistockhistory.co.uk/single-post/2017/08/14/tavistock-subscription-library
Dancing with Words (inspired by Music) Tavistock Festival Poetry Workshop. Saturday the 7th of May <tavistock.library@librariesunlimited.org.uk>
Evaluations:
Great fun, most enjoyable. (B.B.)
A novel and enjoyable approach. (C.B.)
Very interesting and informative workshop the two hours passed very quickly. (K.H.)
Great stuff, Myfanwy! (F.W.)
For details of a series of Historical fiction writing workshops based on the lives of women writers associated with Tavistock to raise funds for Tavistock Subscription Library<https://tavistocksubscriptionlibrary.co.uk/> see the PDF file below: Writing Workshops 2022 (1) (1)
Evaluations from the February 2022 series of three historical fiction workshops at Tavistock Subscription Library
“Absolutely excellent. Much useful information and background. Very interesting. A lot of fun.” (Mr.M.S.)
“Very interesting stimulating course. Lots of good advice and really inspiring. Would come to another course by Myfanwy (Vanni).” (A.S.)
“Inspiration, methods and the encouragement to write. Most definitely take part in another workshop.” (V.P.L.)
” A fantastic series of workshops. The work on dialogue alone has taught me things that I’ll always remember.” (Mr.D.H.)
Feedback from the Classic Crime Fiction Writing Workshop – Agatha visits Tavistock Library -Thursday the 21st of October, 2021:
“Excellent – more please!” (H.H.)
“Interesting, inspiring and great fun – as always!” (S.O.)
“Another great workshop! Fun and inspirational!”(D.H.)
Feedback back from previous workshops:
‘Going Gothic – A creative Gothic writing short fiction workshop inspired by music and songs with a Gothic edge’ such as Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique (1830), Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain (1867) Kate Bush, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Trad-Goth music’.
Feedback from creative participants who attended this workshop:
“Inspiring Workshop! Could there be a sequel?”
“A great workshop. I had a wonderful time and went away with all sorts of ideas to explore. Amazing to fit so much great stuff into just two hours. Thank you, Myfanwy.”
“Excellent workshop, very informative. Interesting the use of music with the rhythm of writing Gothic material.”
“Thank you- inspiring 2 hours. Choice of music good basis. Is constant beat of popular music consistent with rush (horror) of modern life = Gothic tale?”
“As fascinating, enlightening and motivating as ever- thank you Vanni (Myfanwy)”
Endorsements from the past
Making Memoirs Memorable – Friday the 5th of May, Tavistock Library (Tavistock Festival)
- Feel re-inspired. Thank you so much. It’s been enlightening afternoon – just like old times! Hope to do many more of these afternoons. Viv
- Very interactive and ‘hands on” on session, investigating the ‘process’ of writing memoirs.
- Thank you, I’ve learnt a lot about writing my memoir. Many good ideas for publishing works. L.J.
- Really enjoyable and educational workshop.
- Great Session. Thank you.
- Excellent workshop. Slightly surprised as not expecting memoirs – but fun and informative.
- Really thought-provoking session by Vanni. Wasn’t advertised as a memoir session in the Moorland Times, but really enjoyable. Thank you! S.B.
Evaluations from the February 2022 series of three historical fiction workshops at Tavistock Subscription Library
“Absolutely excellent. Much useful information and background. Very interesting. A lot of fun.” (Mr.M.S.)
“Very interesting stimulating course. Lots of good advice and really inspiring. Would come to another course by Myfanwy (Vanni).” (A.S.)
“Inspiration, methods and the encouragement to write. Most definitely take part in another workshop.” (V.P.L.)
” A fantastic series of workshops. The work on dialogue alone has taught me things that I’ll always remember.” (Mr.D.H.)
2021
“Exellent – more please!” (Agatha Christie Visits Tavistock- Classic Crime fiction Writing, (10/21) H.H.
“Another great workshop! Fun and inspirational as always.” (Agatha Christie Visits Tavistock- Classic Crime fiction Writing, (10/21) D.H.
“Stunning workshop. Thank you! (Gothic Creative Writing Fiction Workshop, Passmore Library, Newton Abbot, 2019)
“Sparked, many, many ideas. A great workshop, thank you.” (Gothic Creative Writing Fiction Workshop, Passmore Library, Newton Abbot, 2019)
“Really interesting and inspiring!” (Gothic Creative Writing Fiction Workshop, Passmore Library, Newton Abbot, 2019)
“I discovered I could ‘write’ + an interest in doing more local research” (A Biographical Historical Fiction Workshop Totnes, Devon – People and Places, Totnes 2019)
“Thank you for being a brilliant provider and making the sessions really engaging.” (2018, 4th Year, University student)
“Great fun, good pace and learning with loads of ideas.” (Creating Fantasy Fiction from Dartmoor Myths and Legends workshop, 2018)
“Stimulating, informative and fun! In other words, typically, Myfanwy!” (Creating Fantasy Fiction from Dartmoor Myths and Legends workshop, 2018)
“A practical and inspiring workshop.” (Creating Fantasy Fiction from Dartmoor Myths and Legends workshop, 2018)
“Myfanwy was as powerful and inspiring workshop leader as ever. The experience was brilliant! “(JD) Writing Rumba, November 2017
“Myfanwy was a stimulating, enthusiastic, challenging and encouraging workshop leader. For me the experience feels like a beginning.” (CT) Writing Rumba, November 2017
“Excellent and encouraging. Great fun and an insight into writing and how books are written Good books!”(KS) Writing Rumba, November 2017
“Excellent and it encouraged me to write pieces that I never would have dreamed I could.” (A.M) Writing Rumba, November 2017
“Excellent! I learnt a lot.” (PS) Writing Rumba, November 2017
“Inspiring and full of great ideas.” (CT) Writing Rumba, November 2017
“10/10 – Absolutely wonderful! So much fun and interesting.” (DP) Writing Rumba, November 2017
“Fabulous! A very enjoyable and informative day.” (TC) Writing Rumba, November 2017
‘Extremely helpful and very interesting. Now inspired to go away and put pen to paper with more confidence! More please!’ (AH) (Cullompton Library https://twitter.com/hayridge?lang=en Workshops September 2017)
‘Excellent I’ve done lots of these. This is by far the best.’ (AD) (Cullompton Library https://twitter.com/hayridge?lang=en Workshops September 2017)
“Fabulous, informative, well-structured. Lots of useful tips and ideas.” (T. M-B,Brunswick Wharf Historical Fiction Workshop for http://www.bbcdevon.org 2017)
“Excellent! Really got my ideas flowing.” (F.S. Brunswick Wharf Historical Fiction Workshop for http://www.bbcdevon.org 2017)
“Another excellent session. Well presented and had an amazing variety of activities.” (J.F., Brunswick Wharf Historical Fiction Workshop for http://www.bbcdevon.org 2017)
“An Excellent workshop, full of inspiring ideas. Thanks!” (R.B., A Poetry and Prose Extravaganza, Tavistock Festival, https://www.bedford-hotel.co.uk/tavistock-festival/ 2017)
“This was a very well-structured, action packed course. Good fun and instructive throughout. The best course of any kind that I’ve ever been a participant in! Thank you.” (L. H., Evaluation of the 12 week Writing for Publication Course, run on behalf of Riverside Creative Projects)
“Time objectives, got me moving – got me realising I can write and I did – and I will – fired me up, energised me and gave me lots of tools to work with.” Writing Rumba (A. F-W)
“Myfanwy (Vanni) triumphs again! Her new editing workshop is brimful of skills, insights, gems to motivate, creative exercises and tips that will spill over into my professional business writing and personal creative writing .” (J. D.)
“Really enjoyed this! Liked the way it gave structure and practical advice. Learnt a lot. Really wished we had longer!” (E. S., Just One Kiss – Romantic short fiction workshop,The Watermark Library, Ivybridge)
“A superb workshop packing lots of information and exercises into a short period. I have learned a huge amount considering the length of the workshop. It was also fun, an important element in any course” (P.W., Blenheim Palace Friends, Workshop, http://www.blenheimpalace.com/)
“Thank you- so inspiring. Covered a lot of ground- with lots and lots to work on” (R.W., Blenheim Palace Friends, Workshop)
“Fanatastic! V-informative , engrossing and fun.” The John Taylor – Canals, Copper and Historical Fiction Workshop, (L. P. former editor of Artists & Illustrators magazine, The John Taylor – Canals, Copper and Historical Fiction Workshop)
“Brilliant! Excellent content, preparation and delivery. Thoroughly enjoyed it and very useful.” (E.C)The John Taylor – Canals, Copper and Historical Fiction Workshop)
“Informative, inspirational and a solid grounding for a work of creativity.” (C.H.The John Taylor – Canals, Copper and Historical Fiction Workshop)
“Really, so exciting you passed on your passion” (P.A.M., Historical Fiction Writing workshop, Museum of Oxford, http://www.museumofoxford.org.uk)
“Immediately inspiring, encouraging throughout – despite limited time – directions, methods and ideas raised were made perfectly clear -to work on, thank you!” (P.B., Museum of Oxford, http://www.museumofoxford.org.uk
“An inspiring and informative workshop, thanks. Vanni (Myfanwy) is passionate and made the subject accessible and interesting. Glad to have a handout. I am leaving feeling inspired and hopefully energised! “(J.C. Writing for Children Workshop
