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Writers
Retreat Workshop
Your novel. Your workshop. Your memories.
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"Somebody
like you... new to the writing game...dazzled by hope and uncertainty
and a glut of questions about writing, will get his or her work
published in the coming months. It might as well be you."
--Gary
Provost (late WRW founder)
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WRW is an exciting time. These were ten of the best days of my life. In fact, on the second full day I phoned my wife to say that even if the workshop were to end right then, I would have already received my money's worth. -- Bill L., TN |
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Read
more comments from participants and staff of Writers Retreat Workshop.
We're
also happy to put you in contact with someone from your area that's attended
this unique workshop for novelists of all genres.
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New
Orleans Update
Writers
Retreat Workshop has relocated out of New Orleans. We are now in
the vibrant and diverse city of Louisville, Kentucky.
We accepted donations
for the both the American Red Cross and the Rebuild the Coast Fund,
which was started by John and Renee Grisham for the Mississippi
coast. The Rebuild the Coast Fund raised $8.8 million for rebuilding.
We encourage you to continue contributing as you can where there
is need. The Gulf Coast region struggles even today. Thank you for
sharing.
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Visit our
photo page
for past WRW events memorable moments.
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36th
Writers Retreat Workshop: May 23 through June 1, 2008
Our premiere annual 10-day workshop and retreat featuring
the fabulous WRW Core staff, visiting authors, agents, and industry
professionals. An intense week of story structure workshops, 1-1
meetings, lectures, writing exercises, and lifelong memories...
all revolving around you, your novel, and your writing life.
ONLY
A FEW SPACES REMAIN.
Deadline for New Student Scholarship
extended to Feb 22, 2008.
Visit the Retreat
page for more information.
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36th
WRW May 26 - June 1, 2008
Marydale Retreat Center
Erlanger, KY
(just south of Cincinnati, OH)
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Contact
us to join our WRW mailing list. |
Staff
includes 2007 Agatha Award Winning and bestselling mystery
author Nancy Pickard, and WRW Grad/NYT Bestselling (as of
Feb 2008!) romance author, Janet Chapman. Literary Agent
Matt Bialer (Sanford J. Greenburger Agency) and WRW co-founder
and author Gail Provost Stockwell,
and as always our amazing core WRW staff, editor-in-residence
Lorin Oberweger, Roman
White, and director Jason Sitzes.
More details and guests TBA.
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Thanks
go to author bestselling
author Jennifer Crusie,
author Christine Goff
(WRW Grad and Rocky Mountain Writer of the Year winner)
, Lauren Mosko (Editor: Writers
Digest Novel and Short Story Writer's Market,) literary agents Meredith
Bernstein (Meredith Bernstein Literary Agency), and Cameron
McClure (Donald Maass Literary Agency),
and the entire WRW crew (Lorin Oberweger, Roman White, and Jason
Sitzes) for an amazing WRW 2007. See comments for this and all WRW
events.
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WRW
2008 Autumn Writing Retreat (Reserved for
WRW Graduates only)
FALL
2008... dates TBA
Each
autumn, WRW invites past grads to attend a special seven-day retreat
in majestic New England. This year, we are pleased to announce our
first visit to the beautiful and tranquil Wisdom House in Litchfield,
CT.
Known for its
breathtaking landscape, artists and writers have visited Wisdom
House for decades. Close to the historic town of Litchfield, CT.,
there are ample opportunities for social gatherings in addition
to the important solitary time spent between yourself and your writing.
WRW Family members will have a private room,
three full meals daily, and ample time to work. We eat together,
laugh together, write together, and live together for seven days.
WRW staff members will be on hand to run optional daily Diagnostic
and Troubleshooting sessions. A perfect six month follow-up to WRW
2008. In those chill November breezes, the warmth of a family of
writers will take you out of your daily routine and will fill you
with inspiration. Remember
that space is very limited.
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WRW
Professional Editorial Services
Editorial
Interested in a professional manuscript evaluation
before sending to an agent, or a thorough report to cut down the
number of rejections you receive? Our Editorial Services feature
partial to complete manuscript evaluations, general writing instruction
(for short story critiques, etc.), and editorial assistance for
select nonfiction projects.
"I
learned more from this evaluation from Jason than
I learned from four years of college, three years
as an editor/proofreader, ten years as a freelance
writer, the publishing of a book, and attending one
of the best writer's conferences in the country. I
can't recommend this service enough. It's worth decades
of practical experience."
--Tom W., San Diego
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"I
had the opportunity to work with Jason Sitzes and
found him...a creative, talented editor who excels
at making useful suggestions regarding story line
and characterization. I found his ideas and prodding
essential to significantly improving my novel, Reign
of the Rat. My publisher agreed. We plan to work
with him on concurrent novels. In addition, working
with Jason opened up new paths that were exciting
and fun to explore."
--Dr. Gil Smolin, San Francisco, Reign
of the Rat, publication date 2005
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Ghostwriting
Professional ghostwriting for select fiction and
nonfiction projects.
Recent client referrals available.
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WRW
Staff and Participant Publications
Who has participated in WRW past and present? Peruse
and order from the collection of books authored by former and current
staff and students of WRW.
Featuring the works of the late WRW founder, Gary Provost. If you've
never read Gary's 100
Ways To Improve Your Writing, you must. It's small,
it's thorough, and can still be found year after year selling strong
in national chain bookstores. Also, a must-have for any writer is
Gary's acclaimed Make
Your Words Work.
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WRW
Products
The complete line of WRW products including Gary's
Audio Novel Writing Workshop and the 6-hour Video Novel
Workshop. Books, CDs, and all WRW registration information can
be found at our store. Click on the Products page once you arrive
at our store front. |
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Scholarship
Information
Robin
Hardy Scholarship Application
Apply now for the New Student Scholarship for WRW
2008. Download
application form here. Deadline is February 22, 2008.
Entry is only $15.00 (plus manuscript sample) for one full tuition
scholarship.
Congrats to
Diane LaCombe, our 2007 Robin Hardy Scholarship winner.
Gary Provost Scholarship
Congrats to Sally Shires, recipient of
the 2008 Gary Provost Scholarship.
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WRW Newsletter and Informational
Downloads
2004
WRW Family Newsletter Included:
A message from Gail, Message from the Major (late Gary Provost
from his book Make Your Words Work), novel excerpts from 2004
Gary Provost Scholarship winner Jo Kohn and 2003 Robin Hardy Scholarship
winner Larry Kay, plus articles from last year's participants Philip
Sharp (England) and Christine Smith (Canada), an article from Editorial
Director Lorin Oberweger, and director Jason Sitzes. Plus, Kudos
updating the latest news from past and present WRW staff and students.
2003 WRW Family
Newsletter available. Included in the 2003 issue: Gail's
Reflections by Gail Provost Stockwell, and a Message from the
Major, Gary Provost (from his book The Freelance Writer's Handbook).
Also; Can Your Novel Pass this Test? by Elizabeth Lyon, Don't
Settle for First Thoughts by Jason Sitzes, A Class of One:
Returning Student's Perspective by JO Kohn, and On Fate and
Hyperbole by Melissa Chipman. Plus, a full page of student/staff
kudos, and segments from novels-in-progress written by 2003 Gary Provost
Scholarship winner Dennis Bounds and 2002 Robin Hardy Scholarship
winner Melissa Ryan Chipman.
2002 WRW Family
Newsletter |
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NEWS
From the Director
WRW 2008 has
only a handful of spaces remaining. Once again, the returning student
numbers are overwhelming new participant registrants... so if you're
still thinking about attending WRW, sign up today! We've also extended
the New Student Scholarship deadline
to Feb 22, 2008. See above for registration details.
WRW 2007 was
again a smashing success. In the weeks to come we'll upload photos
and comments from our 20+ returning students, and our talented fourteen
first-timers. An amazing group, incredible staff, and perfect weather
made these ten days in Erlanger unforgettable (even though we allowed
a few "too many" to attend... registration numbers will
be fewer in 2008 so register early). As always, we look ahead to
WRW 2008 once again in Erlanger, KY. If you've never joined a WRW
session, or haven't visited in some time, we look forward to helping
you reach new writing heights within the next year. Thanks to everyone
(agent Meredith Bernstein, agent Cameron McClure, author Jenny Crusie,
author Frank Strunk, author Jack Getze, author Susan Goodwill, Writers
Digest Books editor Lauren Mosko, the core WRW staff, and every
participant) for making this a one-of-a-kind experience.
Two new additions to WRW 2007 staff included Susan Goodwill and
Jack "John" Getze. Susan and John are both frequent WRW
attendees now with debut novels in '07. They will joined us to discuss
their Writer's Journey from a dream, to a manuscript, to a few manuscripts,
to an agent and a contract. Susan is the author of Brigadoom:
A Kate London Mystery
and
Jack is the author of Big
Numbers .
WRW
2006 ended with lifelong friends made, again. We receive email monthly
with news from grads that they have acquired an agent, signed a
contract, or conducted their first book signing. WRW "headquarters"
packed up and left the city of New Orleans for higher ground. We
left some roots there, and will visit often. We're located in the
city of Louisville... believe it or not, a city with many similarities
to New Orleans. They say Louisville is a hidden jewel, and I'm finding
some unique people and places here. Please note our new contact
information on the registration page.
We're
working with some exciting writers in our editorial
service, and a couple of interesting projects in the ghostwriting
arena.
Browse books available by grads and former/current staff members.
Our Store Page has some new products listed, including workshop/retreat
registrations. Thanks for visiting the site, and let us know if
we can help you in any way.
WRW 2008 offers another promising 10 days of intensive learning,
making contacts, exploring your novel and yourself, and creating
memories to last a lifetime. If you're thinking of joining us, don't
take the chance of missing out. We plan to fill again this year.
Give yourself this gift.
When
WRW 2005 kicked off, with Ralph Keyes challenging us to write from
those places we fear, I watched the commitment in the eyes of our
particpants. That full classroom of writers ready for something
new. Ready to spend 10 days in their work. We'd begun. On Monday
night, Dean Koontz talked to us from his home in California, and
challenged us to work harder. Sheila Williams, Chris Goff, Elizabeth
Lyon, our agents Rachel and Regina... all working 1-1 with participants.
Lorin's fabulous editorial feedback and Roman's brainstorming sessions
rounded out the intimate interaction. My morning classes, based
on Gary Provost's workshop, set off light bulbs from writers who
had worked for months and years on their novels, and needed everything
put before them in WRW fashion. From our daily 7am Early Bird Sessions
to our late-night Night Owl Sessions, WRW 2005 was a success, as
our comments and photos show.
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Book Spotlight
Gail Provost Stockwell is the cofounder of Writers
Retreat Workshop. Almost two decades ago, she and Gary penned
a young adult novel that touched the lives of thousands... kids
and adults. It is now updated and revised for today's young adults
and those who love an amazing story. Funny, heartwrenching, and
inspiring, David and Max tells the gripping story of a
grandson, a grandfather, the Holocaust, and basketball. Do your
friends and children a favor and tell them about this one. Also
available through the Jewish
Publication Society.
"An intriguing hunt kept upbeat by the two detectives’
humorous and lively conversations … Radiating through this fast-paced
mystery and softening its sharp-edged realities is the warm relationship
between David and Max, whose mutual affection reads with refreshing
naturalness."
——Starred review, Booklist
Finalist for the National Jewish Book Award for Children’s
Literature
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Newest
Releases from WRW Current or Past Participants and Staff |
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