From Idea to Film: The Seed Story Lab
September 20 to September 25
We have always believed that the most powerful stories are born from observation, empathy and lived experience. Before a screenplay comes a feeling. Before cinema comes a story worth telling.
Earthsky Pictures with the Himalayan Writing Retreat, are proud to announce The Seed Story Lab—an annual residential story incubation program created to discover and nurture the unique voices of storytellers for Indian cinema.
Every year, 10 or fewer exceptional writers will be selected from across India through an open submission process. Applicants will submit an original story idea, and the chosen fellows will be invited to spend five days nurturing their stories in the Himalayas, away from the noise of everyday life, immersed in conversations, writing, reflection and mentorship.
This is not a competition. It is a space to think deeply, write honestly and discover stories that can move audiences across the world.
Led by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari (detailed profile below)
Throughout the retreat, filmmaker, artistic producer & author Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari will mentor the selected writers through the process of discovering the emotional heart of their stories and developing them into compelling cinematic narratives.
The writership will continue beyond the retreat with a structured Story Development Module, where writers will receive ongoing guidance from Ashwiny and the Earthsky Pictures creative team as they refine their projects towards feature films or series.
Who are we looking For?
Novelists.
Journalists.
Playwrights.
Poets.
Screenwriters.
Filmmakers.
Professionals from any walk of life.
More than a resume, you need curiosity.
You need empathy.
You need a story only you can tell.
Dear poet/writer, we’d love to know you better.
What are you writing?
In prose, you prefer…
To stay informed about articles related to poetry writing,
would you like to get emails from us?
We don’t spam and you can unsubscribe any time.
In prose, you prefer…
To stay informed about articles related to fiction writing,
would you like to get emails from us?
And we’re happy to throw in two free courses, too
We don’t spam and you can unsubscribe any time.
To stay informed about articles related to prose and poetry writing,
would you like to get emails from us?
And we’re happy to throw in two free courses, too
We don’t spam and you can unsubscribe any time.
To stay informed about articles related to non-fiction writing,
would you like to get emails from us?
And we’re happy to throw in two free courses, too
We don’t spam and you can unsubscribe any time.
What writers will experience
- Five inspiring days and nights in the Himalayas.
- Daily writing sessions and story workshops.
- One-on-one mentorship with Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari.
- Story development focused on character, emotion and cinematic storytelling.
- Peer collaboration and creative feedback.
- Select participants will receive post-retreat mentorship and development program with Earthsky Pictures.
- The opportunity for outstanding projects to be considered for further creative development.
This masterclass will be held at the Himalayan Writing Retreat in the Uttarakhand Himalayas. We are rated 5/5 from over 430 google reviews. CN Traveller also covered us in this article.
Application Deadline – 23rd August
About The Instructor
Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari is an Indian filmmaker, writer, and artistic producer whose work is celebrated for its emotional depth, nuanced storytelling, and profound understanding of human relationships.
A gold medallist in Applied Arts from Sophia Polytechnic, Mumbai, she spent over a decade in advertising, crafting compelling narratives for leading brands across India and Southeast Asia before transitioning to cinema.
Her acclaimed body of work includes Nil Battey Sannata, Amma Kanakku, Bareilly Ki Barfi, Panga, Ghar Ki Murgi, Ankahi (anthology), Faadu, and System. Across films and streaming, her storytelling has earned widespread critical acclaim and numerous national and international honours for its emotional authenticity and layered narratives.
Her debut novel, Mapping Love, further established her as a storyteller whose voice transcends mediums. Recognised by Forbes India in 2020 and 2024 as one of India’s self-made women, Ashwiny is the co-founder of Earthsky Pictures, where she develops original stories while championing emerging creative voices. Beyond filmmaking, she founded Roots, an initiative documenting the untold stories of Indian art, craft, and design. Guided by empathy, curiosity, and a deeply mindful perspective, through her films and creative initiatives, Ashwiny continues to champion stories rooted in the extraordinary lives of ordinary people.
Travel and Stay
The Himalayan Writing Retreat is built for writing and learning. We are rated 5-star on Google and Facebook.
Once here, you will be sharing a room with a fellow participant (unless we’ve confirmed a single). All essentials like food, hot water, towels etc. are provided. No hidden costs.
It can snow in winter. Weather can vary and the weather chart of Mukteshwar (12 km from the retreat) is here. A pair of sturdy walking shoes, some rain protection and an extra layer or two are always a good idea.
Our rooms are built to let nature in and inspire you. To see pictures of the rooms click here . To see pictures of the writing spaces click here.
Depending upon where you travel in from, you can reach us by road, train or air. Even if flying or taking a train, the final stretch is a drive, and the last 150 metres is a walk.
—
By Road
The retreat is a 370 km/9 hours drive from Delhi. If driving, we recommend you leave early. Note that parking at the retreat is on the road – we do not have any private parking. We have limited driver accommodation, so please check in advance.
Private Volvos and Sleeper buses ply between Delhi and Haldwani, which you can book on redbus. Make sure you pick a bus with a high (4+) rating. from Haldwani you will still need to cab it.
By Train
There are three trains a day from Delhi to Kathgodam, the nearest train station. These include the Kathgodam Shatabdi (train 12040). Some others also come in from Kolkata, Lucknow and Dehradun. From Delhi, Ranikhet Express is a convenient overnight train both ways, but finding tickets can be difficult.
Most people prefer to take the Kathgodam Shatabdi (Delhi dep: 6.20 AM, Kathgodam Arr: 11.40 AM). A cab from Kathgodam to Satkhol takes about 2.5 hrs / Rs. 2200 (more for a big car). Cabs are often shared by participants.
By Air
There are daily flights from Delhi to Pantnagar. A cab from Pantnagar to Satkhol takes about 3.5 hr / Approx INR 4K.
There are direct flights from Mumbai and Bangalore to Bareilly 3-4 days a week. Satkhol is a 5hr / INR 5.5k cab ride from Bareilly. (More for a big car). Cabs are often shared by participants.
FAQs
1. Why should I choose HWR Workshops?
Personal Attention: We don’t take more than 15 students in a class. You get a lot of personal attention and feedback. No classrooms of 20-30 people or one-way pre-recorded videos here.
Class Quality: For most courses, we filter our participants. You can’t just pay and sign up. We need to see a writing sample (in our application form) to ensure the class is of a uniform standard.
Cost per hour: Our courses are long and intense. As an example, the Creative Writing course is 18000 for 24 contact hours (3 days, 8 hours each day). The cost per hour = 750 / hour. That is comparable to many of the “cheaper” courses.
Quality of faculty: No lightweights here. Many of our faculty are award-winners. All are experts and great teachers. We don’t settle for average.
Feedback scores: Across courses, we are rated 4.5/5, or higher. You can read our reviews HERE.
2. Do I get a certificate of participation?
Yes, certificates are available on request.
3. Any discounts for students / other categories?
At the Himalayan Writing Retreat, we follow a strict No-Discount policy.
4. Is the workshop fee refundable?
Our cancellation policy is as follows:
For Physical Workshops:
- 100% refund (less 5% of total programme fee) on cancellation 40 days or more before the event start date.
- 50% refund if cancellation is between 20-40 days before start date.
- 0% refund if cancellation is less than 20 days before the start date.
For Online Workshops:
- 100% refund (less 5% of total programme fee) on cancellation 15 days or more before the event start date.
- 50% refund if cancellation is between 15 to 7 days before start date.
- 0% refund if cancellation is less than 7 days before the start date.
5. Is the Himalayan Writing Retreat a business or an NGO?
The Himalayan Writing Retreat is a social enterprise. It works closely and actively with two local NGOs in its community work initiatives: Chirag and Alaap. In 2020, HWR raised INR 6.1 Lakhs to support the Chirag School.
Have more questions? Feel free to write to us at info@himalayanwritingretreat.com or connect with us at +91 73035 16665 (call or WhatsApp).
Event Summary
Early Bird Price:
*Price includes 5 nights stay (twin shared), food and learning
*Regular price INR 44,000 + GST for a twin shared room after 30 Aug, 2026
*Strict Zero Discount Policy
*Twin shared Suite / room at the Himalayan Writing Retreat
The Himalayan Writing Retreat
Village Satkhol
District Nainital, Uttarakhand 263138
India
+ Google Map
+91 73035 16665
