Monsters, Mystery and Darkness: 4-Week Creative Writing Course

This October writing course takes you week by week through monsters, myths and mystery, with gentle prompts and craft guidance to draw stories out of you. As the nights draw in and the clocks go back, gather among the trees of Moorlands nature reserve, a place where kings once hunted and wolves once roamed.

One ticket covers all four sessions. Dates and times listed below.

No experience needed. Just bring a notebook, pen, warm layers, and a willingness to be a little spooked.

The course takes place across 4 sessions:

• Wednesday 7th October (6.30-8pm)
• Wednesday 14th October (6.30-8pm)
• Wednesday 21st October (6.30-8pm)
• Wednesday 28th October (6.30-8pm)

What to expect across the four weeks:

Week 1 (Wednesday 7th Oct, 6.30-8pm) - History and Mythology: An introduction to Moorlands' history and mythology. Watch the shadows lengthen, then ease into writing exercises rooted in folklore and the thinning of the veil between worlds.

Week 2 (Wednesday 14th Oct, 6.30-8pm) - Grow your ideas: Begin to build on your work from week one and dive deeper, with collaborative exercises and opportunity to build on your writing with peers.

Week 3 (Wednesday 21st Oct, 6.30-8pm) - Write and Refine: A longer writing session with space to polish your work and give (and receive) kind, constructive feedback in smaller groups.

Week 4 (Wednesday 28th Oct, 6.30-8pm)- Storytelling Night: Share the stories you've made in this wild setting after dark. The clocks will have gone back and night will have fallen. An opportunity to share and storytell in a supportive space, if you wish.

Each session begins with a short grounding ritual - a moment to tune into the reserve, connect with the land and set intentions for the evening ahead.

Find out more about York Creatives

Photo credit: [ © Beth Thomas]

This small Edwardian woodland garden is part of the ancient Forest of Galtres.

Accessibility and terrain

From the reserve entrance a single footpath accesses the reserve and then splits to form a 1km circuit.

There is a pedestrian kissing gate at the reserve entrance which is accessible to some wheelchairs. There are no other barriers or steps along the reserve access path.

The surface is all compacted earth. There are numerous benches on the reserve and access is over flat and mostly even terrain. Some areas can become waterlogged in winter.

Please let us know at checkout if you have any access requirements that you would like to make us aware of and/or require any additional support to fully participate in this event. We aim to accomodate wherever possible.

What to bring/wear

This event takes place outside during autumn evenings so brace yourself for the Yorkshire weather! Bring sturdy footwear and appropriate clothing for the weather.

Due to the nature of this event, we encourage you to get cosy - please feel free to bring with you whatever will make you feel comfortable in the great outdoors on an autumn evening. Blankets and warmers welcome!

Please bring a notepad and pen to the session. All other materials and equipment needed to participate in this event are provided.

Toilets and catering

There are no toilets at this nature reserve. Teas and coffees will be provided but there are no catering facilities on the reserve. You're welcome to bring a drink and/or snack with you but please take your litter home with you.

The nearest toilets are at Haxby Shopping Centre two miles away. Pubs, cafes and shops are also in Haxby.

Joining us on the day

Meet at the entrance gate to the reserve on Moor Lane.

What 3 words ///parsnips.pausing.scars

Parking

There is limited roadside parking at the reserve in the narrow layby near the entrance gate. Please be considerate of residents and others when parking.

Public transport

There are buses that run from York to Wiggington which is around one mile from the reserve.

Join Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is the only charity entirely dedicated to conserving, protecting and enhancing Yorkshire's wildlife and wild places. Find out more about what we do on our website and discover how you can support our work.

Let us know what you think

We hope you have a fantastic time at the event! We always love to hear from our supporters - tell us about your experiences in .

Cancellation and refunds

In the situation that Yorkshire Wildlife Trust needs to cancel an event we will be in touch regarding your booking via email and our Supporter Services team will process the refund of your tickets as soon as possible. Please allow up to 5 working days for this to happen. If you, or members of your party, are unable to attend your booked event, you are eligible for a refund up to 7 days before the event date. For any cancellation and refund queries, please contact our Supporter Services team during office hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) on 01904 659570 or email [email protected].

Thank you for supporting Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

If you're having difficulties with your booking, or you have more questions about the event, please don't hesitate to get in touch! You can email us at [email protected] or drop us a call on 01904 659570.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is the only charity entirely dedicated to conserving, protecting and enhancing Yorkshire's wildlife and wild places. Find out more about what we do on our website and discover how you can support our work.