About us
The Reader Berlin is a platform for writers of all nationalities, offering community, networking and author services.
Since 2011, we’ve been hosting creative writing workshops, seminars, literary events, and author get-togethers. Our tutors are award-winning authors and publishing professionals who offer expert insight, advice and encouragement to emerging writers. In the past few years, we’ve worked with hundreds of participants from all over the world, many of whom have gone on to publish work of their own. If you’ve never written a story before, come and have a go. If writing is everything to you, then we’d very much like to meet you too. We take it – but not ourselves – seriously.
Don't forget - to reserve a place on one of our workshops, you need to email hello@thereaderberlin.com, RSVPing on Meet Up is not enough!
Berlin is our home and we’re very much part of the international community of writers here. Writing can be joyous but it is solitary; we aim to bring writers together, to share contacts and build bridges to the publishing industry. Alongside readings and our programme of courses, we offer one-to-one mentoring, manuscript assessment, and editing services. Our tutors have taught in MFA programmes, publish books, write for international publications, and contribute to journals and magazines; their guidance and experience is invaluable.
We work with all kinds of writers – from those just starting out to published authors. Our alumni have won awards, started their own magazines, been published in print and online, gone on to undertake Creative Writing MAs and MFAs, and won publishing deals with major publishing houses.
What started life as a single workshop in the cellar of a Kreuzberg bookshop has evolved to encompass The Berlin Writing Prize, Writing Retreats on the Pelion peninsula in Greece, a series of print anthologies and a writers’ festival. At the heart of what we do is the belief that writers can and should help one another, and that with one another’s support we can become better writers.
Check out the testimonials from our participants here.
Upcoming events
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Writing Retreat in Greece
Studios Anna Karra, Vourvourou, Greece, GRJoin two award-winning authors in beautiful Halkidiki for a week of writing heaven!
https://www.inkandsaltretreats.com/2026-retreats/weekfiveThis is the week where you set your own timetable and write at your own pace. Of course, breakfast and one-to-ones* (two per participant, one with Victoria and one with Jane) will be happening at set times, but otherwise you’ll be free to work on your project, explore the countryside, or sit sipping coffee and writing to your own rhythm. Over the course of the retreat, there will be plenty of optional get togethers led by the tutors where you can read from your work, talk about the challenges you’re facing, share resources and tips, or undertake writing exercises. Victoria and Jane will host a session dedicated to navigating the publishing industry and there will also be a group reading and the chance to hear your tutors share their work-in-progress.
A free day is programmed for those wishing to take a day trip to the island, to rest on the beach, or explore the local area.
*before the retreat begins, participants are invited to email a text of up to 3000 words to each tutor to discuss during the mentoring session#### COSTS & BOOKING
With a variety of accommodation options to suit everyone – Anna Karra is a dream destination. The ten studios are set in a stunning garden of olive trees, hammocks, sun beds, shady writing tables, and our very own beach! The garden has a large shaded area where we’ll conduct our workshops by the sea, and a covered space for rainy days. A snack bar is open throughout the day and serves up drinks and light meals for you to purchase.
All apartments have a balcony or terrace facing the bay of Vourvourou, and a fully equipped kitchen.
We offer the choice between a private studio, private apartment or a shared apartment.
Private studios have a double bedroom, private balcony, and separate kitchen with a small sofa.
Most shared apartments are for two people, and have one double bedroom and a separate kitchen/living room with a double sofa bed.
Private apartment: €1,345, early bird €1,245
Private studio: €1,145, early bird €1,045
Shared apartment: €895, early bird €795
Please be aware, we’ve a limited number of places and rooms, all bookable on a first-come-first-served basis.
Our early bird offer for week five runs until June 15th.#### Included:
Welcome dinner
Breakfast every day
Individual mentoring sessions with Jane and Victoria (one with each tutor per participant, per week)
Various optional group events, including knowledge-sharing sessions, readings, etc.#### Not Included:
Airfares
Lunch & dinner
Transfers from Thessaloniki airport to Vourvourou
contact@inkandsaltretreats.com
Check out our insta for testimonials and inspiring images of our spring retreats:
https://www.instagram.com/inkandsaltretreats/### Victoria Gosling
VICTORIA GOSLING is a British author. In 2021, her debut novel BEFORE THE RUINS was published by Serpent’s Tail (UK) and Henry Holt (USA). It received a star in Publisher Weekly and was favourably reviewed by The New York Times, The New York Journal of Books, LitHub, and Kirkus.
Her second novel BLISS AND BLUNDER was published by Serpent’s Tail in August 2023. It was a Guardian book of the day and a TLS, Grazia and Good Housekeeping summer pick. Chosen by Spotify as one of their Best Indie Fiction Audiobooks and put on their Fiction Playlist, BLISS AND BLUNDER has also been optioned for TV.
Victoria is the founder of The Reader Berlin and the Berlin Writing Prize. She is the recipient of a Hawthornden fellowship and has lectured at Gladstone’s Library. She has taught workshops for major UK literary festivals, for the Arvon Foundation and in prisons as part of Penned Up.
These days, she divides her time between Wiltshire and Berlin.### Jane Flett
JANE FLETT is a queer Scottish author based in Berlin. Her debut novel, FREAKSLAW, was published in 2024 (Penguin/Zando). It was a USA Today Bestseller and hailed by CrimeReads as “possibly one of the defining novels of the century.” Her second novel, WELCOME TO THE CHAOSKAMPF will be published by Penguin in 2026.
Jane’s poetry has appeared in POETRY Magazine and the Best British Poetry, while her short fiction has been commissioned for BBC Radio and highly commended in the Bridport Prize. She’s written for the Guardian, The Times, and Electric Literature, and is a recipient of the Scottish Book Trust New Writer Award and a Berlin Senate Stipend.
Jane has taught workshops for the Reader Berlin since 2013. She’s been a guest tutor at Bard College and CIEE, and is the founder of the reading series Queer Stories and The Reading Berlin. She is also a cellist and tarot reader.1 attendee
Past events
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