A writing life
August 3 – August 9, 2025
Course leader: Tove Folkesson
Welcome to A Writing Life! A course for those who want to write, and continue to write after the course is over, write all summer, and maybe all their lives. We will work with the most important tools of writing; intuition and inspiration. We will do exercises and experiments that with annihilating sharpness end resistance that stands in the way of your writing, creation, creative and artistic life. So come prepared to be hit, by your own power. Feel free to bring dreams about a particular book project, a life event, or a fantasy that wants to be told. It is not a must, this course is for anyone who yearns for more creative freedom. Writing is interspersed with physical exercises such as yoga, meditations, and adventures in the village and in the countryside.
Course fee
The course fee is SEK 5,500
If Capellagården has to cancel the course, you always have the right to get back the course fee you have paid. If you need to withdraw your offer due to obstacles or illness, a refund will be made with 50% of the course fee.
Please note that board and lodging are not included in the course fee, but are booked and paid for separately after admission. Material costs for individual works may be added and paid on site.
Application and admission
Who can apply for the course?
No prior knowledge is required, admission is based on a personal letter. Experience is welcome but motivation weighs the most.
You who search Capellagården's summer courses must be 18 years of age, except for the children/youth courses.
How do I apply?
Link to application form.
ATTENTION! When you have submitted your application, you will only receive a confirmation on the screen. You will not receive an automatic confirmation of your application via email, but you have the option to fill in that you would like a copy of your application via email in the application form. After you have submitted your application, you will be redirected to Capellagården's website.
How is the selection of course participants done?
We apply continuous admission. When a course has enough applicants to fill course and reserve places, we close the possibility to apply for the course. Some courses quickly receive a large number of applicants. The selection for the course is based on your motivation in the application and the desire to have a spread in the group.
When will I receive a response to my application?
We will provide feedback on an ongoing basis. That is, the time it takes to receive notification can vary. Notification is sent via email. The first e-mails with notifications will be tentatively sent out during the month of February. Upon admission, information is given about payment and confirmation of course place. In case of non-payment, we offer the course place to the next person in line. In connection with admission, it is possible to book and pay for board and lodging.
Why is there a delay in answering my question?
Send your questions and concerns to sommarkurser@capellagarden.se. We will reply as soon as we can, so please be patient if it takes a few days.
Board and lodging
In connection with admission, you are offered possibility to book and pay for possible board and lodging during the course week. There are about ten different houses on the "storgården" with proximity to workshops and the Vingårdsalen. The rooms are varied with a simple standard, in the houses there is access to a shared kitchen, shower and toilet. Many houses/rooms thus have shared bathrooms. Full board is included for everyone who lives at Capellagården and our shared meals are largely based on vegetables from our organic garden.
Cost of board and lodging in a single room:
Board and accommodation for one week: SEK 5,300
Bed linen is included in the fee.
If Capellagården has to cancel the course, you always have the right to recover all fees for board and lodging. In case of cancellation, we charge an administrative fee of SEK 500.
We are usually able to offer rooms to anyone who wishes, but unfortunately cannot give any guarantee. If we are unable to offer you accommodation during your course period, you will receive information about this in your acceptance letter.
If you have arranged your own accommodation and want to eat together with your coursemates, it is fine to buy individual meals. The price is then:
Breakfast SEK 85, Lunch or dinner SEK 130, Cheese tray (end) SEK 160.
Coffee and shared coffee are included in the course fee
Bring to the course
Stationery by person. Preferably a yoga mat. Clothes to feel comfortable in, and something you can do yoga and move freely in.
Course start and end
Sunday, course start
On Sunday, the course starts for everyone. Arrival time and check-in takes place from 15.00 – 16.45. Meeting place in the school courtyard in front of the yellow mangård building. Afterwards, a simpler dinner is served in the Vingårdsalen. Roll call and joint start together with everyone on your course takes place at 18.00, also in the courtyard.
Course week
The course day starts at 8.30 and ends at 16.30. On certain days, you may be invited to a joint meeting/lecture in the morning or evening. Work in workshops and the garden is also permitted outside of teaching hours according to our workshop policy, which you will get well in place.
Friday, the last day of the course
During the day, workshop cleaning and course evaluation are included, followed by a joint tour of the workshops. The course ends with a joint final evening in the courtyard.
Saturday, the return day
Breakfast is served and uCheck-out takes place no later than 11.00.
Language
The language of instruction on the course is Swedish. However, summaries in English may appear.
Photo: Staffan Löwstedt
Tove Folkesson
Tove Folkesson is a writer, musician and playwright living in eastern Öland. She debuted with Kalmar's huntresses in 2014 and has since published six novels and four plays, worked as a cultural writer and led courses in creative writing.