Writing in the Wild

July 19 – July 22

Writing in the Wild with Sarah Holman and Lewis Robinson

For Writers at all levels

Trails will be light to moderate hikes with an option for more difficulty

Writing in the Wild is a three-day generative workshop that celebrates the profound effect nature has on the creative process. Numerous studies point to evidence of improved focus, enhanced creativity, and more flexible thinking in people who spend a significant amount of time outside. Beautiful Monson, Maine, is the ideal place to practice this art and produce some wildly powerful new writing!

Drawing on published prose as inspiration, we will use the outdoors as our classroom to unearth compelling narratives. Each day, we’ll spend time exploring the woods, waters, and mountains around Monson, letting our immersion in the wilderness fuel our creativity. During hikes to Little Wilson Falls and Borestone Mountain Audubon Sanctuary, we’ll have the opportunity to disconnect from our daily routine, clear space in our minds, and tap into unhindered thoughts. Participants will generate new pages in the woods and have plenty of studio time in Monson, too, for writing, sharing, and feedback. Individual conferences with the instructor will be available throughout the weekend, and a guide will be present for additional outdoor exploration.

This prose workshop is perfect for those who want to further an existing project or start something entirely new. Fiction and non-fiction writers are welcome.

Lewis Robinson is the author of the story collection Officer Friendly (Random House, winner of a Whiting Award and the Pen/Oakland Josephine Miles Award) and the novel Water Dogs (a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice selection). His stories and essays have appeared in Sports Illustrated, Tin House, The Baffler, The Missouri Review, Open City and elsewhere and have been featured on N.P.R.’s Selected Shorts. He has received grants from the Whiting Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Lewis holds an M.F.A from University of Iowa and a B.A. from Middlebury College. He is currently Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Maine Farmington.

Sarah Holman is a Registered Maine Guide, writer, and the creator of She Hikes Mountains, a blog where she shares trail reviews, images, and personal experiences hiking and backpacking New England’s many peaks. She has joined WBUR Radio Boston as a local hiking expert and is part of the international adventure travel guide team with Adventures in Good Company. Sarah is a regular contributor to Maine Women Magazine and a professional writing coach with a local sales and strategy consultancy. She holds a BFA from Pratt Institute.

Cost for this workshop includes tuition, room and board at Monson Arts; Arrival Friday at 5pm Departure Monday at 12pm.

Single Room: $760

Double Room: $640

Day Student: $520

Workshop Registration

Enrollment in each workshop is handled on a first-come, first-served basis. A deposit payment of $250 is required at the time of registration with full payment for all summer workshops due by May 30. If a workshop is full you can contact our office to be placed on the waitlist free of charge. If space becomes available we will let you know. All workshops begin on a Sunday afternoon and conclude on Saturday morning.

Fees

The cost of participating in a workshop includes tuition, room and board. We offer on-campus housing in a private (single) or double (shared with one other person) room. Room availability is limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. If you do not need housing, you may register as a day student at a reduced rate. Whether staying on campus or off, all meals are included and prepared for workshop participants by the Quarry restaurant. Fees for materials and supplies will vary for each studio and can range from $25-$100.

Accommodations

Housing is in new or recently refurbished houses located within walking distance of studios and workshops. Single or double occupancy bedrooms are provided in shared housing. Bedrooms are comfortably furnished with twin beds. Linens and towels are provided, you should bring an extra swim towel.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations made 30 days prior to the start of your workshop will receive a refund minus a $50 processing fee. Cancellations made 10 days prior will receive a 50% refund. Any cancellations after that will be charged the full rate. However, if you experience illness on the day of planned arrival, we will refund minus $50 to protect all of our participants. Should circumstances change, and we decide it is not possible to safely operate and cancel or postpone a workshop, you will receive a full refund.