WriteAway Spring Writer’s Retreat: Events Schedule

Friday, May 19

Afternoon (3:00 and on...): Arrival and check-in

 

5:30     Welcome (wombat not included)

            Participant Introductions

            Faculty Introductions

Mini-Intros:

6:30     The Art of Story Structure (Hands-on “art” projects) – Ami (30 min)

7:00     One Page “Attunement”: Goal setting and self-definition (we are writers!) through epistolary practice.– Shawna (30 min)

7:30     Tripping the Light Ekphrastic: Welcome to the weird, wonderful world of ekphrastic writing. – Yi Shun (30 min)

There will be s'mores... Oh yes. There will be s'mores...

8:00     Open Mic / Wine and Snacks / Mingling (Campfire, weather permitting)

9:30     Night Writer: Step into the dark recesses of your mind for this dream-narrative night-writing mini session with guided body meditation. -- Shawna (30 min)

Saturday, May 20

8:30     Breakfast

9:00     Private Consults

9:15     Private Consults

9:30     Session I: Mining Life and Other Taboo Practices / Shawna (1.5 hours) “You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better,” says Anne Lamott. Life informs art, but where do we take inspiration, and where do we draw the line? Practice diving deeper into true narratives whether for use in fiction or nonfiction. (1.5 hours)

11:00   Session II: “Help! I’m in a Fug!” What to Do When You Get Stuck (Characters, plot, and everything else) / Yi Shun (1.5 hours)  From characters to plot lines, sometimes writers get stuck. It's not a writer's block, it's a temporary waystation. Learn ways to get out of the fug, and how to quickly move on from your hiccup.

12:30   Lunch

1:00     Private Consults

1:15     Private Consults

1:30     Session III: Finding Your Voice / Shawna (1.5 hours) Whether writing to a genre or from a character’s perspective, finding the right voice can make or break your piece. Experiment with different points of view and narrative techniques using expressive writing practices in order to find the “just right” voice for any writing project.

3:00     Session IV: Revision from the Editor's Desk / Yi Shun (1.5 hours)  Ever wonder what happens over there in Mordor--I mean, editor-land? In this session, you'll learn what editors look for: What makes our ears go up; what makes our ears lie flat in apprehension; what makes us salivate and what makes us pant in anticipation. (Maybe it's not Mordor, but it can be a zoo.)

4:30     Session V: Five Easy Filters / Ami (1.5 hours) A layered approach to building multi-faceted, memorable characters with distinctive voices. Bring a scene from your work in progress and engage in a variety of exercises to help you lose your voice... so your characters can find theirs.

6:00     Dinner

7:00     Open Mic / Snacks / Mingling

9:30     Pajama Party / Movie Night Featuring one of Ami’s favorite writing-related movies; a little-known comedy that tackles such things as an artist’s responsibility, writer-as-provocateur, and what constitutes taking things too far. Hopefully, useful discussion will ensue. If not, at least there will be popcorn...



Sunday, May 21

10:00   Brunch

            Wrap-up / Final remarks

Checkout by Noon

Note from Ami and Kim: (Events and topics are subject to change. Just sayin'...)