Date/Time
Date(s) - Mon 13th Jul - Sat 18th Jul, 2026
All Day
Location
Moniack Mhor, Kiltarlity, Inverness-shire , IV4 7HT
Inspired by true events
Can fiction writers learn from memoir? And when using autobiographical material, where and how do you create the friction needed to make compelling stories?
Whether you’re writing a memoir dressed as a novel, lightly taking from lived experience for a novel, or experimenting with shorter fiction, this course will help develop your writing.
Your tutors, the award-winning writers Jarred McGinnis and Karen McLeod, will create a supportive, inspiring environment where you will be encouraged to bring your unique perspective to the page. The week comprises of writing workshops and one-on-one sessions with the tutors where you’ll receive tailored feedback and guidance. As the week progresses expect plenty of food for thought: you will read and write a great deal. This course will help you deepen your understanding of your practice, whatever stage you’re at as a writer.
“Autobiography is not important. Authenticity is important. The writer must fire herself through the text, be the molten stuff that welds together disparate elements. I believe there is always exposure, vulnerability, in the writing process, which is not to say it is either confessional or memoir. Simply, it is real.” – Jeanette Winterson
Tutors
Karen McLeod is a writer, performance artist and creative writing tutor and writer-in-residence at Bookseller Crow. Her debut novel, In Search of the Missing Eyelash, was published by Jonathan Cape and won the Betty Trask Award and was translated widely.
She wrote In Search of the Missing Eyelash in hotel rooms across the globe while working as cabin crew. Coming full circle, her memoir, Lifting Off (Muswell Press, June 2024) is about the years she went into free-fall as cabin crew. Lifting Off was longlisted for the 2025 Polari Prize.
Karen lives in London with her wife and has an allotment where she watches slugs eat her lettuces.
Jarred McGinnis was chosen by the Guardian as one of the UK’s ten best emerging writers. His debut novel ‘The Coward’ was selected for BBC 2’s Between the Coversand won the First Novel Prize in France. He is the winner of the 2023 Eccles Centre & Hay Festival Writer’s Award. His second book ‘There is No Meant to Be’ is out in March 2026.
Guest Reader
Jackie Kay was born and brought up in Scotland. She is the author of— among other books—The Adoption Papers, which won the Forward Prize, Red Dust Road, winner of the Scottish Book of the Year Award, the Costa-shortlisted Fiere, May Day, a Scotsman Poetry Book of the Year and, most recently, Coorie Doon. She was the third Makar, or National Poet for Scotland (2016-2021). She is a Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Salford.
Fees
The full fee for this course is £740. This includes your accommodation in a single room with shared bathroom, all meals, hot drinks and snacks from Monday afternoon until Saturday morning, and your tuition. For more information about the format and practicalities of our courses, tutored courses, and retreats, please visit our About the Residential Courses & Retreats page..
A limited number of en-suite rooms are available, which can be booked in advance for a £50 surcharge. We will also reserve an en-suite room for anyone who may need it due to a medical condition. This will be offered out as an upgrade nearer the course start date if it is not needed.
A limited number of Twin Room places are available at a discounted price of £690 per person. When booking a Twin Room place, please tell us in the comments box which gender you are and which gender(s) you are comfortable sharing a room with. This information will remain confidential.
A small single room with a skylight is available at a discounted price of £715. Please note this room does not have an ordinary window, only a small skylight.
A deposit is required to secure your place, which is non-refundable after a 14-day cooling-off period. The balance payment of £590 is due six weeks before the course begins. Please read our Terms & Conditions for full details about our cancellation policy. If you would like to pay the full amount in advance, please email info@moniackmhor.org.uk.
Bursaries are always available, and you also have the option to pay in instalments. If you have any problems paying online, or wish to discuss paying in instalments or applying for financial help, or would simply like assistance, please contact us by emailing info@moniackmhor.org.uk.
Access
Please let us know in your booking form if you have any access requirements, for example a ground floor bedroom and / or access to a step-free accessible shower room. We also reserve one en-suite bedroom per course for anyone who may need this due to a medical condition. For more information about access to our courses, please visit our Access page.
Terms and Conditions
Please read our Terms & Conditions before booking.