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The Idler Academy

Bookseller. Coffeehouse. School.

"Competence is the foundation of happiness," William Cobbett.

Address
81 Westbourne Park Road
LONDON W2 5QH
0845 250 1281

Opening Hours
Tuesday — Saturday: 10am - 6.30pm
Sunday: 11am - 5pm
Monday: Closed

In Ancient Greece, the word which turned into our word for school, scholee, originally meant ‘leisure’. Education was a pleasure; it was a privilege freely chosen by the freeborn citizens of Athens. The Idler Academy brings this spirit of cultivated leisure to the 21st century, and crosses it with the lively atmosphere of an 18th century coffeehouse. We sell a wide range of new and secondhand books, largely educational in nature.

In the coffeehouse, we serve Monnouth coffee, Oolong tea from the Himalayas and Valrhona hot chocolate. We sell delicious cakes from Blueberry Hill.

We also offer a delicious Ploughman’s Lunch as well as cream teas, all made from organic and home made ingredients.

We run courses in academic and practical subjects, from Latin to embroidery, from book-keeping to ukulele, from life-drawing to ancient philosophy. This is a place to read, think, debate and learn, to sharpen your mind and learn creative skills. Above all, we seek liberty, and our Latin motto, libertas per cultum, means ‘freedom through education’.


Events

Creative Writing Workshop for Complete Beginners

Ever thought about putting pen to paper, but didn’t know where to start? Learn to write stories with N Quentin Woolf at The Idler Academy, in the company of other first-time writers.

N Quentin Woolf is the writer and broadcaster behind Writers’ Mutual, The Writers’ Lab and The Next Step, as well as book groups, literary events, and one-off performances. He has helped Tim Key shape first lines for a novel on BBC Radio 4; his short fiction has been published and translated internationally, and performed at Sadler’s Wells; he writes on writing for Sentinel Literary Quarterly.

In this creative writing course, tailor-made for the Idler Academy, NQW brings to bear more than 800 hours’ experience of critiquing stories to deliver an engaging, inspiring, and insightful introduction to the craft of creative writing.


“Let me say how well you run the group. Others think so too. You manage well a disparate collection of strong characters, allowing space for discussion but not for ‘high-horses’ or cliques. Each meeting is subtle, skillful and illuminating – and very enjoyable.” – Leslie

The course covers creative writing fundamentals, including:


• Breaking the golden rule of writing.
• Conflict – what is it good for? Absolutely everything.
• Point of view, eyeline, and the enigma of Sherlock Holmes.
• Characterisation by stealth: a lesson from Raymond Chandler.
• The shape of fiction.
• It was a dark and stormy night.


Alongside the central topics there will be tips on developing the creative habit, how to use films to improve your understanding of structure, etc. There will also be opportunities to discuss areas of creative writing that are of particular interest to you, and receive one-to-one feedback on your writing.

“The course was most valuable. Thanks a lot.” – Roxanthe

Workshops held weekly between 11am and 1pm Tuesdays starting on the 25th of October at The Idler Academy. Pre-booking is essential – places are limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment. You may purchase/book the course through The Idler Academy.

You may also email workshops@nquentinwoolf.co.uk for more details or visit us at www.nquentinwoolf.com

You can hear N. Quentin Woolf weekly on Londonist Out Loud.

Date: Tuesday 10 January 2012 and every Tuesday for six weeks.

Time: 11am to 1pm.

Place: The Idler Academy, 81 Westbourne Park Road, London W2 5QH. Tel: 0207 221 5908.

Cost: £99. Click here to book your place.