I am again leading a writing course on the beautiful Greek island of Lesbos from 5-12 September 2026.
The beautiful village of Sigri
At dawn, the sun creeps across the waves, painting the ancient stones of the Ottoman castle a ruddy orange. Early-rising bathers wade into the gently shelving water of the sandy beach. After a swim, it’s a ten-minute walk to the bakery for fresh pastries, past historic drinking fountains and blue-and-white painted village houses.
2025 at the “Sigri Arts Retreat” writing workshop
Finding your perfect Greek village is a matter of taste. But Sigri, a hamlet on the westernmost tip of the island of Lesbos, is one of the most beautiful, remote spots I’ve visited. A single road connects it to the rest of the island. Sigri seems to abound in excellent, good-value restaurants. Another nearby beach features a grand sweep of sand, a chapel hewn from a cliff, and a bar called “The End”, complete with rusting antique vehicles and a classic rock soundtrack.
A tractor at “The End”
Sigri is also home to the painting and writing workshops of the Sigri Arts retreat . I’m leading a writing course there from 5-12 September 2026 – see “Workshops and Pricing”.
How a writing course can help
Have you ever tried writing something? Many people dream of crafting a novel or a memoir. But what are the basic building blocks of writing? What are the pitfalls? How do you get started? How do you keep going?
A Sigri Arts Retreat group by the water’s edge in Sigri
Over decades of writing, I’ve concluded that other people are a key to progress. Writing is often seen as a solitary occupation. But too much isolation can be counter-productive. Meeting other writers and exchanging ideas can turbo-charge your creativity and motivation. A writing course offers opportunities to explore technique and discuss the experience of others in a new environment. All this helps move projects forward.
Plus – a bonus – a writing course can be in a stimulating environment – from the remote country houses of Arvon writing courses to sun-kissed Greek islands.
My writing course: how to write and publish a novel
My writing course “How to write and publish a novel” will take place from 5-12 September 2026 in Sigri. Full details, bookings etc are at the Sigri Arts Retreat. The view of the sea at the link is from the bedroom where I stayed when I visited Sigri in 2025 – not sure I’ll ever stay in a more perfect space. You can see my course under “Workshops“.
Places on the writing course are limited. We have fun, interactive sessions with plenty of feedback on participants’ work and practical advice, including on the opportunities and pitfalls of finding an agent or publisher and the road to publication. Prices include tuition, 7 nights’ accommodation and a welcome dinner. The header pic on this post is sunset on the main beach, looking towards the castle. The one below shows a chilled beer (and plenty of water) at “The End”.
The beach at “The End” is about 50 minutes’ walk from Sigri
Joining a writing course: what to do next
If you think a writing course (or an art workshop) in Sigri might be for you, drop me a line and I’ll put you in touch with the Sigri Arts Retreat team. Interacting with other writers in a beautiful, relaxing place? What’s not to like?
Sheep by the water on a walk from Sigri
3 responses
I’m currently working on my 2nd draft of my 1st novel. Happy to send synopsis if you’re interested – it’s a murder mystery, set in Oxford, based on Hamlet, but all is not what it seems, madam. I thought I’d ‘done’ Lesbos, but seems I was wrong! Could be free this September. Please give me costs and accommodation details.
Ehpharisto polli!
PS having a glitch with my website but can let you know when it’s been resurrected.
Dear Paul,
That sounds terrific! Lesbos is superb, and I really enjoyed my week-long holiday last year in Sigri, coincidentally staying in the same lovely (simple but fantastic location) accommodation you stay in on the course. The novel sounds great! I’m working flat out on a writing tour at the moment, but happy to look at the synopsis when the course comes along, if you decide to come. And of course we can work on elements of the novel on the course, if you want to do that. NB in addition to my course, which is fairly holistic, Cindy, the lead tutor and course organiser, also does an “Advanced fiction workshop”.
I should say that I’m “just” the tutor for the How to write and publish a novel course. For more info, you can contact them via the Sigri Arts retreat website embedded in the post. Their website is here: https://www.sigriartsretreat.com/ and their “workshops/pricing” page is here. https://www.sigriartsretreat.com/ There’s also a form you can fill in to ask them questions. Hope to have you along! Can’t wait to get back to Sigri.
Leigh Turner
Sorry, the second link should be https://www.sigriartsretreat.com/workshops-pricing. Cheers.