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Milford 2024

13th - 20th September at
Gladstone's Library, Hawarden, North Wales

Milford cohort September 2024:
Chris McCartney, Anthony Francis, Molly Bronstein, Merin McDonnell, SJ Groenewegen, Fiona Moore, Neon Yang, Jim Anderson, Naomi Eselojor, Jacey Bedford, Mike lewis, Terry Jackman, Adriana Kantcheva, Mark Bilsborough, Pauline Dungate.

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Milford Report by S.J. Groenewegen

Milford has been on my radar for some time, not that I can remember exactly when I first heard of it. Maybe I saw it mentioned by one or two of the SF authors whose work I read while I was a kid. I wanted to write from a young age and loved reading about how my favourite authors got started in their writing careers. Over the years, I wrote short fiction and essays, and tried a few novels – with the mixed success of a typical author.

When I was at Worldcon 2014 in London, I must have spoken to someone involved in running Milford. Shortly after, I checked out the website and I marked it as something to keep an eye on. For a bunch of reasons, it wasn’t until last year that I applied to attend a Milford critique week. Much to my delight and surprise, I was accepted almost straight away. I paid my deposit and cleared my calendar for a week in September 2024.

Then came a long wait.

During that time, I worked on a new on-spec novel and finished the first draft at the end of June 2024. I figured the Milford treatment would be helpful to prepare it for submitting to agents and publishers. In July, I started my second draft and was happy enough with the first couple of chapters to send it to my Milford critique group. This was coupled with my usual trepidation of showing a new piece of my writing to anyone.

At this year’s Worldcon in Glasgow I met several people involved with Milford. They included Jacey Bedford, who invited me along to a lunch with Milford folk at the convention. While I knew a few of them already through going to conventions, it was lovely to listen to everyone talking about past experiences and looking forward to the new venue – Gladstone’s Library in Hawarden, Wales.

My trepidation started to shift to anticipation.

As September drew closer, my email in-box filled with short stories and extracts of novels. The range of stories sent for critique were a terrific reminder that the genre in which we write is incredibly rich and varied. The talent on display from everyone just extraordinary and inspiring.

Following Jacey’s advice to the group, I set myself a timetable to read a couple each day, which I honoured. Mostly. By the time I made the long journey south from Scotland, I had read everyone’s submissions at least once and scribbled a few notes down on each. I didn’t have the time to feel anxious about how my own work would be received.

We also got emails telling us about the venue, the timetables for the week, and easy-to-follow instructions about the Milford critique method. We were encouraged to introduce ourselves. Everyone acted in a collegiate and friendly fashion, which carried through the whole week and beyond.

Everyone met in-person for the first time during Friday’s evening meal at Gladstone’s Library. We were joined by two Milford members undertaking a writing retreat and not joining us in the critique sessions. Jim Anderson and Jacey both welcomed everyone, and made sure that all us newbies had a basic idea of what to expect. Most of us continued our introductory chat in the lounge, and for me at least, it felt quickly like we were becoming friends.

There were five critique sessions in total, all taking place in the afternoons. Various types of chocolate were cast on the table in preparation. There’s a tradition of harsh critiques being accompanied by chocolate (or similar), but this time the chocolate was to share. The critiques were thorough and incisive, but all were constructive.

All of the works critiqued in the first session were by people who have been to Milford before. Not only that, the first people called upon to deliver their critique were also not newbies. This is such a thoughtful way of organising things, as well as effective. It gave us newbies a chance to see the Milford method in action. It’s one thing to read about it, but for me at least it’s another to see it play out. I was impressed in particular by how it discourages groupthink as well as respect. We are here to support each other, and to make our work the best it can be.

But, it’s not all work. Milford is great for solitary writers to meet socially. We met up at meal times, not all at Gladstone’s library, and in the evenings. A few went for walks together, and Milford keeps a day free for people who want to go exploring somewhere nearby to the retreat. This time a group of us went to Chester to walk the walls and check out some shopping.

So, if you’re thinking about Milford but aren’t sure yet if it’s for you, do give it a go. I’m really pleased I did and am planning my next one.

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Milford Sayings, taken out of context... just because we can.

New Milford Committee elected at the AGM on September 2024

Jim Anderson - Chair
Jacey Bedford - Secretary / website
Phil Nanson / Kari Sperring - Treasurer
Tiffani Angus - Social media
Dave Gullen
Chris McCartney
Liz Williams
Mark Bilsborough
Mike Lewis

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Milford 2023
16th - 23rd September, at Trigonos, Nantlle, North Wales

L-R: Jacey Bedford, Janet Forbes, Ida Keogh, Siobhan McVeigh, Marielle Verdijk, Akotowaa ofori, Jim Anderson, Neon Yang, Liz Williams, Tiffani Angus, Chris McCartney, Sue Oke, Powder Thompson, Pauline Dungate.

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Milford Report 2023 by Janet Forbes

In the too-many months since Milford (sorry Jacey!), this assignment has been the phantom lurking on my to-do list. How should I explain a writing week, about a group of writers, to another group of writers, in writing? With that in mind, let me tell you my Milford experience.

I first discovered Milford online and had very little context for it - no personal recommendations, just a Reddit thread that said it was “something like Clarion but in the UK”. Alumni like Neil Gaimen and George R.R. Martin popped up. I was, of course, terrified. But it’s good to do things that terrify you, so I ignored the crushing brain goblins and applied anyway.

After initially being shocked I had even been accepted for the week (What have I done? I wondered), the “introduce yourself” email came. Oh dear lord, how do I introduce myself? Have I forgotten who I am? What even is my name?

Well, it seemed that everyone else was in the same boat, and totally charming about it. Instead of glossy, professional bios and cold, hard bragging, everyone introduced themselves in a very human way - even the rather big names with very large stacks of books behind them.

And I suppose that really set the tone for the whole Milford week: whether you had a PhD in writing, decades of experience in the publishing industry, or you would just starting out and finding your voice (see for reference: me), everyone was thoroughly welcome, everyone was respectful and constructive in their feedback, and everyone was kind.

Coming from overseas, the next issue was how on Earth was I going to get to the middle of sodding nowhere? From shared train rides and taxis, to the very kind offer of a lift from Birmingham in a car (thanks again for an awesome journey, Pauline!), I needn’t have worried. We all made it in one piece and, like in the stories, we made friends on the way.

From there, there were plenty of people to answer questions - and boy, did I have a lot of them. I had a room in the rabbit hutches, where I found the toilet roll holder doubled as a magnificent spider-mashing lance. And I was inducted by old hands in the ways of Milford Cake Hour. There was always someone sharing out wine or snacks or wacky anecdotes. There was the air of old friends and collaboration.

If you've been to Milford before you'll be familiar with the core practice:  mornings are free, afternoons I spent in the critique Circle, giving 3 minutes of feedback apiece on an author's work. This was all new to me, and I was so happy to see how kind and respectful each author was, and how varied and insightful most of the criticism. The group was diverse in background and experience, and that really helped bring different perspectives to the feedback, which made it incredibly useful.

If you’re considering Milford, and you’re worried you won’t be welcome - then stop that thought in its tracks. I’ve never been among such friendly, welcoming writers before. And if you’re wondering if it’s worth it, then just do it. Apply. It’s an unparalleled experience.

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Milford 2023 Sayings, taken out of context... just because we can.

• I think about getting bodies out of places all the time, don't you?
• I lived in a trailer when I was a child.
  So did I, but I still have standards.
• It wasn't quite what I was aiming for, but I like it.
• I don't think you take a pick to a rock fall unless you want a bigger rock fall.
• I'm happy if they kill each other. Go for it!
• When I wrote the founders I thought, 'Oh, God, I've written founders.'
• Unless, of course, it's a fairy tale, in which case knickers don't matter.
• ...hog-whimperingly drunk...
• I was trying to write a novel and ended up writing world-building software by accident.
• I have an early-warning duckie because that's what you need in your life.
• You don't look like a man who needs a mandrake.
• If you see inanimate objects as people, then a tape measure is very flirtatious.
• And then the beer gods show up...
• I have a friend who fired her spirit guides because they were not performing to her expectations.
• When I was a child I was pissed on by a tiger at Bristol Zoo.
• ...and I would shout, 'Penis duty.'
• My friend's grandma took out a cobra with a throwing axe.
• Take a drink every time Jim mentions Columbo.
• Some sentences are so beautiful I want to frame them.
• You focus on gold, I'll take the dead children.
• I was a crash test dummy for someone once.
• My friend's handwriting is so bad that you could take it to a pharmacy and get it made up.
• The undergraduate in me that studied formal logic appreciates that remark.
• The guiding aesthetic principle here is - more is more.
• Beatrice talks to donkeys.
• It's like taking drugs without taking drugs.
• It's the weirdest place I've ever been to - and the bar is high.
• This fucking plot! All I have to do is execute it, but I'd rather execute myself.
• It was the whale that did me in.
• I'll stop thinking about codpieces if you mention Queen Victoria.
• Would you like my spiders?
• Dinosaur porn is a thing.
• Jesus's foreskin is the rings of Saturn.
• If you turn 21 and you're still at the house, your mother will eat you.
• I'd almost forgotten you could write.

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