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Three days into the new year … time to make concrete plans for how we will fill our diaries, how we will direct our energies going forward.

I have lots to look forward to and hope you will join me along the way.

Wednesday 7 January: Talking Shop with Jason Mann

Jason H Mann

The Talking Shop group meet quarterly via Zoom to discuss the pros and cons of self-publishing and to share experiences to date. And we keep in touch with each other between times  in the Talking Shop space on the RedPen Path forum. Everyone is welcome to join us …

Our guest on 7 January will be JH Mann, award winning author of Hidden Depths and The Echoing Shore, both set in Cornwall. His third novel, Silver Tide, was published in August 2025. Jason will share with us the decisions he made about publishing and marketing: setting up his own imprint DARK SPIDER BOOKS and using social media (TikTok) to secure thousands of sales.

Click HERE to book your place. Once your payment has been processed, you will receive an email with a link to join the meeting.

Wednesday 14 January: Wednesday Writers Online with Kerry Hadley

Hosted by Anne Rainbow, these creative writing workshop sessions will be presented by Kerry Hadley-Pryce. Each Zoom session starts  a few minutes of free writing to clear our minds. Then we move into a slide presentation led by Kerry, interspersed with writing activities. After each activity, there may be a sharing of what we wrote and/or our experience in the writing process. All activities lead to a single piece of writing which everyone is encouraged to share (but it’s not compulsory!). Everyone is also invited to share that final piece – as it stands or an edited version – within the private forum space so those who didn’t attend might also see what we’ve produced.

The Spring terms kicks off on 14 January with Gothic Writing. A video of the session is available for a limited time, and all registrants will be emailed a link to the recording. So, if you cannot attend in person on the day, book anyway so as not to miss the fun

Then, we have Compelling Openings on 11 February and a fun session of Oulipo Writing on 11 March.

Full details of the three Spring workshops are here.

Wednesday 28 January: Nine Online with me …

Nine Online is a private online community of writers hosted by me, Anne Rainbow. I use a private space on my forum to post tips and guidance on both writing craft topics and editing techniques, and encourage discussion on best practices.

The Spring term – the first of three terms in 2026 – of Read/Review Zooms provides an opportunity for this small group of writers to share extracts from their projects and to give and receive feedback.

If you are planning to write/edit something substantial in the next 12 months (a novel, memoir, or a collection of essays) and are keen to make this year the year you finish that project … contact me to discuss whether Nine Online would be the way forward for you. Or book to attend as an Observer to see how we work within Nine Online.

Full details here.

Thurs 16 – Sun 19 April: Hope Cove Writers Retreat

Yes, it’s time to book your accommodation at the Cottage Hotel and reserve your place on the April Hope Cove Writers Retreat.

Full details here.