This episode I report from deep in the middle of teaching a writing retreat at Arvon's Totleigh Barton. Many issues about creative writing, developing your practice, and growing as a writer are on my mind, so I try to get down to some fundamental principles as they occur to me. This is an unscripted episode, where I have a go at getting to the bottom of a problem or topic and puzzle out what I think about it. At the time of recording, I was rereading Osip Mandelstam's JOURNEY TO ARMENIA, and also Dorothea Brande's BECOMING A WRITER, the first truly iconic creative writing manual, originally published in 1934. I felt pretty amazed and inspired by both, so I talk about - and read from - both texts. This is a great episode to listen to if you want to know: - the best way to build a sustainable writing practice - how to cultivate your imagination - how to silence your inner critic - a classic exercise to get through writers' block and stimulate ideas - how a writing retreat works Here's Dorothea Brande's bestselling classic, BECOMING A WRITER - I think it's brilliant. Reading it helped me loads: https://wordery.com/becoming-a-writer-dorothea-brande-9780874771640#oid=1908_1 Here's Osip Mandelstam's JOURNEY TO ARMENIA. It's so good: https://wordery.com/journey-to-armenia-osip-mandelstam-9781907903472#oid=1908_1 Have you bought my novel, THE HONOURS, yet? You'd be doing me a great favour if you did: https://wordery.com/the-honours-tim-clare-9781782114765#oid=1908_1 Finally, if you'd like to help out the podcast, I have a coffee page where you can bung me a few quid to help keep the lights on. Every little is appreciated: ko-fi.com/timclare