If you’re a city writer who has difficulty finding the time or space to work on your craft, you may want to consider attending a writer’s retreat. There are writer’s retreats in abundance all over the world and especially amidst our beautiful Canadian landscapes; it’s just a matter of finding the right one for you.
Some writer’s retreats are self-directed, providing ample time and space for you to get away and finish the piece you’ve been itching to work on. Other writer’s retreats include intensive workshops where writers may learn new techniques and share work with others. And yet other retreats are genre or topic-focused, providing a forum for writers to learn more about a specific subject.
Most retreats come at a cost (approximately $700-1000) that covers your accommodations and food for the length of your stay. Retreats vary from mere days to many months. Before deciding to go on a writer’s retreat, do your research to find the one that most suits your needs. Can you afford the airfare to attend a retreat far away? Would you like a place that’s extremely reclusive? Does the retreat location offer the amenities you need (i.e. Internet and Telephone Services)? Many retreats also offer bursaries or scholarships and, if you’re someone like me who’s strapped for cash, taking the time to apply for financial assistance can lead to an amazing experience.
The Internet is a great resource when looking for retreats and you can easily find retreats in Canada through Google. University and College English Departments or Continuing Education Departments may also be great resources, providing promotional pamphlets or links to well-known locations. Toronto arts and writer’s organizations also frequently provide promotional links to relevant retreats on their blogs or news pages. Finally, The Canadian Writer’s Market edited by Sandra Tooze is a comprehensive guide to all things writing-related in Canada. It’s a must have book for any aspiring writer. Among many other things (agency listings, book publishing companies, magazine markets, etc.), the book contains a great list of trusted names, sites, and descriptions for writer’s retreats of all kinds.
I personally attended my first writer’s retreat a couple of weeks ago: the Writers and Exile retreat in Nova Scotia’s Tatamagouche Centre. Tatamagouche, a small town located at a three hours driving distance from Halifax, had limited Internet and telephone access in its spot right by the ocean in the middle of the woods. It was a completely different landscape compared to my GTA roots. The experience was an enlightening and enriching one, giving me a comfortable space to explore my craft with others who regarded writing with similar passion. It is important for writers to know they are not alone, especially since they engage in such a solitary pursuit; writer’s retreats often provide a necessary sense of community. I was also placed under the expert facilitation of fiction authors Gwen Davies and Shani Mootoo and received their invaluable guidance on my current works in progress – a process of critiquing that I believe is important for authors who hope to be published some day.
Please feel free to read more about my experience on my website, MiaHerrera.com. Writer’s retreats are not often featured outside of the writing community and are therefore great opportunities for readers and writers alike who are interested in exploring a facet of the literary world that they haven’t yet experienced.
by Mia Herrera
If you’re a city writer who has difficulty finding the time or space to work on your craft, you may want to consider attending a writer’s retreat. There are writer’s retreats in abundance all over the world and especially amidst our beautiful Canadian landscapes; it’s just a matter of finding the right one for you.
Some writer’s retreats are self-directed, providing ample time and space for you to get away and finish the piece you’ve been itching to work on. Other writer’s retreats include intensive workshops where writers may learn new techniques and share work with others. And yet other retreats are genre or topic-focused, providing a forum for writers to learn more about a specific subject.
Most retreats come at a cost (approximately $700-1000) that covers your accommodations and food for the length of your stay. Retreats vary from mere days to many months. Before deciding to go on a writer’s retreat, do your research to find the one that most suits your needs. Can you afford the airfare to attend a retreat far away? Would you like a place that’s extremely reclusive? Does the retreat location offer the amenities you need (i.e. Internet and Telephone Services)? Many retreats also offer bursaries or scholarships and, if you’re someone like me who’s strapped for cash, taking the time to apply for financial assistance can lead to an amazing experience.
The Internet is a great resource when looking for retreats and you can easily find retreats in Canada through Google. University and College English Departments or Continuing Education Departments may also be great resources, providing promotional pamphlets or links to well-known locations. Toronto arts and writer’s organizations also frequently provide promotional links to relevant retreats on their blogs or news pages. Finally, The Canadian Writer’s Market edited by Sandra Tooze is a comprehensive guide to all things writing-related in Canada. It’s a must have book for any aspiring writer. Among many other things (agency listings, book publishing companies, magazine markets, etc.), the book contains a great list of trusted names, sites, and descriptions for writer’s retreats of all kinds.
I personally attended my first writer’s retreat a couple of weeks ago: the Writers and Exile retreat in Nova Scotia’s Tatamagouche Centre. Tatamagouche, a small town located at a three hours driving distance from Halifax, had limited Internet and telephone access in its spot right by the ocean in the middle of the woods. It was a completely different landscape compared to my GTA roots. The experience was an enlightening and enriching one, giving me a comfortable space to explore my craft with others who regarded writing with similar passion. It is important for writers to know they are not alone, especially since they engage in such a solitary pursuit; writer’s retreats often provide a necessary sense of community. I was also placed under the expert facilitation of fiction authors Gwen Davies and Shani Mootoo and received their invaluable guidance on my current works in progress – a process of critiquing that I believe is important for authors who hope to be published some day.
Please feel free to read more about my experience on my website, MiaHerrera.com. Writer’s retreats are not often featured outside of the writing community and are therefore great opportunities for readers and writers alike who are interested in exploring a facet of the literary world that they haven’t yet experienced.
by Mia Herrera
If you’re a city writer who has difficulty finding the time or space to work on your craft, you may want to consider attending a writer’s retreat. There are writer’s retreats in abundance all over the world and especially amidst our beautiful Canadian landscapes; it’s just a matter of finding the right one for you.
Some writer’s retreats are self-directed, providing ample time and space for you to get away and finish the piece you’ve been itching to work on. Other writer’s retreats include intensive workshops where writers may learn new techniques and share work with others. And yet other retreats are genre or topic-focused, providing a forum for writers to learn more about a specific subject.
Most retreats come at a cost (approximately $700-1000) that covers your accommodations and food for the length of your stay. Retreats vary from mere days to many months. Before deciding to go on a writer’s retreat, do your research to find the one that most suits your needs. Can you afford the airfare to attend a retreat far away? Would you like a place that’s extremely reclusive? Does the retreat location offer the amenities you need (i.e. Internet and Telephone Services)? Many retreats also offer bursaries or scholarships and, if you’re someone like me who’s strapped for cash, taking the time to apply for financial assistance can lead to an amazing experience.
The Internet is a great resource when looking for retreats and you can easily find retreats in Canada through Google. University and College English Departments or Continuing Education Departments may also be great resources, providing promotional pamphlets or links to well-known locations. Toronto arts and writer’s organizations also frequently provide promotional links to relevant retreats on their blogs or news pages. Finally, The Canadian Writer’s Market edited by Sandra Tooze is a comprehensive guide to all things writing-related in Canada. It’s a must have book for any aspiring writer. Among many other things (agency listings, book publishing companies, magazine markets, etc.), the book contains a great list of trusted names, sites, and descriptions for writer’s retreats of all kinds.
I personally attended my first writer’s retreat a couple of weeks ago: the Writers and Exile retreat in Nova Scotia’s Tatamagouche Centre. Tatamagouche, a small town located at a three hours driving distance from Halifax, had limited Internet and telephone access in its spot right by the ocean in the middle of the woods. It was a completely different landscape compared to my GTA roots. The experience was an enlightening and enriching one, giving me a comfortable space to explore my craft with others who regarded writing with similar passion. It is important for writers to know they are not alone, especially since they engage in such a solitary pursuit; writer’s retreats often provide a necessary sense of community. I was also placed under the expert facilitation of fiction authors Gwen Davies and Shani Mootoo and received their invaluable guidance on my current works in progress – a process of critiquing that I believe is important for authors who hope to be published some day.
Please feel free to read more about my experience on my website, MiaHerrera.com. Writer’s retreats are not often featured outside of the writing community and are therefore great opportunities for readers and writers alike who are interested in exploring a facet of the literary world that they haven’t yet experienced.
by Mia Herrera
If you’re a city writer who has difficulty finding the time or space to work on your craft, you may want to consider attending a writer’s retreat. There are writer’s retreats in abundance all over the world and especially amidst our beautiful Canadian landscapes; it’s just a matter of finding the right one for you.
Some writer’s retreats are self-directed, providing ample time and space for you to get away and finish the piece you’ve been itching to work on. Other writer’s retreats include intensive workshops where writers may learn new techniques and share work with others. And yet other retreats are genre or topic-focused, providing a forum for writers to learn more about a specific subject.
Most retreats come at a cost (approximately $700-1000) that covers your accommodations and food for the length of your stay. Retreats vary from mere days to many months. Before deciding to go on a writer’s retreat, do your research to find the one that most suits your needs. Can you afford the airfare to attend a retreat far away? Would you like a place that’s extremely reclusive? Does the retreat location offer the amenities you need (i.e. Internet and Telephone Services)? Many retreats also offer bursaries or scholarships and, if you’re someone like me who’s strapped for cash, taking the time to apply for financial assistance can lead to an amazing experience.
The Internet is a great resource when looking for retreats and you can easily find retreats in Canada through Google. University and College English Departments or Continuing Education Departments may also be great resources, providing promotional pamphlets or links to well-known locations. Toronto arts and writer’s organizations also frequently provide promotional links to relevant retreats on their blogs or news pages. Finally, The Canadian Writer’s Market edited by Sandra Tooze is a comprehensive guide to all things writing-related in Canada. It’s a must have book for any aspiring writer. Among many other things (agency listings, book publishing companies, magazine markets, etc.), the book contains a great list of trusted names, sites, and descriptions for writer’s retreats of all kinds.
I personally attended my first writer’s retreat a couple of weeks ago: the Writers and Exile retreat in Nova Scotia’s Tatamagouche Centre. Tatamagouche, a small town located at a three hours driving distance from Halifax, had limited Internet and telephone access in its spot right by the ocean in the middle of the woods. It was a completely different landscape compared to my GTA roots. The experience was an enlightening and enriching one, giving me a comfortable space to explore my craft with others who regarded writing with similar passion. It is important for writers to know they are not alone, especially since they engage in such a solitary pursuit; writer’s retreats often provide a necessary sense of community. I was also placed under the expert facilitation of fiction authors Gwen Davies and Shani Mootoo and received their invaluable guidance on my current works in progress – a process of critiquing that I believe is important for authors who hope to be published some day.
Please feel free to read more about my experience on my website, MiaHerrera.com. Writer’s retreats are not often featured outside of the writing community and are therefore great opportunities for readers and writers alike who are interested in exploring a facet of the literary world that they haven’t yet experienced.
