Writing for Children Retreat: Cyprus

Join a small, intimate writing retreat for children’s book writers at every stage – whether you’re working on your first picture book, developing a longer manuscript, or trying to figure out where a half-formed idea might go. Over five days at a stunning sea-view villa in the Sea Caves area of Paphos, Cyprus, you’ll work closely with award-winning children’s author Clare Helen Welsh in a setting that offers both the space and the quiet to actually get things done.

The retreat takes a maximum of six writers, which means Clare can give each participant genuine, individual attention rather than the kind of general advice that works for everyone and no one in particular. It’s fully all-inclusive, so once you arrive there’s nothing to think about beyond the writing. Meals are prepared and served at the villa, the pool is there when you need a break, and the Mediterranean is a short walk away when you need to clear your head.

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What you'll learn

Wherever you are in your writing journey, this retreat will help you sharpen your focus and get you closer to your goals. Each day has a natural rhythm: a structured group workshop in the morning, free writing time in the afternoon, and an evening feedback session where the group comes together to share work and reflect. Clare will lead sessions covering the full craft of writing for children; voice, structure, character, picture book text, the submission process, and what publishers are actually looking for.

Alongside the group work, you’ll receive three one-to-one sessions with Clare across the week. This will be dedicated time to focus on your specific manuscript, your questions, and your next steps. It means that the retreat is perfectly suitable for writers of all levels, and any type of children’s stories – picture books to middle grade novels. You’ll leave with a clearer sense of your work, constructive feedback on where it is, and a concrete plan for where it needs to go.

The setting

Villa Galini is a spacious, single-storey retreat set above the Sea Caves coastline in Peyia, with sweeping Mediterranean views, a large private pool, and a one-acre garden of citrus and fruit trees. It’s a property designed for quiet and comfort – wide terraces for morning workshops, shaded corners for afternoon writing, and long outdoor evenings as the light fades over the sea. Meals are home-cooked by professional caterers and served at the villa, so there’s no need to think about anything beyond the writing.

The Sea Caves area sits about twenty minutes from the centre of Paphos, close enough to explore the coast, Coral Bay, and the Akamas National Park if you want a change of scene, quiet enough that the retreat never feels like it’s competing with a busy resort.

Enquire about joining

Please email us at hello@onceuponadraft.co.uk to enquire about this session.