LGBTQ+ Writers’ Retreats

Every year since 2022, Literature Wales welcomes Llyfrau Lliwgar to Tŷ Newydd to run a Welsh-language LGBTQ+ writers’ retreat. The retreat is offered free of charge for writers, or emerging writers – no great experience is necessary to take part. In addition to holding monthly meetings to discuss books, Llyfrau Lliwgar has become a forum to promote and support Welsh queer writers.

In 2022 Elgan Rhys, Bethan Marlow and Llŷr Titus contributed as creative instigators, and Megan Angharad Hunter was the guest author. Following the retreat, many of the writers who attended submitted their work for publication in the first LGBTQ+ Welsh-language anthology which was published by Barddas: Curiadau (Beats; 2023).

November 2023 saw the second retreat being held with Llio Maddocks and Leo Drayton acting as the creative instigators, and Paul Mendez as the guest author. Following that weekend, the writers who attended the retreat were encouraged to contribute work to a new zine called rhych newydd (new furrow). The publication of the zine was supported by a Gwynedd Greadigol community grant and was published in February 2024, to mark LGBTQ+ History Month. And to celebrate Pride Month, the zine has been published as a digital zine on the Literature Wales website in June 2024.

DOWNLOAD THE RHYCH NEWYDD ZINE HERE

Application window to join the 2024 retreat has now closed!

Llyfrau Lliwgar