Travel journalism, Croatia
If you've been inspired by these winning travel articles, Wanderlust Journeys – an offshoot of the travel magazine – is offering a course for wannabe travel writers. Next month's trip takes place in Dubrovnik, and guests will be "on assignment" with editor Dan Linstead, exploring the area, researching things to see and do, gathering insider secrets and compiling material. You'll also get the inside track on writing articles and pitching to editors.
• From £595 for three nights B&B, departing 7 October, excluding flights, 020-8505 2582, wanderlust.co.uk
Travel books masterclass, London
Travellers' Tales runs UK workshops, as well as trips abroad (some in conjunction with Wanderlust, above) to teach travel writing. New for this year is a three-day course to help you get started on a book-length travel story, covering structure, literary skills, and how to get published.
• From £350pp course only, 4-6 November, travellerstales.org
Writing retreat, London
Keep putting off starting that novel? Get down to the Urban Writers' retreat in Shoreditch, east London, where a small group of other writers create a supportive and distraction-free environment – no phones, no internet – for a day of serious writing (plus lots of homemade cake). With pre-retreat goal-setting, a silly writing warm-up game and a "wordcount horse race", it might just prove to be the most productive day of writing you've ever had.
• £40 a day or £100 for three days, including lunch and refreshments, urbanwritersretreat.co.uk. Next retreats 25 September, 23 October, 20 November
Crime writing, Inverness-shire
A lonely farmstead near Loch Ness is the scene of a killer course in crime writing. Bestselling authors Louise Welsh and Andrew Taylor will lead morning workshops exploring the techniques used by crime novelists, looking at some of the sub-genres and discussing commercial considerations. You'll have one-on-one tutorials in the afternoon, and plenty of time to work on your own crime fiction. In the evening there are readings by the authors.
• From £575 for a shared room on a four-and-a-half day course with the Arvon Foundation (020-7324 2554, arvonfoundation.org). The next crime writing course is from 7-12 November
Memoir, Italy
Celebrity autobiographies may top the bestseller lists, but ordinary lives can be just as fascinating. Prolific writer Jo Parfitt will help you record your own life story for future generations, turning your experiences into a publishable memoir with plot and pace. The course is run from a converted watermill in Tuscany with riverside gardens and delicious regional food and wine.
• From £1,149 for seven nights including all meals (some at local restaurants) but excluding flights, 020-7193 6246, watermill.net. The next course starts on 15 September 2012
