Winter Writing Retreat, Jan 2024

Start the New Year with a Deep Dive into Your Writing

Join a small, welcoming, and supportive community of writers for a personalized writing retreat at one of West Virginia’s most beautiful State Parks. Writers will stay in the historic cabins of Lost River State Park, a little over 2 hours outside of DC. 

Writers of all experience levels and projects are welcome. This retreat will provide a perfect opportunity for those who have been wanting to dive into that book project, collection, essay, family history, or script. 

Retreat includes a one-on-one consultation with award winning writer, Dr. Michelle LaFrance. Michelle has taught writing, coached writers, and facilitated writing communities for over 20 years.

Registration fee includes a private room in an updated cabin, morning movement/yoga sessions, a Saturday evening reading of your work (in Wardensville, WV), and all meals. 

Initial Deposit: $187.50; Remainder of payment due upon or before arrival

More on Michelle LaFrance and Writing Lost River: Writinglostriver.org

To reserve your space or for inquiries: mlfpoet@gmail.com

More on Lost River State Park: https://tinyurl.com/nhf8b5et

—> We have reserved cabins 7, 14, 15, 16 and 17.

–> Two friendly and well behaved dogs are welcome to attend this retreat with their people. 

Retreat Schedule

Thursday, January 4th

3:00 pm: *Check in/Settle In/ Start Writing

6:30 pm: Dinner and Introductions to Other Writers

7:30 pm: Private writing time

Friday, January 5th

8:00 am: Morning Movement with Havala (Optional)

8:00 am to 10 am: Coffee and breakfast 

8 am to 6:30 pm: Private writing time

Noon to 2:00 pm: Pick up sack lunch

4:00 pm: Optional Gentle Hike w/ Michelle 

6:30 pm: Dinner

Meetings with Michelle 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm 

Saturday, January 6th

8:00 am: Morning Movement with Havala (Optional)

8:00 am to 10:00 am: Coffee and breakfast 

8:00 am to 3:30 pm: Private writing time

Noon to 2:00 pm: Pick up sack lunch

Meetings with Michelle noon to 3:00 pm 

3:30 pm: Visit Wardensville, Reading at Word Play 

5:30 pm: Dinner at Mac’s Bingo

7:30 pm: Return to Cabin Private Writing Time

Sunday, January 7th

8am: Morning Movement with Havala (Optional)

8 am to 10 am: Coffee and breakfast 

11:00 am Check Out/Pack Cars

Noon: (Optional) Gentle Hike

1 pm: Return home

Re-posting: Craft and Context, Part II

I wrote this blog post for the Hill Center’s blog. You can find the post here (along with a super-scary-BIG photo of my face. (YIKES!)

Part 2: Writing Groups and Groups that Support Writers

Michelle LaFrance (our amazing writing teacher!) is guest writing on our blog about writing resources and building writing community. See more about Michelle and her Hill Center courses here.

This guest blog series began with a post about writing coaches. In this post, I discuss the types of groups that support writers. Research central to my academic field, which studies the many aspects of how writers come to fluency in their craft, holds that all writers have something to learn—and many writers learn best in conversation with other writers as readers. This is the model that an MFA works on, after all.

Many writers also truly enjoy the connection of working in groups with other writers. Joining (or starting) a writing group is a great way to connect with other writers and get feedback on your work. Unlike coaches, the subject of my first guest post, most groups require no layout of funds, but for the purchase of a beverage at the location where the group meets.

Here are a few long standing groups you might check out:

• Capitol Hill Writers Group—The Capitol Hill Writers Group is a local network of writers (both published and up and coming) and hosts a long list of writing groups that require no financial commitment. Writers meet at least once a month to share and discuss their work. Groups organize around genres, strategies (such as, “shut up and write” or “sharing drafts”), and meeting times. Writers of all levels and genres may apply for membership.
  
• DC Writers Salon—Based in Dupont Circle, the Writers’ Salon hosts a number of different groups focused on accountability, morning writing sessions, and community-building for writers of all abilities. Friendly, well organized, and dedicated, new writers who are serious about their commitment to writing will find this group a good match.
  
• Northern Virginia Writers Club—A local chapter of the Virginia Writer’s Club, this organization hosts a series of events on a wide range of topics, such as self-publishing, story structure, and the strategies of helpful critique.
  
• Writers Groups on MeetUp—The Washington DC area has a host of free and quite active writers’ groups that advertise and organize on MeetUp, a social media platform that connects people of similar interests. Groups on MeetUp focus on script writing, novel writing, short story writing, and others. Many host “shut up and write” meetings, in person and via zoom. In these sessions, writers simply meet to silently write together. To find groups that meet near you, visit meetup.com and search for “writers groups Washington DC.”
  
• Book groups, author talks, and regional conferences—DC is home to a thriving literary culture. Many bookshops and organizations host book groups. Not a month passes without a bookfair, festival, numerous author visits, or a conference. Of course, these events are more focused on readers than writers, but these events can introduce writer to people, organizations, and opportunities of real value, for the discussion of craft, practical strategies, and community entailed. You can find many of these resources with a google search. Or keep your eye on the newsletters of our local arts centers and literary organizations.  

A few words in closing about joining a group. Just like when you are looking into hiring a coach, choosing a group to share your writing with is an important mixture of fit, an “intuitive” sense that you will work well with the members of the group, and clear communication from the start. Be sure you have chosen a group of folks who are interested in the type of writing you produce. Ground rules, clear expectations, and professional interpersonal boundaries are also important aspects of a group’s dynamics.

To help you get clear on how the group will function, be sure to ask the leaders of the group how often and where members are expected to meet. (Are you comfortable meeting in a private residence for your first meeting, for instance?) How often and via what mechanisms will you give and receive feedback? How long a text can you submit for feedback? Aside from critiques, what other types of support does the group seek to provide to others—some celebrate rejections and acceptances with equal gusto. You will also want to ask the leaders of the group how they handle conflicts should it emerge.

I wish you the best of luck in locating a writer’s group that works well for you. In my next guest post, Part 3, I will discuss other types of literary groups and events that can be helpful for new writers. Happy writing!

You can find Part I here.

About Hill Center: Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital offers quality programming in a restored Civil War-era hospital commissioned by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864. It is a vibrant home for culture, education and city life, and serves as a hub for community enrichment.

Re-Posting–Craft and Context, Part 1

I wrote this blog post for the Hill Center’s blog. You can find the post here (along with a super-scary-BIG photo of my face. (YIKES!)

Part 1: Writing Coaches

Michelle LaFrance (our amazing writing teacher!) is guest writing on our blog about writing resources and building writing community. See more about Michelle and her Hill Center courses here.

In the classes I teach at the Hill Center, I often meet people who have only just started to write. They are excited to dig into their writing and eager to develop some version of the “writing life,” but often find themselves a little lost when it comes to knowing which resources might be the most useful. Whittling down what they find online, an admittedly overwhelming list of resources—websites, books, articles, groups, coaches, and other services—is a daunting prospect. Finding a local community of writers can be even harder.  In this series of guest blog posts on writing coaches, writing groups, classes and retreats, I share several resources that will help you with your craft and in making connections with other writers in the DMV.

Writing Coaches offer new and more practiced writers an array of resources, from “write ins” to “retreats,” to personalized sessions that will help you refine your writing skills and receive feedback/guidance on your work.

Writing Coaches can be quite expensive, so be sure to ask for rates before committing to a coach. On that note: it’s a good general rule for new writers to keep in mind that writing teachers are paid professionals who will ask for payment for any services rendered, such as teaching a class, offering feedback to you, or providing direction on a draft in process. Writing is work; teaching and coaching writing is also work. DC and the greater DMV are home to a number of excellent professionals, services, and centers that can provide personalized, private, and group-oriented support. Be sure to recognize their professional stature by compensating them for their time.

Three local coaching services, I recommend:

• Heart Head Hands—When students ask me about private writing coaches, I send them to Beth Godbee without hesitation. Beth takes a holistic and mindful approach to clients’ writing and interests, working as an “ideas editor” who is interested in the client’s holistic health—the source of sustainable writing practices. Beth brings years of experience as a coach, editor, teacher, researcher, and published author to her work.
  
• Best Writers and Editors—I’ve only ever heard excellent things about this “Washington, DC-based consultancy of internationally recognized writers and editors with extensive experience in journalism and 130+ years on the job.” Best Writes and Editors provides a variety of writing, editing, and coaching services, focused on “mak[ing] your complex content clear.”
  
• Between Two Rivers—Focused on building “writing community” via writing groups, writing retreats, and writing classes, I began organizing this group when students of my Hill Center classes asked me for follow up conversations and connections. Members of Between Rivers join a moderated Google group to co-mentor one another, share drafts, provide accountability, and enjoy the ups and downs of the writing life together. I provide coaching and support during writing retreats which take us to remote, wild locations for intensive work on a project.  

You will want to let your intuitions guide you as you seek out and select a writing coach. Many coaches offer a free consultation session to discuss your needs and your projects with them before signing on.

If you cannot glean this info from an online search or dedicated website, be sure to inquire into whether the coach has published in the area of your interest. Where and how much has the coach published? Do you like the coach’s work? How about the professional “vibe” the coach gives off? What type of writers does the coach tend to work with? Does the coach have a relationship with key editors or publication venues? Are they willing to make introductions to other writers and professionals? What can you expect from the coach in a session and what will the coach expect from you in terms of production?   

With a little diligent work in advance of your first session, you will be off to a fantastic and productive working relationship with your writing coach. May the community you build in support of your writing lead to a vibrant, fulfilling writing life—happy writing!

Read Part II here.

About Hill Center: Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital offers quality programming in a restored Civil War-era hospital commissioned by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864. It is a vibrant home for culture, education and city life, and serves as a hub for community enrichment. More info: https://www.hillcenterdc.org

Stoneware with Kathryn Kavanagh

July 15th and 22nd

The email I received from Kathy Kavanaugh read:

“I live in the woods 7 miles outside of ‘downtown Mathias”’(good luck finding that). There are a couple of creeks to ford on the way in, although one is dry now. The other one has some water but not much, and both have rocky bottoms so mud is not an issue. On the other hand, the road is dirt and bumpy. You don’t need 4-wheel drive but you will need a vehicle with some clearance, and give yourself some time to traverse the mile and a third. If you find really rustic roads daunting we can meet you where you can park before the first creek in the hayfield.”

Kathy opens her studio to five or six students once each year in the summer, offering a class through the Lost River Education Foundation. I was excited when I heard about the class–Kathy’s studio is a site that has been integral to a number of local artists who now make and sell pottery in the Lost River Valley at arts fairs and other venues.  

Getting to Kathy’s studio is part of the charm. 

Directions to Kathy Kavanaugh’s studio:

If you are on Corridor H; exit at Baker.

Turn toward Baker on old Route 55. At the BP (Corner Mart) , turn onto WV 259 south.

Stay on 259 through Lost City and until you get to Mathias.

Look for the old log cabin on your right. Just prior to the log cabin (the Mathias homestead), turn right onto Howards’ Lick Road.

In about a mile, look for Jenkins Hollow Road on the left. If you land in Lost River State Park, turn around and go back to Jenkins Hollow Road.

Take Jenkins Hollow Road to its end. Watch for deer, particularly does and fawns; there are many out this time of year.

Turn right onto Cullers Run Road. Stay on that over the little crooked bridge (the bridge is contoured to match the creek rather than the road—very West Virginia.)

Look for Perry Whetzel Road on the right. This is a dirt road. We live 1.3 miles from the mail boxes there.

Stay on Perry Whetzel Road over the bridge and past the green cottage.

Where Perry Whetzel Road forks and goes up the mountain, take the low road: Hidden Hollow.

Stay on Hidden Hollow Road through the creek (presently dry) and woods (past the gas line road) and then past the sign for 1514 (old cabin owned by our partnership). Just stay along the creek until you see our red barn at the junction of Hidden Hollow Road and Jesse Landis Lane. Ford the creek and veer left toward the Airstream trailer. You can park anywhere around the trailer. My studio is in the red barn.  

Sinking In, Loving Clay

I was a little late to the first class, as I had a board meeting to attend at the Artist’s Coop.  When I arrived, the other students–Austin and Brian, who I learned quickly were actually my neighbors and another woman who is the neighbor of a friend of ours (the Lost River Valley is so, so small)–were already working away on vases and bowls and boxes. There was the dusty smell of clay in the air and the thick silence characteristic of artists deep in their work.

I chose to make a platter. Kathy gave me a big block of white clay, a metal platter about the size that I wanted mine to be (for a form), and showed me to the pressing table, where I could flatten the clay into a slab.  

There’s something really special about working clay on a  warm summer day in an open building with a cement floor. Every so often a bumble bee or a fly or a hummingbird would buzz by or two hummers would tussle over sipping-rights at the feeder. The warm breeze would lift the table cloth and stir up dust on the floor. The branches and flowers and leaves of the garden nodded and swayed. 

After pressing the clay into a flat round-ish slab, I found a few summer wild flowers and a fern in the field to push into the surface of the clay. . . I had to work quickly, because the day’s heat was drying the clay to leather hardness more quickly than I could work. I gave up on hoping for perfectly smooth and rounded edges because of this. The lip of the platter would just have to be ragged and inconsistent–I was relearning skills I hadn’t used for decades, perfect was not the goal.

I ended the first day of class by incising my initials and stamping a star into the bottom of the platter. Then, I set my  piece on the shelf to await firing in the kiln. I always feel a little thrill when I do that–you never know how it will look when fired and the piece will change again when glazed.

Glazing

The next Saturday, I returned to Kathy’s and filed as much of the unevenness out of the edges of the platter as I could (dusty work <achoooo!>), then glazed the platter.  I was hoping for a more consistent blue on the surface of the platter, but ended up with a very mottled and uneven surface.  The ferns and flowers are visible, but the blue and white glaze are splotchy and the blue is not as dark as I thought it would be.

Upon pick up, I was excited to see what the platter had turned out to look like. But, it looked nothing like what I’d imagined or tried to set up.

Still, I was less disappointed with all of the imperfections of the piece than determined to try again with a different vision next time around. I might choose to do a platter again, but perhaps with a more obviously and exaggeratedly dramatic lip that would make the raggedness a feature.

I had wanted to make sure the black plant stems/leaves showed through and over corrected a bit too much. Because the clear glaze did not cover the full surface of the platter, I decided to use the platter in the garden instead of in the kitchen. I think it’s a cool piece, but it is nowhere near what I expected it would look like. 

A Terrific Learning Experience 

I’ll keep my eyes open for an opportunity to try my hand at hand building again. And to enjoy Kathy’s warmth, wonderful sense of humor, and knowledge of the area and its people.

The best feature of this class was spending time in Kathy’s studio with some neighbors I had only just met, having the chance to talk with Kathy about her professional and historical work, (she is a medical anthropologist with a lengthy career history working with undergraduates). Her work with quilts in the area–specifically signature quilts–her extensive background with the Artist’s cooperative and the Lost River Museum, and her stories of life, wildlife, and people in the area added some wonderful color to the class. We chatted historical projects in the valley and I came away knowing more about the place I now call home.

Craft and Connection–Two Blog Posts for the Hill Center

The good folks at the Hill Center asked me to write a blog post for them I was pleased to oblige. They were so grateful they also posted an ENORMOUS photo of my face that would terrify anyone out of their mind. Woof!

See the site that will make you cry here, where you can also read the blog post I wrote for them.