It’s been a long three years, friends. How about writing for hours with a friendly, no-pressure group on a beautiful Alaska island in the summer time? Throw in delicious home-cooked food, long walks, good reading and maybe a nap. I am overjoyed to get to post that we are invited back to Yukon Island.
This is retreat is open to both men and women. It’s all about restoration, reflection, process and skill-building. It’s a no-judgement, no-homework, memoir workshop focused on techniques that stoke creativity, build writing fluency, hone listening/editing skills and develop revision strategies. You’ll come away with seeds for longer essays as well as concrete, tested guidance on the writing process.
This workshop is well-suited for creative thinkers who write or edit for a living as well as recreational creative writers or any storyteller looking for new ways to get started or reboot. Our work together is meant to help you think more clearly about your audience, better say what you mean, and find the most resonant parts of the story you are trying to tell. You will leave relaxed, inspired and well-fed.
I’m a huge believer in a process that includes focused work time and deliberate time spent NOT WRITING. That means, when we’re not working together, we are walking, thinking, reading, reflecting and, yes, resting.
Yukon is located in outer Kachemak Bay, about 9 miles south of Homer, a short boat ride away. It has been inhabited for hundreds of years, with a number of archeological sites that date back to the prehistory of the bay. Our retreat will be held at the lovely, woman-owned and operated Yukon Island Retreat Center. Oh, and bonus, your cell phone only works if you walk to the end of the island.
The retreat is July 28-30. The workshop cost covers travel by water taxi from Homer to the island, two nights lodging, all the glorious local food and writing instruction. The workshop fee is $750. (Fifty percent is required to reserve a spot, the other half is due July 28th, 30 days before the workshop. After 30 days, the workshop is not refundable, but you can choose to give your spot to someone.) I can offer a discount opening for someone who is certified and would be willing to teach restorative yoga.
Gretchen, our host, is an amazing cook and can accommodate most food allergies. The lodging is dormitory style, with a few singles that you can request. There is running water, outhouses and a banya for bathing. If you have specific questions about the facilities or accessibility, please write me. This workshop is small — there are only 10 slots total — and fills quickly. To check availability and reserve a spot, send me an email.
