The 2010 Writers in the Round Retreat on Star Island is a multi-day creative retreat for songwriters and poets in a beautiful natural setting. The retreat is a time for creative growth in a safe environment, fostered by instructors who are experts in their art, be it songwriting, poetry, or spoken word, and who are whole-souled in their approach to life.
A Supportive Approach
The small group experience consists of classes for instruction, workshops for creative expression, and evening programs, which support a healthy group dynamic.
Participants are encouraged to take risks and push themselves to explore new aspects to the process of writing. Honesty, compassion, and humor are qualities valued by retreat organizers and participants.
Activities: New Beginnings and New Horizons
The development of a nurturing, yet challenging creative environment is a central goal. Formal activities are focused exclusively on this goal. There are also opportunities for informal networking, which are supported as a part of retreat activities. Through immersion in the formal and informal activities, participants often embark upon new creative directions never before touched upon, and form new creative associations with others outside of their daily walk in life. As such the retreat fosters diversity, and celebrates new beginnings and new horizons.
Star Island 2010 Retreat
Registration is now open for the Sixth Annual Writers in the Round Retreat September 9-12, 2010. We are making registration available to past participants first, and hope you'll return to share what you've been working on since we last gathered.
General registration opens April 1, 2010 and ends August 15, 2010. Download the 2010 registration form (pdf).
E-mail talk@witrhome.org
Make your selections on the form and send your form with $170.00 deposit to Writers in the Round. Please note that we are now using Star Island's actual form to register. We are requesting that you send the deposit of $170 with your registration form.
Retreat room and board costs this year are as follows. As of May 6, 2010, we have updated this website to reflect these costs. We apologize for any confusion. These are the full rates charged by Star, as listed on their site. starisland.org/conferences/2010-listings/witr.
Retreat room and board costs this year are as follows:
Single: $445
Double: $347
Triple: $325
Motel Double: $389
Motel Single: $615
Remember that when you register you are paying a $170 deposit, of which $75 is applied to your room and board cost in advance. The balance of your deposit is $95, which is your conference registration fee. It covers instructors' costs, insurance, morning coffee and ice cream smorgasbord.
Additional costs payable on island do include: boat fees($40/person), balance of your room and board, lobsters (market price/$11-12, cash needed), and parking fees ($9/day/car).
Financial aid is available from Star Island directly. Writers in the Round will not offer any scholarships this year. Information is listed here on their aid program, as is the form to submit.
One other program for financial aid is for new shoalers and those who recommend them, called the 10/10 program. Information is listed here forthat program.
We received a grant from the Isles of Shoals Association this year! Given that we have to pay for liability insurance now, this grant means we will not have a rate increase this year for our conference!
Get your registration in early to secure a space, mark your calendars and keep writing! We hope you will return. Here is our listing on the StarIsland website. Keep in touch! We love to know you are planning to return.
SEND REGISTRATIONS with DEPOSIT TO:
Deidre Randall/WITR Retreat
PO Box 4726
Portsmouth, NH 03802
Blessings,
Deidre
Meet our 2010 Artists
This year we're excited that two very creative and prolific artists, poet Walter Butts, and songwriter Dana Cooper, will lead our workshops for our sixth retreat. The chance to practice your craft in a nurturing and supportive environment, see old friends, make new friends, and the charm of Star Island awaits you!
Walter and Dana will bring incredible talent and diversity to this year's retreat. Walter is a poet I have admired for years, so I am very pleased we could arrange to have him with us. He comes highly recommended by previous instructors. Dana is a talented writer, who has had a long career in performing and teaching songwriting. He was recommended by Buddy Mondlock, a previous instructor for our retreat.
With Walter and Dana as teachers, this year's retreat will take on its own flavor, as all past retreats have done. Each year is its own experience and that is part of the thrill of holding these yearly retreats. It is exciting to see what changes take place. The WITR conference hallmarks are to provide skilled instructors, a creative community, safety in the learning environment and a beautiful natural setting to inspire and rejuvenate us all.
