The Daily Flow Of The 2022 Writing Retreat
Sunrise:
Wake up to the sunrise over the ocean. It’s truly spectacular!
Wake up to the sunrise over the ocean. It’s truly spectacular!
Breakfast: 8:15-9:00 am
Blueberry muffins, fresh fruit or berries, oatmeal, yogurt, eggs and bacon, fruit juice, pancakes, a great selection of teas, and freshly-ground are coffee prepared by our fabulous chef, Cas Dowden.
Blueberry muffins, fresh fruit or berries, oatmeal, yogurt, eggs and bacon, fruit juice, pancakes, a great selection of teas, and freshly-ground are coffee prepared by our fabulous chef, Cas Dowden.
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Morning Session: 9:15-12:30
As we move into our sessions, it is important to think of ourselves as storytellers. I was fortunate enough to have worked with one of the best editors in the publishing world. I wrote five books with him. I remember when he said to me, "Emily, don't ever become an author. Always be a storyteller." At first, startled by this remark, I understood what he meant. As a writer, my primary goal is not to worry about fame and fortune, nor is it of any great value to fall in love with words alone. My goal is to write a damn good story. Why do I tell you this while discussing the Daily Flow of the Retreat? So that you understand the fun, flow, and passion of my Retreats aren't about writing alone. The week is imbued with the mystery, energy, and purpose of the storyteller. |
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I recently came across this definition of the Storyteller. "Storytelling is an ancient and intimate tradition between the storyteller and her audience.
The storyteller and the listeners are physically close, often seated together in a circle.Through the telling of the story, people become psychically close, developing a connection to one another through the communal experience. The storyteller reveals, and thus shares, herself through her stories and the listeners reveal and share themselves through their reception of the story. Together they experience the empowerment of being a part of the creative process."
The storyteller and the listeners are physically close, often seated together in a circle.Through the telling of the story, people become psychically close, developing a connection to one another through the communal experience. The storyteller reveals, and thus shares, herself through her stories and the listeners reveal and share themselves through their reception of the story. Together they experience the empowerment of being a part of the creative process."
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This is the experience of my Retreats. It is a moving, exciting, fun, and profound week where we do some great writing as we invite the ancient storytellers and the Muse herself into our Circle. And so we begin each morning by opening our Circle to welcome in the power of our sisterhood of creative women and storytellers.
Now, onto writing on the Retreat! We have two writing sessions a day. In the morning and after the afternoon break. We use prompts, images and various writing exercises I’ve designed to stimulate your imagination, open to new characters, and develop your stories. Writing in the Circle is a surprisingly empowering experience. With everyone scribbling away, your imagination is freer, worry fades and you write, write, write. Every day, you'll have this experience! After writing for up to 60 minutes, we read and critique stories. Since most of the writing is first draft, critiquing takes the form of “What If?” and "What I'd like to know is..." as well as other powerful critiquing tools.
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** Be sure to read this if you have not worked with Emily yet. Good Critiquing Always Inspires. It Never Deflates.**
Lunch and Personal Time: After lunch until 2:30 or 3:00 depending on our plans.
Cas provides us with a variety of choices for lunch that keeps us guessing each day… what wonders will await us after we’re finished with our Morning Session?
Cas provides us with a variety of choices for lunch that keeps us guessing each day… what wonders will await us after we’re finished with our Morning Session?
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After lunch, we have two-and-a-half hours of personal time:
2. Drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain. 3. Drive through Acadia with stops along the way. 5. Explore the town, shop, indulge in a must-have Bar Harbor ice cream cone. |
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Taking off on the Naturalist Cruise in 2019!
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Afternoon Session: 3:30-5:30 pm
Some days we write more on our stories, we read and critique, and some afternoons I come up with a surprise creative experience!
Some days we write more on our stories, we read and critique, and some afternoons I come up with a surprise creative experience!
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Dinner: 5:30-7:15
Dinners are always a feast! Cas is great at accommodating special dietary needs, such as gluten-free, vegetarian, low-salt, shellfish allergy, etc. After dinner, we come together in casual evening gatherings for open readings (up to 20 minutes). This can be something you’ve written in the past or on the retreat. The open readings are for our listening pleasure and are highlights of the retreat. I always have some surprise events for an evening Circle or two!
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Listening to open readings at an earlier retreat.
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The Night:
When the evening session is over, take time to immerse yourself in the magic of the Maine starlit skies and moonlight ocean. |
