The Writing Retreat: What, Where, Why and How? with Melanie Bishop

From the most prestigious and competitive artists’ colonies—like Yaddo, MacDowell, and Djerassi—to the A-I-R program in the national parks, from mentored retreats to the “design your own” model, writers increasingly depend upon retreats to sustain their writing practice. Some find they have better access to the muse while on retreats. Being stimulated by a new locale and landscape recharges the senses, restores inspiration, and often generates new material. What exactly should we expect from a retreat? What are the advantages of group vs. solo retreats? Where have writers historically found inspiration, sustenance and momentum, away from the distractions of their daily lives? Why do we need to go away? (Isn’t writing from home good enough?) How should I design a retreat if I have a day, a week, a month? Some residencies award retreats; others ask writers to pay; how do I write a competitive application for a place like Djerassi? What are the best ways to strategize for productivity, while also maximizing rejuvenation and renewal? The first half of this class will instruct about retreat options and resources; the second half will replicate aspects of a retreat in progress.