WRW Fall Writing Retreat

For the first time, open to graduates of both the Writers Retreat Workshop and now graduates of the Donald Maass Breakout Novel Intensive Workshops.

We are combining an intensive pitch weekend workshop with our annual autumn writing retreat. You can participate in just the week, just the weekend pitch workshop, or join us for both at a discounted rate.

November 14-22, 2009

Register now... space is limited.



Each autumn, WRW invites past grads 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.

Our site this year is the historic COD Ranch, restored and owned by Steve Milkin. Milkin says of the site he saved from near ruin, "When I returned to Tucson Arizona after 20 years I found that the great old guest ranches that I once loved had all become exclusive spas or tourist attractions. I bought and restored the historic C.O.D. Ranch, which is is now a premiere southern Arizona retreat center. Share the unique spirit of the Arizona Southwest where nothing is rigid or fixed and there is weather and people you can count on. Experience the authenticity of the C.O.D. Guest Ranch Retreat and make memories with the important people in your life. I invite you to come and share the unique spirit of the Arizona southwest."

You'll have a private room and bath, meals for all days, and plenty of time to write, workshop, and experience the beauty of the Arizona natural habitat. Nearby we'll point you to spas, horseback riding, canoeing, anything you might want for inspiration and retreat... but if you're there to only write, which many will do, you'll have ample time to do so.

We're also adding a weekend prior to the Fall Retreat to work with WRW core staff members on perfecting your pitch. All the information follows so you'll know what to expect from the weekend to the retreat. It's a time for you to give to your writing career and nurture your inner artist. If you've joined us in the past, we hope you'll come to this new location. If you haven't joined us for a while or ever, we hope you'll experience with us the intensive pitch weekend and week-long writing retreat.

Now, down to the business.

WRW and BONI grads will have a private room, three full meals daily, and ample time to work. The pitch weekend is structred around 1-1 meetings, mock editorial board meetings, and time for you to polish your pitch and maybe understand your story in a way you've never seen it. During the retreat, there is very little structure to the week. We eat together, laugh together, write together, and live together. WRW/BONI staff members will be on hand to run optional daily Diagnostic and Troubleshooting sessions. A perfect follow-up to WRW 2009. Remember, space is very limited.

If you come for the retreat, you'll have the opportunity to win the Golden Cluck Award. The winner takes home the Golden Cluck now residing in Nashville (with last year's winner Roman White), via Kansas, Maine, Illinois, the Virgin Islands and Arkansas.

Register now

You may pay via the above secured link or send check or money order to:

WRW Fall Retreat
PO Box 4236
Louisville KY 40204

Email us: wrw04@netscape.net for information.

WEEKEND WORKSHOP AND WRITING RETREAT COMBO
Participate in both for a discounted rate! Register now to save your space for this incredible weekend and writing retreat week.
Saturday, November 14 – Sunday, November 22, 2009
Early registration: $1,275 before July 31/$1350 thereafter
Includes Pitch Workshop, week-long writing retreat, private room and bath, and meals from Saturday dinner through following Sunday breakfast.

THE BONI/WRW GRADUATE FALL WRITING RETREAT

A long-standing tradition for WRW graduates, this year the autumn writing retreat is also open to graduates of the Donald Maass Breakout Novel Intensives. Come and give yourself the gift of hours and hours of unstructured time to make REAL progress on your novel.  And do it in a magical, inspiring setting.

Whether you long to lock yourself away and add pages to your manuscript (perfect for NaNoWriMo month) or you want to combine your productivity with a few indulgences—like horseback riding or a trip to one of the country’s top-ranked spas—this is the perfect place for you.

Though the workshop staff will conduct daily critique or brainstorming sessions (participation is optional), this retreat is all about your productivity and your pace.  You’ll have your own comfy accommodations, three delicious meals a day, the inspiring mountain ranges of Oracle, AZ, and the company of other dedicated writers.

Retreat only (six nights)
Monday, November 16 -- Sunday, November 22, 2009
Early registration:  $995 before July 31/$1050 thereafter
Includes private room and bath, and meals from Monday dinner through Sunday breakfast.

THE ‘GET YOUR PITCH TOGETHER’ WEEKEND WORKSHOP

Do query letters and synopses make you break out in a cold sweat?

Do you feel it might be time to send your novel out into the world, but you’re not quite sure it’s ready?

Are you still plugging away on your novel but could use help identifying its genre and where it “fits” in the market?

Do you just want to make sure you’re not writing yourself into a corner?

This weekend workshop, led by BONI and WRW staff members Lorin Oberweger, Jason Sitzes, Brenda Windberg, and Roman White, will help you refine your pitch package, gain insight into the marketing process, and present your story—and yourself--in the best possible light.

Through mock editorial conferences (meant to mimic the publishing house acquisitions process), one-on-one meetings with staff, and comprehensive class work, we’ll demystify the query process and give you the tools you need to succeed in the competitive publishing climate.

Tentative Schedule:

Saturday:

5:00 PM: Opening reception -- Students paired for mock editorial conferences.
6:00 PM: Dinner
7:00—10:00 PM: Mock editorial conferences—round one.

Sunday:

8:00 AM: Breakfast
9:30 AM: Taming the Wild Synopsis – with staff
12:30 PM: Lunch
1:30 PM: One-on-one meetings with staff to discuss query letter, synopsis, and first five pages of your manuscript.
6:30 PM: Dinner
7:30 PM: HOMEWORK!

Monday:

8:00 AM: Breakfast
9:30 AM: Prepare for mock editorial conferences – round two
10:30 AM:  Mock editorial conferences
1:00 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Q&A with Jason, Lorin, Brenda, and Roman
4:30 PM: Wrap up and writing retreat week begins

Saturday, November 14 – Monday, November 16
COD RANCH – ORACLE, AZ
www.codranch.com
Early Registration: $449 before July 31, 2009/$499 thereafter
Includes workshop, private room and bath, and meals from dinner Saturday through lunch Monday.

Go to the registration page to save your space now.

About COD Ranch

About twenty-five minutes north of Tucson, the Historic COD Ranch is a premiere retreat and conference center, comprised of a series of casitas and other buildings, lovingly restored to reflect the architecture and spirit of the Southwest.

Accommodations are rustic but charming, with queen beds in many rooms, private baths, and long front porches or windows with gorgeous views of the mountains and nearby wildlife preserves.

For more, see: www.codranch.com