"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: 2009

The staff of WRW is excited to announce that, for 2009, we are offering TWO 10-day premiere sessions, both featuring our core staff and guest writers, agents, and editors. In addition, because we've opened two sessions, we're cutting registration to a lower number per session allowing an even more intimate and intense experience.

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.

38th WRW August 22 through 30, 2009 Guest staff includes Edgar Award Winning author TJ MacGregor (Running Time, Category Five, Kill Time, Pinnacle Books), author/instructor Les Edgerton (Finding Your Voice, Hooked, WD Books), NYT Bestseller Will Lavender (Obedience), WRW Grad Barbara Bentley (A Dance With the Devil), TV writer Julie Thacker-Scully (The Simpsons, The Pitts), literary agent Donald Maass (Donald Maass Literary Agency) and more staff TBA 37th WRW May 29 through June 7, 2009 (REGISTRATION FULL FOR MAY/JUNE) Guest staff includes author Diana Rowland (Mark of the Demon, Bantam Dell), author/instructor Les Edgerton (Finding Your Voice, Hooked, WD Books), WRW Grads and authors Jack Getze (Big Numbers, Big Money) and Kimberly Frost (Would-Be Witch, Berkley), literary agent Stephen Barbara (Foundy Lit Agency), literary agent Cricket Freeman (August Literary Agency), and WRW co-founder and author Gail Provost Stockwell. Both sessions feature our fabulous WRW Core staff, Jason Sitzes, Lorin Oberweger, Roman White, and Brenda Windberg.

WRW 2008 staff included 2007 Agatha Award Winning and best-selling mystery author Nancy Pickard, and WRW Grad and Rocky Mountain Writer of Year author Christine Goff, Literary Agent Matt Bialer (Sanford J. Greenburger Agency), Literary agent Cherry Weiner, author Sheila Williams, and NYT best-selling author Will Lavender. Plus, a hour-long phone Q&A session with medical thriller author Michael Palmer, and as always our amazing core WRW staff, editor-in-residence Lorin Oberweger, Roman White, and director Jason Sitzes.

Thanks go to author best-selling 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.

WRW Fall Retreat 2009

Each autumn, WRW invites our graduates to attend a special seven-day retreat. The past many years we've taken our retreat to New England and created special memories. This year we move back to the West, South West to be exact, and gorgeous Arizona. And, for the first time, we welcome graduates of the Donald Maass Breakout Novel Intensives.

We're also adding a weekend prior to the week retreat we're calling "Get Your Pitch Together", an intensive weekend working on the marketing aspect of your manuscript. Visit the Fall Retreat page for all the information.

Our site this year is the historic COD Ranch just outside Tuscon, Arizona.

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 August and September 2009 projects.

Ghostwriting

Professional ghostwriting for select fiction and nonfiction projects.

Client referrals available.

Scholarship Information

Robin Hardy Scholarship

Congrats to Darcy Maloney our 2009 Spring Robin Hardy Scholarship winner.

Congrats to Maya Sloan, our 2008 Robin Hardy Scholarship winner (now represented by Sandford J Greenburger Agency and soon-to-be published by Pocket Books).

Gary Provost Scholarship

Congrats to Liam Galvin, recipient of the 2009 Gary Provost Scholarship.

NEWS From the Director

WRW 2009 is open for two ten-day sessions. Our May/June workshop has filled, but the August workshop still has spaces remaining and stellar line-up of staff... first time or many time, we look forward to working with more of you than ever in 2009. The beauty of two workshops is a smaller waiting list, and a more intimate experience as we cut our registration numbers to 30 (instead of mid- to almost 40 the past couple of years). The space is harder to get, but the rewards are even greater. Visit our retreat page, and register now!

WRW 2008 thanks go to literary agent Matt Bialer, agent Cherry Weiner, authors Chris Goff, Will Lavender, and Sheila Williams, plus a phone Q&A with fabulous WRW friend and medical thriller author Michael Palmer. As always... love and thanks go to our incredible WRW core staff. What an amazing week for returning and first-time folks... the journey from beginning to end was quite a ride.

WRW 2007 was again a smashing success. 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). 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.

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 2009 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.