"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)

Writers Retreat Workshop: 2013

June 14 - 23
Villa Maria Retreat and Conference Center
Frontenac, MN

Registration to reserve your space
(limited spaces available)

42nd WRW June 14 - 23, 2013 Plans for the 42nd Writers Retreat Workshop are underway. Early registration is open with a significant discount available until Dec 1, 2012. We're still working to confirm staff for our 2013 workshop (with full announcement arriving Jan 2013), but we can confirm the return of author and popular instructor, Les Edgerton. Also, as always, featuring our core WRW staff and many more TBA.

Our very special 2012 WRW 25th included our long-time friend writer/instructor Elizabeth Lyon (Manuscript Makeover, Writer's Compass Series), literary agent Meg Ruley (Jane Rotrosen Agency), Flux Publishing acquisitions editor Brian Farrey (also Brian, as author of the YA novel With Or Without You, won the 2012 Minnesota Young People's Literature Award)... and featured our brilliant core WRW staff: editor/author Lorin Oberweger, director Jason Sitzes, co-founder Gail Provost Stockwell and editor/author Brenda Windberg. We also welcomed via Skype sessions our good friends: literary agent Donald Maass, WRW Grad and author Kimberly Frost, WRW Grad and author Jack Getze, WRW Grad and author Christine Goff, and from Australia WRW long-time staff member author Marg McAlister.

Our incredible 2011 WRW featured: Kimberly Frost (WRW grad and acclaimed author of A Southern Witch series), Carolyn Wheat (instructor, mystery author and author of How To Write Killer Fiction), literary agent Lindsay Ribar (Sanford J Greenburger), editor representing Random House, Andrea Robinson, author and instructor Matt Brock, WRW co-founder and author Gail Provost Stockwell, and author, instructor and WRW director Jason Sitzes, and student/staff liaison Darcy Cleaver Maloney.

WRW 2010 included: NYT author Michael Palmer, Daniel Palmer (Delirious), NYT author and WRW Grad Janet Chapman (Wedding the Highlander, Moonlight Warrior), Tor/Forge editor Kristin Sevick, and literary agent Katharine Sands (Sarah Jane Frymann Agency).

WRW 2009 (two sessions) included author Diana Rowland, author Les Edgerton, WRW Grad and authors Jack Getze and Kimberly Frost, literary agents Stephen Barbara (Foundry), lit agent Cricket Freeman (August Lit), lit agent Donald Maass (Maass Agency), author TJ MacGregor, author Will Lavender, author Brett Witter, and WRW Grad and author Barbara Bentley.

WRW Fall Retreat 2013 TBA

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? Need a professional core WRW staff member to walk with you through every element of your novel (by mail or a 1-1 personal course)? Our Editorial Services feature partial to complete manuscript evaluations, general and advanced writing instruction, and editorial assistance for select nonfiction projects

NOW SCHEDULING fall and winter 2012 projects. Contact us for more information.

Ghostwriting

Professional ghostwriting for select fiction and nonfiction projects.

Client referrals available.

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.

Be sure to take advantage of our discount on Gary's CD and DVD.

Scholarship Information

Robin Hardy Scholarship

Scholarship information for first-time students announced soon.

Gary Provost Scholarship

Congrats to Carol Dougherty, recipient of the 2012 Gary Provost Scholarship.

WRW Newsletter and Informational Downloads

Returning: WRW 2012 Newsletter coming soon!

2008 WRW Family Newsletter Included: Can Writing Be Taught by WRW founder Gary Provost; Pushing Through the Rainbow by WRW Director Jason S Sitzes; A Letter to Gail by author Vonda Skelton; One Man's Outlet by syndicated columnist and WRW Grad David Chartrand; novel excerpts by scholarship winners Diane Lacombe and Sally Shires; and staff/student 2008 Kudos.

2007 WRW Family Newsletter

2006 WRW Family Newsletter

2005 WRW Family Newsletter

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