Master writing teacher John Stifler will return to the Sanctuary for a writers retreat on Sunday, May 24th. John will be leading us through a series of stimulating writing exercises, great conversation, and supportive feedback. If you are a writer, or want to write, or write more, or write something you’ve thought about writing for a while, this may be the perfect group for you.
Stimulating discussion, writing sessions, delicious organic vegetarian meals and refreshments from Xena’s Kitchen, situated in the natural wonder of the Sanctuary’s 40 acre land trust preserve and animal sanctuary. For more information and to register, please visit: https://www.oursanctuary.org/events/sanctuary-writers-retreat
Schedule for this Retreat
9 a.m. - Noon – Introduction followed by a series of three writing exercises. Each of these begins with a writing prompt and everyone writing in response for 20-25 minutes. Following, anyone may share what they wrote and we take a few moments to respond. We’ll take a 25-minute break somewhere in the middle.
Noon-1 p.m. Lunch, a walk, yoga and meditation
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. – An extended writing period, each participant with an objective either chosen by themselves or offered by me. Followed by discussion.
4:00-4:45 – Break. Extra writing time, or time for a walk, conversation with other participants, etc.
4:45-6 p.m. – General discussion, closing observations and questions, possibly one more short exercise, plus some suggestions for writing on one’s own in the days and weeks ahead. Includes a short list of recommended readings.
6-8 p.m. – Dinner Party
Homemade, organic, healthy delicious meals included.
Guests are invited to stay at The Sanctuary the evening of Sat. May 23rd.
Suggested donation: $250
Mini-grants available for unemployed or under-employed seekers. Inquire at info@oursanctuary.org
What is the meaning and power of Finding Your Own Voice as a Writer?
“What might that unlock in your self-knowledge process, in your spiritual evolution process? As someone who continues to struggle with the writing process, to the point where it’s a very love-hate, combative relationship I have with writing, I’ve wanted to find a writing teaching that could help me untangle my mental and other hangups with the writing process and see if my hunch is correct: that writing could have a deeper purpose for me. Either that, or just put it to bed! On this front, John Stifler is, has been, a bonafide miracle for my own process. A veteran teacher who doesn’t judge but helps us to stop judging our creative process to death, himself a gifted writer filled with story and insights into story-telling, a Zen Master who tricks us into mindfulness with his bag of hilarious provocations.”
Dr. Vood