Online Home Writing Retreat
Devote Time to Your Writing
in a personal guided writing retreat
Spring Writing Retreat with The Opening, Online
May 19, 20, 21, Friday-Sunday
GIVE YOURSELF A RETREAT
—Hours of uninterrupted time to work on your writing.
—Guided support from a professional teacher… and the support of a group
—Individual coaching on any problems or issues that come up
—Innovative techniques to help you love the writing process again by accessing the subconscious mind.
“It is the pen which dreams.” –Philosopher Gaston Bachelard
Get help with opening up, with starting a project,
with bypassing your inner critic, organizing your book,
or especially how to have a lot more fun when writing.
Wouldn’t it be great to devote a chunk of time to writing?
This retreat will support that intention in your life. And you will get specific and useful feedback on your work from a group of positive-minded people, individual and small group consultations each day, real community and help with focus. All that PLUS innovative writing exercises, individually tailored to what you are struggling with.
SCHEDULE
Online, via Zoom
One week prior: May 12, Friday night 6-7PM Pre-planning: Wisdom for designing your retreat next weekend: intention setting and creating the container in your life so it really IS a retreat.
Friday, May 19, Friday night 6-8:30 PM Gather, set your goals for the weekend. 10 minutes of coaching per person in the round with group witnessing.
Saturday May 20, morning
9:30-10 AM “Coffee and doughnuts” —hang out, connect with each other
10:00 -11:30 Check in, and group freewriting experience, with feedback (optional)
Saturday afternoon
12-6 PM: dedicated individual writing time, with direction from Andy, as needed
1-2:30: First individual coaching sessions, 30 minutes each, 3 people
3:30-5:30 Individual coaching sessions, 30 minutes each 4 people
Saturday evening
6:30-8:30 Group feedback on your work, everyone gets a chance to read and give feedback to all
——
Sunday May 21 morning
9:30-10 AM “Coffee and doughnuts” —hang out, connect
10:00 -11:00 Check in, and group freewrite, with feedback (optional)
Sunday afternoon
11-6: dedicated individual writing time, with direction from Andy, as needed
12-1:30: First individual coaching sessions with Andy, 30 minutes each, 3 people
2:30-4:30 Individual coaching sessions with Andy, 30 minutes each, 4 people
Sunday evening
5:30-7 Chance to read your work to the group, reflect and build on your weekend, and set you intentions going forward.
How do we approach writing at The Opening?
First, let’s ask, “How is most writing taught?” The teacher describes the characteristics of favored writing methods or styles, such as (in fiction): “Character driven stories are better than others,” or “Use lots of concrete, specific details,” or “ Raise the emotional stakes by creating conflict,” or “Show don’t tell.” There are similar rules for other genres. The teacher tells the students to adhere to these rules and polices variances from them. Writers in the group echo their teacher’s preferences in praising and critiquing others, and group think sets in.
What are the results of this method? 1. Hesitation to take risks and write in divergent ways takes hold of the mind and solidifies into fear. 2. The writing doesn’t get more creative but less because sounds more and more like other writing produced by the same formula.
No more formulas! Powerful writing doesn’t emerge from mimicking styles or following rules or policing. Great writers find a way into their own interior terrarium, and they let words and ideas and stories emerge naturally from there. People say this can’t be taught. Wrong! I’ve seen it work for 25 years now.
Here are just a few ways we access that inexhaustible well of powerful writing:
Creating a “risk positive” environment where writers are encouraged to go out on a limb, especially in a feedback ethic that shows you where your writing touched other people. This helps you strengthen all the right muscles.
Writing from the Subconscious—use techniques from surrealism, or improv theater, or Buddhist meditation, or the Tarot to access subliminal parts of your own mind.
Accessing the “Subconscious of the World” by activating your innate mammalian sensitivities to connect to birdsong, to trees and the very land itself … and learn how to translate that into words. The wisdom of the more-than-human beings around us are always speaking to us.
Curious about this method? Read more in this article or my book, Writing Open the Mind.
I can tell you it’s all a ton of fun, and it works. Ask any of the hundreds of people who’ve studied with me over the years! See you at the retreat soon!
Expect to finish the retreat with dozens of new pages of writing,
and a concrete plan on how to take the next steps.
Home Writing Retreat
May 19, 20, 21
Registration Payment of $325
Pre-registration is required.
We cannot hold your space until your full registration is received.
When your registration fee is received your place will be held and you will get a confirmation by email within 48 hrs.
“Andy’s inventiveness, everyone’s playfulness, and the chance to approach the worlds of our creation from wild vantage points: all wonderful. Plus great conversations and the magic of collaborative writing. It leaves me determined to have all that in my life.”
— Jody Savage
Questions? Send an email to andy@theopening.org
Get Your Writing Juices Flowing
and Have a Blast Doing It
Courses That Open Your Mind, Connect You With Others
and Help You Finish Your Project