How To Be A Happy And Successful Writer 

20th – 26th September 2026 | Naxos, Greece 
With Sophie Hannah, Elly James & Jamie Hodder-Williams
Reserve your place

The Overview

The How to be a Happy and Successful Writer Retreat is a week-long residency for writers who are passionate about writing and seeking space, clarity, and expert guidance.

Hosted on the island of Naxos, the retreat brings together a small group of writers with an internationally acclaimed and bestselling author and book coach, a leading literary agent, and an experienced publisher. The emphasis throughout is on depth rather than speed, clarity rather than noise, and long-term creative thinking about how to succeed as exactly the sort of writer you most want to be.

This is a retreat for writers who want to understand their work more fully — and to leave better equipped to continue it and thrive as they pursue their writing journey and their creative dreams.

The Approach

The programme is deliberately structured to balance intensive morning deep-dive sessions with generous amounts of time for reflection, writing, and conversation. Afternoons are left free, allowing ideas to settle and work to deepen, while evenings offer shared discussion and industry insight.

Across the week, writers will be invited to think carefully about:

  • What their book is really trying to do

  • How their creative process works — and where it falters

  • How to make decisions with greater confidence and less self-doubt

  • How the publishing landscape operates in practice

The retreat does not promise shortcuts or quick fixes. Instead, it offers perspective, rigour, space, and a thorough grounding in everything a writer needs in order to fulfil their creative promise.

Morning Workshops

Led by Sophie Hannah Four extended morning workshops form the intellectual core of the retreat.
Each session runs from 10:00–12:30 and builds on the last.

  • An exploration of how to clarify what your book is offering the reader and how to align intention, structure, and psychology. Sophie introduces her distinctive approaches to drafting and planning, helping writers work more consciously and coherently.

  • A reframing of what writing progress actually feels like. This session examines creative capacity, character development, and confidence — both in the writer and on the page — offering a framework that supports sustained creative work.

  • A practical and psychological look at the challenges that arise mid-book and beyond. Writers learn how to diagnose what isn’t working, think clearly about structure and endings, and navigate resistance without losing momentum.

  • An examination of decision-making as a core creative skill. This session focuses on reducing paralysis and second-guessing, enabling writers to move forward with greater clarity and trust in their own judgement.

Literary Representation

With Elly James, Director of the HHB Literary Agency

  • This session offers a grounded, honest account of how literary agents work and how writers can approach representation thoughtfully and professionally. Rather than focusing on fleeting trends, the emphasis is on understanding the publishing ecosystem and making informed, sustainable choices.
    Topics include:

    • How agents read and assess work

    • Developing commercial awareness without writing to fashion

    • When and how to submit

    • The realities of the agent–author relationship

    • How publishing and selling chains function in practice

  • Each writer will receive a private one-to-one pitch session with Elly. These meetings are treated as professional conversations, informed by reading in advance, and designed to give writers a clearer sense of how their work is perceived and how best to proceed.

  • Jamie Hodder-Williams brings an expert and highly experienced viewpoint to the retreat, contributing to group sessions and manuscript discussions. His work focuses on how books work as part of a publishing business, and the sorts of business questions writers need to think about, as well as touching upon how structure, clarity, and editorial decision-making shape a manuscript as it moves towards publication.

Secure Your Spot

Solo Occupancy
£2950

Reserve your place with a non-refundable deposit.
Final payment due 30 days before your retreat.

Pay by card at checkout, or use Klarna to spread the cost interest-free.

Full terms and conditions

from £295.00

Shared Occupancy
£2450 pp

Reserve your place with a non-refundable deposit.
Final payment due 30 days before your retreat.

Pay by card at checkout, or use Klarna to spread the cost interest-free.

Full terms and conditions

from £490.00
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Aerial view of a small hotel pool area with lounge chairs, umbrellas, and cabanas, overlooking a beach and ocean.
White Mediterranean-style buildings with blue accents and balconies, surrounded by palm trees, flowering bushes, and paved pathways in a sunny, mountainous area
A covered patio with a wooden table and chairs, two glasses, and a decanter filled with red wine, overlooking a lush garden with palm trees and a playground in the distance under a clear blue sky.
A seaside patio with a wooden table and two chairs. On the table, there is a slice of watermelon and a red rose. The background features a white wall, palm trees, a blue ocean, and distant hills under a clear sky.
Bright, modern reception area with white walls, marble flooring, and large glass sliding doors leading outside. Features include a wooden reception desk, a computer, indoor plants, a cozy seating area, and a hanging fringed lampshade ceiling fixture.
Stack of pancakes topped with blueberry syrup on a white plate, with jars of preserves and a vase with leaves in the background.
Plate of powdered sugar dusted cinnamon rolls with chocolate chips on a wooden table.
Living room with white walls, marble floor, bookshelf filled with books, a small desk with a monitor and printer, and a white sofa.
Three glass jars filled with preserved food on a wooden surface, with a potted plant on the left and a refrigerated display case with yogurt and other items in the background.
Close-up of a bookshelf with several books, including titles like 'Der Steppenwolf' and others in German, arranged vertically on a wooden shelf.
Breakfast table with orange juice, a mug, bowls, and plates in a sunroom with large windows and lush greenery outside.
An outdoor patio area with white wooden chairs and tables under a covered roof, surrounded by greenery.
Outdoor patio with white chairs and tables, on a sunny day with trees and greenery in the background.
Breakfast table with bacon, scrambled eggs, tomato, pancakes, and juice seen in front of a blurred outdoor background.
A basket with a cloth lining next to a white container filled with tea bags, including Nescafe coffee sticks and some tea packets, with a framed sign reading 'Tea' in the background.
View of a lush garden with a large palm tree, colorful flowers, bushes, a wooden playhouse, and the ocean in the background, framed by a shaded veranda.
A landscaped garden with palm trees, colorful flowers, a stone pathway, wooden benches with straw umbrellas, and a children's playhouse with slides under a clear blue sky.
Palm trees in a lush garden under a bright blue sky with residential buildings in the background.
Beautiful resort with tall palm trees, white buildings with blue accents, a lush green garden, and a clear blue sky.
Outdoor patio area with hanging wicker chair with cushion, black metal chairs, brick column, lush plants, and thatched umbrellas under a clear blue sky.
A landscaped garden with a stone path, lush colorful flowers, thatched umbrellas, and green shrubs under a clear blue sky.
Outdoor patio area with straw thatched umbrellas, wooden benches with cushions, and lush flowering plants and trees under a clear blue sky.
Outdoor seating area featuring a thatched umbrella, wooden bench with cushions, and a stone wall, with a white building with blue accents and palm trees in the background under a clear blue sky.
Outdoor patio area with wooden benches, gray cushions, a small wooden table, and a large thatched umbrella. Background features white Mediterranean-style buildings, tall palm trees, green bushes, and a clear blue sky.
Covered outdoor patio with lounge chairs, a dining table, and poolside views of white houses, palm trees, and a swimming pool under a clear blue sky.
Luxury resort swimming pool with lounge chairs, umbrellas, palm trees, and white buildings in a sunny, clear sky.
Poolside bar and seating area with tables and chairs, some with umbrellas, overlooking a swimming pool under a clear blue sky.
A bright hotel room with a white bed, a nightstand with a vase of flowers, wall art, a wooden chair, an air conditioning unit, and an open door leading outside.
A balcony with a table holding a tray with two red mugs and a vase of colorful flowers. The view shows water and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.
Interior view of a small kitchen with a sink, countertop, and cabinets, a window, a door leading outside, and a bedside table with a vase of red and orange flowers.
A bright hotel room with twin beds, white bedding, towels on the beds, a blue open door leading to an outdoor area, window with blue curtains, stone accent wall, wall-mounted television, air conditioning unit, and a white nightstand.
A bedroom with two white beds, a blue door open to outside, two windows with blue curtains, a wall-mounted TV, a stone accent wall, and an air conditioner.
Bathroom with two white vessel sinks on a white countertop, large wooden-framed mirror above, wall-mounted faucets, a blue door on the left, and a wooden dresser with a hat and sunglasses on top
Bathroom with dual vessel sinks, large wooden framed mirror, wall-mounted faucets, flat screen TV on the wall, small wooden cabinet with a straw hat and sunglasses, and a round mirror on the right side.
A table with a black plate of sliced watermelon and two glasses of juice, set outdoors with a blurred view of trees, bushes, and the ocean in the background.
A bright hotel room with a balcony view, featuring a large bed with a beige headboard, towels, a hat, and sunglasses on it, a nightstand with books, and an open door leading to a small balcony with outdoor furniture and a view of greenery and the oce
View of a tropical resort with two tall palm trees in the foreground, a swimming pool, a hot tub, umbrellas, lounge chairs, and the ocean in the background under a clear blue sky.

Support & A Note On Expectations

Individual Support & Discussion Alongside the taught sessions, the retreat includes:

  • Small-group manuscript discussions

  • Individual consultations with Sophie Hannah for each participant

  • Informal conversations with faculty across the week

The small group size allows for thoughtful exchanges and for questions to emerge naturally over time.

A Note on Expectations We want you to dream big!! We certainly do. And one of the things we’re going to cover on the retreat is why ‘not aiming too high’ and ‘being realistic’ are working against you, however sensible you might think you’re being.

During our week together, we will aim to convince you that believing great things can happen, even in the face of uncertainty and no guarantees, is not only a much more effective approach to creating success and your best work, but also feels much jollier too! There’s no downside to expecting good things to happen. Don’t believe us? Come along and we’ll prove it to you!

Practical Details and Frequent asked questions

  • Naxos, Greece

    Naxos wraps writers in a rare blend of beauty, calm, and breathing space, with the island’s slow, generous rhythm woven into every day of the retreat. Afternoons stay deliberately unprogrammed, so you can swim in clear water, walk the coastline, write in the shade, or simply rest and let ideas settle. All meals are shared around the table, with a welcome reception and a closing gala dinner that bring the group together in easy, unhurried conversation.

    The Accommodation

    We stay at Something Else, a cluster of individually styled studios and apartments scattered through lush gardens, just a 1-2 minute walk from Agia Anna’s golden beach. Guests gather around the large, inviting outdoor pool—complete with sun loungers—for morning swims or quiet reading, while fabulous tavernas line the nearby shore for relaxed dinners. The welcoming owners ensure everything feels effortless, with air-conditioned rooms featuring balconies or patios, and thoughtful touches like refrigerators and soundproofing for undisturbed focus.

  • Daily Rhythm Some mornings there will be Yoga before breakfast!

    • 08:00–09:30: Breakfast

    • 10:00–12:30: Morning workshop (selected days)

    • 13:00: Lunch

    • 14:00–16:00: Free time / writing / consultations / pitch sessions

    • 17:00–19:00: Evening sessions (selected days)

    • 19:15: Drinks and dinner

  • Sunday: Welcome Reception & Dinner

    Monday: "Fulfilling Your Book’s Promise" (Sophie Hannah) + "The Role of Literary Agent" Panel (Elly James and Jamie Hodder-Williams).

    Tuesday: "Capacity, Character and Confidence" (Sophie Hannah) + "Different Kinds of Publishing" Panel (Sophie Hannah, Elly James and Jamie Hodder-Williams).

    Wednesday: "Going the Distance" (Sophie Hannah) + Agent Pitch Sessions

    Thursday: "A Publisher’s Perspective" (Jamie Hodder-Williams) + 1-2-1s

    Friday: "Decision-Making in Writing Success" (Sophie Hannah) + Gala Dinner

  • Dates: 20–27 September 2026

    Location: Naxos, Greece

    Participants: 18 writers

    Eligibility: Open to writers at any stage of their writing journey—from those with just the seed of an idea to those with a full manuscript.

    Genres: Adult fiction across genres (including literary, commercial, crime, thriller, historical, fantasy, romance) and narrative non-fiction (memoir).

    • A pre-retreat online meeting for all participants — last-minute questions welcome!

    • Goody bag full of Naxos treats.

    • Accommodation (6 nights).

    • All meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with drinks.

    • Workshops and taught sessions with Sophie Hannah, Elly James, and Jamie Hodder-Williams.

    • Individual consultations with Sophie Hannah.

    • One-to-one pitch session with Elly James and Jamie Hodder-Williams.

    • Private Group WhatsApp to share news, ask questions, and keep the writing community alive long after the retreat ends.

    • Welcome reception and Gala Dinner.

    • Visas, flights and ferry tickets (we can help you plan this).

    • Travel insurance (essential).

    • Extra drinks and snacks outside of scheduled meals

  • Fly to Athens, Mykonos, or Santorini, then take a ferry to Naxos. Or fly directly from Athens to Naxos. We’ll be waiting to pick you up when you arrive.

  • No. You do not need to have been published.

    You do need to be serious and enthusiastic about writing, however, and have a strong desire to pursue it even if you do not yet have a lot of writing experience.

  • We welcome writers at all levels of experience. Whether you have a complete first draft, a few chapters, or just an idea you love and want to turn into a book, you are very welcome here.

  • Yes. The retreat includes small-group manuscript discussion sessions, individual consultations with Sophie Hannah, and a guaranteed one-to-one pitch session with Elly James or Jamie Hodder-Williams.

  • No. Representation is never promised.

    The retreat offers professional insight, clarity, and informed guidance — and will massively increase your ability to attract representation when the time is right, by giving you all the practical and mindset tools you need.

  • Yes! It’s useful to know about markets, in order to be able to decide how and if we want to work with them or create new ones!

  • The mornings are focused and demanding. Afternoons are intentionally left free to allow ideas to settle and writing to continue.

    This balance is central to the retreat’s design.

  • Yes! Writers at all levels of experience will find the retreat equally useful and inspiring.

A white paper table cover with blue text and graphics, a clear glass with no liquid, a small white die showing five dots, a metallic bucket, and part of a wooden basket on the left side.
A group of nine people gathered around a dining table outdoors, raising glasses in a toast, under a covered patio with trees and a window in the background.
People sitting and talking at a wooden table outdoors under a large tree with a clear sky in the background.
People sitting and dining outdoors under shade sails near trees and plants, with a stone wall in the foreground and a blue sky with clouds overhead.
A person with curly red hair and a blue shirt reaching for a book on a bookshelf filled with various books, with a large decorative vase with greenery on top.
Coastal town with white buildings on a hillside overlooking the ocean, waves crashing against rocks in the foreground.
A woman with red hair and sunglasses on her head is tasting something from a spoon held by another person. The setting is indoors with large windows in the background.
White building with blue shutters, outdoor staircase, and colorful flowering plants on the stairs and balcony, typical of Mediterranean architecture.
A plate with sliced cake and brownie, a white cup, and a glass jar with a pink flowering plant on a wooden table in a room with bookshelves.
A woman with red hair, wearing a purple checkered strapless dress, is holding a small wrapped gift with a red ribbon. She is standing at a table with other wrapped presents, in a restaurant or banquet setting during sunset with a view of water and tr
A black round metal table with a glass bowl of pink flowers, a stack of two books, a glass of water, and a potted green plant set against a sheer white curtain with sunlight.
A woman with long red curly hair, wearing a blue sleeveless top, sitting outdoors with her arms crossed and a serious expression.

Ready To Write Your Happy Ending?

This is more than just a writing retreat; it’s a commitment to your creative future.
Whether you’re stuck in the soggy middle of a draft or standing at the brink of a new idea,
this week will give you the tools, the confidence, and the clarity to succeed on your own terms.

We want you to dream big—and we want to help you get there.
Spaces are limited to just 18 writers.

Apply for your place now

Arrive curious. Leave inspired.