A feast for writers - classes, a book club, a retreat
Dear friends and fellow readers and writers,
Happy Thanksgiving! This is what my neighborhood marine reserve, Asilomar, is starting to look like this time of year. It’s also the boardwalk on the grounds where our Spring Writing Retreat takes place. I continue to be so thankful to live here.
As we approach the end of 2023, I’ve been organizing the To the Lighthouse offerings for writers and readers in 2024. This post focuses on the former (of course, all the writers I know are also readers!), with a lineup of offerings for early 2024.
There are three spaces left for the next round of the virtual Writers Book Club, which starts January 16.
Like a standard book club, but better! (For writers, that is.) The discussions are thoughtful and deep, as you’d expect with any book club, but they also explore craft issues, including a close look at key passages. This round includes six monthly meetings on third Tuesdays at 5PM PT, a time chosen to be friendly to all US time zones. If you register by December 1, you’ll be able to suggest a book. The book selections will be decided by a survey sent in early December.
Take a deep dive into Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse with a “Read (Woolf) Like a Writer” online course, starting January 24.
Offered through Book Passage bookstore, we’ll spend four weeks on each title, discussing every aspect of craft, including Woolf’s masterful treatment of point of view. You’ll leave with an improved understanding of these two important works plus lots of new tools for close-reading your own and others’ work.
Give your writing the ultimate boost with the Spring Fiction Writing Retreat with Mark Sarvas, March 28 - March 31.
In an earlier post I described how the retreat, now in its third year, focuses on the four essential ingredients for a creative life: beauty, solitude, community, and mentorship. Expect a craft lecture each day, one-on-one time with Mark, yummy food, spectacular scenery, a supportive community, and plenty of distraction-free time to write. Click the link below for complete details and enticing pictures.
Register by January 1 for early-bird prices.
“My writing retreat with To the Lighthouse was nothing short of magical.”
Ready to submit your novel or memoir? Join the Book Submission Lab, starting January 22, to learn everything you need to know about finding an agent.
Offered through the east-coast-based book inc., we’ll cover writing a query letter, polishing your first ten pages, researching agents, and organizing your search. The sessions will include interactive lectures, hands-on workshopping, and several guest appearances. Capped at twelve participants, everyone will receive detailed feedback from me on their submission packet. Email me for more details, and use the link below to register.
Thanks for reading, dear writers. I hope to see you at one of these offerings. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!