The art and science of writing science fiction: Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog), Wales

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

8 November 2024 – 3 days from £699 (Early booking price valid until 4 July. See price grid for room options and details)

Take your science fiction writing into a new dimension during this weekend devoted to building new worlds and new works of art. Join New Scientist comment and culture editor Alison Flood, along with author and former New Scientist editor Emily C. Wilson, for an immersive writing weekend. Explore the world of science fiction and learn how to craft your own captivating sci-fi tales.

You will also be joined by two award-winning science fiction authors, Adam Roberts and Tade Thompson, who will give an insight into how they create their bestselling novels and help inspire you to write your own. Astronomer, ex-NASA astrobiologist and author Martin Griffiths will discuss writing about space travel and alien contact.

Whether you are a seasoned writer, just starting your writing journey or are an avid science fiction enthusiast interested in learning how the craft works, this weekender is the perfect launchpad for your sci-fi dreams. You will come away from the weekend with:

Training on how to craft compelling science fiction stories.
Insight into how top science fiction authors write their novels.
A new cohort of fellow writers.

The weekender will be based at Craig Y Nos Castle in the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog), a unique Grade II* listed hotel and venue housed in a fully restored 1840s gothic castle. The castle sits alongside the upper river Tawe on the edge of the Black Mountains and was owned by 19th-century opera singer Adelina Patti.

You are welcome to come a day early and stay a date later, using the castle as a base to explore the stunning surroundings.

So, unleash your imagination and join us for an unforgettable expedition into the future of fiction!

DAY 1: INTRODUCTION, KEYNOTE TALK AND LET THE WRITING BEGIN

After checking into the atmospheric and historical Craig Y Nos Castle (any time from 1pm), you will meet the authors and New Scientist journalists who are hosting the event from 5pm for a welcome drink in the wood-panelled bar.

You will then head to the castle’s miniature opera house for an introductory talk from Alison and Emily, detailing how this tailor-made writing weekend will work and learning about some of the fun writing tasks you will be set.

Afterwards, listen to a keynote talk from renowned author Adam Roberts, who will speak on his career and share his insights on writing science fiction. Adam will also answer questions from the audience after his talk.

This will be followed by dinner in the Nicolini Lounge, where you can hang out with New Scientist’s Emily and Alison, plus authors Adam and Tade. To round off the first evening of this event, there will be a science-fiction quiz back in the bar. Test your knowledge of this best of all fiction genres!

DAY 2: WORKSHOPS AND TALKS – WORLD BUILDING, THE SCIENCE OF CREATIViTY AND THE GOLDEN RULES

At 7am there is an optional walk with Emily and Alison around the adjoining Craig Y Nos Country Park, a 40-acre Victorian garden spread along the river Tawe. Nature can be a great stimulus for creativity and worldbuilding.

After breakfast, get ready to immerse yourself in writing with the first workshop: "How to build your own universe". The workshop begins with a talk from our two guest authors, Adam and Tade, who will discuss their approaches and establish their pillars of worldbuilding. Afterwards, there will be time for you to work on building a new world of your own.

Following this, listen to a talk from Emily and Alison on the science of creativity, looking at the different ways you can unlock yours.

Then, after a break for lunch, astronomer and New Scientist tour expert Martin Griffiths will give a talk on a couple of topics pertinent to science fiction writing. What would happen if we made contact with alien life? What is our place in the cosmos and what are the practicalities of travelling through it? Having previously worked for NASA’s Astrobiology Institute, Martin is ideally placed to lead this discussion. He will also tell us who gets the science right – and who gets it wrong – in their science fiction.

The second workshop of the day will see you split into smaller groups, each accompanied by one of our authors or hosts, where you can drill down into what kind of science fiction appeals to you, from dystopia to space opera. You will then be asked to write the first page of a science fiction novel, introducing us to the world you want to write in.

Before dinner, there will be a talk from Tade about his novels, career and approach to writing.

Dinner will take place in a salon format, where each table is hosted and discussion (science-fiction related, of course) is led by a host, with the opportunity for everyone to contribute should they wish to.

There will be some time in the evening for you to work on your writing.

DAY 3: WORKSHOPS AND TALKS – HONING YOUR WORK, PLANNING FOR SUCCESS AND ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

To get the synapses sparking, we will be exploring the next-door country park again before breakfast. This is optional, but a certain magazine we know has written extensively about the benefits of being outdoors, offline, in nature and next to running water.

The morning’s programme will include another writing workshop. You will also be invited to share your work with the group – but only if that is a step that feels helpful for you at this stage on your writing journey.

After an early lunch, the weekend will finish with a Q&A panel session with all three authors, hosted by Alison, which will travel far and wide (across the galaxy?) discussing any and all of your questions. After closing comments, the weekend will aim to finish around 4pm.

You are, however, very welcome to stay another night. Why not combine your journey home tomorrow with a bracing walk ascending Pen Y Fan, enjoying an exhilarating but manageable trek along the iconic ridge?

Note: This weekend is aimed at those at the beginning of their science fiction writing journey, as well as those further down the road who are looking to be reinvigorated and reinspired, or who want to connect with a new cohort of fellow writers.

Email us to discuss

Highlights

An immersive weekend break in November where you will explore the art and science of writing science fiction.
Learn from and be inspired by renowned and bestselling science fiction authors Adam Roberts and Tade Thompson.
Learn the key elements of worldbuilding, character development and plotting from established authors.
Hear how to harness your creativity from New Scientist’s comment and culture editor Alison Flood and former editor-in-chief Emily C. Wilson, who will reveal how the latest science can help you unlock your creative potential.
Explore writing about alien contact and travelling across the cosmos with astronomer and ex-NASA astrobiologist Martin Griffiths.
Hone your craft in interactive workshops and network with fellow sci-fi enthusiasts.
Meet New Scientist staff, science fiction experts and fellow New Scientist readers.

Meet the expert

Adam Roberts is the author of 25 science fiction novels and many non-fiction and academic works, including The History of Science Fiction (2nd ed Palgrave 2016). His most recent novels are The Death of Sir Martin Malprelate (Datura 2023) and Lake of Darkness (Gollancz 2024). He is a professor of 19th-century literature at Royal Holloway, University of London, and lives a little way west of London. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Tade Thompson is a multi-award winning writer of novels, short stories and screenplays. His background is in medicine, psychiatry and social anthropology. He is a winner of the Arthur C. Clarke award for his book Rosewater, a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the vice president of the British Science Fiction Association. He lives and works on the south coast of England.

Alison Flood is New Scientist’s comment and culture editor. She has a degree in English literature from the University of Cambridge and was previously books writer for the Guardian. She chairs the British Book Awards’ crime and thriller award, is judging the 2024 Orwell prize for political fiction, and has also judged the Costa first novel award and the McIlvanney prize. She has contributed essays and forewords for titles including Poor Souls’ Light, a collection of stories inspired by Robert Aickman, and Literary Landscapes.

Emily C. Wilson is the former editor of New Scientist. Previously, she worked at The Guardian, where she served as features editor, website editor and editor-in-chief of the newspaper’s Australian edition, as well as running the paper’s science, technology, health and environment coverage. Her first novel, Inanna, set in ancient Sumer, the world’s first-known civilisation, was published in August 2023.

Alongside her journalism career, she has always had a deep interest in prehistory and the earliest days of recorded history, and has attended many digs, including one of a Bronze Age city in the east of Crete. She lives in Cerne Abbas, where she explores the Dorset countryside in her spare time, hunting for prehistoric stone tools.

Martin Griffiths is a senior lecturer in space science at the University of South Wales. He has been an astronomer for over 40 years and is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. Martin previously worked for NASA’s Astrobiology Institute, which looked at the origins, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe. He is currently the director of the Brecon Beacons Observatory and has written six books and published more than 100 papers.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Two nights' accommodation.
Two breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners.
Tea, coffee and soft drinks.
All activities as stated.
Guest talks, workshops and walks.
Onsite parking.
Fully detailed joining instructions pack, sent two weeks before the event.
24-hour onsite support.

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Transport to the venue.
Travel insurance.
Single supplement.
Additional snacks, drinks and alcohol.
Room upgrades.
Additional nights at Craig Y Nos Castle. Available for a supplement.

HOW TO GET THERE

This weekender is hosted at Craig Y Nos Castle located adjacent to Craig Y Nos Country Park. The nearest town is Ystradgynlais.

By road: The castle is located just off the A4067 between Ystradgynlais and Sennybridge. The postcode is SA9 1GL.

By rail: The nearest train stations are Swansea and Neath. There are direct trains from London Paddington Station to Neath or Swansea. If arriving from Manchester or Birmingham, you will need to change at Cardiff. From Swansea or Neath, you will need to take a taxi to the castle, which will take about 30 minutes.

You are responsible for making your own way to and from the accommodation at the beginning and end of your stay.

START AND END TIMES

The event will begin at around 5pm on Friday and finish at around 4pm on Sunday. You can check in from 1pm on the Friday.

Should you wish to arrive a day earlier and/or stay a day later, just scroll down to the "add-ons" section when you book your tickets.

We will send full instructions, including directions to the hotel, a few weeks prior to the event.

CAPACITY

For this weekender, there will be a maximum capacity of 100 guests, though guests will be split into smaller groups during focus sessions. Our weekenders have a larger capacity than other Discovery tours, featuring a single location and a series of highly engaging talks from a number of distinguished speakers.

AGE RESTRICTIONS

Children are welcome, but they must be aged 12 or over and accompanied by a parent or guardian. If aged 16 or 17, adult supervision isn't required but a written note from a parent or guardian must be supplied to us before arrival.

Please bear in mind that the level of the talks and activities is aimed at adults.

Accommodation

Craig Y Nos Castle, Brecon Road, Pen-y-cae, Swansea, Wales

In the heart of Wales near the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog), Craig Y Nos is a unique Grade II* listed hotel and venue housed in a fully restored 1840s gothic castle. The castle and country park sit alongside the upper river Tawe on the edge of the Black Mountain and were previously owned by 19th-century opera singer Adelina Patti.

There are two main room types within the castle grounds. The Nurses Block, which is just next to the castle, has the more cost-effective rooms. They are private twin, double and single rooms with shared lockable men's and women's facilities.

In the castle, all the rooms are doubles with ensuite facilities and some have additional beds to fit groups of three or four. If you wish to book three or four people into a room, please email us at tours@newscientist.com.

There are tea and coffee-making facilities in each room.

There is ample free parking at the castle.

Science of rewilding

Mysteries of the Universe

Science of the Jurassic Coast

The science of deep time