Summer joins Capital Chat to share information about the upcoming writer's retreat at the Shrine coming up September 4th. This year’s writing retreat at the beautiful Shrine of St. Therese offers an opportunity to quiet our busy minds and connect more deeply with Lingit’ Aani,’ senses open, pen & paper in hand, as summer transitions to autumn. Morning will be spent in mindful walking and writing practices, readings and optional feedback on our writing. Afternoon will allow free time to walk, read, and write on your own; evening will be for group readings of our work and reflections on what it means to write in the wild, both physically and metaphorically. Together, we’ll walk and write toward a deepened sense of peace and reciprocity with the land and sea that nourishes us. All writing levels welcome.

DAILY AGENDA:

Thursday, September 4

∙ 3 – 6 pm Arrive, unpack, explore and journal

∙ 6:15 pm DINNER: meal provided, preparation and clean-up shared

∙ 7:30 – 9 pm Introductions, short generative exercise with prompt & chat

Friday, September 5

∙ 8:15-9:15 am BREAKFAST meal provided; preparation & clean-up shared

∙ 9:30 -12 pm: Walking Meditation/Discussion of Readings (sent in advance) and Writing Practice

∙ 12:15-1:15 pm LUNCH ON YOUR OWN (dinner leftovers or whatever you bring from home)

∙ 1:30-3 pm Walking & Writing practice–with choice from three provided prompts

∙ 3-6 pm Free time. Write, read, walk labyrinth, exercise, nap or whatever feels right

∙ 6:15 pm DINNER – Meal provided; preparation & clean-up shared

∙ 7:30 – 9 pm: All Group Reading

Saturday, September 6

∙ 8:15-9:15 am BREAKFAST meal provided; preparation & clean-up shared

∙ 9:30 -12 pm: Walking and Writing/Optional feedback on your writing (sent in advance)

∙ 12:15-1:15 pm LUNCH ON YOUR OWN (dinner leftovers or whatever you bring from home)

∙ 1:30-3 pm Walking & Writing practice–with choice of prompts

∙ 3-6 pm Free time. Write, read, walk labyrinth, exercise, nap or whatever works for you.

∙ 6:15 pm DINNER – Meal provided; preparation & clean-up shared

∙ 7:30 – 9 pm: All Group Reading

Sunday, September 7

∙ 8:15-9:15 am BREAKFAST meal provided; preparation & clean-up shared; pack up

∙ 9:30 – 10:15 am Next Steps/Closing Thoughts

∙ 10:15 – 11 am Pack up and Cleanup/Farewells

This retreat is open to members of 49 Writers only. Space is limited, so don’t hesitate to reserve your spot today! Member price: $525/person room and board included.

About our guest instructor:

Brendan Isaac Jones is a novelist, essayist, and journalist focused on environmental issues concerning the Tongass rainforest in Alaska. He is the author of the young adult novel Whispering Alaska, winner of a Green Book Award, and the Alaskana award winning novel The Alaskan Laundry, also longlisted for a First Novel Prize by the Center for Fiction. His essays and works of literary journalism have appeared in The New York Times, The Smithsonian, The Huffington Post, Narrative Magazine, the Anchorage Daily News, and NPR. He is a graduate of Oxford University and Stanford University, where he was awarded a Stegner Fellowship in fiction, and a recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship in Russia. He lives in Sitka with his wife and three daughters. Learn more about Brendan and his work at https://www.brendanisaacjones.com/

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