August 16-22 at Treewild in Shelburne, VT
An intergenerational generative workshop for serious writers.
Come spend a week developing the world in which your characters live.
Any genre, from fantasy to poetry to memoir.
Spots for children are filled. This form is for adults and young adults who will participate in the full week session.
In this week-long retreat, an intergenerational group of readers and writers will gather to create magical worlds, whether they be true or imagined. This is a workshop for people who want to write vividly.
We welcome serious writers of any age to apply for this retreat. The young people inspire and bring authenticity to the discussions, while the adults provide insight and courage to those who are still in school.
In order to get as in-depth as we can, and have a common language for discussion, each participant will be asked to read four books before coming. Each day we will closely examine how those authors have created the worlds in their books. We will do writing prompts that crack open the techniques they used to get to their brilliance. We examine a passage and then imitate it in our own voice, with our own characters.
Teachers this week will be Cait Weiss-Orcutt, a poet and a highly respected writing teacher with an MFA and PhD in writing, and Alison James, who has been writing and translating books for young people for many years.
The Schedule
Every morning, we will meet for optional generative workshops. “Generative” workshops are meant to inspire you. You come as you are and create whatever rises to meet you. Together, we will read a short piece of exemplary writing, briefly discuss how it works, and then pick up those tools (via Cait’s detailed prompts) to use in our own writing. We will then write into the prompts, with the option to share when we gather again.
Each day there will be two writing workshops, one hands-on art workshop, and a generative meditation.
SAMPLE SCHEDULE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
- 9-10 settle in, free writing or reading time
- 10-12 first workshop with writing prompts
- 12-1 break for lunch
- 1-2 meditation into world
- 2-4 second workshop
- 4:00 head home
SAMPLE SCHEDULE FOR ADULTS
- 7-10 breakfast, writing or reading time
- 10-12 first workshop with writing prompts
- 12-1 break for lunch
- 1-2 meditation into world
- 2-4 second workshop
- 4-6 free time, go for a walk, read, nap…
- 6-7 dinner
- 7-8:30 Share writing and literary discussion
Cait Weiss Orcutt is the author of VALLEYSPEAK, winner of the 2017 Zone 3 First Book Prize. She holds an MFA from The Ohio State University and is a PhD candidate at the University of Houston in English Literature and Creative Writing.
Her essays and poems have appeared in Boston Review, Bust Magazine, Chautauqua, FIELD, The Pinch, The Academy of American Poets and more. Cait leads poetry and creative nonfiction writing workshops centered on identity, history, intersectionality and healing.
Alison studied poetry with Nancy Willard, and went on to
get a Master’s Degree in Children’s Literature. She has published two novels and three picture books, including the beloved MAPLE AND ROSEMARY (2023.) Her middle-grade novel THE HUNT FOR SHADOWCLAW will be out next year by Move at Charlesbridge. Alison has also translated over 150 picture books. Alison has lived around the world, including Pakistan, Japan, Norway, Germany, England, Sweden, and Taiwan. She has led retreats for writers in the US and abroad. Alison lives in a grass-roofed cottage in Vermont. With her partner, she runs a forest school, and summer training camp for young enchanters.
A Treewild Retreat
This workshop will take place at the beautiful sanctuary land at Treewild, an artists’ residence in Shelburne, Vermont. There are miles of walking paths around the property, and lovely spaces to work both indoors and out.
All food is included in this immersive retreat. The vegetarian meals will be primarily locally sourced, sensitive to individual needs, nourishing our bodies while delighting our senses.
Treewild is an Air BnB with room for five to sleep without sharing a bed. Comfortable memory foam mattresses and an AC heat pump will ensure that we get deep rest. These rooms will be reserved on a first-come basis. When the house is full, we will make recommendations for local places to stay. Camping at Treewild is also an option. People who live within driving distance are welcome to stay at home and attend as day students.
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO TREEWILD
Treewild is inclusive. This environment is explicitly anti-racist and LGBTQIA+ affirming. We support each other in our growth towards greater inclusiveness.
The one thing we discourage including at Treewild is germs. Feel free to mask if you’re contagious, or concerned about staying healthy. We have beautiful N95 masks to share. If you are actively sick, please sequester yourself and get well.
At Treewild, we honor the ancestral roots of the indigenous peoples who have lived and are still living in our region. As a small step towards reparations, Treewild has bespoke scholarships for first nation peoples. We also support new Americans, and those who are living within limited means. If you need a scholarship, please ask.
Treewild is a 501-c3 non-profit. There are not many places where your contributions go so directly to meet a need. Thank you in advance!
The Details
The adult workshop runs from dinner Sunday, August 16th through breakfast on Saturday the 22nd. Children will attend the core of the workshop, M-F Aug 17-21 from 9am to 4pm.
FINANCES
Worldbuilding is the equivalent of a 3-credit semester long college course. Tuition is $600.
Tuition can be paid in two installments:
$250 upon registration
$350 on June 1st
RESIDENTIAL ROOM AND BOARD EXPENSES
All meals are included in the residential weeks, from Sunday diner through Saturday breakfast (and take-away lunch.) The cost of meals is $55/day for each six-day retreat
The room cost is $100/night. A shared room is $60/night. Glamping is available at Treewild for $50/night. All bathrooms are shared.
Treewild rooms will fill on a first-come basis. When Treewild is full, we can make suggestions for nearby places where you can also stay. People who live nearby are welcome to commute.
Single Room / Board per week $930
Double Room / Board per week $690
Glamping / Board per week $630
Just Meals (sleeping elsewhere) $330